He stepped into Andrew’s path and narrowed his gaze on his stupid, smirking face. He tried to put ice into his expression, like he’d seen Nick do a thousand times to bounders and fools. Nick was famous for intimidating people with his cold, calm stare, and Kade hoped he’d inherited that talent.
Amazingly, Andrew blinked, as if genuinely taken aback. He peered at Kade, seeming unsure what to do. For a delirious moment, Kade thought he might actually apologize.
Then the big bully let out an ugly laugh. “Bugger you, Kendrick. And get out of my way before I knock your stupid block off.”
“No, bugger you,” Charlie retorted.
Quick as a flash, she threw a sharp punch that caught Andrew right on the nose. The boy let out a muffled shriek and staggered back as he clapped a hand over his face.
“You hit me,” he exclaimed.
Charlie grimaced a bit and shook out her hand. “And I’ll do it again if you don’t leave us alone.”
Then she turned to Richard, who was gaping at her.
“Richard, please take your brother back to the house. His nose is bleeding.”
Blood leaked out from between Andrew’s fingers as he cradled his nose. The rest of his face was almost as red, mottled with fury, as he glared at Charlie.
“How d . . . dare you hit me!” he blustered.
She shrugged. “You deserved it.”
The boy took a step forward, but Richard finally intervened.
“Stop it,” he snapped, grabbing Andrew’s arm. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one day. Let’s just get back to the house before you bleed all over yourself.”
As Richard dragged him away, Andrew threw an angry glance over his shoulder.
“I’ll get you for this,” he yelled at Charlie.
“I doubt it,” she called back. Then she turned to Kade, a concerned expression on her elfin features. “Are you all right?”
He stared at her for a moment. “I’m fine. Are you?”
“My hand’s a little sore. I’ll ice it when we get to the house.”
Kade let out a disbelieving laugh. “Really?”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “He’s not the first boy I’ve hit, and he probably won’t be the last.” Then she looked vaguely alarmed. “You don’t mind, do you? Did you want to hit him first?”
“I did, rather, but I suspect you’re better at it than I am.”
“I’ve probably had more practice.”
Then she plunked back down on the bench and picked up the book. “Now, where were we? You were going to tell me about your book.” She glanced at the page. “Gluck. He wrote some famous operas, didn’t he? I’ve never heard an opera. I’d quite like to, one day.”
Kade sank down next to her, letting her sweet, girlish voice flow over him. He should be embarrassed that he hadn’t acted quickly enough to defend himself, forcing her to step in. But he wasn’t. Charlie obviously didn’t see him as either weak or an invalid, unable to stand up to a bully. She simply saw him as . . . a friend.
And that was splendid.
CHAPTER1
Castle Kinglas, Scotland
July 1828
Kade sighed as he met the Earl of Arnprior’s flinty gaze. A verbal trouncing from big brother was in the offing, and he had only himself to blame, since he was the idiot who’d got himself stabbed in the first place.
