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“I suppose,” she doubtfully replied.
Sabrina snapped her fingers. “Perhaps Grant could establish an office in Dublin. Kendrick Shipping and Trade will be setting up one in London next year, so why not Dublin, too? Then there’d be lots of excuses to go to Ireland.”
Kathleen rolled her eyes. “Why would Grant listen to me about something like that?”
“Because he loves and respects you. Kendrick men make a habit of listening to their wives, which is an excellent quality of theirs. Now, what else is bothering you?”
Kathleen stewed for a few seconds before voicing her fears. “He’s so reserved. I chatter away like a magpie, while he imitates a bloody sphinx. How the devil will we ever learn to properly communicate?”
Frowning, Sabrina stared at her feet for several long seconds. “You know that the twins lost their parents at an early age?” she finally said.
Kathleen nodded.
“But what you probably don’t know,” Sabrina continued, “is that Grant was present when his father died. It was a dreadful riding accident, and there was no one else there to help. It was incredibly traumatic for the poor boy.”
Kathleen’s stomach spun into a hard knot. “That’s . . . that’s awful.”
“It certainly was. The Kendricks have weathered many tragedies over the years, but that one was particularly Grant’s. According to Graeme, after his father’s death Grant went from cheerful and happy to quiet and reserved. Much of that has carried over into adulthood.”
“I can understand that.” Kathleen had grieved terribly after her mother died, even without such a shattering experience.
“The point is that Grant’s reserve is not due to a lack of emotion. It’s because he feels emotion very deeply. So he does his best to control it.” Sabrina briefly smiled. “Frankly, we were beginning to worry that he’d never fall in love. But now he has, and he’s tumbled hard. Graeme and I believe he’s holding back precisely because he loves you so much. He doesn’t want to scare you off.”
When put like that, his behavior made perfect sense. “I’m generally not the scaring-off type.”
“Agreed. So the question then becomes, do you love Grant?”
“I do.”
“Then give yourself a chance, dearest—a chance to loveandto be vulnerable. Grant will be there to catch you.”
Kathleen thought about it. “And I can be there to catch him, too.”
Sabrina nodded. “After all, that’s what love is truly about.”
* * *
Kathleen stealthily made her way down the stairs. The center hall was deserted at this late hour but, thankfully, a lamp burned on one of the side tables. She’d forgotten her candle and had already bumped into a bloody footstool while sneaking through the darkened house.
Aside from that little mishap, an undisturbed peace reigned in the halls of Lochnagar Manor, with most of the other residents now safely abed.
Grant, however, wasnotabed. That was why she was creeping about like a footpad.
He’d not been at dinner, either. A neighboring estate owner had found evidence of trespassers on his lands, and Grant had volunteered to ride over and investigate. It made perfect sense that he should do so. But Kathleen had a sneaking suspicion that he was now avoiding her, so as to give her time to think about his offer without pressuring her.
Of course, Grant was nowallshe could think about, and she wouldn’t get a moment’s sleep until she spoke with him.
Because her bedroom overlooked the back gardens, she had a view of the adjacent stable yard—which meant she’d been able to see Grant’s return to Lochnagar over an hour ago. He’d not gone up to his room, however. She was certain of that, because she’d sneaked two doors down in her stocking feet to knock quietly on his door.
When there’d been no answer, she’d mustered up the courage to peek in. His room was dark and the bed untouched. Thoroughly annoyed, she’d promptly gone off looking for him—in her stocking feet, her hair down, and without a candle to light her way.
You’re a ninny.
After a quick glance around the hall, she hurried across the flagstones to the corridor that led to the library. She’d already checked Graeme’s study and the family drawing room, finding both empty. That meant Grant was likely holed up down here, once again going over survey maps to deduce where the gang of thieves might be hiding.
When the light of a candle flickered toward her—and she made out who was carrying that candle—she let out a sigh as she waited for Graeme to reach her.
“Out for a midnight stroll, I see.” His amused gaze tracked her from head to toe. “Looks like you forgot your shoes. And your candle.”
