To Catch a Husband…(19)

She lowered her eyes and fixed her attention upon her plate. Nerves had  diminished her appetite, but her companion's quiet good manners did much  to calm her. He wasted no time on small talk, but proved himself a  considerate host, serving her himself and encouraging her to partake a  little of each dish. She declined the roasted pigeon but managed to eat a  little of the lamb and a few French beans, and by the time she had  finished her glass of wine she was feeling much more relaxed and able to  enjoy a small portion of gooseberry syllabub. She even accepted a small  glass of Madeira wine.

'I hope you do not suspect me of trying to make you drunk?' said Daniel as he refilled her glass.

'No. I know you now for a gentleman.'

His brows went up, but at that moment the servant returned to clear the  table, and he said merely, 'Shall we move over to the window? The  armchair there will be more comfortable for you.'

Kitty hesitated. She was suddenly aware that she and Daniel were alone,  and the chair he indicated was well away from the candles' golden glow.

'I should perhaps retire.'

'Are you weary?'

'No.' The blood was singing through her veins. She felt more like dancing than sleeping. 'No, not at all.'

'Then sit with me for a while. After all, your godmother has accepted my  protection for you both. And you yourself said I was a gentleman.'

The glint of amusement in his eyes as he said this made Kitty laugh and  did much to ease the tension. She sank down into the cushioned armchair  and sipped at her wine. He carried a chair across from the table and  placed it opposite her.

'I am not at all high in the instep, you know,' she said as he sat down.

'You surprise me, Miss Wythenshawe.'

'No, really. Before, I would have mistaken your tone for condemnation  but now I know you are teasing me, are you not?' she looked up a trifle  anxiously. 'I think I have given you a false impression, and … and would  like to explain, if I may.' She wrapped her hands around her glass and  braced herself for a confession, thankful for the dim light. 'You see, I  am … not rich.'

She looked up, waiting for his reaction. He said mildly, 'I am not sure Harworth knows that.'

'Perhaps he is not aware of my exact circumstances.' She blushed.  'Godmama suggested we should not give out such information too freely. I  doubt if she would approve of my telling you so much.'

'You do not need to disclose anything further, Miss Wythenshawe-'

'But I want to!' she said quickly. 'I thought it might help you to  understand why, why I acted as I did. Why I was so rude to you when we  first met.'

'Very well. If you wish to talk, I will listen.'

She paused, gathering her thoughts.

'I was very excited by the thought of coming to London. The gown I was  wearing the day we met was a new one. It was my only walking dress. At  that time I did not know Lady Leaconham, that she would buy me another  gown and positively shower me with gifts and clothes. She is so very,  very generous. I was nervous, you see: so eager to make a good  impression when I arrived in London that I am afraid I quite forgot my  manners on the journey.' She looked up suddenly and said with spirit,  'You will admit, sir, that you were extremely dirty!'

'I cannot deny it. I had spent a night on the moors, in the rain.' He  spoke gravely, no hint of a smile, but she perceived the softening of  his look.

'I thought you very ill mannered, and I was afraid that … contact with you would make my gown dusty.'

His lips twitched.

'I did much more than that, and I am very sorry for it.'

She waved aside his apology.

'If I had not been so uncivil to you-! I was puffed up with conceit, as  if I had been a very fine lady, which I am not.' She settled into her  chair, determined on a full confession. 'If you will allow me to  explain: Mama is the widow of a gentleman, a very good man, but  unfortunately a series of ill-judged investments meant that when he died  suddenly, poor Mama was left with almost nothing and we were obliged to  live with my aunt in Fallridge.' She held up her head and added, a hint  of defiance in her voice, 'Mama and Aunt Jane earn a living with their  sewing.'

'Very commendable,' remarked Daniel.

'Yes, it is,' agreed Kitty. 'Mama used all her savings to ensure that I  had an excellent education and that I learned all the accomplishments a  young lady might require-dancing, singing, playing the pianoforte. I  speak French excellently and know a smattering of Italian-'                       
       
           



       

He put up his hand to stem this recital.

'I have not been in Town very long, Miss Wythenshawe, but I know that many young ladies get by with far fewer accomplishments.'

'Yes, but they have dowries,' replied Kitty drily. 'It is much easier to find a husband if one has a fortune.'

Daniel settled himself back in his chair.

'Is that why you came to London, Miss Wythenshawe, to find a husband?'

'Yes. Mama taught me how to make my curtsy to a duke or to an earl, to  hold my fan just so and how to address everyone, from a duchess to a  dairymaid.' She took another sip of her wine. The sweet nutty flavour of  the Madeira was very pleasant and she was beginning to feel a warm glow  spreading through her. 'Everything, you see, to make me fit to marry a  lord. It has been my dream since I was a very little girl.'

'I fear you are aiming at the moon, Miss Wythenshawe.'

She put up her chin.

'Perhaps, but I have been given this opportunity and I must make the most of it.'

'Of course.'

A little of her certainty drained away. She said pensively, 'I am Mama's  only hope, you see. I have to marry well, because I need my future  husband to make such settlements that Mama and Aunt Jane will be able to  live out the rest of their lives in comfort. Mama said it is very  important that I act like a lady, because she is very particular about  the sort of husband I should have.' She saw his brows twitch together  and added, 'I know, it sounds quite ridiculous, but you see, Lord  Harworth has been so kind to me that Lady Leaconham is encouraged to  think an alliance might be possible and she has written to Mama to say  so! And he is her nephew, so she cannot think me too unsuitable, can  she?'

'Is that why you went off into the woods with Harworth this afternoon?'

Kitty nodded.

'Godmama suggested I should be friendly, and it is not at all difficult,  for Lord Harworth is most agreeable. He was most kind, explaining all  about the park and the woods at Wormley, and the new planting he wants  to do there-' She broke off as Daniel gave a shout of laughter.

'Are you telling me that he took you along that secluded path and did  nothing but talk of landscaping the gardens? What a cod's head.'

'Why, yes, he-' She broke off, her eyes widening. 'Do you mean he should have flirted with me?'

'It's what any man would do with a pretty girl.'

'Oh … ' She blushed, momentarily diverted. 'Do-do you really think I'm pretty?'

His eyes rested on her for a moment, a look in them that she could not interpret.

'As a matter of fact, I do.'

'Oh,' she said again. 'Well, perhaps he did flirt with me, and I didn't  know it.' She got up and walked to the window, staring out into the  yard, which despite the late hour was still bustling with activity  beneath the light of a dozen flaming torches.

'What did he say to you?' he asked.

She frowned, trying to remember.

'I really cannot recall, we merely strolled along the path.'

'And did he walk very close to you?' asked Daniel.

Kitty did not need to turn her head to know that Daniel was standing  behind her; his body was only inches from her own. She could feel his  presence, it made her spine tingle. She kept her eyes fixed firmly on  the view from the window and forced herself to stand still.

'I held his arm,' she said carefully.

'But did he at any time stop and direct your attention to the view? Like this, perhaps.'

He rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. His touch was warm on her  skin and it took all her will-power not to drop her head to one side and  rub her cheek against his fingers. She was so tense she felt as brittle  as glass. At any moment she might shatter. She had to struggle to  answer him.

'No, he did not.'

'Then the man is most decidedly a fool,' murmured Daniel.

The vibration of his warm, deep voice was carried through his hands and  into her bones. Her insides became an aching void, the ache spreading  quickly into her thighs. Even her breasts felt taut. She knew she should  make some flippant comment, slip out from under his hands and put  distance between them, but she was no longer in control. She heard  herself saying, 'Oh, and why is that?'

'Because from here it is the work of a moment to turn you, like this, and then … '

Gently he pulled her round to face him. Kitty turned, like one in a  dream, and obedient to the pressure of his fingers beneath her chin she  raised her head and found herself gazing up into his face. She watched  the amused glint disappear from his dark eyes. They seemed to blaze,  burning into her. The aching void was instantly filled with white-hot  fire. Daniel swooped down, enveloping her. He crushed her against him,  imprisoning her lips beneath his own, his arms binding her close. She  was overwhelmed, confused, as if she was flying, drowning and burning  all at the same time. Her knees felt weak, she clung to his coat, and  all the while her senses were reeling under the onslaught of his kiss.  It was as savage and wild as the Yorkshire moors and it drew from her a  shuddering response. When Daniel loosened his hold and raised his head  she gave a little cry and threw her arms about his neck, pulling him  back to kiss her again.