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“So I shall … just allow me a cup of tea and one of those sandwiches,” Kitty said, making for the wall table. She plopped a small sandwich into her mouth and then, with a moan, sipped her tea while still on her feet.
Nanny chatted on for a bit about Cook and the wondrous little cakes she was baking when Withers came to stand within the threshold of the library.
He cleared his throat. Both women turned to eye him, and Kitty thought he looked startled. Then he announced, “The Earl of Halloway.”
Nanny fell a step or two backwards as her hand went to her forehead and declared, “We are undone.” She sank onto a nearby chair.
Kitty, who was still standing and had yet another small sandwich in her hand, whispered, “Hush, love.” She hurriedly put down her plate, brushed her hands together to shake off the crumbs, and decided she could do naught but take on and take charge of the situation.
She moved to Nanny and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Yes, I am dirty and in britches, but there is nothing to say in that. Don’t worry. I shall handle this Earl of Halloway.”
Kitty nodded for Withers to show him in. There was nothing for it. She couldn’t very well rush past him where he stood in the central hall to take the stairs, wash and change, and miraculously reappear, now could she? Only one thing to do: brave it through.
She watched as the earl strode through the double doors past Withers, who had moved out of his way, and stopped abruptly to take stock of his surroundings. Kitty saw a large, impressive man not only fill the space he occupied, but dominate it, and she recognized him at once.
She caught a gasp in her throat and attempted to find her voice. When she did find it, all she could utter was, “You!”
The earl’s blue eyes flashed, and before he could stop himself he said, “Why, if it isn’t the little termagant.” He eyed her up and down, and a slight curve took his luscious lips before he ruined the picture and added, “Indeed, you now know who I am.” He inclined his head of black, shining waves of hair and brought up his face so that Kitty once again was struck by his devastatingly handsome face. For some reason, this made her even angrier, though why she couldn’t fathom. “However,” he continued, “I don’t have the slightest notion who you may be.” His tone she was sure was purposely insulting.
Nanny gasped, and Kitty patted her shoulder as she turned her burning gaze to the earl and told him, her chin well up, “I am Christina Kingsley, my lord. And this is, Miss Diddles, my nanny.” She was in a white heat. She could take his outrageous behavior, but she would not allow her dear, sweet Nanny to be made to feel inferior. She cast him a bold once-over to match the one he had given her and said, “I can see by your road dust that you have been traveling for a great length of time, my lord. No doubt, you must be looking forward to washing up with some nice hot water.” There, he was dust-covered as well!
She cast a cold look his way, thinking she was still mistress of Wharton Place and knew just how to handle herself. Britches or no, she would demand and receive respect for herself and her Nanny.
“If you will excuse me,” she said before he could respond, “I will see our housekeeper and make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, please relax by the fire. I will have a fresh pot of tea brought to you moment
arily.” She eyed Nanny and said quietly, “Will you be all right during the time I am gone, dearest?”
Nanny nodded got to her feet and then immediately sank back into a nearby chair, evidently too overcome to speak.
Kitty eyed him and said, “In the meantime, you will find some very fine brandy on the sideboard.” So saying she turned on her heel and regally started off.
The earl smiled broadly and said loud enough for her to hear as she left, “Touché! If I were wearing it, I would have tipped my hat to you.” He purposely glanced at the peaked cap at the top of her head.
She turned sharply. No one who knew her could doubt the fury that shook her hands as she clasped them in place at her waist. She felt the flames enter her eyes as her voice shot out of her throat. “Ah, the proprieties, and how very right you were to take off your hat in the presence of ladies.” She whipped off her wool cap and said, “This?” She locked eyes with him. “Well, I am ever so sorry. Should I have tipped my hat to a gentleman? Ah, I was not aware one was present.”
She stormed out of the room, leaving her nanny to close her eyes and wish she were anywhere but there.
* * *
Halloway’s jaw dropped.
The little dirty piece of fluff had teeth.
He was in a bit of turmoil. First of all, here was a diamond in the rough, but her rough would no doubt make her ineligible for the beau monde. Beneath the dirt was a beauty, yes, and spirited, but too outspoken to last a Season with the pink of the ton.
Winning his inheritance was about to be much more of a chore than he had anticipated. He doubted that even his grandmother could make a silk purse out of the little sharp-tongued hoyden.
He then noticed Miss Diddles nervously pinching at her dark shawl, and his expression softened at once. He took a chair near her and said kindly, “Well, Miss Diddles, am I correct in assuming you have been with Miss Kingsley most of her life?”
“Indeed, my lord.” Nanny’s gaze shot to his face worriedly. “From the moment she was born. I have been her nanny … and I suppose I am still as ’tis what Kitty has always called me.” She chewed her lip nervously.
He had the impression that she wanted to say more but held her tongue. He smiled and attempted to calm her by sticking to a safe topic. “Ah, Kitty is it?” He thought, With sharp claws. He got to his feet before she could answer and asked gently, “Shall I pour you a little madeira while I pour myself a brandy?”
Nanny eyed him nervously, and he coaxed her, saying, “It will do you good, Miss Diddles. I fear we got off to a halting beginning, but, let’s you and I change all that with a little libation, shall we?”
She smiled tentatively and answered, “I rarely indulge, but, yes, I think that would be most pleasant.”
He poured her a glass and handed it to her before pouring himself a bit of brandy and toasting, “Drink hardy, Miss Diddles. I know this unusual situation has us all a bit overset. That is understandable, but I do think we shall muddle through right and tight.”
