“I am sure it must seem a daunting task. Sinclair was a lot younger than you when his father died, and he took on the title and its accompanying burdens with some trouble, too.”
“I do not know how he did it. He makes it seem so easy. For months, I have lurked in the shadow of a great man, one I am supposed to emulate. That is a tall order. But in this disguise of mine, I have gotten to know a side of him that is not readily apparent. He has a vast capacity for love and self-sacrifice, I have discovered.”
“He does.” Kitty nodded slowly. “You have told me a great deal today, Mr. Berringer. What do you expect me to do about it?”
“About me, nothing. But I want your promise, should Sinclair offer to marry you again, that you will not use his need for an heir as a reason to refuse him.”
Kitty gasped that this man knew about Sinclair’s recent proposal. “Again?”
“Forgive me for being blunt, but I have little time left before I am missed. I stumbled upon a special license in my cousin’s room last night. It was quite old and had your names upon it. He has evaded all my questions about you, but that one document proves you mean a lot to him. I do not know what kept you apart all those years ago, but finding he’d kept that special license, and knowing of the changes he’s made recently to his affairs, leads me to conclude that he will ask you again. Should you agree to be his wife and duchess, I believe you would both be very happy together.”
Kitty’s face felt like it was frozen in place. She did not know how to respond to the man who offered her everything she’d ever dreamed of.
But knowing Sinclair had secured a special license to marry her once and kept it all this time changed nothing. She still had to leave and could not afford to return for a long time.
A booming knock sounded through the house, and she jumped. Mr. Berringer launched himself from his chair, too. “I must return to the duke before he sends men looking for me again. Please, consider what I have said today very carefully.”
The butler knocked and entered when Kitty answered. “Mr. Hunter and Miss Hunter are waiting for you in the other room, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said, “I will be with them in a moment.”
Berringer seemed quite nervous now. “I will take my leave. I hope you do not mind me going through the servants’ entrance. After all the trouble my cousin has taken to hide his interest in you, I had better do the same. If there is anything I can ever do for you, do not hesitate to ask. Your servant, my lady.”
He hurried off, speaking quietly to the butler in whispers on his way. They turned away from the front door together and disappeared.
Kitty waited a few moments then went to her brother. “Good morning,” she cried.
Percy already had Willa’s newssheet and had spread it out to read. “You sound happy. I take it you passed a pleasant night.”
“Very pleasant, indeed.”
He started to chuckle. “What time did he leave?”
Thankfully Percy asked that question softly enough that his daughter did not seem to notice. She was already flicking through the sheets of music, preparing for her practice.
“None of your business.” She sat down near him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Did you ever meet Godfrey Berringer?”
“Yes,” he answered without looking up. “Why do you ask?”
“Did he have a son?”
“Yes, I think so. Why?”
“The name just popped into my head, but I am not sure why. Did I ever meet him?”
“Most likely not. His grace and that cousin came to blows. The usual nonsense. The strutting windbag thought his family should draw a greater allowance from the estate and even asked to live at Grafton Park. Can you imagine the nerve of having such a cousin begging at your door? He was already well supplied with funds enough, in my opinion.”
“What happened?”
“The duke refused, and the cousin went back to wherever he came from. Never saw them again at Grafton Park.”
“What of the son?”
“Don’t rightly know. He was only a wee thing when I saw the boy peeking from the window of the carriage. Think he was terrified. I suppose he must have died, since the duke has no heir. What is this all about? Do you know something I do not?”
“No. Just thinking out loud.” She got up and went to her niece’s side.
Felicity looked up at her. “Do you really believe Papa that the duke is better?”
She smoothed her hand over the girl’s hair. “There was never anything wrong with him. He had business to take care of and was very busy.”
Willa arrived with the day’s mail. There was a letter from Kitty’s brother-in-law. She sat down beside her brother again and set the letter in her lap to read it.
“Bad news?” he asked after she had.
“Yes, worse than I was led to believe. This cannot be right that it could cost so much to repair a leaking roof.”
Percy looked over letter then handed it back. “You are leaving again.”
She turned to regard her brother. “I have no choice.”
He grunted. “We were all just getting used to having you about. Felicity, me…” He squinted at the paper. “Sinclair, too, I suspect.”
Kitty swallowed. She had never consulted her brother before, but she felt the urge to do so now. “What should I do about…him?”
Percy drew in a large breath. “My suggestion is that you take a detour into Scotland and find an anvil.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
Percy folded the paper. “It can be, if you do not think about it for too long. You are not getting any younger, you know.”
“And you are a year older than I am. Positively ancient from where I sit.”
Percy grinned. “I will miss you. When you are done with Scotland, and Kinsale, too, you will find us at home at Grafton Park again where we belong.”
She stared at her brother…and then she started to tremble.
Thaddeus Berringer had told her the truth that morning. Sinclair had tried to tell her that he did not need a son days before that. He’d wanted to tell her about Thaddeus but had made a promise not to reveal his identity to anyone. He would not break his word. Not even for her.
Kitty’s heart started to beat faster. There was no real impediment to their marriage anymore. There never had been. Sinclair had an heir waiting in the wings already, and he’d planned everything to smooth their way, even without her agreement to marry him.
Oh, the dear man. How frustrated he must feel right now. “I will be leaving this afternoon,” she said with a smile. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
“Indeed.” Percy opened the paper once more, a tiny smile playing over his lips. “Do not imagine I will try to stop you. I would not have thirty years ago, either.”
Chapter 21
In the last few years, Sinclair had spent more and more of his time imagining how his life might have been different if he’d married. He’d certainly expected to marry, but had never quite gotten around to it for one reason or another. And then last year, he’d met someone who’d interested him…little knowing her affections were unavailable to him.
So once the almost-courtship was over, he’d sought a brief period of solace in the arms of another. A dozen nights in an experienced courtesan’s bed had undoubtedly proved a worthy distraction for a few weeks, but now it was time to act and make a permanent change in his life.
And what Sinclair had not ever pieced together until recently was that he had always expected his life to be a certain way. He’d been waiting for Kitty to return and pick up the pieces of that happiness. Having her leave London did not suit him. Having her leave forever, even more so. He had decided in the last few hours of the night that he was done with being alone. He did not care if he caused a scandal. The duchy’s future was secure and Teddy would be fine without him.
He would follow Kitty wherever she went, abandon his responsibilit
ies to Teddy’s care. He was anxious to continue his journey toward forever with Kitty at his side.
“Where the devil is my carriage?” Sinclair complained to his butler.
“It will be here at any moment, your grace.”
He glanced at his pocket watch, frowning. “I have been waiting for twenty minutes.”
“I do apologize,” the fellow said, and then looked around nervously. “Perhaps I should inquire about the delay again.”
“Yes, do so immediately.”
The butler rushed off into the bowels of the townhouse. Sinclair paced the front hall in a state of extreme disappointment. He was anxious to see Kitty again tonight. Sinclair wanted to know if her brother-in-law’s letter had arrived. If the news was bad, she would most likely leave London to oversee repairs, and he wanted to explain that he would be accompanying her to Kinsale. If she did not like it, he’d still follow her.
He strode from one side to the other in the entrance hall alone, and when the butler did not return, he ground his teeth again. Frustrated by the delay even more now, he pivoted angrily and strode into his study to keep watch for the carriage out a front window, only to hear Teddy complain he was wrong.
“I beg your pardon,” he grumbled, taken aback.
Teddy was seated behind Sinclair’s desk with a book in hand, arguing with it like usual. “That was not meant for you.”
He grunted. “I thought you had gone.”
“Not yet. I had one or two things left to do before I am on my way.”
“Have you been to your new home yet?”
Teddy smiled. “Drove past this morning. I like the look of it.”
“It is better on the inside,” Sinclair promised. “Did you call on your widow again, too, this morning?”
“She is not my widow, but yes, I did. Her health continues to improve, I am pleased to say.”
“Good.” Sinclair moved to the window and stared out. “Where the hell is it,” he muttered under his breath.
“I am sure the carriage won’t be much longer. Why not have a drink with me while you wait? I would be happy to pour for both of us.”
Teddy stood and pulled down his blue silk waistcoat and crossed to the array of decanters on the sideboard.
Sinclair gaped. Teddy was not wearing a stitch of livery anywhere about his person. “Finally!”
Teddy laughed softly. “I thought you would be pleased.”
“May I now proclaim your existence to society and the world at large?”
“If you find the time.” A small smile crossed his lips as he passed over the drink. “To the future.”
“To a very happy future,” Sinclair corrected. Teddy looked much more the thing, dressed as a gentleman. The ladies would eat him up when he appeared like that in society. A little more polish to his boots, a suitable mount for the promenade on Rotten Row and perhaps an elegant carriage, too. The heir to the Exeter fortune must look the part of a gentleman if he wanted to be taken seriously. “Lady Fuller’s route is tomorrow night. We should attend together and make the announcement about you there. Let people really get a look at you at last.”
“Perhaps,” Teddy murmured. “I think your carriage has arrived.”
For a moment, Sinclair was torn. If he could finally speak of Teddy being of his blood, he wanted to start immediately. Sinclair had been made to wait a very long time for this moment. He did not need to go to Kitty right away. It was not fully dark yet. He could delay a little longer while they planned out how best to launch Teddy upon society.
“I thought you were keen to go out,” Teddy said, interrupting Sinclair’s thoughts.
“I am, but perhaps I should stay in. Now you have decided not to be difficult, there’s much yet to discuss.”
The butler appeared. “Your carriage is ready, your grace.”
“Mr. Berringer and I will be staying in,” Sinclair announced.
The butler glanced toward Teddy. “Is that true, sir?”
“It’s not true,” Teddy assured the butler with a laugh. He hand settled on Sinclair’s shoulder. “I promise I will be here when you get back.”
“Yes, you had better be. All right, I will go now, and we’ll start with a clear head first thing tomorrow morning.” Sinclair sighed. “Have I told you lately that you will make an excellent duke when I am dead?”
“Yes, quite a few times now. I am still embarrassed to hear it, too.”
“You have great potential.” He turned for the door, pulling Teddy with him. “I know you never wanted the title, but it will be yours, and I cannot think of another man more capable of shouldering the responsibly to come.”
“Thank you.” Teddy cleared his throat a few times. “We should discuss this later.”
“Yes, yes, of course we will.” He nodded. He could not wait to finally tell Kitty about having an heir. Perhaps then she would agree to become his wife. He’d very much prefer to stop sneaking from her bed every morning. He’d like to start sleeping in, actually. He stopped and caught Teddy’s hand in his. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
Teddy’s arms slid around his shoulders and the younger man squeezed, and then he began to propel Sinclair toward the open front door and his waiting carriage. “Will you hurry up and get in the damn carriage.”
“All right, but after luncheon tomorrow, we’re going to have a long talk.” He looked up as he stepped out the door, and then frowned. “Why is my traveling carriage here?”
“There’s been a development.”
“What do you mean?”
Teddy gestured to the carriage. “It will be explained on the way.”
Sinclair turned his back on the carriage and glared at his cousin. “I am not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on.”
“I got him this far,” Teddy called as he glanced past Sinclair’s shoulder. “Perhaps you can do the rest.”
“Sinclair, would you hurry up,” Kitty said behind him
He spun, and then rushed to the open carriage doorway to look in.
Hidden by the shadows of the closed carriage was his Kitty—a little traveling case women often carried about was perched beside her. “Good afternoon, my love.”
“What are you doing here? What if someone sees you?”
“I suppose someone might if you do not hurry up and join me.”
He felt Teddy’s presence at his side. “Your valet and trunks are already onboard. I will have your secretary send your apologies to any events in your appointment book. Get in the damn carriage and go marry this woman before she changes her mind about taking you on.”
Sinclair climbed inside and reached for Kitty’s outstretched hands immediately. “I hardly believe you are here!”
“You have your heir to thank for that,” she said quietly.
“Yes, my—” He blinked. “My what?”
She laughed softly. “Teddy is a persuasive fellow. He thought I could make you happy, and I think I could, too.”
He spun on the seat to look at Teddy again but held Kitty’s hand tightly still. “How did you know?”
“You are not the only one who can have someone followed.”
“He followed you, my love,” Kitty whispered. “And I am so glad he did.”
“My God, I have been conspired against by the two people I love most in the world,” Sinclair complained.
“You might want to get used to that. It’s what families do,” Teddy warned, smiling. “He is all yours, my lady. Bring him back in one piece but take your time. I will take good care of everything until your return in a few months. Do not forget about the party at Grafton Park, though. You do not want to miss the fireworks.”
“Or the cake.” Sinclair ducked out of the carriage and hugged Teddy hard. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do after all you have done for me,” Teddy suggested. “I owe you everything.”
“While I am gone—”
“I know what you are going to say. Get myself better suits, boots, and hats, to
o. I won’t let you down.”
“I was going to suggest you have a little fun while I am gone.” Sinclair released him, feeling his emotions rising.
He stepped into the carriage with Kitty, and Teddy shut the door behind him. “Have a good trip,” he called.
“We certainly will,” Kitty assured him then tapped the carriage roof to get them underway.
Sinclair held both her hands. “What did I miss?”
“My life,” she told him, and then laughed. “If you cannot tell yet, I am actually abducting you. We’re making a run for the border, my love.”
His mind reeled from shock, and then he laughed in surprise. “We’re getting married over an anvil?”
“There will be less fuss that way and more enjoyment for us in the journey.” She winced. “I will be glad to be spared the swooning by other ladies from the shock of you being finally off the market. By the time we return, the notice will have appeared in the paper, and the worst of the gossip will be over. I must say, Teddy has been an enthusiastic conspirator in this matter. He has sent a rider ahead to secure rooms along the way and everything else we might possibly need. We’ll go to Scotland first, and then travel home to Kinsale. I want you to meet my husband’s family. If all goes well there, we’ll be home to Grafton Park before the first snow falls.”
Sinclair blinked slowly. “Home.”
“It’s been such a long time.”
He looked at the woman staring up at him, and his heart fluttered. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “So much has changed.”
“But not you, and not me. Not really.”
He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them “When did you know? About Teddy, I mean.”
“Only this morning. Teddy came to plead with me to accept your proposal, should you make one. I did not have the heart to tell him I had already refused you.”
“I understood why you did,” Sinclair whispered. “It was not the right time. I should have married you when we were young, but I thought we had all the time in the world to be together. How foolish I was to let you ever get away. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you.”
She pulled her hands free of his grip and cupped his face. “Dear man, I know. I swear I will never let anyone separate us again.”
The Duke's Heart Page 21