Tonight, however, Angus had also stomped in behind his grandsons, two of his beloved Skye terriers trotting in his wake. The old man gave Victoria a scowl before flopping into one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace, making his continued low opinion of her abundantly clear.
She swallowed a sigh. Although the old fellow had ceased his campaign of outright hostilities, he was still unhappy with her presence. Why remained something of a mystery, since Victoria was not, as he’d put it, trying to turn his grandsons into spoiled dandies. She’d finally decided he had a general dislike of English persons, and that it was best to ignore him whenever possible.
“Hullo, Grandda,” Kade said, waving to him. The lad revered the old curmudgeon, and went out of his way to please him. Some days, she couldn’t imagine how such a nice boy like Kade had survived in the tough world of the Kendrick men.
“Laddie, ye just had dinner with me,” his grandfather said.
“I know, but you rarely join us for tea, so I’m happy to see you.”
One corner of Angus’s mouth twitched. She supposed even he couldn’t resist Kade’s artless charm. “Maybe I fancy a bit of music tonight,” he said.
“Miss Knight and I have been practicing a Beethoven sonata,” Kade said. “Would you like to hear that?”
The old man scoffed. “Now, why would I want to hear some frippery music by a foreigner? A good reel is what I have a mind for.”
Taffy, who’d been arranging the tea things on the low table in front of the chaise, slowly straightened up and turned a gimlet eye on Angus. When he flushed a dull red, Victoria wasn’t surprised. If there was one person with the ability to shame Angus MacDonald, it was Mrs. Taffy. They had what could only be called an interesting relationship, although Victoria had no desire to know the particulars.
“Angus, let the boy play what he wants,” the earl said over his shoulder. “Beethoven sounds like a prime choice, Kade. I’d like to hear it.”
“I must say, I rather agree with Grandda,” Graeme said, reaching for a macaroon from the tiered plate of pastries. When Taffy slapped his hand, he yanked it back as if he’d been burned.
“Ye’ll want to be waiting now for a moment,” she said in a reproving tone. “Afterthe earl and yer grandfather have been served their cups.”
“And you will listen to whatever Kade plays,” the earl said, pinning Graeme with a stern look.
“But—”
Grant elbowed his twin in the ribs. “Shut it, Graeme.” Then he smiled at Kade. “Play whatever you want, laddie. We’ll enjoy it either way.”
Kade gave his brother a rueful grin. “It’s all right. I like the old reels, too.”
“Right. I’ll fetch my bagpipes to play with ye,” Angus said, hauling himself from his chair.
“No!” the twins yelled. In fact, all the men appeared disconcerted.
The old man regarded his grandsons reproachfully. “But ye all love the pipes.”
“Not the way you play them,” Royal said ruthlessly.
“You heard him the first night you stayed here,” Grant said to Victoria, as if she could possibly forget.
“Oh,” she said. “I thought he was trying to be . . .”
Grant morosely shook his head.
“I see.” She couldn’t help giving the old man a sympathetic glance, since he looked so disappointed. “It wasn’t that bad. In fact, it was quite . . . stirring.”
Everyone stared at her like she’d gone mad.
Angus eyed her suspiciously, but then affected a casual shrug. “Well, get on with it, then,” he said brusquely, waving at Kade.
“Why don’t you play ‘Shean Truibhais,’” Royal suggested, his brogue curling around the Gaelic name. He’d wandered over to the window that overlooked the back lawn, where he’d recommenced his brooding. As far as Victoria could tell, that was mostly what Royal did with his time when he wasn’t picking a fight with the earl.
“That’s Gaelic for Torn Trousers,” Kade explained to her. “The reel is about how the kilt was outlawed after Culloden. The Highlanders were forced to wear trousers, so they wanted to tear them or kick them off.”
“Bloody bastard Englishmen,” Angus muttered.
“My, that sounds like an exciting dance,” Victoria said. She rose from the piano bench. “I’ll bring you a cup of tea and a scone when you’re finished.”
