Oh, there had been the fact she’d nearly died to protect his beloved sister. Of course that mattered. But it was more than that. More than he was ready to examine or accept.
He exited his rooms and stepped into the hall, but after he shut the door, he turned to find Isabel standing there, her face pale and her expression lined with worry.
“Is Matthew well?” he asked.
She darted her gaze away and he knew the answer. Of course his friend would struggle to process what had happened today. It fed directly into an experience that had changed him to his core.
“He is better,” she said softly. “He’s with our little Daniel at present. The baby gives him comfort.”
Kit’s empathy rose as he looked closer at Isabel’s face. Their newbornwouldbe a source of comfort to Matthew, but he could see Isabel’s pain.
“He loves you deeply. Desperately,” he said softly. “It is not like anything I’ve ever seen before with him, you know. Ever.”
He said the words as a way to comfort her, but they were true. Yes, Matthew had loved in the past. Losing his fiancée had devastated his friend. But the love Kit saw him share with Isabel was a deeper thing. More connected and well-suited. Something more mature and passionate and filled with much laughter and connection.
“I know,” she said, and reached out to squeeze his hand. “But thank you. I actually came to check on Sarah. I had to help Matthew first, of course, but she was my best friend for years.” Her breath caught. “Do you think she despises me for not coming to her right away?”
Kit drew back. “Of course not, Isabel. Diana and Amelia tended well to her, and I’m sure she understands where your first attentions had to lie. She is sleeping now, though.”
Isabel’s face fell. “Oh. Well, that is good. Diana says it will be helpful for her.” She bent her head. “Kit, when I thought she was dead…when shewasdead…”
His own breath hitched at the horrible memory. “I know. I can scarcely bear to think of it. Thank God for Lucas’s knowledge that brought her back to us.”
“It makes you appreciate how fleeting everything is, doesn’t it?” Isabel asked.
“It does,” he agreed. “I’ve had quite a few reminders of that, as of late.”
Isabel nodded. “For me, all I can think about is how Sarah has pulled away since she went into service. She feels we can no longer be such good friends. I’ve…I’ve let her distance herself because I thought it would help her transition, but that feels so wrong now. Like I failed her.”
“You didn’t,” he reassured her gently. “If anyone failed her, I have. I know she has feared her position here. I told her today that she wouldn’t be sacked.”
He didn’t add the part about the kissing, but he thought of it. Thought of her body rising against his, her mouth opening beneath his as she opened to him so damned sweetly.
“That’s wonderful,” Isabel said. “It will take a weight from her. So it seems her life has changed in many ways. I wonder what will happen next.”
He stared at Isabel a moment. This was Sarah’s best friend, the person who likely knew her best now that her mother was no longer with her. “I would like to do something nice for her,” he said. “For what she did, she deserves far more accolades than I could possibly arrange, but something to celebrate her.”
Isabel’s face lit up, her worries fading slightly. “I love that idea, Kit. She has suffered so much in recent years, I would love to see her given some kind of special day. I can help if you’d like.”
He nodded. “I hoped you would say just that. I welcome all your input. And I have a few ideas of my own.”
Isabel linked arms with him and began to chatter away as they left the hall and headed for the stairs back to the main house. But as they walked together, he couldn’t help but think of the question Isabel had asked.
What would happen next?
He had no idea. And he wanted to know. Desperately.
Chapter Nine
Sarah cuddled deeper into warmth and sighed as her dreams began to fade. Odd dreams at that, of darkness and pain, transformed by a man’s mouth on hers, of her body lifting beneath him. And when she looked to see who this mysterious lover was she found…Kit. She knew she should pull away, but she didn’t. She couldn’t.
She didn’t want to.
She let her eyes flutter open and tensed. Where was she? This wasn’t her bed in the little room next to Phoebe’s that was reserved for the governess.
And then everything rushed back to her. The boat, the water, the kiss. None of that had been a dream—the previous day had truly happened. Her world had changed and it could never be the same.
She rolled to her side and froze. There was a vase of flowers on the bedside table that had not been there before. Amongst the bright, happy blooms was a cluster of yellow primrose.
