Seated between her fiancé and Lady Kinloch on one of the other sofas, Melissa stared earnestly at Richard. “OfcourseMr. Kade Kendrick is our guest of honor. He’s very famous, you know, and quite the toast of the Continent. We are so, so lucky that he graciously agreed to gift us with his presence.”
Royal started to laugh before covering it up with a cough.
“Something stuck in your throat, old boy?” Kade politely asked.
“Something,” his brother managed.
“Naturally, you are all our honored guests,” Lady Kinloch said, obviously keen to bring the absurd discussion to a conclusion. “Henry, why are you standing about like that? By all means, do please fetch the drinks. The dinner gong will be going off shortly.”
Kinloch snapped his fingers. “Perfectly right, my dear. Mr. Royal, a whisky. And Mr. Kade, you’ll be having a . . .”
“A whisky,” Charlie firmly interjected. “Both Mr. Kendricks drink whisky, Papa. I, however, will have another sherry, if you don’t mind.”
Her father frowned at the glass in her hand. “But you haven’t finished your first one.”
Charlie brought the delicate glass to her lips and quickly drained the contents. Then she handed the glass to her father.
Richard looked shocked, while Melissa let out a horrified squeak.
“A lassie after my own heart,” Angus said, winking at her.
Lady Kinloch, after casting Charlie an irritated glance, rose. She dredged up a smile for Kade. “Mr. Kendrick, do sit by Melissa. She would love to hear about your musical plans for the wedding.”
Having quickly recovered from her shock at her sister’s behavior, Melissa fluttered her eyelashes at Kade. “Yes, please. I am simplyagogwith excitement. I cannotbelieveyou’re going to play at my wedding. Dear sir, I grow positively light-headed just thinking about it.”
Colin, Melissa’s fiancé, leveled a glare at Kade. The evening was rapidly descending into a farce, and Kade had barely opened his mouth.
He took a seat next to Melissa. “It would be my pleasure, Miss Melissa.”
Royal took pity on Colin and got him up for a discussion about hunting. Charlie soon joined in, as did Richard. Kade listened with half an ear, discerning with amusement that Charlie was a more accomplished hunter than either Richard or Colin. From the sour expression on Richard’s face, it was obvious he didn’t approve of her sporting prowess.
“Mr. Kendrick,” Melissa said, “please do let me tell you about the decorations Mamma and I have planned for the reception room. I hope they’ll meet with your approval.”
“I’m sure they will,” he said with a smile.
He listened politely as Melissa described the decorations and other wedding details. Everyone else in the room was now also engaged in conversation but for Johnny. He’d wandered off to the window and was absently staring out at the descending dusk. Kade sensed that something was bothering the lad. Of course, it seemed clear that his father didn’t approve of him, so perhaps that was it. Still—
The gong sounded, interrupting his ruminations. A moment later, the door opened and Simmons paced back into the room.
“Dinner is served, my lady,” he announced in a stentorian tone.
Kade stood and gave Melissa a hand up from the sofa. She fluttered off to Colin while Kade joined Ainsley and Angus.
“Finally,” Angus grumbled. “If I had to listen to that jinglebrains of a Campbell one moment longer, I’d have gutted him like a maggot-ridden hog.”
Ainsley sighed. “Grandda, you must stop threatening the guests, even if that guest is a Campbell.”
Angus jerked his head toward Richard. “Just look at him, botherin’ that bonny lass. She wants naught to do with him, and yet the idiot willna leave her alone.”
Richard was now gallantly offering his arm to Charlie, insisting that he escort her into dinner. When she politely tried to put him off, Lady Kinloch intervened, directing her daughter to accept his offer.
Her ladyship then addressed Kade. “If you would be so kind as to escort your grandfather in to dinner.”
“Elspeth, I’ve been gettin’ myself in to dinner for yon eighty years,” Angus replied with asperity. “I dinna need to totter along on Kade’s arm, ye ken.”
“Do stop making such a fuss, Angus,” Lady Kinloch replied. “You’re holding up dinner.”
She then turned and swept across the room, following the others already making their way to the dining room.
