by Heather Boyd
Hunter snorted. “What would I do in a roomful of wastrel lords?”
“You could do what I always do. Laugh.”
Hunter shook his head. “I cannot.”
“You could bring your daughter with you.”
Hunter scowled. “I would not let my daughter within ten feet of any scoundrel you are acquainted with.”
“Most have wives,” he advised. “Good women who could prove useful for your daughter when it comes to introductions and such.”
“She is too young to marry.”
Percy Hunter had never jumped to accept any offer in all the time Sinclair had known him. He was glad he’d not changed in that respect, even if he did still find it a trifle frustrating. “It’s worth thinking about. The offer stands. If you won’t accept the cottage, I will have the dower house prepared, or perhaps set aside an apartment for the four of you in the manor.”
“Four?”
“I assumed you might want your sister and her husband to join you.”
“Forbes is dead.” Hunter scowled. “And good riddance to the doddering old fool.”
A weight lifted from Sinclair’s chest that Kitty was free of her marriage. “When was this? How?”
“Dead from an infection that festered, she told me.” Percy nodded. “Five years ago now.”
Five years when he could have been with Kitty, instead of alone.
He shook his head to banish the sudden longing, but it stuck with him. He could have been married to Kitty a long time, if he had not dragged his feet.
That had been his greatest regret. What he would not give to be able to turn the clock back just to be with her one last day and to have asked her to be his wife. To tell her what he’d planned for them but never achieved.
But she had not come back into his life until now. Something must have kept her from returning. She must have been happy with her husband so far away. “She must have been devastated to lose him.”
“Hard to say but Kitty is better off without him, as far as I am concerned.” Percy shook his head and glared at Sinclair. “I thought her a fool, running off with a man she barely knew herself, but like your sister, she would not hear a word against him.”
Sinclair had known Kitty’s husband very little. Forbes had been a baron and new to their circle. What Sinclair did know was that his twin had introduced them, never realizing the impact the eventual marriage would have on Sinclair.
Percy did not know he and Kitty had been lovers any more than Susanna had, and Sinclair would prefer it stayed that way even now. Some secrets had to be kept at all costs. “Your sister was greatly missed. She was popular,” he added quickly.
“She did have a knack for mingling with your lot.” Percy scratched his jaw and then yawned. “Do not know if she missed any of us. Never came back, although she alluded to it once or twice in her letters. I have hardly laid eyes on her this visit.”
“She is not staying with you, then?” he pressed.
“Lady Wilhelmina Darrow has the pleasure of her ladyship’s company. She can keep Kitty for all I care at the moment.”
Sinclair already had an acquaintance with Lady Darrow. “For all your grumbling, I thought you and your sister always got along.”
“My sister’s become too high in the instep for my taste. The way she was talking has me worried that she has plans for my daughter I am sure not to like.”
“Ah,” Sinclair said. Well-placed aunts did tend to want to influence their nieces and see them settled in good marriages. Kitty, as a widow with a title, would surely do the same for her family if the girl was old enough and biddable. “If I should run into her myself, would you like me to extend her an invitation to join you and your daughter as my guest for the winter?”
He bit his tongue. While he imagined Percy might like the chance to return to the estate with his daughter to see the changes the years apart had wrought to the landscape, Sinclair had other thoughts, desires of his own to contend with, too. It was the place he and Kitty had become lovers. Engaging in an affair had been simple when they’d lived within a mile of each other, sleeping under the same roof occasionally, too, when he could arrange it.
He wanted to talk to Kitty again, but in London, there was always someone watching him—whispering and speculating about his life. He had to be discreet when he called upon Kitty now. He did not wish to have anyone question why he called on her.
Percy pulled a face. “I am not sure she would want to, but you may ask if she will join us if you feel the need.”
He did feel the need. For answers that had been too long denied him.
Sinclair let out a soft sigh, overwhelmed by relief that he might have them soon. He now had a valid reason to seek Kitty out for conversation. Would that pave the way to close the door on their past, too, or open old wounds?
He glanced at Percy again. “Well, are you going to show me this contraption? If it’s any good, I just might know a man in the army interested in making a purchase.”
Percy’s smile was slow in coming but clearly delighted. “I was hoping you would say that after my little demonstration yesterday. Come on. It’s out the back waiting for you.”
Chapter 6
When Kitty stepped into the sitting room of her brother’s home to finally meet his daughter, she could not be more surprised or more nervous. She had missed this girl’s whole life and deeply regretted it. Percy was better dressed today, and someone had made an effort to return the sitting room to proper order too. The carriage seats were gone now, and a neat arrangement of mismatched chairs stood before the cold hearth.
Kitty was impressed that Percy had taken the time to consider his appearance for her visit, but she did not question him about why. The girl standing at his side was of greater interest to her.
Felicity Hunter was reasonably tall and willowy of figure and just sixteen years of age. Her hair was a dark nut brown and neatly coiled about her head. There was an air of innocence about her expressive face that tugged at Kitty’s protective instincts immediately. She wet her lips and determined that her every word she uttered must sound as English as theirs. “At last. Come here, child, and let me take a look at you,” Kitty urged the timid girl after her brother had introduced them.
Felicity seemed hesitant to leave Percy’s side, but after a not-so-subtle prod from him, stepped forward and stood before Kitty, fingers twisting together, revealing her nervousness.
Kitty studied the pretty girl, and then smiled widely. Her brother should be very proud of his beautiful child. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Felicity dear.”
“And you, my lady.” Felicity dipped a curtsy that wobbled, and she blushed quite brightly from embarrassment. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“And I, you. Your father has a tendency to embellish the truth but I must say he never quite managed to convey just how pretty you are in his letters,” she promised. First meeting were often awkward, but Kitty was family, and there was no reason they must be wary of each other. “I am pleased to see that you take so much after your mother,” clear skin, bright, intelligent eyes, “and hold less resemblance to your father.”
The girl frowned severely at her remark and stepped back toward her father’s side. Percy was heavy boned, rounder in the face than this girl. Felicity’s looks were strikingly different, actually. She had to take after her late mama, Kitty concluded, a woman Kitty had never had the good fortune to meet. With the right gowns and the proper introductions, Felicity could do very well indeed when she was older. It was a pity her mama was no longer alive. She would have been very proud when it came time to launch her on society.
Kitty was struck by the sudden impulse to help the girl while she was in London, and beyond that, too. It was never too early to prepare for marriage. Felicity’s mother would have wanted her to make a good match and there was no reason Kitty could not lend a hand in that.
“That is a good thing, pet,” Percy whispered to his only child out the side of his mouth. “
You were spared this stump of a nose I have to show the world. Show your aunt a smile, now. She’s come a long way to see us.”
Felicity offered the tiniest smile but continued to eye Kitty with suspicion.
“It was not always broken, brother.”
Felicity suddenly tugged at her father’s sleeve and stretched up to whisper to him. “She’s too grand to be your sister. She doesn’t even sound Irish.”
Kitty gaped and then shook her head. Her efforts to sound English had created an unexpected barrier between them. The girl would never warm to her this way. She had to stop pretending to be what she no longer was.
Kitty wet her lips again and sighed before speaking as she usually would. “It is a surprise you’ve not broken more bones the way you carried on as a child, Percy.”
Felicity gaped. “Your voice?”
“Forgive me for my earlier deception. I confess I wanted to sound just like you and my brother,” Kitty admitted sheepishly. “Forgive me for teasing too. My brother and I have always been comfortable with pointing out the flaws in each other. It is a very old habit, I am afraid.”
The girl nodded.
“You may call me Aunt Kitty in private situations if you like, and by my title elsewhere.”
The girl looked up at her father and then hooked her arm through his.
Kitty had dealt with mistrustful girls before but seeing it in her own family was painful. Her husband had several sisters and nieces with definitely mulish tendencies. It had taken her a long time to win them over. None of the Irish girls had wanted an English woman in the family at first. Now she was an outsider here too. “I’d like a chance to get to know you better, child.”
If Felicity had inherited even the tiniest portion of Percy’s nature, Kitty would be wise to seek to gain her trust gently. Kitty could not rush in and demand Felicity like her because they were related. Kitty only hoped there would be enough time and opportunity to make a positive impression on this visit. “Why don’t we sit?” Percy suggested.
She settled into the nearest chair and folded her hands in her lap. “I understand you stayed with friends not far from here recently.”
“Yes, with the Roper family,” Felicity said, a defiant set coming over her features.
Kitty inclined her head, realizing that Percy must have mentioned to his daughter that Kitty had disapproved of her staying with the family. “We are not acquainted, but I should be happy to be introduced if the occasion arises. How many of them are there in the family?”
“Six and Mrs. Roper.”
“And what age is the oldest girl?”
“Nancy is sixteen years like me. The oldest son is Warren.”
“And what age is he?”
“Eighteen.”
Ah, the eldest son was a man and might be worth watching for signs of potential trouble. Percy, of course, had already shown he was not worried about the connection by letting his daughter spend the night there, but Kitty was more cautious of young men. They had appetites and could be very persuasive to innocent young girls to share their bed with no promises given. “Is he in employment?”
“Yes, madam. He works in a coffee house on Borough High Street.”
Their conversation was beginning to sound like an interrogation but there was no help for it. Felicity had already decided not to like her. She pushed on with her questions when Felicity allowed the silence to stretch. “I see, and that is here in Southwark?”
“Yes, Lady Forbes. Mrs. Roper says the proprietor quite depends on him.”
“He sounds like a very dependable young man.”
“Oh, he is indeed,” she said and then she smiled. Felicity prattled on about Mr. Warren’s prospects, enumerating further details of the family and proving her involvement was quite established and full of the sincerest friendship possible between ladies. Of the male members of the family, there were three brothers in total. Felicity said no more than mentioning their names and the ages of the younger ones. Mr. Warren Roper, as the eldest, was likely the sole support for his mother and siblings.
She turned to her brother when Felicity finally paused for breath. Percy was staring off into space. “You are unusually quiet today, brother.”
“Sorry. I was pondering a visitor I had. Exeter came to call.”
Kitty was surprised and wondered if Sinclair had come looking for her specifically or what he might have said. “The duke deigned to come to you here?”
“Indeed.” Teddy chuckled. “He spoke of you.”
Kitty’s heartbeat quickened at that news. Had he revealed they’d already met at Vauxhall Gardens? She hoped not. “Well, what did he have to say for himself?”
“Quite a bit.”
Although she waited, Percy said nothing more. That was an annoying trait her brother had. He was always so closemouthed. She had never known what he knew or what he suspected, at any time. She assumed him ignorant of her affair with the duke still.
Knowing she would not be able to convince him to share what he didn’t want to say did not make Kitty feel comfortable. Since Percy didn’t mention her meeting the duke, she would not reveal that she had, either. “I hope you behaved.”
He shrugged. “I was myself.”
Kitty sighed. “Exeter could do a lot to help your daughter when she comes out in society.”
“I do not need his help for that,” Percy said, and then passed his hand over his daughter’s hair. “I shan’t let her marry some middling lord who will take her away from all she has ever known,” he declared, holding Kitty’s glance in an unspoken challenge not to try her hand at matchmaking.
“There is much to be said of keeping an open mind, brother. Some good can come of a connection to someone in the aristocracy. Why if I had not known the Berringer family, I would not have met or married Forbes, and I might never have left Grafton Park at all.”
“What was wrong with Grafton Park?” Percy protested loudly. “It was a good place to live. Better than any place I have been since.”
“Brother, I am in a position to help Felicity now. Trust me. She will meet more well-placed gentlemen in the city than here. Mayfair society is a far cry from Southwark, or Grafton Park’s small circle, too,” she assured him. “If Felicity were to meet and eventually marry the right man with the right connections and fortune, her future would be assured.”
“So you are plotting to marry her off to some foolish popinjay already!” he accused, exchanging a look of triumph with his daughter. “I told Felicity and Exeter too that you were asking too many questions.”
Kitty shook her head, staring at her brother in disappointment and then noticed Felicity’s state of confusion. “It should hardly come as a surprise that I would bring it up. Brother, my friends and I were discussing marriage and potential husbands for as long as I can remember. At fifteen, I had some idea of where my interests should be directed in finding a husband.” She did not mention the Duke of Exeter had for a time changed her mind, but she’d found her sense in the end and chosen wisely. “I merely suggest we, Felicity and I, can have those discussions now while I am in London, rather than by letter later. She would have had these discussions with her mother, too, had your wife lived. I possess a great deal of knowledge that could benefit Felicity. She cannot stay your little girl forever.”
Felicity appeared to be holding her breath as she watched her father closely.
He looked his daughter in the eye and then seemed to crumble. “Very well,” he muttered.
“Thank you, Papa,” Felicity said as she hugged him. “Thank you Aunt Kitty.”
Kitty beamed at the girl.
Percy settled back in his chair, his expression a little lost, his arms crossed over his chest. “You may instruct her, but I will not approve any match until she is nineteen or twenty years at least.”
“Of course, Percy,” Kitty said quickly, glad for that small crumb of agreement, but knowing full well that arguing about his age restriction was pointless. If she had her way, Felicity would
always be the one to decide her future.
What was needed from today was to begin to increase the girl’s understanding of the world and the choices and challenges she would face as a young woman in it. Percy might resist any suggestion to take Felicity to Mayfair for any protracted visit, so she would have to start small by arranging short daily visits to Willa’s home and shopping expeditions together too. She found she was looking forward to that very much. “Now, before we discuss anything more, might I have a cup of tea, Miss Hunter?”
“Yes, of course, Lady Forbes.” The girl blushed and went to arrange it but she came back very quickly with a genuine smile for Kitty. “I should have thought of that before.”
“Indeed, however, it is of no matter today. We are family,” she promised, as today the cook brought in a tea tray. Kitty nodded approvingly as the tray was unpacked, tea was poured, and cake offered. She gave the teapot a second glance. “What a lovely design.”
‘It was my mother’s.”
Kitty nodded. “Beautiful.”
The girl’s smile was hesitant as she finished pouring the tea without spilling a drop. Kitty thanked her…and then noticed Percy was squirming in his chair. He always did that when he had something uncomfortable on his mind.
After a few minutes of chatter, Percy sent the girl away. Kitty was flattered that the girl seemed reluctant to go.
She sipped her tea, glancing at her silent brother over the rim. “What is on your mind?”
“Her mother,” he said shortly. “I should have sent Felicity to you when you asked me to.”
The suggestion had been made in full expectation that Percy would likely refuse. She had wanted to be of help, but at that time had not the permission of her husband to travel home to England to be with her brother and only child. “But you did not.”
“I could not bear the idea of being alone,” he admitted sheepishly.
“I did understand.”
He winced. “Is it very hopeless?”