Page 58 of To Follow her Heart

To Luke’s infinite relief, a hackney carriage arrived at the turnpike just moments later. The coachman was returning to Aylesbury after letting off his last fare and happily took them up. It was rather old and rickety and there was spring sticking in his thigh, but he was Mr Luke Baxter, travelling with his wife, and there was no mention of sinister brothers, mad grandmother’s or any other manner of trying relation to colour their journey.

He’d meant what he’d said to Kitty, though: despite being thrust into these stories headfirst, he had enjoyed himself. It was ridiculous and dreadful, and thoroughly scandalous, and it was years since he’d felt so alive. Nonetheless, it was far more restful to be doing nothing more outrageous than eloping which seemed a perfectly ordinary thing to do with Kitty in tow.

Finally, they arrived at St Clair’s place in Aylesbury. It was a fine Tudor mansion house set within beautiful gardens, and Kitty exclaimed with delight as Luke helped her down from the carriage.

“But how lovely it is,” she said, staring about her. The housekeeper, Mrs Worth, was waiting for them and greeted them with warmth.

“I’m sorry we are somewhat later than we hoped,” Luke said. “There was some trouble with the post chaise we hired, and our journey became a little… delayed.”

“Well, you’re here now, sir, and very welcome too.” Mrs Worth said with a smile. “His lordship said to be certain you were made comfortable, so please tell me at once what else I can do. I’ve water ready for baths, and dinner will be at your convenience. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

Mrs Worth apologised for the state of the house and the fact that many of the rooms were closed off, but the earl was in the middle of some serious refurbishments and had set the place on its ears.

Luke, who was simply relieved to have reached their destination thanked her and allowed her to bear Kitty off to her own room. What exactly Jasper had said about them regard to their marital status he didn’t know, but her manner was warm and not the least bit disapproving, so either she knew and was a romantic, or she believed them already wed. Luke didn’t much care, as long as Kitty was not made uncomfortable.

With a sigh, Luke fell back on the bed to wait for the footman who would attend him for the evening, and promptly fell asleep.

***

Dinner was an intimate affair, which Luke both appreciated and feared, as once the meal ended they were left discreetly alone, a fact of which he was all too aware.

Kitty looked especially lovely this evening in a dress of emerald green that made him remember their home in Ireland. Strange, perhaps, that he should think of it as home, as he’d not been born there, nor had he been there since Mr Derby had come for him. It was the only place that had ever been his home, though, the place where Kitty was.

The skies were dark now, and the candlelight reflected in the windowpanes. It was a warm night and the windows were still open, the curtains not yet drawn. Moths fluttered with suicidal determination towards the flames and Luke wondered what his chances were of keeping his word to himself tonight.

Desire simmered under his skin, the knowledge that tomorrow she would be his wife doing nothing to diminish his need to touch her, to reach out and pull her into his arms, and make her his. He made himself sit down instead of going to her, though he longed to put his arms around her. She was quiet now, standing and staring into the empty grate with a frown, her expression somewhat troubled. He feared perhaps she wasn’t as sanguine about this adventure as he’d believed.

“What’s wrong, Kitten?” he asked, watching that dark gaze turn upon him and finding his breath catch in his throat.

Memories rose behind his eyes—a hundred memories, a thousand—of looking upon this face and feeling his chest ache with happiness. This face, yet not this face; not the sweet visage of a girl, but that of a woman full grown. She had only become lovelier, the promise of beauty maturing into something that hurt his heart to look upon, for he was so very smitten.

“Oh,” she said, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “Nothing, really. I’m just being silly.”

“Tell me,” Luke said, holding his hand out to her, despite his best intentions.

She came to him at once and Luke held his breath as she sat herself in his lap without the least bit of encouragement, or any trace of embarrassment. It was simply the most natural thing in the world to her, and he ached to respond in kind as she wound her arms about him and pressed her face against his neck.

“There’s a ghost,” she said.

“Oh, Kitty,” Luke said, trying not to laugh. “You’ve not been listening to servants’ gossip again?”

Kitty nodded and bit her lip. “Well, it’s such an old house, I thought there must be a ghost, and I was interested.”

Luke made a choked sound and laid his head against the back of the chair. “This is just like the time you made me spend the night in that abandoned house,” he said. “I was bloody terrified, but I did because you insisted. You spent the entire night telling me bloodcurdling stories and, though we didn’t see or hear a blasted thing the whole time we were there, you still had nightmares for the next sennight, and you insisted it was my fault!”

“Well, it was,” she said indignantly. “If you hadn’t believed them all, I shouldn’t have scared myself silly. You were supposed to scoff and say, don’t be ridiculous, Kitten, there’s no such thing as ghosts, but you didn’t!”

“Well, I will now,” he retorted. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Kitten, there’s no such thing as ghosts.” He paused for a moment. “Where is this ghost supposed to roam?”

“The hallway,” Kitty said in a small voice, glancing towards the door.

“The, er….” Luke cleared his throat. “The hallway?”

She nodded. “A big man, with a limp. You can hear him dragging his foot, the maid told me. She’s not been here long, but she says most of the staff have seen or heard him.”

Luke frowned. “Stuff,” he said with vigour, forcing aside a tremor of unease. “Holbrooke House is supposed to be haunted, too, and I never saw or heard a thing there.”

“Me either,” Kitty said, not looking the least bit reassured. “Harry told me all about the ghost at Holbrooke; she wants to go on a ghost hunt to disprove its existence. She says they’re not scientific, but anyway Holbrooke House is filled with people, and here….”