Kade was fairly certain she was not making that threat in jest.
“One step at a time, love,” he replied. “First we get the vowels, and then we start to apply more pressure, all right?”
She gave a reluctant nod. “Very well. But if Morgan tries to hurt Johnny, we do it my way, understood?”
“Absolutely.”
While the plan forming in Kade’s head did involve a certain degree of risk, it would not be to Johnny or Charlie. It would be to him. That wee detail, however, he intended to keep to himself.
CHAPTER22
“You know what to do, Grandda?” Kade quietly asked as he joined his grandfather at the drinks trolley.
“Aye. We’ve gone over yer bloody plan three times, and I still think it’s dodgy.”
“All we need to do is keep everyone occupied so I can do a proper search of Morgan’s bedroom for Johnny’s vowels. I didn’t have much time this morning, but now with all the servants belowstairs having dinner, I should be undisturbed.”
His grandfather cast a dubious glance towards the card table at the other end of the drawing room, where Melissa and Lady Kinloch were pairing up against Colin and Morgan.
“How did ye get them all lined up like that, especially Morgan?”
“I suggested to Colin that given all the recent turmoil, cards might be a good distraction for the ladies. Since Lord Kinloch doesn’t play, Colin was perfectly capable of arriving at the conclusion that Morgan would be needed as the fourth.”
Angus snorted. “Nae doubt he’s delirious with joy to be playin’ for chicken stakes with the ladies. Yer pullin’ quite a few strings here, laddie boy. Let’s hope yer luck doesn’t run out.”
“It’s not luck. It’s thinking ahead and foreseeing possible sticking points.”
“Is Charlie one of those stickin’ points? That’s why ye sent her up to sit with Johnny, I reckon. Gettin’ her out of the way.”
“Given that she spent most of dinner glaring death threats across the table at Morgan,” Kade dryly replied, “it seemed the wisest course of action.”
Angus nodded. “If that lass doesn’t kill the blighter before we’re done with this, it’ll be a miracle. I thought she was going to leap across the table and stab his eyes out with the butter knife.”
Dinner had proved an awkward affair, to put it mildly. Johnny had agreed to stay safely in his room, claiming that he was feeling poorly. That, naturally, had set both Lady Kinloch and Melissa to fretting. Lord Kinloch had gloomily chewed his way through the meal, barely saying a word and ignoring any attempts to engage him in conversation.
Thankfully, Charlie had kept the peace. Although she’d spent most of dinner glowering at Morgan, so had Angus. Because his grandfather had muttered a few choice insults about jaw-me-dead twiddlepoops that could be heard by everyone at the table, Kade doubted that Morgan had even noticed Charlie’s murderous glances.
But even with the insults and glowers the blighter remained unperturbed as he bored them all with yet another round of stories about society life and quizzed Kade about his efforts to find the brooch.
Kade had responded politely, simply stating that he had a few ideas about where to look next and that he hoped to find it very soon. Morgan had reacted as hoped—with a flare of alarm. He’d quickly recovered, though. Winking at Kade, he’d wished him good hunting, and congratulated him on his impending success in claiming his prize. At that point, Kinloch had roused from his gloom and snapped at the idiot, telling him to keep his chuckleheaded comments to himself.
Shortly after that trenchant remark, the ladies had risen from the table and thankfully brought dinner to a close.
“Charlie is best kept out of the way for now,” Kade said to his grandfather. “But she also understands that Morgan won’t be able to get to Johnny as long as she’s with him.”
Angus cocked a bushy white eyebrow. “But what if Morgan decides to try to get her out of the way?”
“The only thing that worries me in that regard is the very real possibility that Charlie would shoot the bastard,” Kade replied. “Since I would prefer my betrothed to avoid possible murder charges, I intend to keep her as far away from Morgan as possible.”
“Aye, yer lady’s a prime one. Still, I’m nae happy aboot leavin’ the scabby blighter without a minder. Are ye sure ye don’t want me to stay down here to keep watch on him?”
Kade had no intention of letting either Charlie or his grandfather get mixed up in his actual plans for the evening—not that either of them needed to know that.
“Morgan will be safely ensconced at the card table until the tea tray comes in,” he replied. “That should give me plenty of time to search.”
Angus still looked dubious but finally shrugged. “I expect ye know what yer about.”
“I am the master spy, after all.”
