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Angus snorted. “At least my conversations don’t bore young lassies to death.”
With that annoying and probably truthful bon mot, his grandfather beetled over to the stairs, heading up to the family apartments.
Grant blew out a frustrated breath, then looked at Will. “Is it just me, or is my entire family insane?”
“Dinner in thirty minutes, sir,” the young man politely responded.
Shaking his head, Grant stalked up the stairs.
Chapter Five
It’s because he’s so tall.
Kathleen mentally cursed, annoyed with her inane response to Grant Kendrick. But even in a family of tall, impressive-looking men, he’d stood out.
She paused outside the drawing room door, taking a deep breath. Men never rattled her. Never. And she’d always thought that rather a shame, since she imagined it might be fun for an attractive man to ruffle her feathers.
But then she’d seen him standing in the hall and had promptly lost her ability to form a sensible thought.
That wasn’t much fun at all.
In addition to his height and impressively broad shoulders, Mr. Kendrick was handsome, with rather austere features and a manner that had little in common with the languid dandies or bored Corinthians of theton. In fact, he was slightly intimidating. Not that he’d done anything impolite, except stare at her with those extraordinary eyes. His gaze had tracked her all the way down the stairs. That had made her feel self-conscious and awkward, as if she’d said or done something tremendously silly.
Unfortunately, as soon as she’d opened her mouth that was exactly what she did. His russet eyebrows had shot up in surprise, and an incredulous expression had filled his jade-colored gaze. Until today, Kathleen had never seen eyes of such a startling color. Combined with his dark red hair, burnished like an autumn leaf, Grant Kendrick seemed on first glance the epitome of a dashing Highlander warrior, stepped right from the pages of a poem by Sir Walter Scott.
On both second and third glance, however, Mr. Kendrick struck her as a man who took the business of life very seriously. That was probably why his gaze had transformed so quickly from surprised to disapproving. It was not an uncommon reaction. Men often found her disconcerting, if not downright strange.
Kathleen almost jumped out of her shoes when a quiet voice spoke up behind her.
“Miss Calvert, may I get the door for you?”
She smiled weakly at Henderson, the Kendricks’ very correct butler. “Yes, I was rather woolgathering, but I shouldn’t keep the others waiting.”
“There’s no rush, ma’am. Dinner will not be served until the entire family has assembled.”
The older man’s kind smile was probably why she blurted out yet another admission. “I think I was rather rude to Mr. Kendrick. Mr. Grant Kendrick, I mean. Just now, when I met him. Back in the hall.”
Good God.What was wrong with her?
Henderson didn’t turn a hair. “I think you’ll find that the Kendricks value forthright speech, Miss Calvert. And Mr. Grant is the kindest of men, I assure you. He would never take offense.”
Kathleen wasn’t quite sure about that, but she appreciated the butler’s attempt to settle her nerves.
“Are you ready to join the others now, ma’am?” he patiently asked a few moments later.
Kathleen gave him a nod, deciding to ignore the residual effects of Grant Kendrick. It made not one whit of difference what he thought of her, even if hewasterribly handsome.
“Ah, there you are,” Gillian said as Henderson ushered Kathleen into the spacious and elegant drawing room. “And looking very dashing, I might add. That color is simply splendid on you.”
Lady Arnprior, seated next to her cousin on a green velvet chaise, gave her a warm smile. “Indeed. You look absolutely charming.”
Overdressed, more like it. For some demented reason, Kathleen had chosen a gown suited to a grand London ball at the height of the Season. By contrast, both Gillian and the countess were dressed in simple, elegant gowns perfect for a family dinner. No wonder Mr. Kendrick had stared at her.
“You should see me when I really put in the effort,” she joked.
Lord Arnprior came over to escort her to the group. “As my wife noted, you indeed look charming. We are fortunate to have so many lovely ladies in our midst.”
“You look top drawer, Kath, as always,” Jeannie said, beaming up at her.
