a window seat in the library, feeding tiny bits of meat to a small owl. Aiden was smiling as he stroked the backs of his fingers over the downy soft feathers of the tawny owl.
“Aiden, do you know where Brock is?”
The owl gave a disgruntled hoot at being disturbed. Aiden turned his attention toward her. “He’s in his study, I think. What’s wrong, Joanna?”
“It’s Brodie. He’s abducted a poor woman and run away with her. He’s headed for Scotland.”
“What?” Aiden stood, and with a click of Aiden’s tongue, the owl hooted and took to the air, returning to its roost on the topmost shelf of the library.
“We received a letter from Lady Rochester, who is traveling with the woman’s father, and they are searching for them. They believe Rafe is with them.”
Aiden’s gaze turned even more serious. “Rafe? Gah. Brodie shouldna be anywhere near him. I like your brother, Joanna, but he is . . .” Aiden was obviously trying to be diplomatic. “Trouble.”
“He is,” Joanna agreed. “But we must find them. They have my friend Lydia.”
Aiden strode past her into the hall and loudly bellowed for Brock. She heard the bang of a distant door and running steps, and then her husband appeared at the top of the grand stairs.
“What is it? What’s the matter?” Brock practically leapt down the stairs, only to stop and pull her into his arms. She melted into him, relishing the way he held her. They’d been through so much together, and she sensed he would never be less protective of her.
“I’m fine, Brock. But we have a problem.”
He pulled back a little to look down at her. “A problem?”
“It’s Brodie. He’s kidnapped my friend Lydia Hunt from Bath. He and Rafe are in Scotland, supposedly headed to Edinburgh.” She quickly filled in the rest of the details for him as Ashton, Regina, Aiden, and Rosalind all gathered around them in the hall.
“Where do you think he would go?” Joanna asked.
“He wouldna come here,” Brock said with certainty. “Not if he knew what was good for him. I don’t know what drove him to do this, but I’ll box his ears for such foolishness.”
“Then he’ll be bound for Edinburgh,” Ashton said. “To my townhouse on the Royal Mile. Lady Rochester and Mr. Hunt must have passed them on the road and arrived early.”
“Perhaps.” Brock was scowling now, enough to match Ashton’s own. “We must leave at once,” he finally said, then turned to his brother. “Aiden, would you remain here, should they choose to come this way?”
Aiden nodded. “I will.”
Brock turned to Ashton. “Are you ready to leave, Sassenach?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Joanna, you and Rosalind, as well as your mother, shall travel in the coach. Ash and I will ride on ahead. We may be able to catch them if there are only two of us.”
“Very well.” Joanna didn’t like to be separated from Brock, but the situation was dire, and it would only mean a day or two of being apart.
She hadn’t yet told him that she suspected she was with child and would not do so now. If she did, she would be left behind. She would wait to tell him, after they had rescued Lydia.
15
It was early in the evening when Lydia, Brodie, and Rafe finally arrived in Edinburgh. They’d taken care to travel more slowly after one of their horses threw a shoe and they’d had to stop halfway to Edinburgh to have a new one put on.
Now the coach rattled over the cobblestones of Edinburgh’s Old Town, which jolted Lydia awake, much to Brodie’s dismay. He had been enjoying holding her in his arms, perhaps too much. She was the perfect weight when settled on his lap, and he didn’t want to let her go.
“Are we here?” she asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
“Aye.” He wondered how far away they were from Lennox’s townhouse. Rafe had said it was on the Royal Mile, an ancient street that wound its way up to the old castle.
They came to a stop. Brodie climbed out and escorted Lydia from the coach. The row of expensive houses around them didn’t really surprise Brodie. If Ashton Lennox owned a property, he would be sure to own a costly one.
“Home sweet home,” Rafe joked as he headed up the steps. He knocked, and as soon as the door opened, he clapped a hand on the poor butler’s shoulder.
“Evening, Shelton!” Rafe seemed in better spirits now that they had reached their destination. Lydia