Page 26 of A Scoundrel’s Promise

She hesitated. “Lord Dunn is quite upset over his daughter’s involvement.”

Mackenzie. He’d tried everything in his power not to think of her the entire evening and with little success. He tamped down the fury that rose each time he recalled Mallatratt walking toward Lady Mackenzie. Because of him, she’d been in that situation. The man would have killed her and then some. He’d thought Lady Mackenzie nothing more than a beautiful spoiled girl…he was wrong.

Kyla’s eyes softened. “Thank God she was there.”

Liam looked up sharply.

At the sound of footsteps, they both turned as Ewan entered the room. Always a man of few words, he said nothing, but he didn’t need to. The smile he sent Kyla spoke volumes.

“I was just leaving.” Kyla rose and reached for his hand as he stopped before her.

Ewan ran his thumb over her hand. “I will join you, in a moment.”

Kyla smiled and turned to Liam. “I am grateful you’re safe.” Her gaze altered, and she added, “Both of you.”

Liam tensed. Could the woman read his soul?

When she left, Ewan arched a brow. “Both?”

Liam shrugged and turned back to his drawings. “Kyla is a romantic.”

“Does something lie between you and Dunn’s daughter?”

Trust Ewan to drive directly to the point. Liam gave an acid laugh. “You know better, Ewan. I could never attain a woman such as Lady Mackenzie.”

He winced inwardly. The indirectness of his reply provided more of an answer than if he’d simply said ‘yes’.

“They found the thieves,” Ewan said, and gratitude flooded Liam that his brother didn’t press the matter. “Mallatratt wasn’t among the rustlers.”

Liam raised his head. “He has fled Scotland, if he’s wise.”

“Aye,” Ewan agreed.

They exchanged a look, one in which Liam read his older brother’s concern. Wounded and branded a rustler, Mallatratt would be hellbent on revenge.

“If they find him, he will implicate Kyla’s father—and you—in Brodrick’s smuggling ring,” Liam said.

Ewan drew in a deep breath. “Aye. It is unlikely they will believe him. If need be, I will have a talk with Constable Hamilton. The Home Office will intercede if necessary.”

Liam grunted. “Our illustrious constable may not be pleased that your wife’s father successfully ran the smuggling ring for two years right under his nose.”

His brother grunted a laugh. “Let us hope he never has to know.” Ewan directed an inquiring gaze on the drawings spread out on the desk. “You have made progress.”

“I have decided to do as you suggest and return to university,” he said. He wasn’t aware until he’d said the words aloud that he’d finally made up his mind.

His brother crossed his arms and waited.

“God, Ewan, you dinnae make this easy,” Liam paused. “I cannot stay.”

He couldn’t be around Mackenzie anymore, not when she was out of reach. Even if by some miracle, her father would have agreed to their match, that possibility had slipped through his fingers. She was betrothed to another man, if one could call that fop, Lord Gilford, a man.

“I will go. Once Mallatratt is found,” he added the last in a rush.

Even if Mackenzie could never be his, he’d sure as hell see her safe before he left. He would move heaven and hell to locate Mallatratt before her wedding. He couldn’t see her give herself to the pasty-faced Gilford. God, what was her father thinking? Gilford couldn’t please a lass like Mackenzie. He’d thought her merely a spoiled goddess. He’d been wrong. She was a firebrand, willful, strong, yet so damned female. She’d molded to him perfectly. He could feel her breasts in his hands, so round, so firm as she’d arched against him. What he wouldn’t give to run his hands over those buttocks, in the naked flesh.

He inhaled.

Such thoughts were dangerous.

Liam drew his brows in a line. “I will see that the drawings for Dunn are complete before I go.” He turned to face his brother.

Ewan was gone.