They both looked and saw Sillikin pawing at her nose, the piece of cake nearby. Kitty went to her to clean honey syrup off her nose with her handkerchief. “I told you you wouldn’t like it.”
Kneeling there, haloed by firelight, she smiled up at him. “Even if we can’t solve all the problems in a moment, we’ll have my rooms and yours. We’ll talk and play, and drink coffee and eat sticky cakes with our fingers.”
And enjoy many other pleasures,she implied. It was a glimpse of heaven, but he couldn’t entirely dismiss reality.
Reality be damned. He would make everything perfect for his brave and wonderful wife. Somehow.
Chapter 45
Kitty couldn’t believe how the sweetness of love filled her life. She couldn’t stop smiling, especially as they spent the rest of the day together as if tied with strings. A persistent gray drizzle couldn’t dampen their spirits at all.
They went to the town house, without entourage except for Sillikin, to go over it and make plans for the spring. Then she took him to Moor Street to meet Janet. To Kitty’s amusement, her friend and her husband were soon engaged in an intense discussion of her future wardrobe. She tended to forget that the world saw him as a beau.
“And if I don’t want Nile green with bronze sequins?” Kitty asked at one point.
“You’d be wrong,” Janet said.
Determined to assert some control, Kitty said, “You willnotreline my mantle with more expensive fur.”
“Then I’ll buy you a new one,” Braydon said, “and insist that you wear it at times.”
“How?”
“I’m your husband. I can beat you.”
“La, la!” Janet exclaimed laughing, and Kitty knew why. The way he’d said it had turned her hot, the wicked man.
For pride’s sake, she had to say, “Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander, sir.”
But he responded, “I won’t object to wearing furs for you, my lady.”
Janet was so lost in giggles, she couldn’t speak, but Kitty was sweating at the vision he’d summoned. Even Beauchamp Abbey wouldn’t be able to chill these fires.
They went next to Westminster Hall, where duty and honor would oblige him to attend Parliament and push for steady reform.
“Standing here,” he said, “I realize that the title is a privilege as well as a burden. It will strengthen my hand for reform. The next years will be crucial,” he added apologetically, “and those in favor of reform will be beleaguered. I can’t shirk the fight, which will take place here.”
“I understand, and I believe everything will work out for the best.”Somehow,she silently added.
As they returned home, she told him about Henry’s leaving.
“She was only ever a temporary measure,” he said.
“And excellently thought of, but I’ll miss her. I hope I can find someone as skilled, wise, and kind.”
“And willing to live mostly in the country. Johns hovers on flight at all times, especially now we’re in Town, with other men tempting him.”
“Is he truly so important to you?” she asked.
“There’s a great deal of tedious labor in fashion.”
“You make it look easy to be just so.”
He smiled. “And therein lies most of the work, which Johns does.”
“I can’t believe you truly care.”
“But I do. A weakness, but deeply rooted. Would you rather I be scruffy?”
