Kate narrowed her eyes and surged to her feet. Mr. Penrose slipped low again as if she might give up at this sign of furtiveness. She marched forward and planted herself at his side. “What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed, trying not to wake the sleeping passengers around her.
Penrose kept his eyes clenched shut.
“Mr. Penrose, I know it’s you.”
In the end, he could not suppress his compulsion toward good manners, and he rose to his feet, putting his hand to his forehead as if he’d remove a hat he did not have. Still, he didn’t meet her eyes or say a word.
“Mr. Penrose,” she said sharply, and his gaze finally rose to her. “Are you spying on me?”
“No, Mrs. Hamilton. Of course not.”
“Where is Mr. York?” she demanded.
“In London, ma’am.”
“He sent you after me? To follow me?” As she recognized that it must be the truth, her voice rose, and the people around them stirred.
Mr. Penrose slid over and gestured her to take his seat. “No,” he whispered as she sat stiffly next to him. “He only asked me to see that you made it safely home. Nothing more. He didn’t expect . . . I wasn’t prepared . . .” He touched a hand to his forehead again. “I apologize for my appearance, ma’am. I’ve lost my hat. And I have no luggage.”
Her anger softened. Poor Mr. Penrose. “You swear he didn’t send you to watch me?”
“I swear on my honor. I was only to look out for your safety. I didn’t expect you’d go anywhere but home. Mr. York would never mean for me to spy on you.”
He had a point. Kate was getting her difficulties confused. Aidan wasn’t the one who would follow her across the globe. “Well, I don’t appreciate knowing I’ve been followed, sir. Though I suppose I must thank you for your care. As always, you are an amazingly dedicated employee.”
Penrose flushed. “Mr. York deserves dedication. He is an exacting employer, but I’m learning more about the world of business than I could ever have hoped.”
“I wonder who taught him,” she murmured. “He is not very analytical.”
Mr. Penrose frowned, looking uncomfortable. “I apologize for disturbing your rest, Mrs. Hamilton. Please pretend I’m not here.”
She nodded, but didn’t budge. She didn’t want to go back to her seat now. Being near Penrose was a reminder of being near Aidan. Despite that she felt like a lovesick, broken fool, Kate missed him. Whether she’d meant anything to him, he’d meant something important to her, and that was gone now.
So Kate ignored the hint that she should return to her seat, and simply settled into this new one. From the corner of her eye, she saw Penrose staring at her. “What is it, Mr. Penrose?”
He shook his head and turned to stare straight ahead.
“I’m sorry that my trip to London has put you out. And I’m sorry that . . . you must have been upset to see me there.”
“No, of course not. It’s not that.”
“What is it, then?”
He turned slowly back to her, and she met his troubled gaze. “He is very analytical. Mr. York, I mean.”
That was what had upset him? Kate offered an appeasing smile. “I’m sure he’s quite good at what he does.”
“He is. He’s efficient and cold and ruthless. He lives and breathes nothing but investments and income.”
She held back a bitter laugh. “It may seem that way to you when you’re working, but I assure you that he’s always known how to enjoy his life, Mr. Penrose.”
“That’s not true.”
She stiffened at his tone. “I believe I know him better than you.”
“You don’t, Mrs. Hamilton. I mean no disrespect, but I’m not sure you know him at all.”
Kate gasped and drew back, letting him see every ounce of her outrage.