Page 78 of What a Highlander’s Got to Do

Nick shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled after them.

He was the host after all.

“Malcolm,” Mother said, with a tight smile. “Do go play with your brothers.”

Uncle Malcolm glanced over to the croquet game, which had devolved into mallet swordfights. “Too violent,” he said with a smirk. “I’d much rather spend my day with these lovely flowers.” At his smile, all the young ladies flushed.

“Oh. Flowers.” Lady Helena sighed. “I didn’t realize you were a fan. Come.” She hooked her arm in his and literally towed him away from the girls, back toward the house. “Let’s tour the conservatory.”

Malcolm shot a panicked look over his shoulder but Nick ignored it. Honestly. What had he expected? No doubt Mother had invited him to act as a chaperone—a fatal flaw in her thinking, but in her defense, who would ever imagine a thirty-six-year-old man would want to flirt with girls just making their come-out?

Now he had been marked as a predator, and no doubt the combined forces of all these matchmaking mamas would keep him away from their daughters.

Which suited Nick just fine.

He smiled at Isobel and was taken aback by her frown.

“I thought he was interesting,” she said in complaint.

“As did I,” Catriona agreed.

Sorcha laughed. “He is, indeed, the most interesting of all my uncles.”

“He certainly has taken after the duke,” Ellie said with a grin.

Nick’s mother frowned. “Now, now. The duke has been reformed.”

“But he was a rake once,” Sorcha said.

Isobel’s mother sniffed. “Most men are. Until they’re well trained.”

Nick tried not to blanch. Well, at least he knew where Isobel got her ideas.

It set his teeth on edge that all the mothers tittered at this.

Even his own.

“I say,” he said, as discomfort crawled up the back of his neck. He felt a sudden urge to escape this milieu of feminine bombardment. “I should see about having the meal served.”

“That would be lovely, Edward,” her mother said.

But before he could signal to Mrs. Billings, there was a burst of activity from the back stairs of the mansion as two men and a delicate, dark-haired woman appeared. He couldn’t hold back his smile as he recognized his aunt Violet and his twin cousins.

“Hooray,” Sorcha cried. “Robert and Declan are here!” She took Isobel and Catriona by the hand and tugged them toward the newcomers. “You must meet them. They’re Scottish!”

And that easily, Nick’s mood plummeted.

Blast. He’d forgotten.

Well, he’d not forgotten that Robert and Declan had spent most of their lives in Scotland, but somehow, he’d forgotten to remember that they were both exceedingly charming and handsome and would, no doubt, be alluring to Isobel.

Without a word, he steeled his spine and followed.

Chapter Fifteen

Was it wrong to enjoy Nick’s disgruntlement as she greeted his two—very handsome—cousins?

Robert and Declan were adorable. Both tall and dark with intriguing dents on their identical chins, they were quick to laugh, teased adeptly, and, best of all, spoke with a familiar brogue she missed so much.