And the rafters rattled with the ensuing roar, which gave him the perfect opportunity to dispose of his backup card.All’s fair in love and war, as the saying went. Max had been determined not to lose this wager. He wanted Kitty Ridlington too much to take the risk.
*~~*~~*
“I should have known I would never win against you in anything to do with cards,” pouted Kitty as they walked together toward the foyer.
“That’s nonsense and you know it,” Max scolded. “Fate decided the course of events, not you or me.”
She snorted. “Well, that’s as maybe. So what do we do now? Or, more to the point, as your new mistress, what do I do now? Go back to Aunt Venetia’s and wait for you to procure me a house? I’d like something nice, you know. Several bedrooms, servants’ quarters, a good kitchen—that’s always important—and at least two parlors. Oh, and I’d like a small room I could use as an office. I shall need somewhere to keep my records and so on.”
He stood patiently, waiting until she reached the end of her list. “Are you finished?”
“I’m sure I can think of a few other things if you give me some time,” she answered.
“Yes, I’m sure you could.” He watched as a servant helped settle her cape over her domino. “No, you will not go back to your Aunt’s. That would be inviting half the busybodies in London onto her doorstep first thing tomorrow morning. She’ll have enough to deal with as it is.”
“Oh.” Chastened, Kitty nodded. He was quite right.
“You and I will return to my home for this evening. Tomorrow we shall discuss how this matter is to be best handled.” He accepted his own cloak and walked Kitty out into the cold air.
“You’re very dictatorial.” She glanced up at him. “Are you angry at the way this evening turned out?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Quite the contrary, in fact. I’ve never actually won a formal, publicly-announced mistress before now. So I look upon this as a challenge. I have to set the standards for those who follow in our footsteps, you know.”
She smiled at his somber pronouncement. “A heavy burden, I have no doubt.”
“Indeed.” He frowned as he looked around. “Where the devil’s Harris got to?”
“Your driver?”
“Yes. He should be here. A servant was notified we were leaving…”
They looked either way, but there was no sign of the Seton-Mowbray carriage at all. The road was lined with a variety of conveyances, but not one belonged to Max.
After a few moments, a breathless servant ran to the bottom of the steps. “I’m sorry, sir. Your carriage isn’t here. T’other lad says it was borrowed by a friend of yours.”
“Damn it all to hell,” cursed Max. “This is why I try not to have friends.”
“Never mind,” said Kitty, patting his arm. “It’s only a few miles walk. We can get to know each other on the way. Do you prefer tea or coffee in the mornings?”
Her tone was light and social and Max stared at her. “You are quite close to a line I wouldn’t recommend crossing, dear Kitty.”
“A mere jest, dear Max.” She smiled up at him, an innocent gaze that she must have practiced quite a bit in front of her mirror.
“There will be retribution.” He couldn’t help but smile back. “I don’t need a few miles walk to know that you are incorrigible and in serious need of discipline.”
“Really?” She challenged him with her tone.
“Oh yes. And it will be my pleasure to administer it.” He sighed in exasperation. “IfI can ever find a bloody carriage to take us home.”
“Trouble, Max old lad?”
A new voice sounded behind them, and Max turned, recognizing the owner. “Sinjun Forrester, by God. I didn’t know you were here.”
“That’s the way I like it. Pop in to these things, catch the lateston ditsthen move on to the next one with tidbits to share. And I should thank you most specifically, because I’ll be dining out on yours for quite some time.”
Max said nothing, just let his glare speak for him.
“Quite,” grinned his friend. “Coming on to White’s?”
“Not this time. I’m searching for a carriage, since someex-friend has absconded with mine.”
“Well there you are then. What a stroke of luck. You can take mine, since I’m going with the Marchmains.” He leaned toward Max. “I think Alicia might be changing her mind about me. You and Miss Ridlington here have done a lot to open some previously closed…er…minds, shall we say?”
Torn between distaste at that particular notion and gratitude for the loan of a carriage, Max merely grunted.
“Send my man back, won’t you? They’re good horses, but yours are better, I’ll be bound.” Sinjun’s wave was the epitome of style as he left behind another group that had walked curiously past the conversation.
Max turned to see Kitty in the shadows of a column. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I’ve had more than I can stand of London Society this evening.”
Kitty sighed. “I think they may have had all they can stand of us, too.”
