“I already have,” she ruefully said. “I was down here at dawn, and I’ve looked everywhere several times. It’s just . . . gone.”
She looked so woeful that Kade had to clench his hands to keep from pulling her in for a comforting hug.
“I even looked up the chimney, which perhaps was not very wise,” she added with a comical grimace.
Kade bit back a smile. “Then we’ll just expand our search. But we should come up with a plan first. That will partly depend on who you think might have removed the brooch from its hiding place, and why.”
Angus slapped him on his good shoulder. “Good thinkin’, lad. Why don’t ye go for a wee stroll with Miss Charlie to the gazebo? It’s nice and private there, and no one will bother ye. Ye can plan away to yer heart’s content out there, if ye get my drift.”
His grandfather followed up that appalling remark by giving Kade a broad wink.
Wide-eyed, Charlie started to back away towards the door. “Yes, um, I do think we need to come up with a plan. But I have to change for the picnic. And help my mother. I promised to help her, you know. I . . . I’ll see you both later.”
She turned and fled.
“Thank you for that mortifying scene,” Kade said to his grandfather. “You’ve been such a help.”
Angus pointed a finger at him. “It’s time ye learned something, son.”
“And what is that, Grandda?”
“Ye canna fight Cupid. Now, stir yer stumps. Ye have a lassie to rescue.”
CHAPTER13
Charlie studied her brother as their small sailing vessel approached Eilean Munde. He sat in the prow with Sir Leslie, chatting away. But she knew Johnny, and something was wrong. It showed in the jittery bounce of his leg and a restless gaze that darted about, refusing to settle.
Sir Leslie, however, seemed entirely at ease as he lounged on the boat cushions. His friendship with Johnny was a complete mystery to her. Not only was he at least five years older, but he was very much the jaded man about town. Johnny was anything but, only occasionally indulging in the harmless pranks typical of young men his age.
Something was very much amiss, and she was beginning to think that something involved her brooch.
Ainsley, seated next to her, tapped her arm. “Dear girl, where are you?”
Charlie forced a weak smile. “I’m sorry. I’ve been ignoring you, which is terribly rude.”
“You do seem rather lost in thought.” Her stylish friend glanced toward the front of the boat. “I take it you don’t approve of Sir Leslie.”
“I had no idea they were so close until Johnny insisted that he stay on with us. It’s so odd, since they have nothing in common.”
“Another mystery. They’re rather thick on the ground, aren’t they?”
Charlie crinkled her nose. “And you’re supposed to be on holiday, but instead, you’re all pulled into my stupid problems.”
“It’s hard to feel celebratory when one is anxious. But you needn’t worry. Everything will sort itself out, I promise.”
“But how? It seems a complete mess to me, and to be mostly my fault.”
“It’s a mess you can put aside for the afternoon. It’s a beautiful day, and we’re taking a charming boat ride to a picnic. What could be more enchanting?”
“Finding my brooch?” Charlie wryly replied.
“I have every confidence that you and Kade will find it. Dearest, you’re looking a bit pulled around the edges, so a relaxing outing is just what you need.”
If she indeed looked pulled around the edges, Charlie attributed it to the fact that she’d been awake most of the night, fretting about Kade.
“And it’s such a perfect day,” Ainsley added. “The fresh air is so lovely.”
The weather was ideal for their trip to Eilean Munde, a small island off Ballachulish. Their party, which included two other families from the district, was divided between three tidy sailing vessels. The largest carried Ainsley and Charlie, plus the rest of her family and two sailors.
