Page 51 of In Search of a Husband
“It’s fine to cry, love,” Kate whispered.
Maisie nodded. She appeared as if she was about to say something before running for Elspeth and throwing her small arms around her aunt’s neck.
“Now,” Elspeth said, standing. “What’s this I hear about Sophie learning French?”
CHAPTER 13
Finn hadn’t shownup to help with refinishing the floors in the inn. And Gabriel didn’t have time to find someone else, so he had spent the day replacing the damaged floorboards, sanding the others, and then staining them. They were a few weeks out before he could reopen the inn yet.
But he needed to find a way to open it sooner to take advantage of the festival attendance. The boost in business would help until he could arrange to have the distillery inspected and then licensed.
He paused as he stepped into Dunsmuir Castle that evening at the sound of her laugh.
It was like that first peek of sunlight after a wicked storm.
He clenched his fists, recognizing as much as he wanted to see her that he must avoid her, and started for the stairs to his room.
Except…
It didn’t sound as if she were with the girls, and it was time for them to be asleep. He had best see if she were well, and then he would be off to bed.
He strode down the dark hallway and stopped, peering in through the cracked door leading into the library.
Damn it.
Elspeth stood by the roaring fireplace, clutching a bottle of whisky and swinging her arms around in an animated story. Kate sat on the floor with a near-empty glass in her hand, utterly enraptured.
“And then Tavish tore it away from Gabriel, and Da goes ‘I swear it, no’ on my life, Constable.’”
Kate’s long black hair was cascading down her back, a river of curls. Her cheeks were flushed and her smile wide.
No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, she was still beautiful.
She was magnetic.
And he couldn’t rid her from his mind.
“Ye can come in, Brother,” Elspeth announced, turning toward the door.
He hated how Kate straightened, and her smile dropped.
Very well.
“Ye can begin with how excited ye are to see me,” Elspeth said, handing her bottle of whisky to Kate. Kate glanced at the bottle with one eye closed, then tipped the bottle, slowly pouring it into her glass.
“He has never been excited in his life,” Kate grumbled.
Elspeth grinned, her arms akimbo and her sharp nose lifted up in the air as if she were queen and holding court.
“Glad to see ye, Elsie.”
Gabriel stood awkwardly for a moment, bridging the distance between the two women.
“Come give me a warm welcome.” His sister outstretched her arms for a hug, but all he could do was glance toward Kate on the floor, who closed her eyes and concentrated on the whisky in her glass.
“Ye’ve come.” He gathered his sister into a hug, noticing the uncomfortable slip in his chest, as if it hitched. Odd, considering he hadn’t seen her in an age.
“Ye wrote, didn’t ye?”
