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“You can tell us anything,” Logan said. “We would never judge you.”
Braden stared down at the plaid pattern in the carpet, his mind a thousand miles away in Hanover. It was a place he’d never wanted to go again, not even in his imagination.
He glanced up to find his big brother regarding him with infinite kindness.
“You might want to think twice about that,” Braden replied.
Logan’s gaze narrowed to something flintier. “Angus is always talking about the family code, though we know it’s mostly a load of bollocks. But there’s one vow we’ve made thatisthe essence of the code. You know what it is.”
Braden sighed. “No secrets.”
“Exactly. But you’ve been holding out on us, old son. It’s time to come clean.”
“Truly, Braden, it’ll do you good,” Kade earnestly said. “Whatever it is, it’s a burden that you’ve been carrying alone for too long. Put it down now, here with us.”
Braden eyed his little brother. “You know, you can be very pushy when you put your mind to it.”
Kade flashed him a smile. “That’s part of the code, too.”
Braden snorted but then fell silent, trying to organize the memories he’d spent a long time trying to forget.
“So, Annalise Ritter,” Kade gently prompted. “I do remember that she was a lovely young woman.”
“And very kind to us, as you’ll also recall.” Braden glanced at Logan. “We met Annalise during our first trip to Hanover, while you and Donella were in Canada. Kade went to study with a violin master, and I was taking additional courses at the university in Gottingen.”
“Nick provided letters of introduction to various people,” Kade said, “but neither of us fit in very well over there. Too Scottish, for one thing, and my German was rather dreadful.”
“Mine wasn’t much better,” Braden said.
Kade scoffed. “Your German was very good, but it didn’t make a difference. The Hanoverian aristocracy can beveryhigh in the instep.”
“Especially for a pair of untutored Highlanders,” Braden added.
Logan smiled. “If you two are untutored, then I’m a complete barbarian. So, you were on your own in Hanover and running into a Teutonic wall of snobbery. Is that where Annalise Ritter came in?”
Braden nodded. “Yes. She was an accomplished pianist and a true music lover, so she took quite a shine to Kade.”
“I’m not the one she took a shine to,” Kade dryly noted.
“I’m not surprised,” Logan said. “Braden can be quite charming when he isn’t talking about disgusting diseases.”
“How kind of you,” Braden sarcastically replied. “In any event, Annalise took us under her wing. Because her family was distinguished and wealthy, her support made a difference. She introduced us around town and opened useful doors for us. In my case, it didn’t really matter, since I was there to study. But for Kade, the connections were important.” He flashed a brief smile at his brother. “I recall that you were asked to perform at a number of court functions as a result.”
Kade nodded. “They were my first true recitals and were excellent experiences. Annalise made that possible.”
“She sounds like a good, kind person.” Logan raised an eyebrow at Braden. “So, what was the problem?”
“She was married.”
Logan looked stunned. “You had an affair with a married woman?”
Braden felt the shame crawl up the back of his neck. “No. Well, yes, but not on that first visit. And please do not tell Nick. You know how he drummed it into our heads never to do such a thing. He’d probably throw me off the Kinglas battlements, and I’d deserve it.”
Kade jabbed him in the shoulder. “You absolutely would not. You never treated Annalise with anything less than the kindness and respect that was sorely lacking in her personal life.”
Braden dredged up a smile. “Thanks, lad.”
“It’s the truth,” Kade insisted. “Her husband was a right bastard.”
