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Vicky capitulated. “Very well, but please stay inside the carriage. I will not have you embarrassing Nicholas or your grandsons.”
“I’ll be the only proper-dressed Highlander in the entire city, ye ken.”
“Weneedto go,” Graeme reiterated.
Sabrina glanced at him before taking his grandfather’s arm. “I think you look extremely dashing, Mr. MacDonald. Shall we sit together?”
Angus beamed his approval. “Call me Angus, lass. Or Grandda. We consider ye part of the family.” He winked at Graeme as he escorted Sabrina to the door.
Ainsley snickered and took Vicky’s arm to follow them out.
“And do we consider Lady Sabrina part of the family?” Royal asked Graeme in an innocent tone.
“Oh, shut it,” Graeme snapped as he propelled his brother down toward the waiting carriages.
* * *
Poor Graeme had been radiating frustration since they departed Heriot Row, no doubt because of Angus. Sabrina, however, liked the old fellow. He’d paid her a great deal of attention, taking her for walks in the parks and filling her with information about Graeme. She enjoyed those chats, although the subject under discussion would be dismayed to hear some of the amusing stories his grandfather had told her.
Angus was clearly matchmaking, as were several other Kendricks. The fact that they were rather obvious was alarming her already skittish prey.
Sabrina swallowed a chuckle at the notion of Graeme as helpless prey. She’d never met a more formidable or competent man, and every moment in his company placed her heart in more danger. She’d avoided such danger in the past, but now it lured her with a siren’s call.
She hoped Graeme heard that call, too.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Something amusing, my lady?”
She mentally blinked. “I’m simply enjoying the sights. It’s quite the extravagant display.”
As the carriage rolled under a festooned lamppost, Graeme swatted aside a fluttering banner that would have taken off his hat. It seemed that every square inch of pillar, post, or brickwork had been decorated with streamers, banners, and placards of welcome. One could barely see the buildings for all the embellishments. It was a festive sight, and the locals were clearly in a corresponding mood as the cheerful din from the crowds illustrated.
“Extravagant understates the case,” he replied with a reluctant smile as they passed a young man waving a star-shaped board that read:You Are Welcome, King!
Angus stood up and leaned halfway out of the barouche. “Ye ought to be ashamed of yerself,” he yelled at the startled fellow. “Dinna be callin’ yerself a Scotsman.”
Graeme pulled his grandfather back. “Stop embarrassing poor Vicky.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “I’m beyond embarrassment, and I do find myself agreeing with Angus somewhat. It’s all a bit much. I only hope we can get through the crowds in time to reach our spot at Picardy Place, near the arch.”
The triumphal arch erected at Union Street marked the official entrance into Edinburgh. Sabrina hadn’t seen so large a crowd since the king’s coronation, and she too hoped they wouldn’t miss the royal procession to Holyrood Palace.
Victoria craned up to peer over the back of the carriage. “We seem to have lost Royal and Ainsley.”
The couple was traveling separately in Royal’s curricle, attended by a groom. Ainsley would join Sabrina and Victoria to watch the parade.
“Royal will look for the footmen I sent ahead to Picardy Place,” Graeme said. “If the poor lads haven’t been crushed to death, that is.”
“I told them to bring cudgels to beat back the crowds,” Angus said. “Just in case things got mucky.”
Victoria looked appropriately appalled. “You didn’t!”
When Angus winked at Sabrina, the countess scowled. “You’re ridiculous,” she said to her grandfather-in-law.
The old man looked entirely unrepentant.
“I thought we would be driving directly to Union Street,” Sabrina said to Graeme.
“Too crowded and too many dignitaries. We’d never get the carriage in.”
