Page 60 of What a Highlander’s Got to Do

“Nonsense, Alexis,” Isobel said firmly. Finally. A voice of reason. “We doona have proper butts.”

He gaped at her. Butts? She was worried about butts? As if those creatures would be inclined to aim at them?

“Now, enough of this. Pick up the apples and hand those arrows to me.”

The children grumbled but did so with alacrity, leading Nick to suspect there were more bows in the attic. Together, they carried the lethal weapons back into the house, and Isobel handed them over to Henley who accepted the collection as though this were a normal thing. The children trooped along with them and then scattered once they came inside.

“Aren’t they adorable?” Catriona said.

“So adorable,” Sorcha agreed, leaving Nick, Tully, and Penny to exchange bemused glances. If he had children, he wasn’t sure he wanted the kind who would attack him in the garden with no warning on a fine spring day.

“They are just bored,” Isobel said.

“Aye. And not used to being cooped up indoors.”

“The grounds here are larger than some estates,” Tully snorted.

“They’re used to more freedom,” Isobel responded pertly.

“Apparently,” Penny muttered, which earned him a scowl.

None of them dared comment more as they made their way back down the polished hall. As they came back into the parlor, the conversation among the older women abruptly ceased. Several of the women had the grace to look guilty, but Nick’s mother seemed suspiciously pleased.

“Well, that was a quick walk,” Susana said.

“We were ambushed,” Tully grumbled.

Lady Esmeralda’s eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

Isobel sighed and took a seat next to Sorcha. Nick took his chance and sat next to her. She did not appear to notice.

But then, she had not appeared to notice him at all this morning—except for the times she felt obliged to scowl at him.

She meticulously straightened her skirts. “Apparently the Hellions found some bows in the attic, Aunt Lana.”

“Oh, dear,” the duchess said. “I did ask Lachlan to remove all the weapons.”

“He must have missed these.”

“Indeed. Is everyone all right?”

“Barely,” Tully said. Clearly, he was still sulking.

“No one was hurt,” Isobel said.

“Of course not,” her mother said. “No one ever is.” She sighed. “I fail to see why there is always such a fuss over a bow or two.”

“There were six,” Penny clarified.

“Oh, pish. Isobel had her own bow when she was a girl, and she never killed anyone.”

“It’s true,” Isobel said. “Not even once.” For some reason, her aunts laughed at that.

Her mother frowned. “Just tell me Magnus dinna have one.”

“Ach. Don’t be silly,” Isobel said. “He canna draw yet.”

“That is true.” Lady Hannah nodded. “He’s not even two.”