No, he told the tale with verve and expressive hand gestures.
“And there I was,” he said, arms spread wide, “racing back and forth across Lady Stewart’s garden party, Fergus in pursuit and bleating his displeasure at my lack ofamour. Every chance he got, the sheep would pinch another article of my clothing between his teeth—my coat, a shoe, my left shirtsleeve. I was half-naked before I managed tae scramble atop a wall. Of course, I cursed enough tae make a sailor proud—” He paused while the men rolled with laughter. “—sufficiently horrifying the ladies present and causing no end of trouble.”
As the men cackled around him, Mr. Penn-Leith turned and unerringly found her gaze where she stood at the ship’s railing. His grin softened slightly and he winked before turning back to the gathered sailors.
Kendall snorted at Allie’s elbow.
Allie glanced up at her brother, leaning back against the railing.
“I find it amusing that Penn-Leith attracted a literal sheep given how people follow him around.” Kendall sent Allie a rather pointed look.
“Are you now insinuating that I am a sheep?”
Kendall crossed his arms. “If the cap fits . . .”
“Ah, meaning I am also a dunce? How lovely of you. I have kept my promise. I have not spoken with Mr. Penn-Leith since your interruption this morning. You cannot fault me for looking at him.” Turning to her twin, Allie tapped her chin. “But I must say, Kendall, I find the inner mechanics of your mind to be fascinating. Do you honestly believe this tack will work?”
“Pardon?”
Allie placed her palms to her cheeks and adopted an expression of mock horror.
“Oh no!” she rasped, mimicking Kendall’s deep bass. “Lady Allegra appears to find the Highland Poet interesting. I know! I shall attempt to turn my sister’s sense of individuality against her and imply that she is a simpleton to fall for Mr. Penn-Leith’s chicanery. That will certainly embarrass her into compliance.” She dropped her act and gave her twin a deadpan stare. “Really, Kendall. You are cleverer than this. At the very least, give my own intelligence more credit. You know Mr. Penn-Leith is considerably more than the sum of his charm and handsome good looks.”
“And now we’re addinghandsometo his list of adjectives? I’m starting to think I may have made a grave mistake in allowing Mr. Penn-Leith to journey with us. It might not have been my finest decision.”
“Yes, well, if the cap fits . . . ,” she parroted back to him.
Kendall clenched both his fists, a clear sign that Allie was besting him.
Which meant that his next words were all too predictable.
“Tread lightly, Lady Allegra,” he said, looming over her. “As I’ve repeatedly noted, the poet is not for you. Do not think that this . . .” He waved a hand. “. . . this rapport that is growing between you can ever be anything more than that. An alliance between yourself and Ethan Penn-Leith will never happen. I can andwillruin him before I permit it.”
Waves lapped against the hull of the ship.
“Careful, Kendall,” she said softly. “Your ducal pedigree is showing. It’s rather alarming how thoroughly you channel our sire’s spirit.”
Her brother pushed off the railing.
“We have an agreement, you and I,” he said. “See that you abide by it.”
Kendall stalked off.
Allie looked back to the main mast to find Mr. Penn-Leith regarding her with raised eyebrows.
Do ye require any assistance?his expression said.
Allie shook her head.
Mr. Penn-Leith lifted his chin in acknowledgment and turned back to the group of men around him.
The simplicity of the moment felt transcendental.
A lightning bolt of realization.
Thattiny action was what differentiated men like Kendall from a gentleman like Ethan Penn-Leith.
Kendall saw her as a commodity to be conquered and leveraged in his never-ending quest for power.
