My face twisted in confusion. “Why would he care?”
He let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know. But I’ve wondered if he hoped that you would find out about my supposed exploits and draw your own conclusions.”
“Which I did.”
“And I’m sorry for that. When I saw you at the ball, gorgeous even in your finery, it took me a long time to get up the courage to talk with you. I hoped that I could reassure you in some way, but I don’t know if I succeeded.”
My mind drifted back to the effect he had had on me that night. “I was mostly confused.”
“And if that had been the end of it, I would have been grateful, but then I decided to visit Aveline, and you were there—a servant—and I thought I would go mad. It felt so wrong for you to be working in service, and I couldn’t explain myself, so I kept coming back to visit Aveline in the hopes of seeing you.” His brow was creased in regret and worry. “You looked so tired, and I kept trying to reassure you, but I think I failed miserably. I just hurt you more. So then I decided to just tell you. I didn’t care that I was breaking my father’s rule. I had to tell you, so I came when I knew Aveline was gone.”
“And you asked for tea.”
He let out a little laugh. “Yes. I asked for tea. But before I could tell you, I realized you had been hurt, and then I couldn’t think of anything else, and by the time I remembered what I needed to say, you had to leave.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “What a mess.”
“Fortunately,” he said as he wound his arms around my waist, “You are a wonderfully forgiving lass.” He pulled me closer, dipping his head closer to mine.
“I am, aren’t I?” I teased before brushing my lips against his.
He captured my mouth with confidence and perhaps even a bit of impatience, and I lost myself in the feeling of being adored and accepted.
When we finally pulled apart, I couldn’t help the smile that graced my lips as I burrowed into the curve of his neck.
We eventually made our way back toward the house. Rylan insisted on paying his respects to Gerda, so we stopped at the fence, and he wrapped his arm around my waist as he spoke to the sow in genteel tones.
I chuckled at his antics, but I shrieked and tried to squirm away when he tickled my side. Right about then was when Fynn ruined the moment by shoving himself between us. I stumbled back as Fynn pinned Rylan against the fence with his forearm across Rylan’s neck. He wasn’t quite choking him, but it wouldn’t take much for that to change.
“Fynn!” I yelled, pulling on his arms, but years of physical labor made him impervious to my efforts. I pounded my fist into his upper arm in frustration. “Stop it, and I’ll introduce you.”
His glare remained fixed on Rylan. “I think I’d rather feed this whelp to the pig.” I couldn’t help noticing that Rylan was deliberately not fighting back. He could have. Though he was a few years younger than Fynn, his physique suggested that he could give a good reckoning if it came to a fight.
“You’re not going to feed my fiancé to Gerda. Now let him go and pretend to have some manners!”
That gained his attention. He whipped his head around to look at me. “Your what?”
“My fiancé!” I glared at him. “The one that Mama and Papa have already met and approve of. Now let him go!”
Fynn turned back to stare at Rylan, incredulous.
Rylan forced a tight smile. “I would say it was a pleasure to meet you, but I’m afraid I would sound insincere.”
Fynn looked to me again. “But he’s a . . . a . . .”
“Noble? Yes, he is. That doesn’t mean he deserves to be manhandled by you.”
Fynn gave Rylan one more sneer, then pushed away from him.
Rylan cleared his throat as he stood tall and tugged on his jacket. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Fynn. I’m glad to finally make your acquaintance.”
Fynn eyed him with suspicion. “Why didn’t you fight back?”
“It would have upset Kinley,” he said as if it were obvious.
Fynn snorted, turning to me and then tipping his head toward Rylan. “You sure he knows you that well?”
I had to smile at that. “He knows I wouldn’t enjoy watching either of you blacken the other’s eye.”
Rylan looked back and forth between us, amusement and concern fighting for dominance in his eyes. “Perhaps I should go and let the two of you talk,” he suggested.
I nodded, though I had no wish for him to go. He likely had other things to attend to though, and I really did need to talk with Fynn.
Rylan stepped over to me, not the least bit hesitant as he placed a hand on my hip and kissed my cheek. “I’ll come again tomorrow.”
I nodded and smiled, then watched him walk away and disappear around the barn.
Fynn grunted, drawing my attention back to him. His brow was arched. “You really are besotted, aren’t you?”
“Quite.”
“And just so there’s no confusion. I would have been the one to blacken his eye.”
“I know.” I could concede that point.
He let out a breath, and I saw the tension drain from his shoulders. He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “All right. Start from the beginning.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
THE NEXT DAY I sent off a missive to the Mantocks, resigning my post, and then spent the next day blissfully going about my chores at home, content in the knowledge that I would never have to go into service again.
Because I am going to marry Rylan. I grinned every time I thought it.
He showed up midafternoon, sneaking up behind me and poking my sides, for which he received an elbow to his gut and then a kiss to make up for it. He helped me for a couple of hours and then happily agreed to escort me to the village dance the next evening.
“Shall I bring the carriage?” he asked.
I looked at him askance. Surely he was joking.
He was able to maintain a straight face for only a few moments before bursting into laughter. I shook my head in amusement as I imagined him showing up to a village dance in a fancy hat with a large feather in it.
He arrived the next evening riding Apollo. I made him discard his fine coat and vest and replaced them with a worn jacket that I had borrowed from Fynn. He slipped into it, looking inordinately proud as he squared his shoulders and asked me how he looked.
“Much more common,” I answered.
“Perfect.” He swept a hand toward Apollo. “Your ride awaits.” He helped me mount and then pulled himself into the saddle behind me. The warmth of his chest seeping into my back had me sighing in contentment.
He kept Apollo at a walk, neither of us in any hurry, as we talked about the many things we had missed over the past months.
“So where is Fynn tonight?” he asked.
“Escorting Suzannah to the dance, of course.”
“Really?” He sounded pleased. “So your brother finally found his common sense?”
“With a little help from me.” I turned and grinned cheekily at him.
“Using your powers of sorcery?”
“Yes, and when you see them tonight, you will know just how powerful I am.”
“I’m already well acquainted with your powers,” he said as he tightened his arm around my waist.
We left Apollo tied up at Jeffrey’s smithy and walked to the square. As we did, I untied a scarf from the end of my braid and wound it around my wrist as its meaning caused a delicious feeling of anticipation to curl in my stomach.
Rylan ran the scarf through his hands. “It means something, doesn’t it?”
I tipped my head back to look up at him. “It means I am taken.”
His brow lifted. “Does it really?”
I nodded. “That way married and engaged women can join in the dancing without worrying that some single fellow will whisk them away.”
His chest puffed up, and his blue eyes brightened, though I could tell he was trying not to grin too widely. “Very cle
ver.”
“We have our moments.”
I spent the next several hours introducing him to my favorite customs, as well as my favorite people. I taught him dances, while reveling in the fact that I was using my very own scarf amid the dance steps. We happily spied on Fynn and Suzannah throughout the night, and Rylan commented rather astutely that they were bound to be engaged soon.
The night was beautiful and joyous like so many dances before, but this time it was even better.
There were only two instances that marred my enjoyment. The first was when I spotted Jayden across the square. I stiffened, my fingers digging into Rylan’s arm.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I pointed toward Jayden with my chin. “That’s Jayden Hamlin.”
He turned to look in the direction I indicated, and we both seemed to hold our breath, but instead of Jayden glaring or sneering at me, he simply gave me a stiff nod, then lowered his eyes and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
The breath whooshed out of me. “That was . . . different.”
“I’m glad he’s holding up his end of the bargain.”
I turned to stare at him. “What bargain?”
His gaze was steady as he explained. “The one we made when I threatened to flay him within an inch off his life if he dared to ever speak to you again.”
Something Gavin had said clicked into place. “It was you? Gavin told me that when he went to speak with Jayden, he had already been taken to task by someone.” I searched his face, which was still calm. “That was you?”
“Did you think I’d let him get away with what he did to you?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it.” I turned to look at where Jayden had disappeared. “Aren’t you worried that will just make him hate us more?”
“After gaining his attention with my fists, we ended up having a rather civilized conversation. I think we both came to understand each other better.”
I marveled that he would take the time to try to understand a common ruffian. It made me love him that much more.
The second tense moment came when Gavin and Ella joined the dance. I spotted them across the square and realized that they were likely waiting for my answer to the offer of working in Winberg. When Gavin caught my eye, he smiled and lifted a hand to wave, but his genial expression froze when he saw Rylan at my side. I asked Rylan to stay put and went to explain our reconciliation to Gavin. He was more difficult to convince than Fynn had been, since he had been privy to all of my crying. It was with a stiff jaw and suspicious eyes that Gavin greeted Rylan, shaking his hand firmly enough to make my fiancé wince. But after Rylan humbly apologized for all the harm he had caused, Gavin grudgingly agreed to give him a chance.
I decided to claim that as a victory and pulled Rylan into a dance to ease the tension.
“Your brothers are quite formidable,” he said with a tense chuckle.
I shrugged. “I’m the baby of the family, so I doubt that will ever change.”
“I’m glad you’ve had them to look out for you.”
“So am I.”
We whirled through several dances, one after the other, and I enjoyed seeing his sometimes awkward attempts to get the steps right. The less structured movements were obviously foreign to him, but he took full advantage of the opportunity to take me in his arms and twirl us around together. I looked forward to facing life with him in the same way.
If only we could convince his parents that we were right for each other.
✼ ✼ ✼
I was going to meet Rylan’s parents. It was inevitable and necessary, and I told myself I would be happy once it was done, but that didn’t help the anxiety that trampled me as I allowed Ella to help me dress.
Rylan picked me up from Gavin and Ella’s house in one of the Baylor carriages. I didn’t bother to wait for him to come inside, but instead went to meet him out front as soon as I saw him arrive.
He stepped out of the carriage, looking down as he straightened his jacket. When he looked up and saw me, he tripped.
His surprise gave me pause. I looked down at the dress that I had borrowed from Ella, wondering if I looked ridiculous, like a commoner playing dress-up, which was exactly what I was. Ella had said I looked perfect, though. I looked back up at him, asking, “What? Do I look that foolish?”
He shook his head. “Not foolish at all, I’m just wondering what you’ve done with my fiancée.”
I shrugged. “She’s under here somewhere. I just thought it might ease your parents’ minds if I showed up looking a little more like . . . ” I struggled for words.
His face sank into a glower. “Like what?”
“Like the kind of girl they would approve of.”
He rolled his eyes. “The entire purpose of me enduring that awful contract was so that I wouldn’t have to worry about putting my father at ease.”
I allowed my shoulders to raise and lower as I inhaled and exhaled deeply. “Well, what if it puts me more at ease?”
He smiled and took the last few steps so that he could take my hands and look into my eyes. “That is a different matter altogether.” He kissed my forehead. “If it puts you more at ease, then I am in full support.”
I gave a nod, swallowing with some difficulty, my nerves humming.
Rylan wrapped my hand over his arm and walked me to the carriage. “And, might I say, you look lovely.”
I smirked. “You may say that.”
“You look lovely,” he effused.
“Thank you.”
Once situated in the carriage, my nerves had plenty of time to settle in and make themselves known.
I had no expectation that Rylan’s parents would like me. I just didn’t know if they would be openly hostile or perhaps cold and aloof. Maybe they would pretend to be pleased while obviously seething inside. No scenario I could imagine sounded appealing.
“Kinley,” Rylan said as he covered my clenched fist with his hand.
I looked over at him. “Does your mother know who I am?”
He looked confused, so I clarified. “Does she know I’m the little kitchen maid who used to bring you tea?”
He tilted his head, thinking for a moment. “I don’t know. Perhaps. Though since you don’t look like a kitchen maid at the moment, I doubt it.”
“But have you told her that’s who I am?”
“No. It never came up. I’ve been more concerned with gaining my father’s permission than my mother’s.”
“You don’t wish for your mother’s approval?”
He gave me a smile full of affection. “I don’t have to work to win my mother’s approval. She’s always given it freely.”
That made sense. She had doted on him as a child, so it made me happy that their good relationship had continued. “I always liked her.” I nodded, a bit distracted by my thoughts. “So it’s just your father who will hate me?”
He shook his head. “He and I struck a deal. I am hoping that he will honor our agreement fully and not cause unnecessary discomfort for any of us.”
I unclenched my fist and flipped my hand over so that I could grip his hand. I stared at our entwined fingers for several moments. “So when you told them you were bringing a commoner to dinner, they didn’t bar the doors?”
He lifted our hands and kissed my knuckles. “I told them I was bringing a young lady to dinner whom I wished them to meet. That is all.”
My eyes widened as panic rose up to choke me. “You mean they don’t know?”
“The only thing they need to know before meeting you is that you are important to me.”
“Rylan . . . ”
He ran a finger along my jaw. “Yes, my love.”
It was difficult to remember my apprehension when he did that. “I’m simply afraid this might turn into a disaster.”
He shrugged, and I envied his ability to brush off something so significant. “Then it will be a disaster, and we’ll go on with our lives just as we planned.”
I searched his face, and he seemed genuinely relaxed and confident. It gave me a tremendous amount of courage, and I was able to take a deep breath.
Rylan spent the remainder of the drive distracting me with amusing stories and kisses along my jaw and across my fingers. But the moment the carriage turned up the drive to Baylor Manor, my shoulders went rigid.
Despite it being five years since I had traversed this lane, it was still all too familiar. I looked toward the window, anxiety racing along my skin.
Rylan hooked his finger around my chin and turned my face toward his. “They’re just my parents.”
I let out an unsteady breath. “They are the most important people in your life.”
He shook his head. “No, they’re not. You are.”
That made me smile, in spite of everything. He took the opportunity to press a kiss to my lips. “Courage, my lady.”
“I’m not a lady,” I said out of habit as we pulled to a stop in front of his home. This would be the first time I entered through the front door.
“Perhaps not officially. But you are my lady.” He tilted his head toward the carriage door as a footman opened it. “Shall we?”
I nodded mutely.
He helped me out, and I clung to his arm as we ascended the steps. The front doors swung open as we approached, and Rylan strode confidently through them. A butler took his coat and my cloak before Rylan guided me down the corridor and into a beautiful sitting room.
Lord and Lady Baylor stood in front of a large fireplace, clearly awaiting our entrance.
My steps slowed as I fought the urge to run in the other direction, but Rylan squeezed my hand and managed to keep us moving toward his parents and their inevitable disappointment.
He stopped us several paces away. “Mother, Father. This is—”
“It’s you,” Lady Baylor interrupted as she walked over to me.
Oh dear. My smile froze on my face, and I struggled to breathe normally. She did recognize me.
“It’s so lovely to see you again,” she said as she reached out to clasp my hands.
It was?
“I’ll admit I’ve wondered about you. When I saw the two of you dancing together at the ball, I knew I saw a spark.”
Keeping Kinley Page 27