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“What arrangements?”
“You wouldn’t remember him, but his nephew visited, oh, I think twice … maybe three times in the past, and they got along quite well. At any rate, he gave his solicitor instructions regarding you … and it all had to do with the earl—his nephew, you see, and the earl’s grandmother, though I am not privy to what those instructions were. I only know of them, because he had me attend him and made me promise to make certain it all worked out.”
“No … I don’t believe it.”
“Indeed, it is the truth.” She pursed her lips. “The thing is, apparently he wrote them both again and left the letters in his drawer. We did not discover them until two weeks ago. Of course, they were mailed. Two letters, one for the dowager countess and the other for the earl.” She clucked her tongue and folded her hands into each other at her middle. “You were so distraught when we first lost him that Mr. Harkins did not want to intrude on your grief, but he sent a note around earlier saying that he can no longer put off the reading of the will … my dear, it has been months.” She eyed Kitty. “Well, we shall learn what your uncle’s wishes are when Mr. Harkins arrives this afternoon, but I think you must be prepared. He may have appointed the dowager your legal guardian until you come of age, which won’t be until you turn twenty-one.”
Kitty turned on her heel, and Nanny called after her, “Darling … what are you doing?”
“Another ride … I must go for another ride. I have to think.”
Mounted and once again allowing the breeze to wash over her, she slowed her horse from a lope to an easy trot when a familiar voice snapped her out of her daze and confusion.
“Kitty! I say—Kitty!”
She turned sharply and saw a welcome and handsome face. “Harry!” Kitty stopped her horse and waited for him to ride up alongside. “Well,” she said, eying him. “Don’t we look dapper?” She giggled and leaned over to take his gloved hand and give it a squeeze.
“Come on … sit with me a bit,” he said, dismounting with a light step before he led her to a shady spot beneath a large oak.
She followed suit, and he grinned, reached over, and pulled one of her long tresses to say, “I may look dapper, but you look a mess—a beautiful mess, though.” He laughed and put up defensive hands. “Put down your fists, do!”
She grinned ruefully. “Yes, sadly, I think you are right. I am a bit of a mess.”
“A bit?” he teased.
She managed to punch his shoulder, he cried out in mock pain, and she laughed
and said, “Indeed, but I should go back, wash, and put on a pretty dress … wait, what should I do then? Stare at the walls? Embroider? Me with my clumsy fingers? No, I think I would rather be a mess.”
He chuckled and nodded. “Egad, no, not you, you couldn’t sit still long enough to draw a line let alone do intricate embroidery. I can’t imagine you could stand still long enough to be of any use in any of those very estimable female occupations. But blister it, Kitty, you shouldn’t be running around in breeches and looking like a ragamuffin, either. You should be in a lovely gown, receiving suitors.”
She made an unintelligible sound.
He said, “And this past Sunday, you should have put on a gown and presented yourself with Nanny at church.”
Kitty put up a brow. “Should have, could have, and didn’t.”
He pulled a face. “Incorrigible child.”
“Child? You speak as though you have a decade of years over me, and you do not!”
He grinned. “I have a few over you, though, and besides, Kit, I would be remiss if I didn’t make a push to put a real smile on your face.”
She did smile then, from the heart, and threw her arms around him. “Oh Harry, you are my dearest friend, and you must know I am trying.”
“I do, I do know, but, Kit, you can’t go on grieving forever. You must call on one of your relatives to visit and give you countenance. You can’t go on alone here at Wharton Place. You know that, don’t you?”
“I am not alone. I have Nanny,” she answered, surprised.
“Nanny is a dear, but you ride roughshod over her, always have, and it won’t do. You need a chaperone still.”
“Nonsense. I am nearly twenty-one,” Kitty said, genuinely shocked.
“Are not, and won’t be for another seven months! People always blamed your guardian for allowing you to run amok … and now, look at you, twenty and alone here at Wharton without a chaperone and fellows like me, coming and going …” He grinned wickedly at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
She laughed out loud. “Oh, now I know you are jesting and playing with me.”
“Well, about me, yes, but in truth … your situation is … well, it might get the gossipmongers wagging their hungry tongues.”
