Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

Gabriel tossed the braided rag the girls had made for Oscar down the hallway, smiling.

He couldn’t wipe it off his damn face for a week now. A week of Kate in his bed. Never hers. In fact, he was moving her out of the attic and to hell with the speculation. It was far too drafty and cold.

Was she even still the governess?

He didn’t know the rules. Not really. Even while attending university, he made it his mission to remain out of ballrooms and away from marriage-minded mamas. While Gabriel had worked for every coin he earned, the MacInnes were a well-established noble family in Scotland. Which is part of the reason his father’s illicit whisky venture never made sense to him. His father had inherited a damn kingdom, and he gambled his legacy on the family’s status and then later, on his eldest son.

Well, he understood well enough that she was unwed and an employee. But what was he to do?

It wasn’t as if she would ever agree to marry him. She was protective of her independence after being ruined. And he had come to care for her too much to marry her and suffer the same fate as his father and brother, leaving her alone .

He had recognized far before she had that she was perfectly suited to helping manage and restore the inn. She had hired and trained staff, advertised in the papers, and the inn’s rooms were half sold in time for the festival. As he handled the construction matters of expanding and legitimizing the distillery, she coordinated all the necessary paperwork for permits.

Kate Bancroft was a horrible governess, perhaps the worst. She allowed the girls far too much freedom when it came to their education, but he’d be an eejit not to notice how much happier they were—how much happier they all were.

Because of her help, the inn would be opening three days earlier than he had scheduled. And sure, they had worked hard and spent hours bickering over details, but it was difficult not to notice the way she walked into a room now—as if she belonged, as if she were no longer seeking approval.

Nor could he forget how they had tupped each other in the hayloft last evening as rain slashed down against the freshly patched stable roof. And how it had started out with such intensity he’d forgotten they had been only strangers a couple of months ago.

“Oscar, come!”

The dog jaunted down the hallway after Gabriel. The beast’s large head bowed down with the braided rag clasped into his jaws, tight. If ever he had time to hunt once more, Oscar would make an excellent companion in the woods.

As he started down the stairs, he paused, gripping the railing at the sound of her honeyed humming.

“ Psst .” She poked her above the railing and looked up at him, her dark brow furrowed. “We can’t find Ben.”

“Have ye checked?—”

“Yes, all the usual spots.”

“He couldna have gone far.” Oscar pranced down the stairs and nearly knocked Kate over. “Watch it now,” Gabriel cautioned.

“Ohh, shh .” She bent down and nuzzled the dog.

He was jealous of a damn dog .

“Have ye checked under Maisie’s bed? I caught him there last week.”

Maisie and Lorna rushed forward, bending in half to catch their breath. “Do ye think he escaped, Uncle?”

“No’ sure he moves quick enough for that.”

Kate stood beside him and sent an elbow into his side. “Be nice,” she mumbled under her breath.

“We’ve searched and searched and can’t find the bugger.”

“Lorna MacInnes, is that the language you should use?”

“You called Uncle that last week when he arrived late for dinner,” Maisie added, standing up and folding her arms.

Gabriel fought back a laugh. They had her there.

“And I talked to Miss Bancroft about it all strict like,” Elspeth announced, her face red from laughter.

“I apologized,” Kate said, holding up her hands. “We ladies need to conduct ourselves properly. And we don’t cuss.”

“Finn cusses.”

“Finn Wallace!” Elspeth said, the humor fading from her voice. “That man belongs out in the stable. Isna decent for a castle.”

“That’s no’ how I remember it, Elsie.”

“Och, shut yer mouth, Gabriel MacInnes.” She glared at him before spreading her arms and guiding both girls downstairs to the grand hall. “I hope ye break yer shoulder again and lose at the festival.”

“I hope ye leave my house and return to Edinburgh.”

“No you don’t,” Kate said with a chuckle. “You would miss her far too much.”

“The girls would miss her.” He dropped his voice, edging closer. “And I miss ye.”

“You will or you do?”

“Dinna let me find out.” He grabbed her hand, locked his fingers around her, and pulled her up against him. “It’s been so long, I forget what it’s like to kiss ye.”

She grinned, looking up at him with such hopeful gray eyes. Eyes that saw the world for its possibilities. “Let me remind you.” She pushed up to her toes and dropped a chaste kiss on his cheek and stepped away, but he was quicker.

He gently pulled her back into his chest, tilted her chin upward with his fist, and kissed her slowly. As if the rest of Dunsmuir Castle wasn’t falling into pure chaos around them, and it was.

She made that soft, breathy moan he loved to make her issue as his tongue pressed against her lips, claiming her. He never thought himself a possessive man, but with Kate, he suspected he would lay down his life for her.

But did she wish for him, crave him, as much as he did her? If she no longer was employed as the governess, would she return to London once the distillery was operating?

Kate pulled away, flicking her eyes first to the stairwell behind them, then to his eyes, fluttering her thick, dark lashes.

“To remember me by.” She patted her hand against his chest and quickly spun away, starting down the stairs as if she wished him to chase her.

If she asked for him to marry her, he might even consider it.

And damn, wasn’t that a surprise.

But no. No, he reminded himself, continuing after her.

Kate held her fingertips to her mouth, floating through the music room as she searched behind curtains and under sofas and chairs.

“That cabinet there? It sticks sometimes. Maybe he crawled in and became stuck?”

But the cat wasn’t there.

“Why are ye so concerned with finding him? He’ll turn up.”

She nodded, moving to glance around him, then approached, dropping her voice to a whisper. “That’s it though, Gabe. He might turn up… dead .”

“And the girls believe he is still alive?”

“I told them this morning after they dressed that he was missing, and sometimes older animals like to pass in private.”

“Then we should talk to them.”

“You think?” She covered her mouth. “I swear it’s not funny, I just never know with you lot what will come of this. It’s a simple enough conversation, hard but I think?—”

“Finlay Wallace, don’t ye dare step a foot farther into this bluidy castle, do ye hear me?” Elsie bellowed from the flight of stairs below.

The girls’ laughter chittered along with the echo of their aunt’s angry warning.

“Dear Christ,” Gabriel muttered. He pointed his hand toward Kate as he exited the doorway. “I’m no’ finished with ye yet.”

She raised her eyebrows at everything that statement implied.

“Today,” he clarified. “No’ done today.”

Liar .

“We’ve a cat to find,” she shouted after him as he raced down the stairs to Finn standing in the doorway holding Maisie upside down as Elsie wielded an old china vase in her hand as a weapon.

“Whoa, now. Finn, unhand my niece.” Gabriel approached, holding out his hands. “And Elsie, if ye break that vase, then ye’ll have less of a dowry than ye already do.”

“It’d be worth it to see this man knocked unconscious.”

His sister scowled, balling her fists tight at her side.

“Now.” Gabriel came between the pair of once childhood lovers. “Ye’ve kent he’s workin’ for me. I suspect he’s here on business.”

“Running whisky again,” she muttered. “I thought ye were through with illicit whisky.”

“I am. We are,” he corrected.

Finn gently lowered Maisie to the ground and helped her to her feet, ruffling her hair before the little girl darted behind Elsie’s skirts.

“Girls, help me in the kitchen. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry, and we’ve apples to use up before they turn soft.” Kate swooped in, and for the first time, he noticed how undone she had become, how comfortable. How she wore her hair looser, as if daring it to slip from its pins. How she didn’t bother hiding how red her lips turned after he kissed her. How she sang and danced and floated about as if she no longer hid from the scorn of others.

As if they were not only partners in business or partners in bed, but partners in life .

“Gabe?” Elsie yelled, tossing her hands up in frustration. “Kate, we’ve a new rule. Nae men are to step foot into this castle. We women are claiming it for our own.”

Kate shrugged, peeking over her shoulder at him as if she would entertain the idea.

“Ye better no’,” he said, addressing her. Only her.

That’s when Finn cleared his throat. “I came only to pass on the ledgers to Gabe and to let him ken I’ve word some guests are due to arrive early tomorrow morning.”

“We’re trying to find Ben,” Elsie declared.

“He’ll come around.”

“He might be dead,” Gabriel said matter-of-factly. He never cared for the cranky cat, and the cat had lived here for at least twenty years.

“Well Christ, he must be five-and-twenty. Poor fella must be exhausted.”

“Might be eighteen at best.” Elsie glared at him. “Hand over the ledgers and leave.”

“Nae, I gave him to ye after yer Ma’s?—”

“I remember when,” she shot back. “And ye didna give him to anyone. He was a wee kitten, and yer father threatened to toss him in the river.”

“He was jestin’. My da wouldna hurt anyone.”

Except that wasn’t true. And the weight of that omission hung heavy in the air between the trio.

“I think we can find a middle ground here, dinna ye, Elsie.” Gabriel attempted peace, but wounded hearts hurt deep, and he was certain his sister wouldn’t rest until Finn was ruined for what he had done.

“Hell will freeze over before I can tolerate this blackguard’s presence again.”

“Pack up, Elsie dear, because this man isna leavin’. He’s yer brother’s business partner.”

Elsie spun around and whacked Gabriel in the arm. “Ye wouldna. Ye bloody traitor. I returned here for ye and the bairns. I gave up?—”

“Yer fancy parties and pretty things, no doubt. Must be so hard to return home to yer castle,” Finn muttered .

She stomped forward and waved her finger in front of his face. “My brother died,” she nearly growled.

Finn tossed his arms into the air. “And everybody forgot he was my friend. He was like a brother to me as well.”

“Right, is that why ye stumble around drunk for days and canna get out of yer own way to piss? If he was yer brother, then ye did a shite job protecting him. Ye hung around and wallowed and drank and gambled away everything until it was too late for him.”

Gabriel placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling the tense roll of her small body. Their mother used to call her Lioness. And he remembered Elsie would cry, wishin’ to be a bear. That was how Elsie was. She always wanted what she couldn’t have.

Including Finlay Wallace.

“That’s enough now, lass.”

She shook off his touch. “Dinna dare tell me how to feel now, Brother. Ye left as well. Then came home to play hero, but ye think ye’re too good for Kate, and ye’re going to do the same as Finn. Ye’re gonna take everything she has until she breaks, and then ye’ll be askin’ why she left.”

“Kate?” Gabriel cleared his voice, wishing suddenly to switch the topic.

“Och, ye think we dinna see?” Finn laughed, tossing his head back. “Ye’re blind. And ye’re bloody daft to think we dinna ken what ye’re about with that Englishwoman.”

“Dinna call her that,” Gabriel snapped.

Elsie snickered, and he turned to glare at her just as screams erupted from the kitchen.

Gabriel was running before he could think better of it and rushed down the stairs, deep into the bowels of the castle until the screams pierced his ears, and his heart hammered against his chest.

“It’s a miracle!”

He struggled to catch his breath, his eyes jumping from Maisie and Lorna before Kate stepped into view with the old cat clawing its way out of her arms covered in butter.

“Ben’s alive! Alive! Alive!” The girls yelled and danced around the small kitchen as he stood there, realizing he didn’t care for the governess. It was some tryst or affair. He damn well loved the woman, and it made no difference if the old cat had run off to die, or Finn and Elsie were at each other’s throats, or Mrs. Malcolm shuffled through the doorway waving her beloved broom at the girls to quiet down.

Because this was his world now.

She was his world.

“Ye touch me again, Finn, and I dare ye to see what I do,” Elsie snapped.

“Christ, woman. I tripped.”

They mumbled at one another as they stumbled into the kitchen.

This was chaos.

This was family.

And Kate smiled back, shrugging her shoulders before she began to leave.

And that was when he knew, well and truly, that he loved Katherine Bancroft with each beat of his heart.

And he’d lose her far too soon.