Kitty realized she was naked and stayed under the covers. “No matter. Carry on.”
Sillikin went to the door. This was definitely a problem. At Cateril and the parsonage, Kitty had let the dog out to find her own way to the kitchen and the outside, but she might not know the way here as yet. More important, Kitty wasn’t entirely sure it was safe. She found it hard to imagine anyone hurting a friendly little dog, but there were problems in this house.
When the fire was going, Kitty said, “Thank you. Please take my dog down and let her outside. Then return her here. And send Miss Oldswick to me.”
The maid curtsied. “Yes, milady.”
Sillikin went with her trustingly, already seeing a new friend. Soon Henry arrived with chocolate and fresh-baked bread, followed by the maid with a large jug of steaming water and Sillikin, tail wagging with enthusiasm for a new day.
Kitty was already in her nightgown and robe, sitting at the small table by the window.
Once the maid had left, Henry said, “I didn’t ask what breakfast you like.”
“That’s excellent, thank you. When there’s good fresh fruit, I’ll have some of that as well.”
Kitty could sense Henry wanting to ask about the night, but of course she didn’t. Kitty tried to give an impression of contentment, because Henry was a spy for Lady Sophonisbe. It wasn’t difficult, but she couldn’t relax until Henry left.
Kitty was spreading butter on her second piece of bread when the adjoining door opened and Braydon came in, only partly dressed. It was startling to see him less than perfectly turned out. He wore boots and breeches, but only a shirt above the waist, and it was open-necked. That glimpse of chest was enough to light a spark in her, but he said, “I’m going for a ride. Do you ride?”
“No.”
“Would you like to?”
“I don’t know.”
“So many things to explore.”
Kitty sensed underlying meanings to that.
She glanced at Sillikin. The dog was lying in front of the fire. She’d raised her head to look, but she wasn’t staring. A step in the right direction.
“You don’t object to my being out for perhaps an hour?” he asked.
Kitty did, but only because of lust. She’d wondered how they’d be together this morning, but the answer seemed to bethe same as before.
“Of course not. I have plenty to do.” She finished buttering her bread. “But I’m not going near you-know-who until you’re by my side.”
“Ah, I did hope to avoid that.”
She glanced at him and saw that hint of a smile in his eyes. It had become precious to her. “Shirking the battle, sir?”
“There are times when it would be a very wise thing to do.”
“Dishonorable to be wise?”
“In this crazed world, frequently.”
She thought he might kiss her again, but he inclined his head and returned to his rooms. She regretted the lack of a kiss.
Kitty spread black currant jam on her bread and enjoyed a bite, thinking. She had not displeased him, even by lingering in his bed, but it would be pleasant to have a more positive response. Open approval, or even admiration. Was the hint of a smile as much as she would ever get? In the biblical sense, she knew her husband today, but in other senses, he was still a mystery.
Oh, by their agreement, they would be mostly apart. Why bother about these things?
Kitty washed and began to dress, by which time Henry had returned to put her into her outer clothes. She chose a sage green woolen gown because it was her warmest, and an extra flannel petticoat underneath. Today she planned to go through the whole house with Mrs. Quiller and put her stamp on it.
She added a cap with relief. She’d worn one for a decade and felt undressed without. A check in the mirror confirmed that she looked like the lady of the house. Perhaps not grand enough to be a viscountess, but there was the ring to compensate.
“My cloak, please, Henry. First, I’ll take Sillikin for a walk.”
