“Well, see that you don’t,” she finally said.
“Now that we’ve sorted that out,” Angus said, “why don’t we lock up scabby Sir Leslie and then have a wee dram. Catchin’ villains is thirsty work, ye ken.”
“That is the first sensible suggestion you’ve made all evening, MacDonald,” Papa said. “Possibly ever.”
When Angus started to bristle, Charlie hastily stepped in to divert the discussion.
“You obviously know about Johnny and his troubles,” she said to her father. “Please don’t be too upset with him. Sir Leslie put such a fright into him that Johnny truly didn’t know what to do. And he’s very sorry. I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.”
“I’ll admit I wasn’t best pleased with either you or him,” Papa replied. “But after discussing the situation with Kendrick, it’s clear that Morgan was preying on the lad. Still, Johnny was exceedingly foolish to allow himself to get mixed up with such a scoundrel, and I will be giving him a good piece of my mind.”
“But you won’t do anything drastic, like cutting off his funds or disowning him?”
“Good God, Charlie,” her father exclaimed. “How did you come up with such a ridiculous notion?”
Charlie declined to point out that he’d said exactly that only a few weeks ago, when falling into a massive snit about Johnny’s spendthrift ways. She should have remembered, however, that Papa’s bark was always worse than his bite, and that she was just as guilty of misreading the situation as Johnny was.
She gave him a hug. “Thank you, Papa. That’s very understanding of you.”
He hugged her back before letting her go. “I’m not done with you yet, missy. You have more than a few questions to answer when we get back to the house.”
“I know, and I’m sorry about the brooch. It was very stupid of me to steal it.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Well, it was really your mamma and Melissa who were so upset. It’s not as ifIwas pushing you to marry Richard, now was I?”
“What?” Angus exclaimed. “Ye were practically selling her off to booby Campbell, and ye know it.”
Papa got huffy again. “That is a nonsensical—”
The sound of rapid footsteps interrupted him. A moment later, their butler came rushing up, closely followed by Tommy, one of the footmen.
“My lord,” Simmons gasped, rather out of breath. “We’ve been searching for you everywhere.”
“Well, you’ve found me. What’s amiss?”
“Lady Kinloch was concerned that you and your guests had all gone missing. Mr. Johnny is in quite a state, and Miss Melissa . . .”
Simmons trailed off, his eyes suddenly popping wide at the sight of Sir Leslie, apparently lifeless.
“Is . . . is he . . . dead?” he asked in a horrified tone.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Simmons,” Papa brusquely replied. “Miss Charlotte simply knocked him out with the butt of her shotgun.”
“Actually, I think he’s already starting to rouse,” Kade said.
A moan issued from Sir Leslie’s mouth as he stirred.
Papa waved an impatient hand at Simmons and Tommy. “Don’t just stand there, you two, haul the blighter up. We need to get him back to the house and locked away. Put him in his dressing room for now, I suppose. He shouldn’t be able to cause any trouble in there.”
“Yes, my lord,” Simmons faintly replied.
“Here, I’ll help you,” Kade said.
Taking Sir Leslie by the collar, he hauled him to his feet, holding him steady while Simmons and Tommy came to relieve him.
“Kade, mind your shoulder,” Charlie warned.
He smiled at her. “I’m fine, love.”
