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He strolled up to the marble porch where Alec impatiently waited, arms crossed and a scowl blackening his normally genial features.
“You’re looking a wee bilious this morning,” Logan said. “Stomach troubles? Hope it’s not catching.”
“Sleeping troubles, as in, getting roused out of bed at the crack of dawn by Donella’s arrival. What the hell did you do to the girl, you bastard?”
“I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even know she’d gone until Victoria told me at breakfast.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
Logan dropped the casual pretense and scowled back at his friend. “What the hell did she tell you, anyway?”
Alec’s gaze narrowed to stone-colored slits. “I’ll thank you not to use such language when referring to my cousin.”
“She’s not even here. Now, tell me what she said so I can fix it.”
“Donella didn’t say a damn word about you. She just stalked in and barked at me before disappearing into her room. Even Edie can barely get a word out of her.”
“Then if she didn’t say anything, why are you glaring at me like I’d just robbed the girl of her virtue?”
That brought Alec barreling forward into Logan’s face. “Did you, in fact, rob her of her virtue?” he growled, jabbing a finger at his nose. “Because then Iwillkill you.”
Logan gave him a shove. “Of course not, you moron. Is that really how you think I would treat her, or any woman for that matter?”
Alec retracted his horns a bit. “You did something to upset her at that blasted ball, and it apparently involved another woman. You’d better set it to right, because if I don’t kill you, Edie surely will.”
“How exactly do you know what happened? You weren’t even at that stupid party, and Donella’s not talking.”
Alec flashed him a toothy grin that looked more like a snarl. “I used to be a spy. I do have my sources.”
Logan shook his head in disgust. “Angus. He brought Joseph over this afternoon to visit. That old fool can never keep his bloody mouth shut.”
“I never reveal a confidential source.”
“Oh, bugger you.”
When Alec smirked at him, Logan considered tossing his friend onto the drive. But that would hardly advance his cause with Donella. Not to mention that Alec would give as good as he got, and sporting a black eye or broken nose would hardly assist his wooing campaign.
“Are you two finished jumping about like bantam roosters?” came a sardonic voice from the top of the steps.
Logan swept off his hat and gave Edie an extravagant bow. “Mrs. Gilbride, you’re looking as lovely as always this fine day.”
“It’s not fine. It’s bloody freezing, so stop acting like nitwits and get in here.”
“Edie, love,” Alec replied, “I’m trying to determine if Logan’s presence will disturb Donella even more. I won’t have the blighter causing trouble.”
Edie pulled her cashmere shawl closer around her shoulders. “That’s for Donella to decide. Now, cease acting like Scottish oafs and get inside.”
“Why your wife ever married you is beyond me,” Logan said to Alec. “She’s too smart and pretty for the likes of you.”
“Oh, I can tell youexactlywhy she married me,” Alec said, waggling his eyebrows.
“You’re an idiot.” Edie turned on her heel and disappeared inside the house.
“Yes, but I’m your idiot,” Alec called after her.
Logan clamped a hand on his friend’s shoulder and propelled him up the stairs. “She’s right. It’s bloody freezing out here, and I would like to see Donella at some point. My son, too.”
“Fine, but you’d best fix this, Logan, or I swear Iwillmurder you.”
