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Grant had spent the last ten minutes trying to explain to the men in his family exactly why he couldn’t leave Glasgow right now. Sadly, he was failing.
“Kathleen and Jeannie will need a competent escort, so it might as well be you,” Royal said, summing up the general opinion.
Grant wrestled his rising temper. “I remind you again that I have a business to run. Especially with you leaving at the end of the week for Cairndow to rejoin your family.”
“That’s not a problem. I can delay my departure for another week or two. Ainsley will perfectly understand.”
Angus nodded. “Aye, she will, especially since it’s for such a grand cause.”
Grant rolled his eyes. “There is no grand cause.”
“Och, romance is the grandest cause of all, ye ken.”
“And thereisno romance, ye daft old man.”
Angus tapped the side of his nose, trying to look wise. “I’ve seen ye and the lassie together. There’s something there, ye ken, if ye give it half a chance.”
“That sounds promising,” Nick said with an approving nod.
“Look what happened when our Graeme and Sabrina went north last year,” Angus added. “All that canoodling led to marriage, a wee bairn, and even a knighthood for yer twin.”
Grant resisted the urge to bang his head against the marble surround of the fireplace. “Grandda, this is not remotely the same situation. Besides, you’ve already agreed to go with the ladies. There’s no need for an additional escort.”
“I disagree,” Nick said. “Your grandfather is not a young man anymore. If there was trouble on the road . . .”
For a moment, Angus seemed unsure whether to be insulted at the suggestion that he was getting old or to play the necessary role to bolster Nick’s argument. After a brief struggle, he chose the latter.
“Yer right about that,” he said in a quavering voice, raising a now trembling hand to his brow. “If we were attacked by highwaymen or stranded in the middle of nowhere—”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Grant interrupted.
Angus dropped the act. “Yer stuck in a rut, son, and ye know it. Ye need to shake things up.”
“Grandda’s not wrong,” Royal said. “You’re all but chained to that desk of yours. No wonder you’re bored.”
“Who says I’m bored?” Grant protested.
“We all do,” Angus said. “And there’s nae better cure for boredom than a nice bit of—”
Grant shot up a hand. “Donotsay it.”
“A nice bit of travel, ye ken,” Angus indignantly finished. “And if ye think I was goin’ to say something randy, yer way off the mark.”
Royal snorted. “Of course you were going to say something randy.”
“I am the soul of concupiscence,” Angus said in a pious tone. “Like a monk, I am.”
“That is not what that word means,” Royal said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Grant impatiently cut in. “I’m too busy right now. You’ll have to find someone else—Royal, for instance.” He flashed a mocking smile at his brother. “If you’re able to stay an extra week or two in Glasgow, then you surely have time to escort the ladies north.”
Royal shook his head. “I have a number of matters to clear up in Glasgow before I head to Cairndow. I can take care of those now without having to rush, while I’m filling in for you.”
“Grant, don’t you wish to visit with Graeme?” Nick gently asked. “You must surely miss him.”
“I . . . yes, of course I miss him.”
