He raised her face in the bright moonlight and kissed her wet cheeks. “You’re right, my love, it doesn’t matter. It is all in the past.”
Strathairn dismounted behind them. “I’m for a whiskey, and then I’ll borrow a better mount. This horse is tired and doesn’t take kindly to be ridden. My lady wife will not sleep until I arrive home.”
“Thank you so much, my friend.” Grant shook Strathairn’s hand. “I am indebted to you.”
Strathairn yawned. “I like a bit of excitement now and again. Keeps me on my toes. Although Sibella may be disinclined to agree. Will you return tomorrow?”
“I’ll pay Sir Ewan’s home a visit in the morning. Might find some clue as to his direction,” Grant said.
“I’ll join you. See if we can round him up.”
“I’m confident Black will have him clapped in irons before Snowdon can even think of leaving the country.”
He held out his arm to Mercy. “Come sweetheart, let’s get you inside. I know Lady Haighton will be pleased to see us, despite the hour.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I LOVE YOU, sleepyhead.”
Mercy smiled and opened her eyes in response to Grant’s kiss. “How is your head today?”
She rubbed her sore chin. “I am much better, thank you.”
Why was he dressed in riding clothes? Even though he’d made careful love to her last night, she still wanted to draw him into her warm bed and repeat it. “Are you about to go out?”
“I have some business to see to this morning. Forgive me if I’m not back until after luncheon.”
She frowned. “Are you going in pursuit of Sir Ewan?”
“I don’t expect him to find him. But I might glean something to assist in Black’s search.”
“You will be careful?”
“I will.” He kissed her again. “Your dog is behaving badly.”
She threw back the covers. She remembered she was naked, and covered herself with the sheet. “What is Wolf doing?”
Grant drew in a breath, his eyes heavy lidded. He dragged off his coat. “The dog misses his mistress. But his mistress has a responsibility first to her husband.”
An hour later, Mercy went in search of her dog. She found him in the kitchen gnawing on a large bone. “It was the only way to quiet him, my lady,” Cook said, kneading a dough on the big scrubbed table.
“I’ll take him for a walk.”
At midday, she and the duke ate luncheon in the dining room. “So, you now know what your husband has been involved in,” he said spearing a piece of beef from the footman’s platter.
“Yes. Grant’s very brave.”
“That he is. And very good at what he does.”
“Does Grant’s father know?”
The duke shook his head. “Feels his father isn’t well enough to be told.”
“I should think it would be good for the earl to learn about his son.”
“I agree. Perhaps you can convince Grant.” He raised a brow. “He tells me he’s retiring. Doesn’t believe he should continue now that he’s married.”
She frowned as she buttered a piece of bread.
