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As she lay in his arms, recovering her breath, Kathleen’s world subtly shifted on its axis. For so long, she’d assumed she’d spend the rest of her life as a spinster, and quite happily so.
For once, she was grateful to have been proven wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kathleen took a sip from her teacup, and then grimaced at the stone-cold brew. A glance at the clock on one of the library’s bookshelves confirmed that the entire morning had slipped by. Stifling a yawn, she considered taking a brisk walk before joining her sister for luncheon. Several hours of researching and sketching designs for new flowerbeds had left her with a fuzzy brain.
Part of that condition could be placed at Grant’s door. Or her door, actually, since she’d been silly enough to open it to him each of these last three nights. He always left before the servants were up, giving her a lingering kiss and a stern admonition to sleep in. Kathleen was an early riser, though, even if her future husband had kept her up half the night. But if it came to getting a good night’s sleep or making love with Grant, she’d choose the latter every time.
Of course, they needed to be careful, or Kathleen might find herself with child before her betrothed had even put a ring on her finger.
Grant had initially suggested a grand wedding in London with all her friends and their extended families in attendance. Although touched by his generosity, she’d told him a smaller affair in Glasgow was infinitely preferable to the circus of atonwedding. Helen would no doubt kick up a fuss at having to travel to Scotland, but that was no longer Kathleen’s problem.
Besides, she now firmly believed that Jeannie should spend the rest of the winter in Glasgow with the Kendricks. Jeannie had seemed genuinely happy to hear of her betrothal to Grant, but also oddly unsettled. The girl had grown increasingly quiet these last few days, avoiding company as much as possible. When Kathleen had gently probed, Jeannie had burst into tears and begged her not to abandon herjust yet.
It seemed an overreaction, but it was clear that Jeannie still relied on her, and equally clear that she dreaded returning home to Papa and Helen. So for now, Kathleen would do her best to keep Jeannie with her despite the challenges of managing a moody, complicated girl.
Overarching all these other considerations was the ever-lurking problem of the bandits. Though matters on that front had been quiet since the distillery fire, none of them were under the illusion the troubles were over. Grant and Graeme were continuing their investigations, but until that issue was successfully resolved, Kathleen and Grant’s future would have to wait.
Still, despite the delay, a quiet joy to her life persisted, because now shedidhave a future. And it was better than anything she’d ever imagined.
Kathleen was rolling up her sketches when Hannah hurried into the library, a troubled frown marking her brow.
“Is something wrong, Hannah?”
“Very wrong. You best look at these, Miss Kathleen.” The maid thrust some crumpled papers at her.
Kathleen placed them on the desk and started to smooth out what appeared to be scrawled notes.
“They’re notes to Miss Jeannie,” Hannah said. “Secret ones, from the look of it.”
“What? Who would send her secret notes?”
Hannah pointed to the bottom of one. Kathleen felt her jaw sag.
“Captain Brown?” she gasped.
“Looks like,” Hannah grimly replied. “I just glanced at one of ’em, but that told me enough.”
“Where did you find them?”
“In Miss Jeannie’s room. I’d gone there to fetch a gown that needed repairing. Since one of the housemaids is out with a nasty cold, I thought I’d straighten up, too. When I picked up the books by her bed, these fell out of one of ’em. I couldn’t help seeing Captain Brown’s name, and I knew that wasn’t right.” She pointed at one of the notes. “Read this one.”
Hannah’s dismayed expression reflected Kathleen’s growing horror as she started to peruse the page.
“Captain Brown asked my sister to steal Sabrina’s pearls, the ones she received from the king,” she blurted out.
“And it looks like she already did.”
The floor seemed to tilt under Kathleen’s feet, causing her to grab the edge of the desk. “You checked?”
“Just now. Them pearls are gone, all right.”
“You’re absolutely sure.”
“I take care of my lady’s jewels, so I know where everything is. Because she hardly wears that set, they’re always in the bottom of her jewel case. I also searched all her drawers, just in case.”
Kathleen scanned the rest of the notes. There were three in all, and the first obviously inserted into the book the day the captain had presented it to Jeannie. Fury now replaced horror as she realized how thoroughly the brute had hoodwinked her sister.
