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Royal waggled a hand. “It’ll take some time to get home through this crowd. Sorry, lass.”
When the countess grimaced, Ainsley stood and opened the door of the barouche. “Not to worry. There’s a lovely teashop just off Union Street, only a block from here. Royal and our footmen can forge a path through the crowd.”
“Then I suggest we hurry,” Victoria said.
Royal handed her down, and then did the same for his wife.
“You’ll stay with Lady Sabrina?” he asked Angus. “Graeme should be back shortly.”
The old fellow’s smile turned sly. “Aye. The lassie and I have plenty to talk about.”
“I’m sure,” Royal dryly replied. “But stay in the carriage.”
Angus waved him off.
With the two brawny footmen leading the way, Royal escorted the ladies through the crowd and soon disappeared.
“I’d quite like to stretch my legs, too,” Sabrina said. “Do you think I might step out? I’ll stand right by the coach.”
Angus rubbed his hands. “Ye and me both, lass. Why don’t we stroll up the block while we’re waitin’.”
“But Mr. Kendrick—”
“Lass, let’s not be forgettin’ I raised that lad from the day he was a wee, mewling babe.” He grinned at her. “And I’ll be happy to tell ye a few more stories about his misspent youth, if ye like.”
Sabrina laughed. “Very well, then. We’ll stroll, if only for a few minutes.”
“It’ll be our secret,” Angus said with a wink.
Since the procession had passed, the crowds were beginning to thin, allowing them to walk at a slow but steady pace along the row of charming shops. Sabrina had yet to find herself bored in Edinburgh, enjoying the intimacy of the smaller city and the friendliness of the residents.
Angus was relating a shocking but entertaining tale about Graeme and Grant breaking into the poor box of the local kirk when they noticed a commotion ahead of them. A man emerged from one of the stores, shouting. Then a few ladies began shrieking as two little boys—street urchins—forced their way through a knot of pedestrians and dashed into the street, deftly weaving between horses and carriages.
“Constable,” someone yelled.
“Och, trouble,” Angus said.
Sabrina was so busy craning up, trying to see, that she almost missed the tug on her reticule. Whipping around, she grabbed a bony wrist and found herself staring down into a child’s face.
Chapter Eleven
Graeme had spent the last hour roaming the boisterous crowd and had found no cause for alarm. City residents and visitors alike seemed genuinely excited to see the king. A few discontented but mild mutterings had been directed toward the Scottish lords and the policy of the ongoing Clearances, and he’d heard some trenchant, sarcastic comments but nothing more. It seemed he could finally relax. Perhaps he could spend an hour catching up with his twin over a pint of heavy wet.
He’d hardly seen Grant these last two years and missed him, almost as if he were missing a piece of himself. His twin was doing splendidly, and for that Graeme was thankful. By working at Kendrick Shipping and Trade, Grant had discovered an aptitude for organization and business. He’d only needed to get out on his own, away from Graeme and their endless misadventures, to discover his talents.
Just like Graeme had discoveredhistalents. By society’s standards, they were not nearly as respectable as Grant’s, and that was probably why they suited him so well.
Graeme elbowed his way past two drunken idiots toasting a portrait of the king. In the company of the “gentlemen of the city,” Nick had passed by some time ago, which meant the festivities in this part of town had concluded. The king was safely at Holyrood by now, surrounded by his loyal regiments. If all the events associated with the royal visit proceeded as smoothly as today’s procession, then the greatest danger might come from hapless spectators toppling off the rocky promontory of Calton Hill.
No point in taking chances, though. He’d venture out after dark to roam the streets and taverns of Old Town, picking up gossip and taking the pulse of the city.
One day down. Nine left to go.
When he reached Picardy Place a few minutes later, the crowds had thinned. He’d gather up his little chicks and see them safely home, as he’d promised Nick. And before Graeme met up with Grant, there might even be time to stroll with Sabrina. She’d yet to see—
He clamped down on his wayward thoughts. Going for a stroll with the lass, as if he were a normal man? Ridiculous. In less than two weeks, she would be sailing back home. There was no point in spending time with her and dreaming foolish dreams of what might have been. Not with the life he led. Not with a woman like her.
His brain properly sorted, Graeme strode toward the barouche that was parked at the other end of the street.
