Claire had always kept her distance from Simon Kelkirk because there was something about him that unsettled her. He wasn’t like other men; he didn’t observe the correct distance when conversing or dancing with a woman, nor did he guard his tongue. In fact, he was the opposite of everything she strove to be, and she had never known how to handle him. He was the darling of the ton, perhaps because of his uniqueness and perhaps because everything he did was usually accompanied by a smile. Even the hardened old tabbies loved him.
Their relationship had started with her provoking him and had never really changed. He was to her like the stable master’s son had been growing up. He had thrown things at her, pushed her over and generally tormented her, and because she had thought him the most handsome boy she had ever seen, she had done the same back. Of course, she didn’t think Lord Kelkirk the most handsome man she’d ever seen; he just produced the same reactions in her.
“I hardly think that is something that should be discussed on a morning call, Lord Kelkirk.”
He studied her so thoroughly that Claire held her breath again, and then he bent down and spoke to the baby. “Aunty Claire will be gentle with you, Georgie. It’s just men she doesn’t like.”
“I…I do so like men!” Claire spluttered, clamping a hand over the baby’s ears.
She was subjected to another steady look. “So it’s just me you don’t like, then. I had wondered.”
Claire had worked hard over the years at not losing her composure. She rarely blushed. The few times she had, she’d been in this man’s company. She hated the heat that stole into her cheeks at his words now. It suggested he could unsettle her, which obviously, he did. “Perhaps if you were not hellbent on provoking me, we would not constantly be at each other’s throats,” she snapped, ignoring the heat in her cheeks. “And my name is Miss Belmont.”
He gave her a wide smile that showed off his white teeth and made him look far too handsome. Horrid beast. He knew what his smile did to a woman–not her, of course, but the more foolish of her sex. “Is that your way of telling me that if I was nicer, you would like me, Claire?”
“I neither like nor dislike you, Lord Kelkirk. We are acquaintances.”
Suddenly he looked serious. His eyes lost their friendly sparkle, a sight she had rarely seen. “I had hoped we were friends, Claire. Friends who are there for each other, should we be required.”
She suddenly felt warm all over, as if him saying he was there for her had lit a torch inside her and was heating all those places that had never been warm before. “Don’t…please.” Claire stumbled over the words as she looked down at Georgia nestled against her.
“Don’t what, Claire? Tell your brother I saw you in a distressed state yesterday and you will not tell me why? I’m concerned for you–can’t you understand that?”
She shouldn’t feel a rush of joy just because he was worried about her, she told herself. The baby must have felt the tension between them, as she started to fuss. Lifting her over her shoulder, Claire rubbed Georgia’s back. How did she answer him? “There is nothing wrong with me, Lord Kelkirk, and the reasons I was there are mine alone. Now if you will excuse me, I have neglected Eva for too long.”
She hurried to sit next to the duchess, who did not notice her agitation, having eyes only for the child she instantly took onto her lap. Ignoring Simon as he moved to take the seat beside her, Claire started to chat about the previous night’s engagement until tea arrived.
“How do you take your tea, Lord Kelkirk?” Claire said, looking down at the pot in her hands.
“Milk and sugar, Claire.” He said her name slowly, drawing out the single syllable to make it sound as though it had four. “And I will take one of those biscuits. Perhaps two,” he added.
Claire placed the cup and plate on the small table to his right.
“You are, indeed, kindness itself, Miss Belmont.”
“And you are are bloody irritating,” she hissed before she could stop herself. His laughter followed her back to her seat.
“Daniel has been called to Stratton, Claire, and I have decided to accompany him. We are to leave in three days.”
“How long will you be gone?” Claire said, looking at her friend. She would miss her dearly, and her daughter, too.
“Only a week or two but I had wondered if you would like to accompany us? Daniel thinks the rest will do you good.”
Claire replaced her cup on its saucer slowly. “Why does he think I need a rest?”
“He said he caught you yawning several times behind your hand last night, and that you had smudges beneath your eyes, if one got close enough to notice.”