The Scottish Bride Read Free Page B

Samuel. Hewas competent, his sermons of the basic sin-and-punishment variety, and he would keep Tysen’s flock intact in his absence.
    Then he went to his sons’ bedchamber. There was a light coming from beneath the door. He knocked lightly, then entered.
    Max, nearly nine years old now, was reading—no surprise there—his long legs stretched out in front of him, his arms cradling a huge book, a candle burning right over his left shoulder. He was, Tysen thought, looking with pride at his elder son, more of a scholar than he himself had ever been. Max spoke Latin, read Latin, even cursed in Latin when his younger brother annoyed him, which was fairly often, when he didn’t think his papa was listening. Tysen didn’t understand a great deal of what he said, which was probably for the best.
    Leo, named for Leopold Foxworth Sherbrooke, the third earl of Northcliffe and a gentleman who’d held honor above all else, even when it meant having his head severed from his body, was standing on his head, his stockinged feet against the wall. He looked like he was sleeping, his eyes closed, perfectly at his ease. He was probably thinking about his uncle Douglas’s horses, which he was allowed to ride at Northcliffe Hall. Tysen shook his head and cleared his throat. “Boys, I came to say good-bye to you. I am leaving very early in the morning.”
    Max immediately lifted the great tome from his lap and laid it reverently on the carpet. Tysen saw that it was in Latin. As for Leo, he simply dropped his legs over his head and came up in a single graceful roll, grinning. “I want to ride Garth, Papa. He’s a mean brute.”
    Tysen knew that Douglas would never allow Leo even to sit on that vicious stallion’s back, thank the good Lord.
    â€œWe know that we’re to go to Uncle Douglas,” Max said. “I have been wondering, Papa, if Leo and I will have a title now that you do. You know, James is Lord Hammersmith and Jason is an honorable. Perhaps as the elder son, I will now be Sir Something?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Max, but you and Leo are still just the same. I suppose you will be able to say that you are Lord Barthwick’s very honorable sons, though.”
    â€œWe are already honorable, Papa,” Max said. “Uncle Ryder is always saying that honor is what men must embrace,” he paused, then added, “if you’re not embracing a woman that is. Er, that’s what Uncle Ryder says, Papa.”
    â€œYes,” Tysen said. “I am not surprised.”
    â€œBesides,” Max said, shrugging, “who wants to be a Hammersmith? Silly name, doesn’t mean anything. James likes it, though.”
    â€œSpeak for yourself,” said Leo, who was straightening his trousers and pulling his socks in order. “I’m not even eight years old and I’m already a rat-faced little idiot.”
    â€œBlessed Lord above,” Tysen said, startled. “Where did you ever hear such a thing, Leo? Rat-faced? That’s quite offensive; contrive to forget it immediately. The little idiot part as well.”
    â€œThat’s difficult to do, Papa, since Meggie called him that when she was angry with him. It was just yesterday that—”
    Tysen closed his eyes. “Your sister called you a rat-faced little idiot?”
    â€œYes,” Leo said, then dropped his chin to his chest. “Perhaps I deserved it, Papa. Meggie’s face was very red, and for the longest time she couldn’t think of anything to say to me, and then that just popped out of her mouth. Then she shook her fist at me. But at least she didn’t smack me in the head or throw me in the busheslike she usually does. She just walked away and slammed a door.”
    â€œMay I inquire what you said to your sister to deserve such an epithet?”
    Max said, “Leo cut a wide strip out of the back of her skirt and her petticoat. When she walked, you could see her