God only knew how their father would react. If he became angry enough, he might force Johnny to leave university. He might even disinherit him from those parts of the estate not entailed.
“Kade, this could be bad,” she added with a grimace.
“I know. The problem isn’t your brother. It’s Morgan. The bastard has no business preying on someone who is hardly more than a boy. I have no intention of allowing that to stand. I will not watch him wreak havoc on you and your family.”
Kade’s cobalt gaze was now hard as flint. His entire attitude had transformed from one of quiet sympathy to a steely resolve. It was, she realized, a glimpse at the man who’d spent two years roaming the Continent as an agent of the Crown.
“I agree entirely,” she said. “But how do we accomplish that?”
“It won’t be in a court of law.”
When he didn’t elaborate, Charlie gave him a wry smile. “In other words, you intend to put the fear of God into him.”
“Or at least the fear of Clan Kendrick. First, though, we need to catch him in the act of threatening Johnny. Then we’ve got him.”
“That makes sense, I suppose,” she said, a bit dubious. “But we cannot put Johnny in harm’s way.”
“Charlie, I give you my word that Johnny will come to no harm,” he firmly replied. “His injury is fortuitous in that respect, since it will confine him to the house or the garden. Between you, me, and Angus, it should be easy enough to keep an eye on him.”
“We might enlist Colin. We could tell him that Sir Leslie is a bad influence and he’s trying to get Johnny to gamble at cards.”
Kade gave her an encouraging smile. “That’s an excellent idea, lass.”
“Good. Since that’s settled, what do we do with the brooch?”
He slipped it back into its pouch. “I’ll keep it for now, if you don’t mind. No one will think to look for it here.”
“That makes sense, but I have to be the one who supposedly finds it. Ifyoureturn it, my father will pressure you to marry me. He’ll pester you endlessly, since he now sees it as a matter of honor. I won’t put you in that position.”
He frowned. “Of course I’m going to give you the brooch. I’m also going to marry you, so you needn’t worry about your father’s reaction.”
His blunt pronouncement was . . . thrilling, she supposed. It was also exceedingly unloverlike.
“Kade, that’s so nice of you, but—”
His eyebrows shot up. “‘Nice’? Really?”
Her patience started to slip a wee bit. “We have yet to even discuss marriage, much less what our life together would be like. For instance, where would we live? And would you wish me to travel with you when you’re touring? If not, where would I live? With your family? With my family? These are matters we must discuss before charging ahead.”
She hated to admit it, but there were a few significant obstacles standing between them. For one thing, she truly was a country bumpkin who’d barely set foot out of the Highlands. What did she know about the kind of life he led?
“Of course we’ll discuss all that, but I do know what I want, Charlie. I want you.”
His confident reply eased her onset of nerves. He probably thought her a ninny for asking those questions, but she had to be certain thathewas certain. Because if even a smidgen of doubt existed between them, Charlie knew the obstacles might be too large to overcome.
She twirled a hand. “So you’ve no doubts at all?”
His smile suddenly flashed. “Ah. Now I see the problem.”
“You do?”
“Yes, and I know just how to solve it.”
A moment later—so quickly that she gasped—Charlie found herself sprawled on his lap.
“What . . . what are you doing?” she yelped as she grabbed his shoulders.
“I’m fixing the problem.”
