To nobody’s surprise, Lady Sampson and Lady Diana had both been correct. Kitty’s mother and both Lord and Lady Fulbourn had been incorrect, and the rest of the guesses were almost evenly split. But Oliver could not help but wonder if Kitty had actually made a guess, would her assertion that she knew the truth have been correct.
Wanting to know for sure, Oliver met his brother’s eye and then tipped his head towards the door. Moments later, Tim joined him in the corridor. “Well done.” His brother slapped him on the shoulder. “I didn’t expect to fool Mother, but to fool Aunt and Uncle Fulbourn was a triumph. As for the people who do not actually know us, it is hardly fair.”
“Agreed.” Oliver nodded. “But what do you think of Miss Childs’ decision not to guess?”
“I’m not sure,” Timadmitted. “Did she explain why?”
Oliver thought back to her words. “She said it would not be sporting. Could Arabella have told her? Even by accident.”
“Never,” Tim responded with utmost confidence in his wife. Oliver agreed, which meant he needed another explanation for her confidence. And to be certain that it was well-founded.
“I want to test something,” Oliver all but begged his brother. “Will you help me?”
It took a little coercion, but Tim finally agreed. Five minutes later, the twins approached Arabella and Kitty, their stickpins switched. Oliver just hoped they had not crumpled their cravats so much it gave away the game.
“Good evening, ladies,” Oliver did his best impression of Tim’s overdone bow. “Did you enjoy our game?”
Arabella raised her brows at him, but said nothing. Kitty paused for a moment and then narrowed her eyes. Then, instead of replying, she leapt from the sofa and walked straight out the door.
“Go after her,” Tim and his wife said nearly in unison.
Oliver scrambled across the room and out the door, hoping neither of them had attracted too much attention. Kitty was halfway down the corridor by the time he caught up. “Please stop.”
Kitty spun on her heel and faced him, her eyes flashing. “Why are you trying to trick me again?”
Oliver swallowed. “How do you know?”
She folded her arms in front of her and glared. “I asked first.”
“I’m really sorry. I just…” Staring at the floor, Oliver confessed, “I just needed to know if you could really tell us apart, or if it was a lucky guess.”
“Why?” she asked after a dozen heartbeats.
“Arabella can always tell us apart,” Oliver explained, forcing himself to meet her beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. They were guarded, but the fire had gone. “No matter what we are wearing or how we are acting.”
“Why do you think that is?” she asked in a soft voice.
“I think…” He summoned his courage and took a step towards her, stopping an arm’s length away. “I think that deep in her soul, Arabella knows who Tim is. Appearance has nothing to do with it.”
Kitty looked away as she replied, “I agree.”
Oliver reached out and brushed a curl away from her face, though it immediately bounced back into place. “Please tell me how you knew.”
“I just did.” Kitty let out a huff. “He is Tim and you are Oliver, and it has nothing to do with how you look.”
Oliver took hold of her hands as he spoke. “There is no other explanation?”
It was Kitty’s turn to stare at the floor. He’d almost given up on her answering when she finally spoke. “And because of the way you look at me.”
Leaning down, Oliver whispered in her ear, “How do I look at you?”
Her hands trembled at his words, mirroring his own reaction.
“You look at me like I’m interesting.” Kitty finally met his eyes, her own rimmed with emotion. “Like my thoughts matter. Like I’m precious.”
“You are interesting, your thoughts do matter, and you are infinitely precious.” He pressed his lips to her forehead before pulling her into his arms. “I’m really glad you can tell us apart.”
“Why?” Kitty asked again, her head resting against his chest.
