She blinked a moment and then laughed. “You know what I meant.” As they continued walking toward the doors leading outside, she continued dragging her skirts. Then abruptly, she stopped walking. Her face paled, and she pursed her lips together.
“What is it?”
“He’s crawling up my petticoats.” Lily winced, and he knew there was no choice but to get her outside quickly. Unfortunately, there were other guests milling about the gravel pathway.
“I’ll help you.” He led her outside, and Lily hurried with him. There were lanterns hung around the small walled space, lighting the darkness.
“Oh, heavens, his claws are like needles.” Her face wrinkled, but she reached toward her right hip and tried to grasp the fabric. “Help me, Matthew.”
They moved toward the furthest corner, and he said, “Face the wall. I’ll try to find him.”
“You cannot go rummaging through my skirts in front of everyone,” she hissed. “Ow, ow, ow. Let go, Beast.”
He saw the bulge of silk and said, “Trap him there, against your hip. I’ll kneel down and try to get him out. If you keep your skirts wide, I should be able to reach underneath and seize him.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she protested. “Someone will see you.”
“Would you rather I stand in front of you while you search?”
She gave a slight shriek, clapping her hands over her mouth. Then she began shaking her skirts, hopping on one foot, thenthe other. A moment later, a ball of fur came bolting out from beneath her skirts. Matthew dove for the kitten and seized him. “Not so fast, Beast.” He managed to grasp the animal, and then sat up on the gravel path. Lily’s shoulders were shaking, and she was laughing so hard, tears came to her eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I know I shouldn’t, but he’s so mischievous. I still cannot believe he managed to follow you here.”
The sound of her laughter was infectious, and he could not help but laugh as well. Never had he imagined he would be sitting on gravel at a social gathering, holding a runaway kitten. Lily’s laughter warmed him, and he stood, holding fast to the kitten. “Perhaps he missed seeing you.”
Her face softened, and he was caught by the flush upon her cheeks. In the lantern light, her eyes were bright, and he was transfixed by the beauty of her face. “I might have missed him, too,” she murmured. “It’s good to hear you laugh again, Matthew.”
He held out the kitten to her, and she stroked his ears. Her fingertips brushed against his, and the slight touch sent a flare of interest through him.
It was a new beginning, he decided. And one that held promise.
When Lily arrived back at the carriage, she adjusted her wrap against the chill. The autumn air had turned bitter, and her mother was chattering endlessly about the supper party and the dancing. She stepped inside with the help of her footman and slid onto the leather seat, half-listening to Iris’s exclamations.
They drove through the streets, and her mother asked, “How is Lord Arnsbury? I saw him walking with you in the garden.”
“He is improving with each day.” And she admitted to herself that shehadenjoyed seeing him again, in spite of the kitten’s mischief. Matthew had remained at the ball, after giving Beast into the care of his footman with instructions to take him home.
Iris smiled warmly and added, “I do like that young man. You should marry him.”
The words came out of nowhere, and Lily bit her lip. “I—I don’t think so, Mother. I do not intend to marry anyone.”
“Nonsense. You need to marry and have babies. I do miss my babies.” Her mother sighed and leaned back against the carriage. Her face clouded over, and Lily recognized that Iris was starting to slip into one of her spells. Since Rose’s wedding, her mother had enjoyed several weeks of clarity, but Lily feared it was all an illusion.
“Rose will have a baby soon,” Iris murmured. “I do believe so. Especially with that handsome Irishman she married.” Her mother pressed her hand against the carriage door. “I miss George so very much, you know. There are days when I wish I could join him.”
“Mother, no.” Lily didn’t like the direction of this conversation. Out of desperation, she offered, “The babies will need their grandmother.”
Iris appeared confused for a moment. Then she rapped at the carriage and called out to the coachman. “Nelson, stop for a moment.”
Lily didn’t like the look in her mother’s eyes, but the coachman obeyed and the carriage pulled over to the side of the road. “What is it, Mother? Are you not feeling well?”
Before Iris could answer, she threw the door open and bolted out into the streets. Lily hadn’t expected it, and she tried to follow, but her skirts tangled up. “Nelson, stop her!”
The coachman gave the reins over to their footman and hurried after Lady Penford. Lily gathered up the yards of fabricin her skirt and left the carriage to chase after them. It was dark outside and she knew this wasn’t a good idea to be out in the London streets with only a coachman and her mother.
But what choice did she have? Her mother could easily be trampled by horses or accosted by a stranger.
It wasn’t easy to pursue Iris on foot, but she eventually caught up to her. Nelson had restrained Iris, who was kicking and shoving at him. “Let me go, or I’ll have you dismissed from your post.”
