She deserved that riposte. “Yes.” She recognized an opening. “You will have noted that I have no children, my lord. That must be a concern to you.”Another escape. Take it.
“Must it? If the viscountcy dies with me, I won’t turn a hair.”
“Of course not, being dead,” she said tartly. “But when living you will want to provide for the continuance of the title. Any man would.”
“Ma’am, until a few weeks ago, I’d never given a thought to the viscountcy of Dauntry, so its future is unlikely to disturb me now or in the hereafter.”
“Are youeverdisturbed?”Oh, dear.That shouldn’t have escaped.
He stared, as well he might. “It rarely serves any purpose.”
“Yet you don’t seem idle.”
“Activity is generally most effective when taken calmly. Do you have any other questions?”
She’d won. He was going to end it. But she did have one question plaguing her. “You truly don’t consider yourself blessed to have so unexpectedly become a peer, my lord?”
“Rather more like one of the flies that the wanton gods amuse themselves with for sport. Perhaps we are done?”
With a silent apology to Ruth, Kitty met him halfway. “We are, my lord. We know this will not do.”
“You don’t consider yourself blessed by this unexpected opportunity, Mrs. Cateril?”
“I doubt anyone likes to be a fly, my lord. Or toyed with for sport.”
He nodded in acknowledgment of that jab. “Why will our arrangement not do?”
Damn him.He was going to make her say it. “My origins are quite low, and though you didn’t ask, I bring only a pittance to a marriage. On top of that, our encounter yesterday was unfortunate.”
“Your appearance today might have reassured me, ma’am. As might your dog’s obedience. Why is it staring at me?”
“She stares at people when they upset me in some way.”
“How very perspicacious.” He looked back at Kitty. “You lived your married life in London?”
Not a further inquisition.Kitty gave him the victory and stood. “My lord, have done with this. We cannot marry.”
He rose smoothly. “Why not?”
Seeking any reason, Kitty found one. “My mother-in-law could not bear it.”
At last that disturbed—or at least surprised—His Sleekness. “Why?” he asked.
Sillikin stepped closer to him. Kitty had no idea what the dog had in mind, but she picked her up to preventmayhem. “My marrying again would offend against my husband’s memory. I wouldn’t want to hurt her.”
“Yet you came.”
“To see Ruth. I apologize for wasting your time, Lord Dauntry, and regret that I cannot oblige you.” She dipped a curtsy. “I hope that won’t affect your relationship with the Lulworths.”
“I’m not so irrational.” He made no move to leave. “Do I understand that you intend to return to your husband’s family and live under a pall for the rest of your life?”
“It’s a pleasant manor house,” she protested.
“Where you’ll be compelled to wear the sort of clothing you had on yesterday.”
“You’d break a mother’s heart without a blink?”
“I’d find a way around the problem.”
