The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders #4)(68)

Once the newlyweds were settled, Hamish headed for the parlor. To wait. He wanted to be right there when Esmeralda returned.

When he heard a bustle at the door, he shot to his feet.

Esmeralda pushed through and stopped short at the sight of him. Her face scrunched up, which he interpreted as her way of holding back her excitement. Or her dismay.

With her, it was difficult to tell.

“Henley. Tea,” she barked. And then she swanned into the room with Victoria in her wake.

Though he knew it was pointless, Hamish couldn’t help glancing into the hall behind them in hopes of seeing Elizabeth sweep in as well.

“Sit down,” Esmeralda barked. “And stop mooning.”

“Was I mooning?”

“You were. How was your journey?” She seemed stiff and unsure of herself, which was a first. “Did you find Mary?”

“We did. I brought her back—”

“Oh, thank God.”

“But . . .”

Esmeralda pinned him with a sharp glower. “But what?” Though it was clear she already knew. Or suspected at least.

“We found them in Gretna Green.”

“How romantic,” Victoria gushed. Her aunt singed her with a frown.

“So it was too late,” the older woman said on a sigh.

“Aye. They are happy, though.”

“Oh, I am so delighted about that.” Esmeralda’s tone was dry as dust.

“Bower has hired the boy, so he will have a good living. Mary will not starve.”

“And I am delighted about that,” Victoria said with a smile. “Where are they?”

“In their rooms.”

“Egads. Together? Alone?” Esmeralda appeared to be on the verge of apoplexy.

“They are married,” he reminded her, which did not seem to mollify her in the slightest.

“It will take time getting used to this,” she said.

“Indeed, it will.”

“And Anne? How is she taking it?”

“Quite well, I believe. The last time I saw her, she and Mary were laughing.”

Esmeralda stilled. “The last time you saw her?”

Och. He should have softened this blow. “She remained in Scotland with Bower for the time being. She was too ill to travel.”

“She always did have a tender stomach,” Victoria said.

“In Scotland?” Esmeralda warbled. “With Bower? Together? Alone?”

“Oh really, dear aunt. This is Anne we’re talking about,” Victoria said on a laugh. “Surely you realize nothing untoward will happen between them.”

Hamish had to nibble on his lip to stay silent. He very much suspected something untoward was happening between Anne and Ranald, but it did not seem prudent to mention it. At least, not at the moment. No doubt Esmeralda had had enough of a shock for one day.

“Right,” she grumbled. “He is a Scotsman, after all.”

Victoria nodded. “Exactly.”

“Where is Henley with that tray?” Esmeralda snapped. And of course, as though she had summoned him with her ferocity, he arrived.

And not a moment too soon. Hamish was famished.

He tucked into the finger sandwiches and cakes with an enthusiasm that left the ladies gaping.

“We hadn’t eaten today,” he said as he caught them staring.

“No?” Esmeralda said. “One could never tell.”

“The boat docked at dawn and we came straightaway.”

“Shall I ring for another tray?” Victoria asked.

“I think that would be advisable, considering the fact that Mr. Robb has devoured this one.”

It hadn’t been that bad, surely, but it was a good thing that Victoria did so because shortly after it arrived, so did callers.

To Hamish’s relief, included in that company were the two men he needed to talk to, the Duke of Moncrieff and Ewan McCloud, who arrived with their wives in tow.

He chomped at the bit as the ladies frittered about with their greetings, but once everyone was seated, he had no chance to broach the subject of finding Elizabeth because before he could bring it up, the duke huffed a sigh and announced, “We have news.”

Esmeralda leaned forward and warbled, “Do tell.”

The duchess folded her hands together primly. “You recall Twiggenberry attempted to pressure Elizabeth by insinuating that he was connected to the prince?”

Hamish boggled. “He did what?” But everyone ignored him.

Esmeralda sniffed. “I most certainly do.”

The duchess nodded. “And we agreed to look into the matter?”

“Yes. And thank you.”

“We have news,” the duke repeated.

“Interesting news,” the duchess added with a smile.

Apparently McCloud was too impatient to string this out. “Twiggenberry is a complete fraud.”

“Wait.” Esmeralda paled. “What are you saying?”

The duke cleared his throat, but his wife answered for him. “He’s not a wealthy lord at all. In fact—”

“He’s quite broke,” McCloud said with a grin.

“He’s marrying Elizabeth for her money?” Hamish had to ask, but he did so through his teeth. He so sincerely wanted to break something.