“Personally, I think it’s a sad state of affairs when a fifteen-year-old boy has more sense than his elders,” she said.
The old man propped his hands on his hips. “Now, see here, lassie—”
“Oh, give over, Grandda,” Royal interrupted. “She’s right. We are fatheads, and that includes Nick.”
Victoria glanced at the library door. “I’m assuming his lordship has yet to respond to any requests for admittance?”
“He has yet to respond to anything,” Royal said tartly. “We’ve banged and yelled but he’s ignored us.”
Angus slumped against the wall. “He’s swallowed a hare.”
Victoria frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“He’s drunk, Miss Knight,” Royal said. “Royally drunk.”
“But his lordship rarely has more than a glass or two of wine at dinner.” She’d never once seen him even slightly tipsy.
“True,” Royal said, “but he’s been drinking ever since Logan showed up.”
“That’s bad,” she said.
“Lassie, ye have no idea howbadit truly is,” Angus said with a sigh.
After the scene this afternoon, she’d taken Kade up to the schoolroom. They’d spoken a bit about Logan, though the boy hadn’t wanted to discuss the incident that had led to the death of Arnprior’s son or the estrangement between the brothers. All she could do was focus Kade on his studies as the best way to pass the time until someone came to speak to him.
When several hours passed with no visit from the earl or anyone else, Victoria had grown almost as worried as her young pupil. They’d finally gone down to dinner only to learn that the earl had ordered everyone to leave him alone and then holed up in his library.
“Then perhaps ye’d better tell her how bad it is,” came Mrs. Taffy’s voice from behind.
Victoria spun around to see the housekeeper in her neat cap and snowy apron, calmly regarding them.
“Dammit, woman,” yelped Angus, scowling at Taffy. “Ye all but gave me a heart attack, sneakin’ up like that.”
“Taffy never sneaks,” Royal said. “She’s just very, very quiet.”
The housekeeper threw a glance at the library door. “He hasna come out yet?”
Angus gloomily shook his head.
“Thatisbad,” she said fretfully. “I think you should let Miss Knight have a try.”
“Try what?” Victoria asked, surprised.
“Try to talk to him. The laird is not listening to his own family, and who could blame the puir man for that?”
“He won’t like it,” Angus warned. “No talking family business to outsiders.”
Victoria sighed. “All this secrecy is getting to be quite trying, I must say.”
“You’re not truly an outsider anymore,” Royal said.
It certainly didn’t feel that way, but it wasn’t Victoria’s place to comment.
“Hmm,” Angus said, “I think yer right about that, lad. And the laird would agree, I reckon.”
A faint warning bell sounded in Victoria’s mind. “I’m not sure—”
Angus interrupted her. “Ye ken the earl had a little boy named Cameron?”
