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He affected a casual shrug. “Doesn’t matter. I’m sure I’ll never see her again.”
Maggie craned around to study his face. “But Uncle Graeme, when Papa first met Mamma, he rescued her, and then they went and got married. Maybe you’re supposed to marry a lady when you rescue her.”
Graeme almost choked. “I barely know Lady Sabrina, pet. Besides, I’m waiting for you to grow up so we can be spies together, remember?”
Aden almost levitated with outrage. “What?”
His daughter ignored him to give Graeme another cheek-splitting grin. “I remember. That’ll be such fun.”
“Oh, my God,” her father muttered.
“Come along, darling,” Vivien said, “before you give your father an apoplectic fit.”
Maggie slid off Graeme’s lap and joined her mother. “What’s an ap . . . popectic fit?”
“It’s what you give Papa on a regular basis.”
“She’s not the only one,” Aden grumbled.
His wife ignored him, ushering Maggie out into the care of a waiting maid. When she returned to perch on the leather ottoman at her husband’s feet, Aden sighed.
“Now, what?” he asked with resignation.
Vivien flashed a smile. “You’re awfully good, you know. Iswearyou can read my mind.”
Aden leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead. Vivien’s eyes fluttered shut, and she rested a hand on her husband’s knee.
Envy flashed through Graeme like a bolt of lightning—envy for what Aden and Vivien shared, good and bad. They had a lively and sometimes contentious relationship, but there was no doubt they loved and guarded each other and their children with fierce devotion.
“I’ve had plenty of practice in doing so,” Aden said. “Especially since you’re as good at keeping secrets as your daughter.”
Vivien grimaced. “This is one secret I wish I could keep.”
“Is it about who Lady Sabrina was waiting for in the park?” Graeme asked.
“Yes, and neither of you is going to be happy with the answer.” She threw Graeme a troubled look. “Especially not you.”
“I’ve just met the lass. Why would I care?”
“Because she was meeting the Marquess of Cringlewood.”
For several moments, ominous thunder seemed to rumble around in Graeme’s head, even as a fraught silence weighed heavily on the room. The mental noise inside him built to a crescendo, pushing him up out of his chair.
“Right, I’m off,” he said.
Aden pointed a finger at him. “Sit down, Graeme.”
“Bugger that.”
“Sit. Down.”
Graeme grimaced, but sat. When Aden employed that tone of voice, everyone—even stubborn Highlanders—obeyed without question.
Still, he couldn’t help glaring at his chief. “Did you know the bastard was back in town?”
“Of course not. I would have told you about it—and done something about it, too.”
“I don’t know that you can do anything,” Vivien said.
