Page 51

“Bring plenty, girl,” bellowed one of the older women, obviously hard of hearing. “Neither my sister nor I have had a movement in two days.”

Chasity’s gaze careened to Aston.

Jollity danced in his eyes, and his lips twitched.

“Well, living with several other people can be most entertaining.” Chasity knew that to be the truth from having been raised in a foundling home and working in a girls’ seminary for several years.

She took a sip of her coffee. True, the taste was strong, but the sugar and milk made it quite palatable. It was actually rather good and somewhat soothing. She took another swallow as she considered what she’d overheard as she came down the corridor to the kitchen earlier.

Perhaps you should persuade her to move to a female-only establishment. It would ensure peace and quiet around here.

She hadn’t realized the muffled male voice was Aston’s.

Asking my new tenant to leave might be best.

Was Mrs. Longsdon going to evict Chasity already?

Simply because she was female? Or because she was unmarried?

But she’d clearly heard the maid address two female boarders as Miss but moments before. Well, there was nothing to be done about that at this moment.

Upon learning Chasity and Aston knew each other and that he’d been searching for her since her abrupt departure from Balderbrook’s Institution for Genteel Ladies yesterday, Mrs. Longsdon had insisted they eat breakfast in the privacy of the salon rather than the dining room. With the door cracked for propriety, naturally.

Wise woman, Mrs. Longsdon had swiftly deduced they had much to discuss, and such a conversation was better held in privacy, despite her strict rules about eating in the dining room. That she doted on Aston was apparent from the affectionate glances she sent his way, and he returned her regard.

“I’ve lived here eight years,” he remarked. “You won’t find a better cook than Mrs. Longsdon in all of London, I vow.”

“The food smells divine.”

Chasity’s stomach rumbled loudly. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. She’d fallen asleep after her cry, and if the promised tea tray and hot water had been sent up, Chasity hadn’t been aware.

Offering Aston an apologetic smile, she picked up a piece of toast. She took a bite and nearly sighed in delight.

Had anything ever tasted so delicious?

She finished the toast in four large, unladylike bites, and without a jot of remorse, helped herself to another thick slice. Smeared in strawberry preserves, the toast was heavenly.

Aston rose and, in a few long strides, reached the door and closed it.

Intent on filling her hollow stomach, Chasity eyed him but continued to eat.

He returned, but instead of taking the seat he’d just vacated, he sat down beside her on the settee.

Chasity’s heart fluttered like a caged sparrow’s wings when he took her hand. She stared at their hands, his dark and lightly sprinkled with hair, and hers so much fairer and smaller.

“Chasity, please forgive me for not being there as I had promised you yesterday morning. I regret you had to endure that awful inquisition without me by your side.”

She shook her head. “But—”

“Please, darling. Let me finish.” Aston ran his thumb over her knuckles and gave her one of his devastating smiles.

Her hunger for food vanished, and another kind of hunger, foreign and giddy, ignited in her middle.

“My uncle died. That’s what the note was about that I received at the Trentholms’.”

He pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a heartbeat. Chasity had never known anyone who had died, but she could imagine the anguish.

“He passed in the early morning, and I had to scour London for hours to find my cousin.”