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“Ladies, I do hope you enjoyed your stroll.”
The man was looking straight at her with a decidedly warm glint in his eyes. Why in the name of all that was holy did he have to take a liking to her?
Kathleen mustered what she hoped was a bland smile conveying no enthusiasm whatsoever. “Yes, thank you. The countryside is very pretty, although not as pretty as Ireland’s, I’m sorry to say. Then again, Ireland is home, so I’m biased in that respect.”
“How can you say that?” Jeannie protested. “The scenery here is so dramatic, and the history is, too. Mr. Brown has been telling me wonderful stories about Highland history.” She gazed at the vicar with girlish enthusiasm. “I think I could live here forever.”
Mr. Brown, clearly oblivious, gave Jeannie a kind smile. “I certainly hope you and your sister have a lengthy visit with us, if not forever. That is indeed a very long time.”
Kathleen scrunched her nose up. “What an awful prospect for poor Sabrina and Graeme. We’re both absolute terrors, Mr. Brown. Our parents hardly know what to do with us.”
“You’re the one who’s the terror, Kath,” Jeannie said. “I’m as good as gold.”
She heaved a sigh. “Sad but true, pet. I’m a complete romp.”
Brown looked shocked—probably by both her language and frank assessment of her character. Unfortunately, he quickly recovered.
“I refuse to believe you are anything but charming, Miss Calvert,” he gallantly said. “No one in his right mind could say otherwise.”
Jeannie’s brows snapped together as she shot the vicar a suspicious glance.
Double drat.
“I do believe the men are waiting for us,” Kathleen said.
“Indeed they are,” Sabrina replied, waving to her husband.
The Kendrick twins waited by the center door of a two-story, whitewashed building. They stood in identical postures—legs braced, arms crossed over their broad chests, faces shadowed by the brims of their hats.
Kathleen would have laid bets they were also wearing identical expressions of irritation at all the dithering about. Kendrick men, even the calm ones, radiated restless energy whenever they wanted to get on with something.
“Hallo,” she called, madly waving both arms. “We’ll be right there.”
When the twins exchanged a glance she could practically read that one, too. After all, she was behaving like something of an idiot.
Jeannie frowned. “Kath, why are you acting so strange?”
Kathleen took her sister by the arm. “Whatever can you mean? This is how I always act.”
Sabrina pressed a hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Step lively now, my girl,” Kathleen said, layering on an Irish brogue. “We don’t want to keep the gents waiting.”
She swept her sister along the path to the distillery, leaving an amused Sabrina and a perplexed Mr. Brown to follow in their wake.
Chapter Fourteen
Grant watched Kathleen haul her sister toward the distillery. Jeannie was clearly protesting, and just as clearly her big sister wasn’t having it.
“What’s that all about?” Graeme asked him.
“I imagine Miss Calvert is trying to discourage her little sister’s enthusiasm for the vicar.”
“Ah. Which would leave room for the vicar’s enthusiasm for the big sister,” Graeme replied.
Grant had to ignore the impulse to growl at his twin. If Kathleen wished to spend her time with boring clergymen, so be it.
“For a wee slip of a thing, she’s quite masterful,” added Graeme.
