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“Capital spot, Hartley,” Magdalen agreed.
“Indeed,” the earl said, eyeing his friend ruefully. “I had Max go slightly off the main pike for this inn, but it will be worth the extra time.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Nanny said breathlessly. “You are everything that is kind and considerate.”
“Kind and considerate? This rogue?” Magdalen challenged on a laugh.
Kitty’s bristles went up, and before she could stop herself she wagged a finger. “Yes, kind and considerate!” She saw out of the corner of her eye that the earl’s eyes were twinkling and that a soft smile had curved his wonderful lips.
“Right, then.” Alex put up his hands in surrender. “Kind and considerate.”
The earl opened the door, jumped out, and offered his hand first to her and then to Nanny, who smoothed her skirts and walked towards a garden bed of many colored tulips.
Without looking at Magdalen, who had gone to the boot, Kitty purposely put her hand on the earl’s arm and said, “He can be fun, but there is a world of difference between you. I wonder how it is he can claim your friendship.”
The earl chuckled. “We enjoy the same sports, and, Kitty, be careful … he is right, you know. I have been a rogue.”
“Have you? Not that I can see,” Kitty answered.
“Ah, but the road was dusty,” he teased. “Your eyes may be clouded.”
“Not at all. You think me green, but I understand a great deal—more than you think. A rogue sets out to have what he wants, regardless of the consequences. You, I am persuaded, have been careful. Yes, you want what you want. You are a man, after all, but I honestly do see past that. I don’t think you would ever allow yourself to hurt a young woman … and Alex, he has hurt countless women—and it doesn’t matter how I know. A termagant gets around, you know, and hears and sees a great deal … and wasn’t that what you called me?”
The surprise she saw on the earl’s face made her laugh right out loud. Oh yes, she felt so much more than desire for this big and dear, dear man. When had that happened to her?
And what, Kitty, what are you going to do about it?
* * *
Two days on the road with Alex forever chattering in her ear had been at times frustrating. She found all she wanted was some alone time with the earl, and all she got was Magdalen constantly trying to dally with her.
The earl had finally managed to get rid of Alex, and Kitty smiled over the fact until he advised her that he was going to ride on ahead, as they had reached the outskirts of London.
Had she become infatuated with the earl? She knew her own mind, and that mind told her he would never take her seriously and was no doubt regretting the kiss they had shared.
She understood that a man could be dashed attracted to a woman but not be in love … was she in love? Was she just attracted to him? She did know her own mind, and somehow, inexplicably, she had fallen in love with Brandon, the Earl of Halloway.
Everything he did was with self-assurance. Everything he said was in a voice that drew her to him and fastened her gaze on him. She discovered there was so much more to the man than the façade he allowed the world to see.
Because they knew that the earl had gone to make certain Halloway House was in readiness for their arrival, both Nanny and Kitty looked at one another and agreed that he was a remarkable man.
He was, as Nanny constantly pointed out, everything that was considerate. In fact, since she had left her hoyden manners and clothes back at Wharton, they had not disagreed about anything.
London stretched out before her, and she was pinned to one window as Nanny was to the other. The city bustled with what appeared to Kitty to be a fever gone wild. At one point, Nanny had to pull her back into the coach, as she had opened the window to nearly hang out of it to get a better view.
Hawkers offered their various wares loudly, shouting each other down. She looked to an urchin who called out in a resonant voice as their carriage passed by, “Hot house strawberries! Here they be … nice and ripe they be. Hot house strawberries.”
Kitty smiled at the boy and started to call to Max to stop the coach. He was so small and working so hard. “Nanny, we could bring some strawberries with us.”
“Nonsense. Should we be greeting the Countess of Halloway with a basket of strawberries in our hands and looking country foolish?”
Kitty laughed and called Max to stop. “Oh, Nanny. That is silly. Everyone loves fresh strawberries.”
Max did as he was asked, and as Kitty started out of the coach, Nanny objected, “No, Kitty darling … I don’t think …”
But Kitty had already rushed to the child, flipped him a coin larger than what he was asking, and took the basket in hand. “There … have a good day, sir,” she told him.
“Thankee, miss … thankee!”
