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“He’ll only kill you if you don’t tell him.”
“I’ll do it soon, I promise.”
Royal nodded. “What are your plans for Joseph? Surely he should be with his father, here.”
Logan scrubbed a hand over his head. “I didn’t want to uproot him if I wasn’t going to stay.”
“But youaregoing to stay, are you not?”
“I’d like to.”
“Then you should bring him here to live with you, Logan. How can you not want that?”
His brother shot him a dirty look. “I do want that. It’s just that he’s so close to his grandmother. She’s been everything to him.”
Royal studied him. “That’s not the only reason, is it?”
“No,” Logan admitted. “I’m afraid of what he might face here, as an outsider. There’s a powerful lot of hatred in the world, Royal, and I don’t want my boy growing up with that. It’s hard enough back in Canada, but at least his family is there. His people are there. It’s the only life he’s ever known.”
“Yet he has a family in Scotland who would also love and be there for him. Never doubt that.”
“Thank you, lad,” his brother said with a grateful smile. “I will think on it, I promise. Now, get yourself home. Your daughter is waiting for you.”
Royal stood and retrieved his hat from the bookcase behind his desk. “You’re not coming?”
“I’ll walk out with you, but I promised to meet with my banker at the Tontine Coffee House on the way home.”
“We’ll wait dinner for you, then.”
After locking up the offices, they headed out and parted ways at the top of the street. Though Royal could have taken a hackney to Kendrick House, it felt good to stretch his legs after so many hours behind a desk. Still, he couldn’t deny that he liked earning an income again, especially the generous one his brother insisted he take. While Nick would always provide for the family’s needs, Royal was happy knowing he could support Tira and put money aside for her future.
A short time later, he turned into a quiet street lined with distinguished houses, most of which had been built by the Tobacco Lords of the previous century. Kendrick House, which stood in the middle of the block across from a small garden square, served as home for various members of the family, although right now only Royal, Logan, and Angus were in residence. Braden, the second youngest Kendrick, had recently moved to Edinburgh to study medicine.
As much as Royal missed Braden, given how accident-prone the Kendricks were, having a physician in the family would certainly come in handy.
“Good evening, Mr. Royal,” said the footman who responded to his knock. “There’s a visitor to see you, sir. In the front drawing room.”
“Thank you, Will.” Royal handed over his hat and gloves. “Who—”
“Hsst, get up here, lad,” came a loud whisper from above them.
Royal glanced up to see Angus at the top of the stairs. His two favorite terriers were sitting at his feet and Tira was propped on his shoulder.
“Grandda, what are you doing?”
“Hush,” Angus said. “Just get up here.”
Royal glanced at Will, who’d adopted a studiously bland expression, and headed up the staircase. Angus waited impatiently, jiggling Tira.
“I hope she hasn’t just eaten,” Royal said. “You’ll jog her dinner right out of her.”
“Och, she’s fine,” Angus said.
Royal smoothed a hand over his daughter’s jet-black hair. “Hello, darling. Papa is very happy to see you.”
Tira, half-asleep, gave Royal the smile that never failed to turn him into mush. Then she yawned and rubbed her chubby cheek against her grandfather’s coat.
“You look ready for bed, little one,” Royal said, patting her back. He glanced at Angus. “Why is she still up?”
