“Do you truly mean that?”
“I always mean what I say. Finding replacements won’t be difficult. Many seek employment these days. I had a particular reason for this visit. You must be in as strong a position as possible. Thus we need a story to account for the speed of our union.”
“Your need of a helpmate won’t do?”
“I suggest a little more than that. Would you object to us having met in the past?”
“A lie?” Instinctively, she did object, but perhaps it was necessary. “A white one, I suppose. But when? I went from school into marriage at seventeen, and from marriage into seclusion at Cateril Manor.”
“I gather you kept open house for military officers.”
“My husband and I did,” she said, not liking his tone.
“My apologies. Of course that was what I meant. I had the impression that some of the men who visited your home see themselves as friends.”
Kitty sat up straighter. “The impression from where? Have you been bandying my name around Town, sir?”
He raised a hand. “I mentioned your name in a military club, but in no way disrespectfully, I assure you. I learned of your husband’s hospitality, and it provides a way in which we could have met.”
Kitty still didn’t like his behavior. “You’re not suggesting a liaison, are you? That would dishonor Marcus and me.”
“Of course not. Only that we could have met and liked one another. Your hospitality is fondly remembered.”
She still detected criticism. “Marcus enjoyed the company. All I did was provide what refreshments we could.”
“And an ear for those troubled and advice for the lovelorn.”
“Who said that?” she demanded. “I merely smiled and nodded.”
“Sometimes that’s a generous gift. Will anyone question it if we say I visited your rooms a time or two and admired you?”
Another chess move. That’s all it was. Kitty tamped down annoyance and gave his question careful thought. “I can’t see how. The guests changed all the time.”
“Then when I learned that you were a friend of Ruth Lulworth’s, I arranged for you to visit here, and matters took their natural course.”
“I can’t ask Ruth and Andrew to lie.”
“As long as they don’t insist on the absolute truth, it should do. We won’t volunteer our story, and if we have to use it, we’ll keep it as vague as possible. The main point is that we are consistent.”
“You seem practiced at deception, my lord.”
“My work in the army wasn’t always direct.”
What was it, then?She didn’t voice her question, for she might not like the answer. Had he been a spy? Most soldiers thought that dishonorable work, even though they benefitted from anything learned.
“Will you object to my calling you Kitty in private?”
The rather blunt change of subject confirmed that he’d been up to something shady, but it shouldn’t affect their future. “Not at all,” she said, “but what am I to call you? What are your Christian names?”
“Not to be used,” he said, but then shook his head.“They’ll be read out tomorrow. My father believed that names could shape destinies. Plato Aristides.”
Kitty couldn’t help a smile. “Poor lad!”
“No wonder you touched young men’s hearts. Fortunately, at school, boys are addressed by their surnames.”
“And now?”
“I’m known as Dauntry.”
