Page 127 of Kathryn

“That is very thoughtful of you.”

“I just wish I could do more. She is the one who first got me interested in fossils.”

Yes, because Gerrit had been too bloody stupid to do so. He owed Miss Anning a great deal—very likely his marriage. Or at least the happy version of it.

Perhaps he might contrive some way to help the woman as a thank you.

***

Kathryn was contentedly stitching and re-living their lovely day in Lyme Regis. She was proud of Gerrit, who’d thought of a surprisingly subtle approach to helping poor Miss Anning supplement her income by offering her access to the dig and allowing her to keep anything that Gerrit did not donate.

“Kathryn?”

Katie looked up from the tambour to find Dulverton standing beside the settee.

“I am sorry to interrupt you.”

“The interruption is a welcome one. I quite forget to move,” she said, stretching her neck and setting aside her work.

“You were deep in concentration.” He looked from Katie to the tambour, and his eyes widened. “You are stitching an ammonite.”

Katie smiled. “I am relieved you can recognize it.”

“May I take a closer look?”

“Of course.” She handed him the large tambour.

He held it close to the candles, his pale gaze flickering over it, his expression rapt.

“It is from a sketch I made of that huge—”

“I recognize it,” he said, still not looking away. “It is truly astounding work and incredibly intricate.” He lightly brushed a finger over the threads. “How astonishing there are so many different shades of brown.”

“Actually, I couldn’t find them, so I had to dye my own.”

He looked up. “Indeed? What sort of dye?”

“Tea.”

He blinked. “Tea?”

“I put a dozen hanks of floss into a bowl of tea I’d steeped for a long time and then withdrew one every few minutes as they reached the color I needed. The one that is darkest was in the longest.”

“Ingenious,” he said, his gaze back on the ammonite. “I never would have thought such realism was possible with needlework.” He paused, his forehead furrowing. “Although now that I think on the matter there are several tapestries at Spenwood that are quite detailed.” He handed her the tambour. “Fascinating work, Kathryn.”

Katie warmed at his obvious admiration. “Thank you.”

He clasped his hands behind him and rocked back on his heels, looking almost…nervous?

No, surely not!

“Er, did you need something?”

He cleared his throat. “I wondered if you would play me a game of chess.”

Katie’s heart sank. “I do not think that wise.”

“Whyever not?”