Page 28 of Fortune’s Final Folly

“Dolly tired of me before I reached the age of ten. She would rather retire to her sitting room with a novel or work in the kitchens with Cook than listen to me bore her with tales of paperwork, agreements, settlements, and the like.” Joshua stepped into the room, and Kate nodded toward the sitting area close to the hearth. “Thank you. I hope you do not mind if I join you for a bit. I have news.”

Kate had grown accustomed to Joshua throughout their arrangement. Even now, she knew once he took his seat, he’d run his hand through his hair, straighten his cravat, and clear his throat before speaking again.

And she was correct. Perhaps at another time, she would have smiled to herself at the accuracy of her guess.

But Kate was uncertain she wanted to hear what he had to tell her.

Conversing in her bedchamber was little different than sharing an enclosed coach on their drive to Cheapside. With anyone else, especially a man, Kate would feel hesitant to be alone. But not Joshua. Her father had trusted him, a rarity for the man, and her mother had never turned the solicitor away when he came to call, even when the vicar was not at home. Both her parents would be eternally grateful for his kindness to Kate, and they’d be disappointed in their daughter if she repaid said kindness by insulting Joshua.

Besides, he was helping her, not seducing her.

The thought sent fresh ideas whirling through her mind: the feel of his lips against her skin, the scent of him freshly washed and shaven for the day, the way his eyes lingered encouragingly on her when she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the proper words.

Joshua was helping her, indeed, but a part of her hoped for…

He cleared his throat once more and ran his hands down the front of his trousers where he sat in the large armchair facing the hearth.

Kate perched on the edge of the chaise lounge, afraid to soil the light blue brocade with her dusty skirts as she attempted to rein in her wanton thoughts.

Her head swam as he took her in, his stare moving swiftly down her seated form before settling on her face once more. Could he be entertaining similar notions of attraction? Certainly, he would not have taken her hand and kissed her wrist if he hadn’t.

“I have asked around about Pierce De Vere, the current Duke of Shrewbury, previously the Earl of Holderness. But as the servants informed my man, he has not been seen or heard from in many years.” He stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles before continuing, “I have made inquiries of several solicitor associates to ascertain what they know about the elusive lord and his sire, but all I’ve heard is that the couple was a bit reclusive in the country, and their son enjoyed the…err, attention of many ladies about town.”

Kate begged the tension to leave her. It had to be caused by his confession and not the way his gaze on her person made her stomach flip. “Is that so different from other lords of his station?”

Joshua chuckled. “Very wise observation. Are you certain you have not spent more time among the arrogant, pompous men of the ton?”

“You are the first and only lord I am acquainted with.” Would he care if she had moved among others of his status?

Startlingly, it mattered greatly to Kate if it was important to him.

“I do hope you have garnered your opinion of the upper class based on my example.”

“Of course,” she stuttered, though he was obviously jesting with her.

They hadn’t had a private moment to discuss the news Henry had returned with from Oxfordshire—or, more aptly, Kate had shied away from speaking of it. She suspected Joshua would only offer her more assistance by way of funds and workers, and she’d never be able to repay him.

Neither his kindness nor his money.

“I apologize that our arrangement will last longer than either of us anticipated.” In fact, despite her better judgement, Kate hadn’t any idea when she’d be able to move back home. “I know it is terribly inconvenient to have me underfoot.”

He waved his hand, dispelling her apology. “Do not fret. It is no inconvenience at all. I sent an entreaty to the bank requesting the liquidation of the bank account. At least that will garner enough funds to continue the work needed. I have also called in a favor at Dephino’s Lumber outside London. I helped with the proprietor’s daughter’s dowry agreement, and he is indebted to me—at least by giving us a discount on the materials we will need to complete the work.”

Kate noticed how seamlessly Joshua said, “we.”

“Why are you being so kind?” Kate blurted. She’d been thinking the question for days but never meant to vocalize it. She understood the importance of helping those less fortunate than yourself. It had been a large part of her parents’ mission in Cheapside. Her father counseled those who lived in the area, and her mother attempted to provide affordable education. If Kate were being honest, she didn’t want to believe that Joshua had an ulterior motive behind his actions. “I mean…”

Her words trailed off. She was unable to establish any other meaning behind her question.

His eyes narrowed on her. “You are my friend.”

Friend? In all her years, Kate hadn’t ever called another that. Yes, she’d grown close to some children in her youth, but outside the classroom, they had no association with one another. As they grew older, they moved on, married, and some even moved away from Cheapside. They never reached out to her. There had been young girls and boys she’d met at her father’s vicarage, but they too hadn’t sought out anything more than their morning of scripture teachings.

The ache she’d suffered after her parents’ passing had grown in its depth when not a single person had reached out to give condolences for her loss, besides a few of the men and women of her father’s congregation.

“Come now,” Joshua said when she remained silent. “You cannot think a friendship between you and me is so out of the realm of possibility. We have much in common. We see each other nearly every day. We wave and greet one another. I handled matters for your father when needed, and for you afterwards. Our respective buildings are across the street from one another.”

Besides Mr. Cuttlebottom and mayhap Joshua’s uncle, her father had not been a man to keep friends. Neither had her mother outside of sporadic visits from parents of her pupils, and those were never instigated by her mother. Oddly enough, Kate had never given her parents’ solidary existence much consideration. “And that makes us friends despite all our—”