Richard chuckled. “I see the old fellow is just as outrageous as ever. I’d quite forgotten what an original you are, Mr. MacDonald.”
“Ha,” barked Lord Kinloch from the other end of the table. “‘Original.’ That’s one way to describe it.”
Lady Kinloch looked pained at the intrusion. “Charlotte, would you please ask Johnny to convey to your father that he should not shout down the table at us?”
Johnny, who’d been solely focused on his food, glanced up at his mother. “I can hear you, Mamma. I’m sure father can, too.”
“Sorry, my dear,” Kinloch said in a hearty voice. “I’m forgetting my manners, but we’re just family and friends now, aren’t we?”
Lady Kinloch turned her attention to Kade, trying to regroup. “Mr. Kendrick, while I hate to presume, might I be so bold as to ask you to play for us later?”
“Yes, please,” exclaimed Melissa, clapping her hands. “That would be simply splendid.”
“I should be happy to oblige,” Kade said.
“Huzzah,” enthused Kinloch, forgetting his wife’s admonition. “You could play a little duet with Charlie, eh? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind, would you, my dear?”
Charlie dropped her spoon and stared at her father with abject dismay. “Papa, I couldn’t possibly do that. I’m simply an amateur.”
Kinloch beamed at her. “Nonsense, pet. You play the prettiest ballads on that fiddle of yours. No one better in the county, save the vicar.”
When Charlie’s shoulders climbed up around her ears, Kade cudgeled his brain to find a polite way to get the lass off the hook.
“I didn’t know you played the violin, Charlotte,” Ainsley said. “That’s an unusual choice for a lady, although I’m not sure why. It’s such a lovely instrument, you’d think many a girl would wish to learn it. When Kade plays for us, it’s such a treat.”
Angus nodded. “Our lad is a wonder. He gets his talent from me.”
Charlie, gamely recovering, smiled at Angus. “Mr. Kendrick told me that you play the bagpipes. I adore the bagpipes and wish I’d learned to play them.”
Richard frowned at her. “Why would you want to play those infernal things? If you ask me, they always sound like a goat getting throttled.”
“And have you actually heard a goat getting throttled?” Kade couldn’t help asking.
“You know what I mean,” Richard said, annoyed.
Angus exhaled a dramatic sigh. “Aye, that’s a Campbell for ye. Doesna appreciate his own heritage. I’ll be happy to give ye a few lessons on the pipes, Miss Charlotte, if we can rustle up a pair.”
“Grandda, I’m sure Miss Charlotte will be too busy with wedding preparations,” Royal tactfully put in.
“And thank God for that,” Richard said with a smirk. “I quite recall Mr. MacDonald’s efforts on the bagpipes. Words fail me, I’m afraid. Oh, wait . . . strangled goat, anyone?”
“Oh, Lord,” Royal muttered.
While Kade prepared to grab onto his grandfather to forestall impending mayhem, Charlie glared at Richard.
“What an utterly mean-spirited remark,” she said. “I’m shocked that you would say such a thing about my mother’s cousin—or about anyone, for that matter.”
A short, fraught silence took hold of the room. Even Lady Kinloch seemed at a loss.
Richard starched up. “It’s just a little jest, Charlotte. I don’t mean to be rude.”
“Apparently you do,” she replied.
“Charlotte, please remember yourself,” Lady Kinloch exclaimed. “Richard is our guest.”
Richard mustered up a smile. “It’s quite all right, my lady. Miss Charlotte is just having a little sport with me. The ladies must have their fun, eh?”
Kade stared at him in disbelief. The man truly was an idiot.
