And now, here was Elise hoping against common sense to find her father. A father she expected to love her. Perhaps his own difficult history with his sire explained why, in spite of Moorcock being the last place he should revisit, he felt an obligation to stay by her side.
Or was it obligation? Did he feel something else?
Yes, part of his purpose was to protect Elise, but there was more. He felt a connection to her and not just because she was strikingly beautiful. He understood her. Not only was she proud but she had an intelligence that made it hard for her to suffer fools. What must that be like for a woman of her social standing? She would be expected to grace a table and breed babies and nothing more.
One thing that Kit had learned on his journey was that many women liked having control overtheir lives. Certainly Kate had. She’d run her own theater company, something he’d admired.
And now here was Elise, younger than Kate but no less fiercely determined.
How could a man not admire such women?
But was it worth his life? Moorcock was not a safe place for any woman alone, but especially one with Elise’s uncommon beauty. She needed protection. However, he was well aware that he might have powerful enemies lurking there, the sort who would happily string him up.
Holbert and his men had been chasing him ever since he’d spoiled the plans they’d had for a very naive country lass. They hadn’t appreciated his interference. Kit had been running from them the evening he’d met Elise in that ill-fated coach.
He hoped Holbert was still roaming the countryside searching for him. It was possible. The man was not that quick.
His other wish was that Elise would meet Old John, realize he couldn’t be her father, and agree to Kit’s escort to Ireland. Then they would be done with one another.
Or did he wish for them to be done?
He knew it was for the best. Sooner or later, he must return to his rightful role in life. Just as Prince Hal had become king, he must be the duke. He’d marry a woman of suitable rank and a very grand fortune to secure his estates and hisheritage. Meanwhile, Elise would be snapped up by some man far wealthier than himself.
In the future, perhaps their paths would cross. Would they recognize each other? Or pretend this adventure had never happened? That they were mere strangers?
And from deep within him came an awareness that he didn’t want to lose this bond between them. He liked her company. He liked her trust. One of them bumped into the other, almost as if they were drawn together.
He caught her hand. She did not draw away. Their fingers laced together and it seemed the most natural thing in the world for them to walk hand in hand.
Her mind was always active and she chattered away. He found himself laughing and making his own comments. Anyone coming across them would think they were more than just a couple out for a morning stroll.
More important, Elise acted as if he mattered to her.Him, disguised as—what had she called him? A ruffian. A common fellow... walking beside a golden goddess—
“Do you know womenwantto have a say in government?”
“Why?” Her statement truly astounded him, bringing him back to the moment. He rarely took his seat in the Lords and had been avoiding government service or any position of authority,reasoning that he was too young, even as a duke, for such dreariness.
“Because there are changes we desire, and we are being ignored.”
A stream blocked their path. Tamsyn had already leaped across it. Kit could straddle it and, waiting a moment for her permission, lifted Elise up and over so she wouldn’t get wet.
“Thank you,” she said, straightening her skirts. She had released his hand.
“I see no reason for women to vote,” Kit said. The moment he spoke the words, he realized his mistake. He’d been ready to take her hand again.
It was not offered.
Instead, she tilted her head. “Ah, because men take care of us?”
He’d walked into a trap, one of his own making. However, Kit was nothing if not stubborn. “We do,” he asserted.
She made a scoffing sound.
“We do,” he reiterated. “On the important matters.” He was sure of that. He’d not heard his mother complain... he didn’t think?
Come to think of it, they had never once talked about issues before the Lords. She was more involved in Maidenshop village affairs than matters of state.
Elise was different. She arched a brow. “It seems to me that all the rules favor the men. Then again, as you said so eloquently the other day, you have an extra body part. Isn’t that howyou put it? Endowed by Our Maker and all that. Perhaps what Our Maker wants is for men to share some of the spoils in life with their better halves.”
