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“Oh, I would never be so disobliging, and I loved Uncle Edwin … of course, I will adhere,” Kitty said in a small voice.
She felt the earl’s eyes on her and couldn’t meet his glance but stared for a moment at her toes.
“Right then, that is settled.” He turned to the earl. “May I, my lord, assume that you will be escorting Kitty and Nanny to London in the very near future?”
The earl inclined his head. “Certainly.”
“Indeed, but I understood from Edwin that yours were bachelor lodgings?”
“Yes, but I have already made arrangements. My grandmother has gone off to London to open up Halloway House and have it ready for Kitty’s arrival. My grandmother …” He turned to Kitty. “Who I think, Miss Kingsley, you will like much better than you like me, will be playing hostess for us during the Season.”
Kitty was once again astonished. There was a kindness in his voice when he spoke of his grandmother, and his words, she sensed, were meant to ease her mind about her immediate future.
Mr. Harkins gave Kitty a warm smile. “Well, then, I am relieved. I know Minerva well, in fact. Kitty, you were very young when she used to visit, but you might have some memory of her?”
Kitty did not and puzzled up, but Harkins went on to say, “So then, Kitty dear, I assume we have settled the matter, and this is acceptable to you?”
“Yes,” Kitty said.
“Fine,” the earl said. He turned to Kitty and said, “We may now have something of a truce between us, I hope.”
Harkins said with obvious relief, “Good, good. Now, my lord, a trust was set up by Edwin for Kitty’s Season. He genuinely did not believe she would need another Season, but should she, you and your grandmother would be called upon again. Do you agree?”
“I don’t have a choice,” the earl said with a grimace.
Kitty stiffened.
Harkins hurried on. “Indeed, you may advise Minerva to spend whatever she likes to provide Kitty with an outstanding wardrobe and whatever else Kitty may need. As to your inheritance, which I have laid out for you and your business man to address … well, you will be given a sizeable living competence until the stipulation of the will is fulfilled and Wharton Grange with all its holdings comes into your complete control.”
A moment of silence followed this. Harkins looked hopefully at the earl, waiting for a response, and when none came he said, “Well then, have either of you any further questions?”
For the moment, the earl and Kitty were in agreement. Neither had any more questions, though both felt trapped by circumstances.
Harkins got to his feet. “Then I believe this concludes our meeting. Godspeed.” To Kitty he again gave her a fatherly look and said, “Try and enjoy yourself, young lady. That was what your guardian wanted above all else—for you to be happy.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” Kitty managed a smile to set his mind at rest, though she did not feel very much like smiling. However was she going to enjoy herself in London with the earl taking over her life?
~ Thirteen ~
A BREEZE HAD PICKED up, and the sunny April morning had turned decidedly cold. The earl was irritably aware that the weather was not the only thing nipping at him.
What was wrong with the chit? Why did she dislike him so much?
This was a new experience for him.
He was quite used to women fawning over him. It had become, in fact, tiresome. He knew he was considered a ‘marriage prize’ and that women found him handsome and desirable.
He had never given his looks much thought before, but now this slip of a girl had him wondering if he were indeed still handsome.
She would have her pick of beaus once she reached London and his grandmother launched her. He should be happy about that. The sooner she formed an attachment, the better for him, and yet …?
The notion irritated him. She irritated him.
Why did she dislike him so much? A few ill-chosen words? That in itself was odd. He was usually the charmer with women, telling them what they wanted to hear … yet, when he was with her, he found her reaction to his ‘offenses’ exciting. She was most certainly out of the ordinary, forever saying what she thought.
This past year, he had watched Shawna’s youthful infatuation dissolve. He had always taken her ‘feelings for him’ for granted. Then all at once, she was in love with his far more sedate and steady cousin. That had been a jolt. Now this!
Well, he now knew he had not really been in love with Shawna. Had he been, he certainly would have made an attempt to make her his. His heart had never been in it.
