Niall. Well, at least this was one way to make contact with his cousin. But what would Niall want with Vanessa? If his cousin was involved in some dangerous undertakings, the last thing Graeme needed or wanted was for his temporary wife to be involved. Wasn’t Niall married himself? Until now he’d always assumed his English cousin was as harmless as a mild English winter. He hated being wrong. It seemed that he could no longer ignore the English side of his family.
Graeme thanked the man, then left. It took him nearly twenty minutes to make his way to Niall’s house. It would have been faster on horse, but he hadn’t thought that he’d needed one. Niall’s estate was just outside of the village. It still overlooked the loch, but did so from above the rest of the town.
Graeme walked down the drive. The red brick manor with large white columns boasted three stories and a perfectly manicured lawn. He made his way up the staircase and slammed the knocker against the shiny door.
The butler answered the door and nodded at the sight of Graeme. He stood aside and allowed him entrance. “Your Grace,” he said with a nod. “My lord is in his study. He has company.”
Graeme didn’t bother to comment. Instead, he simply walked past the servant and into Niall’s home. Niall’s study was the second door on the right, and though the door wasn’t precisely closed, it was nearly shut. He nudged it open and immediately Niall came to his feet. The situation, however, was completely innocuous, with Niall behind his desk and Vanessa in a chair opposite it.
“Graeme,” Niall said, clearly surprised. “How did you know I was here?”
“I am not here for you,” he said, never taking his eyes off Vanessa. Though he certainly had business with his cousin, he wanted to follow him first, see what he could discover without simply asking the man. To further muddle things for Graeme, now he had this business of a marriage to handle.
Vanessa’s eyes rounded in surprise, then a frown settled on her face. She stood. “I have nothing to say to you.” Defiantly, she crossed her arms over her chest.
“You have to come with me,” Graeme said.
“Why? So you can drop me off at the train station again?” She turned abruptly to face him fully and faltered, her pale hands gripping the chair in front of her. “No, thank you. Niall has offered to be of assistance to me. Take me into the caves.”
“Is that so?” Graeme eyed his cousin, who in turn was glancing from Graeme back to Vanessa, looking not in the least manner guilty. “Still, you must return with me.”
Graeme made his way to stand next to her, but did not touch her.
Niall straightened some papers on his desk, and Graeme couldn’t help noticing how the study looked precisely like every other English study he’d ever seen. All the accoutrements of home brought here to make Niall’s stay in the wilderness more comfortable. The man might be fascinated by Scottish lore, but he didn’t have a drop of true Scottish blood running through his veins.
“I don’t have to do anything with you,” she said. “You made it abundantly clear earlier you were finished with me. And now I am to follow you? I think not.”
“Graeme, it appears the lady is not interested in going with you,” Niall said, coming around his desk. “Perhaps you could come back at a later time and visit with her.” He smiled. “Perhaps we can arrange some dinner or a tea.”
“No. We don’t need a bloody tea,” Graeme said. He turned his attention to Vanessa. “We can argue about this later, but now, come with me.”
She shifted her body away from him. “Are you going to toss me over your shoulder again?”
“If I must. You are behaving like a child.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. He knew Niall was watching him carefully, ready to step in should the moment call for action. Graeme only hoped his cousin wouldn’t, out of some misplaced gallantry, challenge him to a duel to defend Vanessa’s honor. He lowered his voice before speaking again. “That subject we discussed this morning. It appears as if I’ve made a mistake,” he whispered.
“To what do you refer?”
“Our little ceremony,” he gritted.
“And?”
“It appears as if it was in fact legitimate,” he said.
Delicate brows arched over her cerulean eyes. “Truly?” she asked.
“We need to rectify this issue. Or at least discuss it more. Please come with me.” Graeme loosened his hold on her arm.
She was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “Very well.”
“Vanessa, you aren’t required to go with him if you feel at all, um, uncomfortable,” Niall said.
“Nice, cousin.” Graeme rolled his eyes. “I won’t hurt the girl if that’s what you’re worried about. And believe me, she’s more trouble than you have the skill or energy to manage.”
“I take great offense at that,” she said.
Vanessa held her hand out to Niall. “I appreciate your kindness, and I do look forward to seeing you again.” She handed him her book. “You are welcome to examine my copy of Grayson’s. Return it to me when you are finished.”
* * *
