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“But surely she’ll listen to you now, after last night.”
“Maybe, but it won’t last.” Kathleen felt sure of that. “I do think she must go home to London.”
“Have you discussed it with her?”
“I thought I would do it over breakfast.”
Sabrina chuckled. “With me providing cover?”
“Sorry,” Kathleen sheepishly replied.
“Don’t be. It makes perfect sense. And here she is now,” Sabrina brightly added as the door opened and Jeannie shuffled in. “Good morning, my dear. I hope you slept well.”
The girl sat in the chair next to Kathleen, looking pale and wan.
“Not really.” Jeannie took a scone from the generous plate of pastries. “I couldn’t help worrying about David. He must beterriblyupset about last night. Captain Brown said he would make sure to tell him that I wasn’t injured.”
Argh.
Kathleen forced a calm reply. “That was very kind of the captain, but I hardly think the vicar’s feelings is the worst of our problems at the moment.”
Jeannie paused while ladling marmalade onto her scone. “What are you talking about, Kath?”
“The fire, pet. You could have been killed.”
“It wasn’t my fault, though,” her sister protested. “I had no idea that was going to happen.”
“Of course not, but you left the house without telling me. There are very dangerous men about, Jeannie. And they are doing dreadful things. You cannot be wandering about on your own.”
Her sister’s chin went up in a familiar mutinous tilt. “It’s just a short walk to the distillery, and nothing happened on the way there.”
“True, but you could have been seriously hurt, dearest,” Kathleen said. “Can you imagine how our parents would feel if anything happened to you?”
“But nothing did. And I’m fine.”
“Yes, but—”
“I’mfine.”
Kathleen was beginning to hate that phrase.
“I think what we’re trying to say, dear,” Sabrina said, “is that it might be time for you to return to London. The situation here is quite volatile.”
Jeannie put down her knife. “Are you going back to London, Kath?”
Kathleen fixed her with a firm gaze. “No. Sabrina needs my help.”
“Then I’m staying, too,” Jeannie said.
“Dearest, that’s not a very sensible—”
“Well, if it’s not sensible for me to stay, then it’s not sensible for you to stay,” her sister retorted.
“It’s different, Jeannie. As I said, Sabrina needs me. Besides, I’m older.”
Her sister bolted up. “I can help too, Kath. I’m not stupid, you know. Stop treating me like I’m just a little girl.”
Kathleen also rose. “Of course you’re not a little girl. But at the moment you’re rather acting like one.”
