Page 44
“Once again, I’ll remind ye, Narcissa, that I pay the wages of every staff member in this household. Morris is accountable to me, and ye owe him an apology for yer uncalled-for rudeness. However, it will have to wait, as I’ve exhausted my reserve of patience where ye are concerned. Ye’ve also exhausted yer welcome in this household.”
Lady Montforth’s bravado slipped a notch, and she licked her lower lip. “Perhaps I was a bit overly—”
“Madam. Leave. Now.” Broden’s clipped tone countenanced no argument.
If her ladyship knew Broden at all, she’d understand he was at the end of his tether, and barely keeping his fury under control.
With a lofty tilt of her chin, she swept to the door and pulled her skirts aside as if the Scots might soil her gown if her hem brushed their legs.
Liam angled his head toward Logan. “Follow her and make sure she disna leave her chamber. Also, check every single item that goes in and out of her chamber, and nae one, no’ even her daughters, are to enter her rooms.”
“Aye.” Logan gave a terse nod before departing the study.
“The rest of ye monitor the entrances,” Liam ordered. “Camden, ye can fill Bryston in on the way.”
They, too, left at once.
“What was that all about?” Broden asked. “I’ll warrant Lady Montforth was discourteous beyond measure, but ye needna treat her like a prisoner. And why do the entrances need watchin’? I assure ye, there are far more than four ways in and out of this house.”
“We’ve more men outside, guardin’ the perimeter.” Liam traveled to the window and unceremoniously shoved the curtain aside.
Kendra touched Broden’s arm. “Broden, we have reason to believe she’s behind yer assassination attempt. That’s why we came here straightaway.”
He scowled and crossed his arms, resting his lean hips against the edge of the desk. “I presume ye’ve learned somethin’, and I’ll hear it soon enough.” His attention shifted to Kendra. “But why are ye here, Kendra? If there’s a threat, ye should’ve remained at Eytone Hall. ’Tis safer there.”
A hint of the old, defiant Kendra flared to life. She tamped down her temper. Worry and concern were behind his clipped words. Instead, she arched her eyebrows in a challenge. “Ye ken me better than that.”
Liam snorted and shook his head. “Ye try tellin’ my sister that drivel. I did, and she wasna havin’ any of it.” Affection and frustration gleamed in the look he bathed her with. “Ye ken, as well as I, how stubborn she can be. She threatened to journey here by herself. On horseback.”
Broden closed his eyes for a long blink, as if greatly pained.
Or annoyed. Or frustrated. Worried. Confused…
“At least if she traveled with us, I could keep her safe,” Liam said, peering out the beveled panes.
Kendra brushed a lock of hair off her forehead as she met Broden’s irate stare. “I would’ve done it, too, because I would’ve gone mad waitin’ for word.” Despite her brother’s presence, she took his hand. “Ye would’ve done the same thing if I were in danger, Broden, and dinna deny it. We are alike in that.”
Sighing and his chest deflating with the exhalation, he gathered her into his powerful arms. “Aye, I would have done.”
She went willingly, relishing the protective band of his arms encircling her.
Liam cleared his throat, a hint of mirth creasing the corners of his eyes. “I presume after Lady Montforth’s ragin’ and this touchin’ show of affection,” he gestured between Kendra and Broden, “this means ye intend to ask for Kendra’s hand in marriage?”
Surely Broden wouldn’t embrace her in Liam’s presence if that weren’t his intent. She tilted her head up, admiring his strong jaw, and sought his umber-brown gaze.
Hunger and passion and love shone there.
Love for her.
When she thought how close she’d come to missing out on loving this man and being loved by him, she could weep.
“Aye.” He brushed her cheek tenderly with his knuckle. “I’d make her my countess this verra minute if she was willin’.”
“She’s willin,” Kendra said, rather breathlessly.
Too blasted bad her brother stood but a few feet away, or she’d show Broden precisely how willing she was.
Liam chuckled as he left his inspection of the outdoors and wandered to the center of the room. “I always wondered if the constant sparks between the two of ye were anythin’ more than animosity. I’m glad ’twas since it pained me to have two of the people I most cared about constantly sparrin’. I’m well-pleased to be able to soon call ye brother.”
