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The old man’s expression quickly shuttered.
“I won’t tell him you told me, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said. “But I do think it would help me to know.”
Angus seemed to wage an internal debate for a few moments before he waggled his head, making him look a bit like one of his mop-headed dogs. “Ye ken that Victoria is Nick’s second wife?”
“I was aware that his lordship was widowed some years ago.”
“And ye ken that he and his first lady had a son?”
She blinked. “Royal has never mentioned that.” Nor had anyone else, including Victoria, which was surprising.
“Aye, we don’t talk about it much.”
When Angus shifted restlessly in his chair, the dog scrambled up and put a head on her master’s knee. Absently, the old man stroked her, more to comfort himself than the dog, Ainsley suspected.
“What happened?” she asked softly. “Was it an illness?”
“That would have been easier to bear.”
“An accident, then.”
“Cam was only four.” He paused for a moment, as if seeking strength to continue. “He drowned in the stream, in that same spot ye were today. That’s why Royal reacted so poorly. It’s the memories, ye see. They still run strong for all of us.”
Ainsley had to swallow a few times before she could answer. “I . . . that’s horrible. I’m so sorry. For his lordship, for all of you.”
“It all but killed puir Nick. His wife died a few years prior, ye ken, so little Cam was everything to him.” He shook his head. “It almost killed the lot of us, to tell ye the truth.”
The old man looked so quietly heartbroken she was tempted to wrap her arms around his scrawny shoulders. But that would only embarrass him, she suspected.
“Was Royal there when it happened?”
“All the lads were, except Nick. They were fishin’, and Cam slipped and fell into the water. By the time Logan got to him, it was too late.”
Ainsley frowned. “But the water seems quite sluggish there.”
“Now, but in the spring, it’s a torrent that can drag ye down before ye have a chance to catch yer breath.”
No wonder her husband had been so emphatic about her staying clear of the water. “Did Royal go in after the boy too?”
“Nae, not after Cam. He had to go in after Kade.”
“Kade fell in too?” she asked, aghast.
“The boy tried to rescue Cam, but the water was too strong and he almost drowned too. Royal got to him in time, but it was a near thing.”
She briefly pressed a hand to her eyes to hold back the tears. “Oh, God, I cannot imagine what a nightmare that was.”
“Ye dinna want to, lass.”
She lowered her hand. “I’m assuming the poor child’s death had something to do with the estrangement between Lord Arnprior and Logan.”
Angus nodded. “He blamed Logan for Cam’s death. Nick would have killed him that day, so mad with grief he was. But Royal stopped him and convinced Logan to leave Kinglas for a spell, for Nick’s sake.”
Emotion gripped her throat. “It always comes down to Royal, doesn’t it? He tries to save everyone, no matter the cost to himself.”
Her husband was truly the most selfless, big-hearted person she’d ever met. What in God’s name had she ever done to deserve the love of such a man?
“Aye,” replied Angus. “He even followed Nick off to war to watch over him. Royal was afraid the laird would throw himself in front of a French bullet so he could be with his little boy again.”
