class. Even now, thinking of their embrace sent liquid heat flowing through her. Was that because he was more experienced? A worldly man who surely had his choice of worldly mistresses?
Or was there some vital, unexpected connection between the two of them, like blending rose and frankincense to create more than the sum of the parts? Given how dazed Mackenzie looked after their kissing session, she was inclined to think there might be something special between them. The only way to be sure was by more kissing, but that might be hard to arrange since they would go their separate ways in the morning.
If anything was to be done, it must be tonight.
Mac was halfway through a platter of sliced ham and cheese when Lady Agnes joined him in the kitchen. She waved him to stay seated when he started to rise. “Don’t interrupt your midnight supper. You look as if you need sustenance.” She took a chair on the other side of the scrubbed pine table. “Unless you are drinking two glasses of that very fine claret you provide, one of those drinks must be for me.”
“Perspicacious as always, Lady A.” He handed her the glass. “Keeping you in wine and spirits is a small price to pay for the sanctuary you provide when needed.”
She sipped the claret with pleasure. “Will tonight’s misadventure damage your relationship with your smuggler friends?”
“I’m too good a customer. After they sleep off their bumbo, the only one who will still be angry is the unpleasant fellow who wanted to rape and murder Lady Kiri.”
Lady Agnes winced at the thought. “You’ve often called here unexpectedly, but never with a damsel in distress in tow. And Ashton’s sister, no less!”
“I didn’t know who she was until later, but she was obviously a young lady in need of help.” He thought of how she’d broken the shackle and fought through the cave. “Though she might have managed to escape on her own. She’s amazingly intrepid.”
“Well, she is Ashton’s sister, and they resemble each other greatly. Like him, she’s an expert in Kalarippayattu.” Lady Agnes took a piece of cheese from the platter. “Her mother’s family has a very old tradition of retaining a Kalarippayattu master to teach the sons of the family. And the daughters, if they’re interested.”
“So Lady Kiri learned from the same master who taught Ashton. That explains a great deal.” Mac grinned. “She almost crippled me for life before I convinced her I was trying to help. She makes me think of the stories of ancient Hindu warrior queens that Ashton would sometimes tell late at night.”
“Kiri is a direct descendant of those warrior queens,” Lady Agnes said seriously. “One reason her family moved to England was so the girls could find British husbands, but there aren’t many men who can fully appreciate Kiri’s unique qualities.”
Of course a beautiful young woman with a good dowry would be in the market for a husband. Perfectly logical, but Mac found that his food had lost its savor. He wrapped the slab of ham in cheesecloth and returned it to the pantry. “I’m for bed now, Lady Agnes. My usual room?”
She nodded. “Move quietly. It’s right next to Lady Kiri’s since those were the only guest rooms made up.”
With a candle in one hand, he bent to give her a one-armed hug. “Thanks for always being here, Lady A.”
She hugged him back. “And my thanks to you for keeping my life from becoming dull, Mac.”
“You never lack for excitement running the school,” he said with a laugh.
He had just about enough energy to make it up the steps and into the sanctuary of his usual room. Because of his disreputable activities, he ended up here with some regularity. It was always good to see Lady Agnes, even though she was not enthusiastic about his dealings with smugglers. She knew they were necessary, though.
He lit the waiting fire, then stripped down to shirt and drawers, adding the gray wool banyan that hung in the wardrobe. Then