He tsked. “I’m always a gentleman, I just have more fun than others. But until you’re dressed as a lady, I’m not inclined to be the gentleman for you—nor have you wanted me to be.”
Chapter Fifteen
VANESSA GASPED AT HISblatant reminder of the kiss they’d shared in that meadow. She swung around to glare at Monty, but he was already holding up his hands in a conciliatory manner and quickly said, “I was going to add, go borrow some of your sisters’ clothes. I’ll even stand watch for you while you do. My sisters always stole each other’s clothes, though I think they only did it to have an excuse to fight with each other—they did so love to do that. And then dressed as you ought to be, you can present yourself to your mother on an even footing, so to speak. It’s much better to face your fears right away, Nessi.”
“I’m not afraid of my mother, I’m afraid of what I’m going to do when I see her,” she said, turning her back on him again. “But in either case, it’s not going to be pleasant once she knows I’m back, so I would like to reunite with my sisters first.”
“Well, then! That’s a different thing altogether. So I’ll get you some clean men’s clothes if you insist on continuing your disguise, not my clothes, but Charley’s, which will fit you better—and he won’t mind a’tall now that he’s wearing hand-me-downs.”
“No, thank you. My clothes will be dry before long.”
“And yet the dinner hour approaches, such a perfect time for you to greet your mother—without the hood, of course—with me by your side,” he rejoined.
She swung around incredulously. “Are you mad? It will be so much worse if Mother finds out you knew I’m a girl while I traveled with you. She can’t learn that. You said you would keep my secret.”
“So I did, and so I will.”
“Thank you.”
“But the cat appears to be quite out of the bag, as it were, at least for me. So, it’s Lady . . . Nestor?”
She almost laughed over the way he’d paused before teasing her, but grumbled, “Not by choice.”
He chuckled. “No, of course not, newborns don’t get choices. Then may I know your real name? It’s going to come out anyway once you are officially reunited.”
“Vanessa Blackburn.”
“And you chose to live with your father in Scotland instead of here in this beautiful manor? Why did you do that? Deuced cold up there in the north, I’ve heard.”
“That’s none of your business,” she retorted.
“Family squabbles, obviously, that separated your parents? I’m good at guessing, don’t you know.”
“You’re good at being annoying,” she countered. “Go eat. Charley will have no complaints about the food tonight. Dawton Manor has an excellent cook. Just make sure a servant brings a plate up to me. Once you enter a room, little things tend to get overlooked.”
He grinned. “That’s twice now you’ve alluded to me as a dazzler. D’you really think so?”
“I think you’re full of yourself,” she replied, and pointed a finger at the door.
Instead, he touched her hair briefly, which was still a little damp from her bath, and then chucked her chin. “I wish I could say the same of you, but you aren’t the least bit. You cleaned up amazingly, Nessi. Are you aware of how beautiful you are?”
She felt the blush rising, so she stabbed her finger even more forcefully at the door. He chuckled but went toward it now, though he did pause and turn to say, “Last chance, sweetheart. Are you sure you won’t join us downstairs?”
“I’m not ready for that. I thought I was, but—not yet. I warned you it wouldn’t be pleasant, but not on Mother’s end, on mine. I hate her. I don’t intend to hide it. Which is why I want to reunite with my sisters first, before she turns them against me.”
He’d opened the door, but now he closed it again. “You can’t leave me with remarks like that. Tell me more.”
“No, and it truly is no concern of yours. I was just letting you know where most of the rage will come from, if you witness any of it. But she’ll make sure you don’t witness it. She’s like that. Appearances matter most to her.”
“All the more reason why tonight would be the perfect time for you to tell her you’re home,” he pointed out.
Possibly . . . no. She was still afraid she’d get so overwrought from the confrontation with Kathleen that she would storm out in a rage and not return, losing her chance to have the reunion she wanted. She had to see her sisters first, then she wouldn’t hesitate to find her mother and deal with theunwantedreunion.
She pointed at the door once more in answer, and this time he left. But she also locked it behind him and heard him laughing in the hall because of it.
She wasn’t tempted to deviate from her current plan, but she was very tempted to sneak downstairs and eavesdrop on that dinner. The problem was there would be too many servants about at that time of the evening, and one might inform Kathleen she was out there. Then Kathleen would come out and insist she join them at the table, and she really couldn’t do that wearing a hood. But temptation won out the moment she remembered that the formal dining room abutted the conservatory and in the spring and summer months, the doors that led to all that greenery and flowers were usually left open.
It was tricky getting there without being noticed. She hid in the study until she heard the family and their guests moving from the drawing room, where they had gathered to the dining room across the way. For a few minutes the wide hall was empty and she was able to run across it and slip into the conservatory.
