A Kiss for Lady Mary (19 page)

 

Kit woke early the next morning, arriving in the breakfast room moments before Mary entered. Covered dishes lined the sideboard, and sun streamed in through the east-facing windows. He held out a chair for her. “I’d be honored if you’d allow me to fetch your breakfast.”

The butler set a tea-pot on the table in front of Mary.

“Thank you. I’ll pour.”

A footman brought in bannocks, which apparently took the place of toast here.

He smiled. “Excellent.”

Surveying the offerings, he found salted herring, smoked salmon, beef, bacon, black pudding, and porridge, but no eggs. He filled two plates and two bowls, giving them both a little of everything. The servants were still adding to the dishes.

How were they supposed to discuss anything with footmen running in and out and the butler standing at the door? He almost wished they were still traveling. Well, he’d better do something fast, before the others got here.

He set her plate on the table, taking the chair next to her. “This afternoon, would you like to discover some of Edinburgh’s sights with me?”

She spread butter and jam on a piece of the bannock she’d broken off. “What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we’d start with Holyrood Palace, unless you’d rather see something else.” Kit had never felt so out of control of a situation in his life. Everything depended on Mary, and he never knew what she’d decide.

She chewed her bread as if she had something on her mind. If only he could get her to open up to him. “No. I’d like that extremely. The palace is said to be lovely.”

He slowly let his breath out. “I’ll order the carriage for after luncheon.”

Lady Theo entered the room. “Lady Mary, I’m glad to see you are feeling better. We have quite a schedule this morning.”

Mary hesitated the slightest bit before she smiled and greeted their hostess. “Thank you, my lady. I am much improved. I think all the travel finally caught up with me. I look forward to the visits.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Lady Theo called for more tea before taking her place at the foot of the table. “We cannot have you looking poorly while showing you off to potential suitors.”

“Like a blasted horse at auction,” Mary muttered to herself.

Kit put his cup down with a snap and held the serviette to his lips. Mary quickly raised her cup to hide her smile before she broke out laughing.

“May I know what I said that was so funny?” Lady Theo asked.

“I’m sorry, my lady. It was not you. There is a”—Mary had to think quickly—“a couple of birds bickering outside in the tree. It reminded me of something my—my brother told me.”

Lady Theo looked out the window just as a bird flew by. “I see.”

When she went back to her tea, Mary slid a glance at Kit. That was the first time he had laughed since they’d arrived. Come to think of it, it was the first time she’d wanted to laugh as well. How had she not noticed before how they always found humor in the same things?

She hated not being in control of her life, and it had been going on much too long. Caro was right. Mary must do something if she wanted a happy ending. All she had to do was think of a plan, just as she had done to increase the profits at Rose Hill. Rather than telling herself she didn’t care about Kit, it was time to admit she was falling in love with him. All she had to do was concoct a scheme that would make him fall in love with her as well. She gazed down at her plate and was surprised to find it empty. She had even eaten the black pudding albeit without tasting it.

Placing her serviette on the table, she rose. “If I’m to be ready, I must change now.”

“No wish to desert you, my lady.” Kit inclined his head to Lady Theo. “But I have arrangements to make.”

“Go on with you, Mr. Featherton. My husband will be down shortly. I believe he is taking you gentlemen to one of his clubs or to a coffeehouse.”

He bowed. “Lady Mary, may I escort you?”

When Kit straightened, his eyes danced with laughter. She had to keep her eyes lowered or she’d go into whoops. In her most demure voice, she responded, “Thank you, sir.”

At the top of the stairs, she slapped her hand over her mouth as she began to giggle. “Oh my. I didn’t realize you heard me.”

His shoulders shook. “It’s a good thing I’d finished swallowing or my food would have been all over the table.”

“I remember something of the same being said when I’d first come out. I had hoped that part of the Season was over.”

His hands clasped her shoulders, and he studied her with an expression she didn’t understand. “Mary.”

“Mr. Featherton?”

His smile died. “Have I fallen so far in your esteem?”

She glanced around. Servants appeared to be everywhere. “No, but we are not alone. I would not wish to cause talk.”

A footman passed them.

“You are correct, of course.”

She nodded. “If you’d like, I will still call you by your given name when we are alone.”

“That is my desire.” He appeared to focus on her lips for a moment, then said, “I wanted to tell you—”

Voices floated down from the nursery. If he didn’t say whatever it was soon, there’d be no chance. “Yes?”

Too late, Rutherford entered the landing.

Kit bowed to her. “I’m looking forward to this afternoon.”

Of course that was all it was. What had she expected? He was Mr. Perfect and would never have made a declaration at the top of the stairs in a busy household. Yet before she’d spoken, he’d appeared not to notice anyone else was around. Would she ever learn to hold her tongue? Now she might never know what he would actually have said.

If only she could bring herself to at least kiss him.

K
it watched Mary stride away. All he had wanted to do was kiss her, and he’d stupidly picked the busiest part of the house. Then he’d forgotten to address her properly. What a sapskull he was turning into. What the devil was wrong with him? He’d never done anything so outré in his life.

“Featherton.”

Rutherford’s voice startled Kit.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

“That,” his friend said dryly, “was apparent. Do you know if there are plans for us to-day?”

“Yes. Lord Titus is taking us around while the ladies pay morning calls.”

“That might not be so bad. I have to admit that the Scotch whisky was extremely good last night. I never would have thought it.”

Kit shook his head. “As long as we are not subjected to any separatist political talk, it will be fine. Living in England, one forgets how the Scots consider us.”

“I believe we have worse relations with them than we do with the French.”

“Considering we smuggle in brandy and have onerous taxes on Scotch whisky, I can see their point.”

Still, as long as it didn’t interfere with Kit’s courtship of Mary, he couldn’t care less about the cross-border enmity. Then he remembered that Lady Theo wanted to introduce Mary to prospective husbands. Scots or English, he’d protect her from all of the scoundrels.

An hour or so later, Kit and his friends were ensconced in a cozy building on St. Andrew Square called the New Club. The coffee was excellent. The latest London papers, albeit two days old, had been provided, as well as the Edinburgh newssheets. Several local gentlemen, as well as those visiting for the Season, stopped by to talk with Lord Titus and be introduced to Kit and his friends. He lifted his cup to find only dregs; then again, he’d had enough coffee to last him for at least a week.

After an hour or so, he felt as if he’d met most of Edinburgh’s bachelors on the prowl. Most of them on the hunt for a wife. Which, according to many of the gentlemen, was the only reason to be in the city for an extended period of time. Some of the Highlanders acted as if they’d be perfectly happy to dispense with the courting and toss a lady over their shoulders for the journey home.

The thought of any of them focusing on Mary as their quarry, made the almost constant pain in his jaw even worse. He had to stop clenching his teeth. On the other hand, he was lucky he wasn’t developing a tic.

Maybe he should just take Mary in his arms and carry her off. He tried to envision himself doing that, and the thought shriveled, flopped around a bit, and died. He had no doubts concerning his physical prowess. He’d even scored a few hits on the great Jackson himself, but that just wasn’t his way. He had no need to strut around calling attention to himself and what he was doing.

The women he’d been with had always appreciated his discretion. Many in the
ton
didn’t even realize he had had liaisons. Not the slightest breath of scandal had ever attached to him, and it could not. He had one sister out, another who’d come out next year, one the year after that, in addition to two younger brothers who looked up to him as a model for their own behavior. He’d already had long discussions with the boys about bullies at Eton and showed them how to handle such situations. He’d even taught the girls some defensive moves and ensured that all his brothers and sisters knew they could come to him about anything.

Kit had always held himself to a higher standard. It would never do for his behavior to be compared with that of his long dead older half-brother.

He prayed Mary didn’t want or need the young peacocks swaggering around the club, especially the ones in kilts. If she did, that would present not only a problem but the potential of an extremely large scandal.

“I hear ye will be at the ball tonight.” A tall young man with black hair and broad shoulders, whose name Kit had misplaced, stood next to Lord Titus’s chair. “And ye have with ye a Sassenach lookin’ for a husband.”

Christ, they’d only been here a little over a day. Kit’s fingers curled into a fist as the name came to him.
Lord Duff
.

“You’ll have to discuss that with Lady Theo,” Lord Titus responded smoothly.

“Aye, I’ll do that.” Duff stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Mayhap, my mother will know aught. Time and more I had a few bairns of my own.”

Not with Mary, the coxcomb wouldn’t. If this were London, the betting would have already begun. Damn, Kit should have thought of that before. “Lord Titus, is there a betting book here?”

“There is, but you have to be a member. Besides, it’s not the same as in London. Bets here are normally for horse races and contests. Not raindrops racing down the window, or ladies.”

Relief flooded in, easing the ache as Kit’s jaw unclenched. “As it should be.”

With the ball this evening, and the other entertainments, it appeared Edinburgh was going to be even busier for him than London. Not only would he be expected to dance with young ladies, he’d have to protect Mary as well. Perhaps it was time to stop being the most perfect gentleman guest.

 

Apparently the polite fifteen minutes rule did not apply across the border. They were at their fifth house on their visits. Here guests were meant to be fed well. Mary was going to float away or require a hasty trip to a water closet if she drank one more cup of tea. She’d consumed so many delicious local cakes and biscuits, she had no desire at all to eat luncheon. Which was fortunate, as it was long past the hour.

She’d been having a wonderful time, until some young ladies decided to focus all their conversation on Kit.

“I hear he’s as handsome as can be.” Miss Clara Ross opened her large blue eyes. “And he came here looking for a bride.”

Where in all of Christendom had that rumor started? Had
Kit
given up on
Mary
? Or rather, she hoped, it was merely gossip.

She lifted her cup to her lips, pretending to drink, and lied. “You do realize that any lady Mr. Featherton married would be expected to live in London.”

The girl’s hopeful smile faltered for the slightest moment, then Miss Ross rallied. “Oh aye, but he’s so rich a wife could travel, and he’ll be a viscount.”

Indeed he would, but this young lady would not be his viscountess. In her most bored drawl, Mary replied, “Indeed. After, that is, his father, who is in good health and of whom Mr. Featherton is quite fond, is dead. He will naturally ascend to the title.”

That did the trick. Miss Ross shut her mouth and ate a cake. Mary refused to consider her own behavior. With these bold Scottish girls, Kit needed someone to protect him.

Lady MacDiarmid was announced. She entered the parlor, smiling like a cat who’d found a particularly juicy mouse. Behind her was a young lady who looked to be an exact replica of her ladyship when she was a decade or two younger. Rich brown hair, medium height, and slender build, but well endowed. Mary had rarely seen two more beautiful women.

The older lady, followed by the younger one, curtseyed. “I’m so pleased we’re not too late to meet Lady Theo’s visitors.”

“You almost were, Morna.” Lady Theo allowed the other lady to buss her cheek. “We are leaving shortly.”

Undaunted, Lady MacDiarmid smiled and said, “You remember my daughter, Finella?”

“Of course I do.” Lady Theo squinted at the girl for a moment. “Surely she is not old enough to be out yet?”

The other lady raised a brow. “Sixteen, the same age as I was.”

A look of disgust passed so quickly over Lady Theo’s face Mary almost thought she’d imagined it, except for what came next.

“Then you should know better.”

The pleasant mask on Lady MacDiarmid never slipped. “I can assure you, Finella is much better prepared than I was.”

Lady Theo rose. “We’ve had a lovely time, but I’m afraid we must be leaving.”

Mrs. Cameron, their hostess, had a look of unfettered relief on her pleasant countenance. “Thank you so much for coming by, my lady.” Her gaze included Mary and her friends. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I suppose I’ll see you this evening.”

“You will indeed.” Theo marched out, leaving the rest of them to follow like a flock of chicks after their mother hen.

“What do you think that was about?” Caro whispered to Mary.

“I have no idea, but I have a feeling we’ll find out.”

Once they were in the carriage, Lady Theo’s lips tightened, and after several moments she said, “I had hoped she’d wait, but apparently she thinks nothing of auctioning off her daughter the same as she was.”

Mary and everyone else remained quiet.

“Morna was a diamond when she came out. A beautiful, silly young thing. My brother, Simon, the baby of the family, fell in love with her. As did almost every other eligible man, and some who weren’t. He thought she returned his affections. In fact, he was sure of it. Then she was married off to MacDiarmid. He was fifty years older than her if he was a day, but he had the title and more money. He’d been married four times before with no issue to show for it, yet nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to Cormac.” Lady Theo closed her eyes for a moment. “He’s the image of Simon. There is no way to be sure who fathered Finella, but it could well have been my brother. He left for America before the girl was born and hasn’t been back since.”

The carriage rumbled over cobblestones before turning onto the smoother macadam. Lady Theo’s gaze bore into Mary. “It pains me to say it, but none of them are to be trusted. Morna will be looking for the largest purse she can find for both of her children.”

Mary swallowed. For the first time in almost an hour, her need for a chamber pot receded. “I understand.”

Not only must she take care, Kit would have to be put on his guard as well. Perhaps she should just agree to marry him. It would keep both of them safe from fortune hunters, but would it provide the life she needed?

 

Kit glanced at his pocket watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. The hands still hadn’t moved much. It was almost four o’clock. He glanced out at the hall of Lord Titus and Lady Theo’s house. A half hour ago, Kit had to send the carriage back to the stable. There would be no excursion to-day. Where the deuce had the ladies gone? They should have been back hours ago.

“Featherton, will you stop pacing?”

Rather than leave the men to their own devices, Lord Titus had remained with them even as he worked on a paper he was preparing.

“I had an outing planned. The ladies should have been back before now. You don’t think anything has happened, do you?”

“We don’t have a fashionable hour to promenade. Morning visits make up for it.”

Kit wished he’d known that before. They’d have to prepare for the evening’s entertainment soon. A carriage came to a stop in front of the house. Thank God, they were back.

He strode to the front door intending to escort Mary up the stairs, when she dashed past him without saying a word. Was she avoiding him?

“I love you, Gervais, but not now,” Caro said as Huntley reached out to kiss her. Anna and Phoebe rushed past as well.

Kit stared after them. “What is going on?”

“I wish I knew,” Huntley responded, gazing up the staircase.

Lady Theo paused, her hand on the newel post as she mounted the curtail step. “Their first morning visits.”

“As long as I’m not at fault, I don’t care what it is.” Rutherford joined Kit and the others. “We’ll find out soon.”

“Be sure to tell me when you do. I have the distinct feeling Mary will not wish to speak of it.” Only because they were neither married nor betrothed. Even more reason to forge ahead.

 

“Mama, I don’t want to be here.” Finella fiddled with the fringe on her shawl. “I want to come out with Cait, in two years.”

“If you don’t stop, you’ll ruin that shawl.” Morna lightly slapped her daughter’s hand away from the fringe. She hated having to pretend she wanted her daughter to marry so young rather than waiting to come out with her closest friend. Yet if Fee was to have a better life than Morna’s had been, it meant getting her daughter married to a gentleman who could protect her. The only good thing old MacDiarmid—Morna had never thought of her late husband by any other name—had done was die before he could arrange a match with one of his friends. Unfortunately, her own father had been talking about husbands for his granddaughter, and, until her son Cormac was of age, Father was Fee’s guardian. Regrettably, her son had another year before he attained one and twenty. Even then, Morna’s father could cause trouble and probably would. “You know Cormac has said he’ll choose a bride as soon as he attains his majority. You’ll be much happier living in your own home after that.”

“I suppose so.” Fee’s words did not match her woebegone face.

“Fee, my heart. I want you to be able to fall in love. Yet, if we wait much longer, that choice could be taken from you.” Morna’s throat closed and she turned away, not wanting her daughter to see her tears. If only she’d been allowed to wed the man she loved. How different her life would have been. She fought back her anguish. The most important thing now was to take care of Fee. Thank God Father wasn’t in Edinburgh.

The outer door to the town house they had leased for the Season opened and closed. Booted feet pounded on the stairs, then her parlor door burst open. “Mother”—Cormac strode into the room with all the vigor of his youth—“did ye go on yer morning visits to-day?”

“Aye, we did.” He smiled, and for a moment she thought she was looking at Simon. “Don’t stand there grinning like a loon. Why do you ask?”

“There is a Sassenach lady staying with Lady Theo. Have ye met her?”

“Aye,” Morna said slowly.

“Is she as pretty as they’re all saying she is?”

“I don’t know as I’d—”

“Oh aye, Cormac,” Fee interrupted, “she is. All the London ladies are beautiful, and dressed so fine.”