Entirely of its own volition, my little finger curled around his. The only indication that he noticed was his barely audible inhale.
“I have faith in you.”
He sighed, his head swinging back and forth in so small a motion it was nearly imperceptible, shaking away my faith. But he couldn’t shake me so easily.
Twelve
WHITE HORSE, NORMAN CROSS—APRIL 11, 1817
KIT
“I have faith in you,”she insisted, so sure.
How long had it been since anyone had faith in me? Since I had? Before Father passed, certainly. Probably before I failed to free Kate from a wretched engagement. Those words, so misplaced, were a balm on my psyche.
It was far too early in the day for such earnest compliments from such a devastating source.
“Your faith is misplaced.”
“We shall have to agree to disagree then.” Her reply was so pert in tone. At some point I would disappoint her. It was inevitable. What would her tone be then?
“Why don’t you wish to marry?” I asked. It was a desperate grasp for distance from the certain tilt to her brow and set to her spine. Carefully, I pulled my hand from where it lingered against hers. After dipping it into my waistcoat pocket, I clenched my fist around the stolen hairpin.
“Why should I? I’m a lady of independent means. I can live a life most women only dream of, and I’ve no need of a husband to do it.”
“What if you fall in love?” The question slipped from my lips.
She laughed gaily, but there was a false, tinny quality to it. Though that may have been only in my head. “There’s not a man on this earth who could love me, precisely as I am.”
“You’ve decided a great deal on behalf of a man you’ve yet to meet.”
She sighed and leaned back against the seat. “I’ve met them all.”
“You’ve met every man in the world?” An incredulous note slipped into my question.
“Near enough. There are the rakes. Those men are adventurous and might be able to abide my independence. But they’d never support me while I cared for my mother. The dandies, they might appreciate my mother’s style, but they’d never approve of my adventures. And a dandy can never be seen with a woman more handsome than him. And I’m always more handsome than them.” She offered me a teasing grin with the assessment, her eyes dancing.
“Then there are the scholars. They find the entirety of me an irritant, the ones with political aspirations too. The new moneyed are too infatuated with my mother. And the old moneyed know that my mother is absurd. The gentlemen, well I’ve yet to meet a gentleman whoactuallywarrants the name.”
You’ve forgotten the solicitors.I barely managed to bite back the argument. That would certainly be enough to shatter her faith in me.
“No,” she continued. “Until I find the man whose company I find more agreeable than my own, I see no reason to marry. And, as you know, I’m delightful.”
“You are.” The agreement was as easy as breathing, if entirely inappropriate.
Her answering smile was quiet, almost shy. It was an odd expression on her—different from her usual bright, unshakable self-confidence.
Suddenly, a drop landed on my hand from the open window. I stared at it, uncomprehending, as another landed right beside it.
“What is it?” she asked.
A third found my cheek. “Rain,” I replied. For the first time in some hours, I wondered if our surprisingly good luck would hold.
“It’s raining?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But we have no window!”
