Absent in the Spring (The Shakespeare Sisters 3)

He smiled as he remembered the first time Grant had mentioned her. He’d been running late at work, bitching about some blind date a friend had set him up on. Back then, like Lachlan, he’d been a confirmed bachelor, claiming no woman was going to tie him down.

But then, he’d never reckoned on Jenn, had he?

‘So, Grant tells me you’re going to be some kind of duke or something,’ Jenn said, sliding a tray of sushi rolls onto the table. Small and round, their dining set was nestled in the corner of their living room, next to a window overlooking the city. ‘Lord Lachlan, it has a good ring to it.’

Lachlan laughed, shaking his head. ‘It’s Laird of Glencarraig, actually.’

‘Oh, get you! Do I need to curtsey when I see you?’

He picked up his chopsticks, expertly sliding them between his thumb and fingers. Growing up next door to Grant, he’d had years of practice. As a kid he’d practically lived at his friend’s house. ‘It’s a courtesy title. It means nothing.’ He slid the sticks around a piece of nori-covered fish, lifting it to his plate. ‘Anyway, it’s not even mine yet.’

‘Why not?’ Jenn took a sip of her water.

‘I thought we weren’t supposed to be talking about business?’ Grant said, frowning. ‘This sounds distinctly like business, right?’

‘Hush up. This is interesting.’ Jenn tapped him good-humouredly. ‘So come on, why haven’t you been crowned, or whatever it is?’

‘Only kings get crowned,’ Grant pointed out.

‘Shush.’

Lachlan grinned. There was something so comforting about the two of them and their bickering. ‘Because my half-brother also wants the title.’

‘Duncan?’ Jenn looked surprised. ‘I hadn’t put him down as being the Lord of the Manor type. He seems too interested in his cruise business for that.’

‘I don’t think it’s the title he’s after,’ Lachlan said. ‘It’s the principle. And a big F.U. to me.’

‘And you want to F. him right back. Am I right?’ Jenn’s face lit up. ‘You’re not going to give in, are you?’

He slid another sushi roll into his mouth, swallowing it down before replying. ‘These are really good. And no, I wasn’t planning on it.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it. I’d hate to see him win.’

‘You’ve never even met Duncan,’ Lachlan pointed out. The last time he’d seen his half-brother was at the reading of the will. A glance between them was all that had happened.

‘Yeah, but I already know I don’t like him.’

‘Ah, I knew you’d be on my side.’

She wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s just going to make you more arrogant, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘All those girls already falling at your feet are going to be vying for your attention now you’re a lord.’

Lachlan moved his head from left to right, scanning the floor. ‘There are girls at my feet? Where?’

‘Oh shut up.’ It was his turn to be hit. She wasn’t so gentle, either. ‘You know what I mean.’

He winked at her. ‘

I don’t need a title to get a girl.’

‘Do I need to separate you two,’ Grant asked, ‘or are you going to behave?’ He poured Lachlan another glass of wine. ‘And anyway, it looks like more than a courtesy title to me. Have you checked out the MacLeish website?’

Lachlan frowned. ‘What website?’

‘Remember the attorney told you a lot of clans have websites and social media presence?’ Grant reminded him. ‘So I had a little Google and came up with this.’ He grabbed his phone and pressed on it, passing it to Lachlan with a flourish. ‘There’s a forum and everything. Not that it’s used much any more, but back in the day it looked busy. From what I can tell, most of the MacLeish clan prefer to tweet and post in the Facebook group now.’

Lachlan pulled his eyes away from the phone screen. ‘There’s a Facebook group, too? Seriously?’ His thoughts turned to Lucy Shakespeare, and her whole explanation of the clan system. He couldn’t help but smile at the fact she’d been proved right. Again.

‘Hey, what have I told you guys about having your phones out at the dinner table,’ Jenn chided, grabbing the phone from Lachlan’s grasp. She really was strong. ‘Oh my goodness, is that the MacLeish plaid?’