Dark Duke(50)

“What is it, Ewan?” Violet called.

Kaitlin shot a look at her friend. She clutched the blanket to her neck, but the look on her face said it all. She was positively mooning. Over the McCloud.

Kaitlin’s betrothed.

The man she didn’t want to marry.

What a mess.

“Your cousin, the duke, I presume,” the McCloud snarled. “And he’s brought a battalion.”





Chapter Seventeen




Edward stormed the castle with Transom and Ned at his side. He put his foot down and insisted that Hortense and the younger boys remain on the bank. Ned, he could not deter. The guards at the pier were not at their posts so they took the skiff and rowed across the river themselves.

They entered the great hall, preparing to battle McCloud’s men at every turn, but it was quite a different scene from the day before. The entire chamber had been scrubbed from top to bottom and it was deserted, but for a boy working by the hearth. It looked almost pleasant. Even as this realization hit home, the McCloud came thundering down the stairs.

He gaped at the empty hall as well. “Pippin!” he bellowed. “Where are my men?”

The boy glanced at the visitors and shrugged.”They all left.”

“They left?”

“Said they’d had enough of her. Went to town to drink in peace.”

“Hell.”

A curl of satisfaction wedged in Edward’s belly. Good. Ewan was here alone. If he wouldn’t hand over Violet, they would simply overpower him and take her. They had the Wyeths to do it.

“McCloud. We’ve come for Violet.”

“Where is she?” Ned stepped forward. His fingers were twitching again.

Edward stepped between him and his target. “Please, Ned. Let me handle this. The McCloud is a reasonable man.” He shot Ewan a speaking glance. “I trust you considered my offer.”

Ewan’s gaze flitted over the bristling boy. “Perhaps we could discuss this in private.”

“In private?”

“These are sensitive matters.”

What the hell could be so sensitive, Edward couldn’t fathom, but he nodded. “Fine.” He turned to Transom and Ned. “Wait here. And don’t interrupt.” This last bit was directed at Ned.

The two men crossed to the plank table by the hearth and sat facing each other.

“Well?” Edward said. “Did you consider my offer?”

“I did. It was very generous. Trouble is…” Ewan dropped his voice and sent him an odd look. “I can’t give them both up.”

Edward’s heart skittered. Was he being asked to choose? Between Violet—his sister—and Kaitlin? Because he couldn’t. “It’s a damn lot of money.”

“Money isn’t everything.”

Something in Ewan’s tone gave him pause. “What do you mean?”

“I…have a sister, you know.”

“I did not.” Edward frowned. Where exactly was this going?

Ewan blew out a long breath. “Everything I’ve ever done—the good and the not so good—has been for Sophie. I’ve built my fortune, but it’s still not enough for entrée. And she deserves a season.”

Edward blinked. “You want me to arrange a season for your sister?”

“If you take away my highborn bride? I must insist on it.” The McCloud’s eyes glittered. “It is the only way I can assure Sophie the chance of landing a decent husband. Of assuring her future.”

Edward cringed at the thought of yet another innocent living under his roof. But if it would gain Violet’s freedom and release Kaitlin from that damn betrothal, it would be worth it. Besides, he could empathize with Ewan’s concerns. Now that he had a sister—well, now that he knew he had a sister—he would move heaven and earth to assure a good match for her. “Agreed.”

“Excellent. She will stay with you, of course. I will take a house in London nearby. I assume you have an adequate chaperone?”

Edward tried not to snort. The last thing Sophie would lack would be chaperonage. “My aunt. She’s a battleaxe. And the boys will be there as well.”

“The boys?”

“Violet’s brothers. They all live with me.”

Ewan blinked. “How…many are there?”

“Six.” Edward winced when he said it.

“Six?”

“It’s quite a full house.”

“That will be fine then. We shall arrive next month.”

Edward nodded. “And the money I owe you?”

The McCloud leaned forward, intensity thrumming from him. “If you do this for my sister, I will call us even.” The two men stood and shook hands.

A bustle at the top of the stairs captured their attention. Edward glanced up to see both Violet and Kaitlin rushing down toward them. Something feral snarled in his gut. Kaitlin—his Kaitlin—was nearly naked. She wrapped in a blanket and—good God!—wearing a man’s shirt. Her legs were bare. Her hair was askew. She looked like… She looked like she’d just been tumbled.