Pardoned on the Peak (Sequel to New World Sasanaichs)

Four

It wasn’t till the next Morn that the Frasers finally emerged from the guest chamber they’d been led to the afternoon previous, the couple having taken luncheon and supper in there, rather than the dining room. That wasn’t much of a surpriseta at least Lord John, ’cuz considering what he’d witnessed, he was honestly kinda surprised that they’d remained in the Dunsanys’ estate overnight. He’d almost wanted to break off the betrothal between himself and their elder daughter on the spot, then make haste South to London after the accusation she’d made of him–which was actually true.

        After the family and their guests’d taken breakfast together, Lord Dunsany waited till his wife and daughters excused themselvesta whatever method of entertainment they chose for the Day before inviting the men into his study with him. His eyes widened when Róisín stopped him from closing the door in her face, her expression warning him not to push her buttons as she forcibly joined them and settled next to her husband. Course, he was far from used to a woman more or less running amok the same way her husband apparently let her get away with, but he intelligently kept his mouth shut as he poured modest amounts of brandy in a quartet of glasses that he passed out.

        Jamie nodded his thanks as he took a small sip, his free arm wrapping around his wife’s shoulders as the other men and said wife Silently sipped theirs. Nothing could get past him, now that he was closing in on being as good at reading Energy as the Healer was since he’d a long way to go before he matched her parents. But that didn’t mean he’d to call anyone out on anything unless he felt they were plotting something particularly nasty, and he could tell this man was doing no such thing.

        “Mr. Fraser, I’ve no Earthly idea how you managed to simply appear here in my study with John and my daughter yesterday,” he finally said, turning Dove-gray eyes that matched those of said daughter up at him. “But I must convey my greatest thanks for making me aware of her inappropriate actions regarding your person.”

        “Nay thanks’re necessary, Lord Dunsany,” the ginger man assured him. “Unless ye mean to thank me fer stopping me wife from slaughtering her like a Hog on more than one occasion, that is.”

        “As iffen I wouldna have a right to avenge me husband’s Honor,” Róisín grumbled. “Just as you’d have a right to avenge me Honor, were the circumstances reversed.”

        “Aye, ye’ve a right to do such a thing–especially since ye ken I willna ever raise a hand to a lass, even one who deserves it,” he agreed. “But there’s nay need to bring down the Wrath of England’s House of Lairds on our heids, either.”

        “Unfortunately, that’s exactly what woulda happened, if you hadn’t stopped her,” the younger Grey brother said. “And as Influential as myself and Lord Dunsany are, we might not’ve been enough to stop them from retaliating on the grounds of avenging Geneva, no matter that she woulda brought anything your wife did to her on herself.”

        “I just have no idea what I’ma do with the gel now,” Lord Dunsany sighed. “She may still be intact, but she’s all but Destroyed her reputation with her actions–even the maid who showed you to the guest chambers overheard yesterday’s fiasco.”

        “Weel, I’ve an unorthodox suggestion–ye’re just nay doubt no to like it at first,” the ginger man chuckled.

        “And what suggestion’s that?” he queried, cocking a brow curiously.

        “Geneva seems determined to have me, one way or another,” Jamie answered. “And I’d gladly take her, and it meant keeping her outta trouble–but no outside the bonds of marriage.”

        “You’re already married, though,” the older man pointed out. “Or did you bump your head yesterEve and conveniently forget that fact?”