Kade nodded absently, shuffling through his sheet music. She would have to make him stop to eat, since the boy rarely thought about food unless someone reminded him.
As Kade played the lively reel, she poured out the tea, handing the cups to Grant to distribute. Grant was a very nice young man, she’d been pleased to discover, when Graeme wasn’t leading him astray. Mrs. Taffy heaped up plates of biscuits and scones for the men, and then excused herself.
When Kade finished with a flourish, everyone clapped—except for Angus, who at least did nod his approval. Even the dogs barked enthusiastically, which necessitated a tart reprimand from their master.
The Kendrick family drawing room wasn’t the most genteel of environments, and the men—and the dogs—could certainly be a handful. But the fact that no one was assaulting her or accusing her of murder was a distinct advantage. She was beginning to think that, with a little luck, she might make it through the winter unscathed. According to the most recent letter from Dominic, neither Lady Welgate nor her father had yet to take any action against her, and he didn’t expect them to. If all remained quiet, she should be able to return to London sometime in the summer and begin to plan the opening of her girls’ seminary.
She simply had to survive a winter and spring in Scotland with Lord Arnprior and his brothers first.
Graeme shoveled in another scone. “I do think . . .” he began around the enormous mouthful.
When Victoria pointedly raised her eyebrows, he grimaced, but chewed and swallowed before speaking again. She was not formally giving the twins lessons in deportment, but she couldn’t refrain from the occasional quiet correction. Fortunately, looking aghast usually did the trick.
“As I was saying,” Graeme said after he’d swallowed, “I still think it would be splendid if we could learn how to waltz, instead of just doing reels and country dances.”
“If only we could learn how to waltz in time for Sir Duncan MacLeish’s holiday ball,” Grant said. He gazed dolefully at Victoria, as if he were a puppy who’d been kicked. Graeme adopted a similar expression, even going so far as to push out his lower lip.
Victoria was hard-pressed not to laugh, or to scold them for thinking she was foolish enough to fall for their blatant machinations. Yes, she might be willing to give them a little guidance now and then, but she wasnota dancing teacher.
“Och, ye don’t need to be swirlin’ about like acrobats to catch the eyes of the lassies,” Angus said. “There’s nothing more manly and athletic than a good reel to attract a girl’s notice. Even better, a sword dance.”
“I doubt there will be any sword dances at Sir Duncan’s affair,” Royal said. He’d finally eased into a chair by the window, favoring his bad leg.
“I’d love to see a sword dance someday,” Victoria said brightly, hoping to divert attention away from Graeme’s unwelcome request.
Grant perked up. “We’d be happy to show you.”
“And thenyoucan show us how to waltz,” Graeme added triumphantly.
Argh.She’d walked right into that one.
Grant jumped from his chair. “I’ll just fetch some swords off the wall in the entrance hall.”
Arnprior glanced up from his correspondence. “There will be absolutelynosword dancing in the house. I’ve told you that a hundred times.”
“But, Nick—” Graeme started.
“No,” the earl said firmly. He looked at Victoria. “It never ends well, and we have the broken furniture to prove it.”
She tried not to look too relieved, although she was tempted to laugh at the mental image of the twins demolishing the sitting room. “I completely understand. Perhaps they can show me out in the courtyard, when the weather is more amenable.”
When the twins groaned their dissatisfaction, their brother was unmoved. “You’ll just have to be satisfied with the standard country dances, which I’m sure you can manage. Besides, Sir Duncan is an old-fashioned sort, and I doubt he will allow the waltz at any of his gatherings.”
“Too scandalous for the Highlands, my lord?” Victoria asked with a smile as she carried over the pot to replenish his teacup. She could almost kiss him for coming to her rescue.
Almost?
“We’re a little backwards up here, if you haven’t noticed,” he said, giving her a wry smile as he held up his cup.
She affected shock to cover for the fact that she was feeling flustered by the notion of kissing him. “Truly? Why, I hadn’t noticed that at all.”
A derisive snort from Angus told her what he thought of their playful exchange. Perhaps he thought she was flirting with his grandson, which she most decidedly was not. She was simply being . . . pleasant.
“Actually, the joke’s on you, Nick,” Graeme said. “Theyaregoing to be playing the waltz. Lady MacLeish is bringing in an orchestra from Glasgow to play all the latest music.”
The earl set his cup down on the desk and gave the twins his full attention. “Really?”
Grant nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, really. We have it on good authority.”
