The Heiress Bride (Sherbrooke Brides 3)

Colin gave a shout of laughter.

“Also, the wives will want to know what’s happened with MacPherson.”

“I already told them everything at breakfast. Alex was arguing toe to toe with me when she turned green, grabbed her stomach, and sprinted from the room. Douglas sighed and hefted up the basin Mrs. Seton had given him and went after her. Ryder and Sophie were alternately laughing and yelling at each other. They were trying to look interested in all my projects, but failed woefully. Your brothers are charming, Joan, when they’re not trying to kill me.”

She grinned, picturing the scene without difficulty. “How did Aunt Arleth and Serena react? Guilty? Angry?”

“Aunt Arleth said not a word. Serena looked vague. It was Dahling who had all the questions. She wanted to know why you didn’t take her to confront MacPherson since it was a ladies’ battle. She then asked Serena why her brother was such a bad man. Serena said he hated his angel’s face and thus he cultivated his devil’s soul.”

“It appears I must apologize to her as well. Are you certain Aunt Arleth didn’t look guilty?”

“No, afraid not. Still, I will speak to her privately.”

“I’m still afraid, Colin.”

He rose and strode to the end of the table where she was standing. He stood there beside her, looking down at her. Then he opened his arms. “No one will ever hurt you again,” he said, and pulled her up against his chest. “Dear God, you scared the very devil out of me.”

She nuzzled her face into his throat. “Good,” she said, as she kissed his chin. “You had a great deal of wickedness. A little less won’t serve you ill.”

He laughed, hugged her more tightly, and stood there, holding her. “Do you feel well today?”

“Much better. Just a bit on the weak side.”

“That was from last night. You’ll feel that way nearly every morning from now on.”

She raised her face to kiss him.

“Papa, surely Sinjun doesn’t like to have you pet her at the breakfast table.”

Colin sighed, kissed her lightly on her chin, and released her. He looked down at his son, who stood in the doorway, hands on his hips, a stance just like his father’s.

“What do you want, Philip? Joan was shortly to be on her way to find you. She is quite prepared to give you an abject apology. She is prepared to grovel, to cook you sugared almonds until your teeth rot out. She is quite ready for you to abuse her endlessly, since you are my son.”

For a brief moment Philip managed to look severe, but then he said, “It’s all right, Sinjun. I know you. I doubt you’ll ever change.” Then he turned immediately to his father. “Uncle Ryder asked me if I wanted to visit him and Aunt Sophie and all their children. He says there are more than a dozen now and I would quite enjoy myself. Brandon House is where they all live and it’s right next to his house. Did you know that he saves children, Papa, from all sorts of terrible situations? He becomes their guardian and takes care of them and he loves them. He didn’t say that but I could tell that he does and Uncle Douglas told me that he does. I think it embarrasses him when people think he’s good. Uncle Ryder told me about his brother-in-law Jeremy, who’s at Eton and lame and quite the best fighter he’s seen in a long time. He said Jeremy can also ride like the wind. He said he’d teach me how to fight dirty if it was all right with you. He said I’m nearly the age Jeremy was when he taught him. Please, Papa, can I?”

“Uncle Ryder and Uncle Douglas,” Colin mused aloud. “I’ll tell you what, Philip. I’ll fight dirty with your uncle Ryder and whoever wins will teach you, all right?”

Philip, no fool, said, “Perhaps it would be best if both you and Uncle Ryder taught me how to fight.”

“He should be in the diplomatic service,” Colin said to his wife, hugged his son to him, and continued. “The two uncles and I will discuss all this. You rest, Joan. I will see you later.”

“Oh, Papa, Sinjun is teaching me how to shoot a bow and arrow. But there’s still fencing. MacDuff gave us some beginning lessons, but then he had to leave. You can do that, can’t you?”

“Joan was learning with you?”

“Yes, and I must continue. I can’t let Philip get ahead of me.”

“I didn’t know you were so accomplished.”

He sounded a bit miffed. She cocked her head to one side and grinned. “You sound just like Ryder and Douglas when I happen to outdo them at something. They taught me to shoot, to be an excellent archer, to ride like a veritable Diana, to swim like an—well, never mind. My point is they taught me all the manly sorts of things, but when I prove proficient, they act scandalized.”

“They’re unreasonable, naturally. A man enjoys having his wife don his britches and ride off to do battle with his enemies, leaving him to flounder about with nothing to say, nothing to do.”

“I’ve decided it’s not just a matter of wives. I think it’s just that men must always feel that they are the ones in control.”

“For all your daring, Joan, for all your bravery, for all your passion for my welfare, and your terrifyingly creative mind, you are still weaker than I. Any man, be he brilliant or a half-wit, could hurt you. That’s why you have men. We really are useful creatures. It’s our responsibility to protect our wives and our children.”

“Ha! You know that’s nonsense, Colin. This is no longer medieval times, when robbers roamed the land.”