“No, my lords, you misunderstand. The child, Miss Mackenzie, is an orphan.”
Ashton couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Why the devil would two rakehells take an orphan with them?”
“Well, it’s because of the resurrectionists, you see. They couldn’t let the poor child be killed and dissected by a doctor.”
Ashton scrubbed a hand down his face. “Shelton, for the love of God, you are not making sense.”
“Perhaps I’d better start over . . .”
“Perhaps you’d better.”
By the time the butler had explained the wild series of events, Ashton was no closer to understanding what he had been told.
“Rafe has taken a fatherly fancy to an orphan? Shelton, are you quite certain it is my brother were talking about, not some other fellow? The last time he was left alone with a child he threw himself out a window and into a prickly patch of roses to escape the child . . . who couldn’t even walk.”
“Quite certain, my lord. Miss Isla is a darling child, and she has been through too much for one so young. Even the staff here adore her, and she was only here a day.”
“And you’re certain they are bound for Castle Kincade?” Brock asked. Shelton answered with a nod.
“How did we miss them on the road coming in last night?” Ashton asked his brother-in-law.
“It isna hard. Brodie knows many ways to reach the castle. They could have easily avoided the main roads.”
“Just like you did when you stole Joanna away?” Ashton’s tone was sardonic.
“I didna steal my wife, man. She came willingly. You know that as well as I do.” Brock’s expression turned into that thunderous look only the Kincades seemed to manage.
“Regardless, we’ll have to wait for the women to arrive before we head off again. Damn Rafe and his cat-and-mouse nonsense.”
“Well, taking the back roads will add time to their travel, which works in our favor. Still, I worry about Joanna and all this travel. She thinks I dinna ken her little secret, but I do.”
“What secret?” Ashton said, worry suddenly knotting his stomach. If anything was wrong with his sister . . .
“She’s in the family way. She’s been sneaking out of bed in the morning and becoming sick each day in our bathing chamber. She’s been hiding it from me, but I sleep lighter than she thinks I do.”
Ashton stared at him. “Joanna is with child? Why, that’s wonderful. I have the strangest urge to shoot you and then pour you a drink.” Ashton grinned. “And so long as we are sharing secrets, Rosalind is two months along. We have been waiting until we are sure, but I might as well share the news with you.”
Brock returned Ashton’s smile. “Let’s say we both forgo the pistols and find the whiskey instead.”
“Excellent idea.” Ashton led Brock into the drawing room, all thoughts of Brodie momentarily forgotten.
Castle Kincade looked like something out of a fairytale to Lydia. As she and Isla stepped out of the coach, Lydia got her first true look at the tall, gray stone castle, which stood like a protective wolf on the sloping hill. A person could see it from miles around, since the castle was on high ground. A lovely lake lay in one direction and a vast forest in the other.
“It’s lovely,” Lydia told Brodie as he joined her next to the entrance. A tall wooden door covered with ironmongery made the entrance look rather imposing. Brodie raised the heavy knocker and brought it down on the wood four times.
The door opened a minute later, and a man stared back at them.
“Master Brodie!” the man exclaimed. “We didn’t know ye would be coming. His lordship just left for Edinburgh yesterday to find you.”
Brodie winced a little. They got lucky missing them along the way, but how long would their luck hold out? “Morning, Tate. How about we keep my coming home a secret for a few days, eh?”
Lydia bit her lip nervously as the man called Tate nodded and called for two footmen to remove the luggage from their coach.
“I shall endeavor to do my best. Master Aiden will wish to see you. He remained here, should you arrive,” Tate said.
“Good to know. Oh, Tate, you must remember Mr. Rafe Lennox from a few weeks ago?”
“Indeed, sir. Welcome back, Mr. Lennox.” Tate bowed to Rafe. He had been here only a few weeks ago to visit Joanna, something Lydia had learned while they rode here.