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“Grant would never do that.”
Kathleen cast her an incredulous look. “He tells me what to do all the time.”
“That’s only because he’s worried about your safety right now. Graeme does the same to me.”
“And how do you respond to all that ordering about?”
“When he makes sense, I follow it. When he doesn’t, I ignore it.”
“As I have every intention of ignoring Grant ... Mr. Kendrick from now on.”
Sabrina looked skeptical. “Then you’ll be wearing David’s corsage to the ball tonight?”
“Good God, no. Jeannie would pitch a fit.” She glanced around. “Where is that scamp, by the way?”
“She’s helping Graeme with the cricket game for the older children.”
Kathleen exhaled a relieved breath. “Thank goodness she’s not trailing after David.”
“So, whatareyou going to do with David’s corsage?”
“I gave it to Hannah.” Kathleen pointed to the large tent, where Hannah was helping to set out the al fresco supper. “She’s already wearing it.”
Sabrina chuckled. “Poor David.”
“Poor me. I have to keep fending him off.”
“I could think of one way to solve that problem. Or oneperson.”
“Relentless, that’s what you are,” Kathleen wryly said.
“Very well, dearest. Discussion concluded.”
“Thank you.”
Kathleen took in the lively crowd of villagers, strolling the grounds or participating in the games. Even the ancients from the village had their own special tent, where they could play whist and smoke their pipes undisturbed.
“You’ve done a wonderful job, old girl,” she said. “No one knows how to throw a party like Sabrina Kendrick.”
“It was your idea, Kathleen. It was an excellent one, and so necessary after recent events. We practically had revolt on our hands after the vandalism in our storerooms. I’m afraid that having an incident on the grounds of Lochnagar itself was very upsetting for the villagers. Some think it suggests that we cannot protect them.”
Kathleen grimaced. “I tried to stop Jeannie from blurting it out in the middle of the pub, but I underestimated her lack of discretion.”
“From what Grant told me, Captain Brown was more than happy to encourage her.”
“It practically started a melee. I do believe the captain is something of a troublemaker.”
“Graeme thinks he’s playing on people’s anxieties in the hope of persuading them to sign up for his land scheme.”
Kathleen shot her a frown. “That’s seems rather desperate of him. And silly, if you ask me.”
“Still, it’s a bother, and it’s useless to deny that most of the locals are perturbed about the break-ins and thefts. Thank goodness Nick sent reinforcements from Glasgow.”
At Graeme’s hastily written request, Lord Arnprior had dispatched two footmen and a groom from Kendrick House to assist in patrolling the estate and the village.
“And fortunately they arrived in time to help with the fete,” Kathleen said. “Fingers crossed it does the trick and gives the villagers a welcome respite from their worries.”
In order to ensure that all could enjoy the festivities, Graeme had organized a watch over the village for the entire day, overseen by Mr. Chattan. With houses and cottages locked up tight, and guards posted throughout Dunlaggan, the locals were able to take a much-needed break and carouse to their hearts’ content, care of Sir Graeme and Lady Kendrick.
