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Chapter Twenty
Sabrina looked up from the stack of mail by her plate as Kathleen entered the breakfast parlor. “There you are. Did you get any sleep last night?”
Kathleen headed straight for the coffeepot that beckoned from the mahogany sideboard. “A bit. Jeannie wanted to sleep with me but insisted that Mrs. Wiggles join us. I can tell you with absolute certainly that your cat came honestly by her name.”
“Oh, dear.” Sabrina crinkled her nose. “She must have been covered in soot.”
“We tried to wipe her down, but Mrs. Wiggles preferred to clean herself—for half the night. I know because she was sitting on my legs for most of it.”
Sabrina looked torn between exasperation and amusement. “Kath, you should have put the dratted thing out in the hall.”
“Hannah conveyed that message quite emphatically when she saw the state of my bed linens this morning.”
“The whole house is in an uproar, I’m afraid. But that’s no reason for you to put up with one of Hannah’s scolds or our ridiculous cat.”
Kathleen took a seat across from her. “I rather enjoy Hannah’s scolds. They’re colorful. And I truly don’t think I would have slept much, anyway, after all that commotion.”
Commotion that included a stimulating encounter with Grant in the gazebo.
Sabrina grimaced. “What a dreadful visit this is turning out to be for you. I do apologize, dearest. I cannot imagine what you must think of us.”
Kathleen pointed a finger at her. “Sabrina Kendrick, don’t you dare apologize. You’re in the middle of a crisis, and our presence has caused one complication after another.”
“At least I don’t think we’ll have to worry about our vicar. After that scene in the study, I shouldn’t be surprised if the poor man went home, packed his bags, and left Dunlaggan with all speed.”
“Another bad outcome you can lay at my door.”
Sabrina scoffed. “It’s just stuff and nonsense, especially compared to our other problems.”
Kathleen glanced at the clock when it chimed out the hour. “I take it the men are already back at the distillery?”
“Yes. Graeme and Grant left at first light, and Angus shortly thereafter. The twins wanted to have a good look around the place in the daytime, to see if they could find any clues.”
“Any real chance of that?”
“Graeme thinks it doubtful, given how carefully these bounders covered their tracks. But he needed to get a work crew organized for repairs, as well.”
Kathleen squeezed her cousin’s hand. “I’m so sorry, old girl.”
“Truly, I feel the worst for poor Magnus. He was devastated. Most of the last distillation was ruined, I’m afraid.” Sabrina shook her head. “And I’ve never seen my husband as furious as he was over the danger to Jeannie and Adams.”
“I cannot say that I blame Graeme, which brings me to my next point.”
“You wish to return to Glasgow with Jeannie.” Sabrina nodded. “I’ll miss you, of course, but it’s perfectly understandable.”
Kathleen shook her head. “I have no intention of abandoning you. I’m only surprised your husband hasn’t loaded you and Gus into the carriage already.”
“He did try that on last night until I made the case that we would be perfectly safe as long as we didn’t stray beyond the gardens. Besides, I have no intention of deserting my people in the middle of this uproar.”
“Graeme actually accepted that?” Kathleen skeptically asked.
Sabrina wrinkled her nose. “Not immediately. But Grant backed me up, thank goodness. He’s very good at calming my Highland warrior’s agitation down to a dull roar.”
“He’s very good at a lot of things.”
When Sabrina’s eyebrows ticked up, Kathleen hastily went on.
“But it’s Jeannie I want to talk to you about. If she would truly listen to me, it might not be a problem to let her stay. But as it is . . .”
