“Angus, why don’t you go in and get Tira settled,” Royal suggested. “We’ll be up shortly to help.”
Lady Kinloch flashed him a grateful smile. “Yes, one of the footmen will bring you up. We’ve prepared a lovely room for your daughter on the nursery floor.”
“Let’s get to it, lass,” Angus said, taking Tira’s hand and then following one of the footmen into the house.
After flashing another apologetic smile at Kade and Royal, Lady Kinloch ushered Ainsley in as well.
“Well, that was fun,” Royal said to Kade. “If I’d known how Lord Kinloch felt about Angus, I would have left him at Cairndow.”
“Do you have any idea why they so obviously hate each other?” Kade asked.
“I think I do,” Kinloch’s son interjected. “I’m John Henry, by the way, but you can call me Johnny. It’s a pleasure to meet you and your family.”
“Not so far, I suspect,” Kade wryly replied. “But let’s hope things improve.”
Johnny, who looked to be in his early twenties, flashed a grin. Like Melissa, he bore a greater resemblance to his mother than his father and seemed rather shy.
“So, lad,” Royal said. “What can you tell us about the enmity between your esteemed father and my not-so-esteemed grandfather? I thought it was to be pistols at dawn for a moment there.”
“It has to do with the Massacre of Glencoe,” Johnny explained. “They had a fight about it a long time ago. According to Mamma, Angus called my father a scaly-toed traitor.”
Royal snorted. “That sounds exactly like Grandda.”
“But the MacDonald and Stewart clans have always been allies,” Kade said. “The Stewarts had nothing to do with Glencoe anyway. And let’s not forget it happened well over one hundred years ago.”
“It’s because of the Campbells,” Johnny replied. “They were responsible for the massacre of the MacDonalds at Glencoe, and I suppose your grandfather still holds it against them.”
Royal shook his head. “That still makes no sense, even for Angus. Campbells and MacDonalds have gotten along for years. There have even been marriages between various branches of the families. I distinctly remember all of us, including Angus, going to one such wedding when we were children.”
“Since when was making sense a requirement for our grandfather?” Kade glanced at Johnny. “Where do the Stewarts fit into this bizarre scenario?”
“My father told Mr. MacDonald that it was silly to hang on to old feuds, that the Campbells were now good friends, and that the clans had better things to do than argue about ancient history.”
Kade sighed. “That would do it. Angus is very devoted to clan history, or at least his version of it.”
“According to Mamma,” Johnny said, “your grandfather demanded my father renounce his ties to the Campbells and swear allegiance to the old ties between the Stewart and MacDonald clans. Papa told him to get stuffed.”
Royal covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Apparently, there was quite a set-to,” Johnny added. “Lord Arnprior had to forcefully intervene, although I’m not really sure what Mamma meant by that.”
“I am,” Kade dryly replied.
He had little doubt that poor Nick had been forced to cart Angus off bodily.
“How long ago was this?” Royal asked.
Johnny screwed up his face, thinking. “Maybe eighteen years ago? They’ve hated each other ever since. I’m surprised that Mamma invited Mr. MacDonald, though she’s always been fond of him. I suppose she thinks it’s time he and Papa lay down their arms.”
“This so-called feud is completely ridiculous,” Kade said. “Even for Angus.”
“Welcome back to the Highlands, laddie,” Royal replied. “Where old grudges never die.”
“We’ll just have to make the best of it,” Kade said. “Keeping Grandda under control will be the usual challenge, but as long as there are no Campbells about, we should be able to manage it.”
“You eternal optimist,” Royal sardonically commented.
Johnny grimaced apologetically. “But there’s going to be at least one Campbell here for the wedding. And he’s coming early, just like you.”
