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That unfortunate compliment arrested Jeannie’s attention, and her gaze flickered suspiciously between Kathleen and Brown.
“I only did some of the work, dearest,” she hastily said. “I simply helped our head gardener. It’s really a hobby more than anything else.”
It was more than that, of course. But she rarely had the opportunity to exercise one of her few true skills, because Helen wouldn’t let her anywhere near the ornamental gardens.
Sabrina gave her an encouraging smile. “The preliminary designs you sent along are excellent.”
Kathleen wriggled her fingers. “I’m a bit rusty. I do hope your gardener won’t mind me mucking about and experimenting a bit.”
“Since our gardener spends most of his time dozing in the potting shed,” Graeme said, “you’ll be just fine.”
“I also enjoy gardening,” Brown said. “Please call on me, if needed. And if you and your sister wish to leave Lochnagar at any time, perhaps to visit Dunlaggan, I would be happy to escort you—especially after today’s distressing events.”
“Which willnotbe repeated,” Graeme firmly said.
Brown gave him a gracious nod. “I have every confidence you will see the villains brought to justice, Sir Graeme. Given how busy you are, I am simply expressing my willingness to serve as escort for Miss Calvert and her sister. You cannot wish the ladies to go about alone.”
“That’s why we have footmen,” Graeme replied. “To escort the ladies.”
“And your parish work must keep you busy,” Grant added in a bland voice. “All those elderly widows must take up a fair bit of your time, not to mention the preparation for your sermons. They’re rather long, as I recall from my last visit.”
Graeme choked out a laugh that he quickly smothered when Sabrina scowled at him.
“Blasted macaroons,” he said. “Coconut always gets caught in my throat.”
“My widows are no problem, Mr. Kendrick,” Brown said in a dignified tone. “And I amquiteefficient when it comes to writing my sermons. I will have plenty of time to help Miss Calvert. With anything.”
Hell and damnation.
On top of everything else, why did she need the blasted vicar complicating her life?
Behind Mr. Brown’s back, the twins looked at each other and rolled their eyes at exactly the same moment.
“Goodness, look at the time,” Sabrina said, making a show of peering at the gilded bronze clock on the mantel. “Gus should be awake by now.”
Graeme snorted. “If not, Angus will have seen to it.”
Almost as soon as they’d stepped foot out of the carriage, Angus had insisted on going to the nursery to see his new great-grandson and namesake. Sabrina had tried to persuade him to wait until the infant was awake, but the old fellow was not to be denied.
“You know Grandda and babies,” Grant said with a wry smile. “An entireSassenachbrigade couldn’t keep him away from the latest Kendrick bairn.”
“The poor nursemaids will probably smother Angus with a pillow before the week is out,” Graeme commented.
The vicar, predictably, looked shocked.
“I can’t wait for you to meet our darling boy,” Sabrina said to Kathleen. “Even though he’s mine, I think he’s the most adorable baby ever born.”
“He’s a fine boy, Lady Kendrick,” Brown said.
“Even if he did scream all the way through his christening,” Sabrina joked. “I hope he’ll be better behaved for our guests.”
Kathleen mentally sighed. Crying babies—it wanted only this to make life perfectly annoying.
An awkward silence descended on the group.
“Well, I suppose I should be going,” Brown finally said with reluctance.
“I suppose you should,” Grant replied.
