When Royal choked on a sip of coffee, Ainsley thumped him on the back.
“Really, Grandda,” she said. “That is quite childish of you.”
“I ken what I ken.”
Kade frowned at his grandfather. “I was not kissing Charlie in the gazebo. Nor did she reveal at that time that she’d stolen the brooch. I found out later, when she went to retrieve it from its hiding place in the music room.”
“I’ll wager she was not best pleased about that,” Ainsley said with a wry smile.
“She was not.”
Although she’d seemed quite pleased once he’d gotten around to kissing her.
“She’ll get over it,” Angus said. “So I reckon the plan is to keep hidin’ the brooch until booby Richard and Sir Leslie hie themselves off, and then ye can be the hero and find the bloody thing.” He beamed at Kade. “It’s a fine plan, lad. Good on ye.”
“I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to play hero, because someone else has now stolen the blasted thing from under Charlie’s nose.”
Royal sighed. “And thus the real problem.”
“Yes.”
“Och, that’s nae good,” Angus said with disapproval. “And shame on ye for lettin’ it slip away like that.”
“Grandda, I was only guessing where it might be. I had to wait until Charlie actually told me, and by then it was gone.”
“Is it possible that one of the servants could have found it?” Royal asked.
“Charlie feels that’s highly unlikely.”
“And if booby Campbell had it, he’d be crowing all over the place by now,” Angus said.
“True,” Kade said.
His grandfather pushed back his chair and stood. “Then it’s a good thing ye have me to help. I’m a wonder at solvin’ mysteries, as ye well ken.”
“Grandda, what are you doing now?” Kade asked.
“Goin’ to the music room, ye jinglebrains. That’s the scene of the crime, so that’s where we’ll start our detectin’.”
Kade couldn’t hold back a deep sigh.
“Angus is right,” Royal said, clearly trying not to laugh. “Best crack on.”
“I searched the room last night,” Kade said. He’d gone over every inch of the room after he’d sent Charlie to bed and had found nothing.
Angus waved a hand. “Ye might have missed somethin’. It being dark and all.”
“I did not miss anything. And I’d like another cup of coffee first, if you don’t mind.”
“Fine, I’ll start searchin’ myself.” Angus stomped out of the room.
“You’d best go after him, Kade,” Ainsley said. “You know he’ll just cause trouble on his own.”
Tira put her napkin down and stood. “I can help, too, Uncle Kade. I’m very good at finding things.”
“Tira, we’re going to help Lady Kinloch get ready for the picnic, remember?” Ainsley said. “There’s an awful lot to be done before we can leave.”
When Tira rolled her eyes, Kade winked at her. “You can help me search later, pet. Maybe we’ll do some snooping on the island while the others are having their picnic.”
