To Catch a Husband…(21)

'Do you not?'

The blush on Kitty's cheeks deepened and she could only pray that the  others were too intent upon their breakfast to notice her discomfiture.  She shot Daniel an angry look.

'No,' she said in a tight voice. 'Nothing worthy of comment at all.'

With a smile, Daniel returned his attention to his breakfast. Was it  cruel of him to tease her? Perhaps, but she looked so delightful when  she was flustered. The touch of her leg against his had not been  deliberate, she was far too respectable for that, but it had taken all  his will-power not to react. That brief contact had sent a warm thrill  rushing through him, reminding him again of the excitement he had felt  when he kissed her. But he must be careful. He picked up his cup. There  would be the devil to pay if last night's little encounter should be  discovered. Doubtless he would be expected to marry the chit.                       
       
           



       

It was a sudden shock to realise that the idea rather appealed to him.

'Mr Blackwood, you have spilled your coffee!'

Lady Leaconham's voice recalled his wandering thoughts.

'I beg your pardon.' He looked down. The coffee had slopped on to his  empty plate. 'That was very careless of me.' He shot a quick, apologetic  glance at Kitty. 'Thankfully there is no harm done. This time.'

She met his eyes fleetingly.

'You must be careful to make sure it doesn't happen again.'

Her tone was cool but he was certain she was not talking about the  spilling of his drink but of that blazing, explosive kiss they had  shared last night. They had agreed the matter was best forgotten but  after a night's reflection Daniel found he did not want to forget it.  Kitty's reaction when he had kissed her convinced him that she was not  indifferent to him, but could he be wrong? Was it possible that she had  put the matter from her mind? He did not think so. He wanted to talk to  her but she gave him no opportunity to do so, staying close to her  godmother for the remainder of the morning and ignoring him when he  tried to hand her into the carriage, turning instead to Leaconham to  perform that duty. After that he could only ride beside the carriage,  knowing Kitty was only feet away from him.



'I trust Lord Harworth will not be too put out with you for your absence  last night, sir,' said Lady Leaconham when they arrived at Portman  Square and she took her leave of him. Kitty, he noticed, said nothing,  merely standing on the doorstep with her eyes downcast.

'I sent a messenger to him yesterday evening, to explain the situation.'

'Ah, of course. And I hope you will escort my son to his rooms-'

'Dash it all, Mama, I ain't in need of a nursemaid!' cried Garston,  poking his head out of the carriage window. 'I am perfectly capable of  getting myself home. Drive on, Dawkins!'

He dragged his hat from his fair head and waved it towards the coachman. Daniel nodded to Lady Leaconham.

'You need not worry, ma'am. I'll see him home safely.'

Then with a nod of his head he turned his horse and rode off. There  would be no tête-à-tête with Miss Kitty Wythenshawe today. Perhaps that  was for the best, he thought as he rode out of Portman Square, for the  very unsettling idea was taking hold of him that where Miss Wythenshawe  was concerned, he was standing on the edge of a precipice.

'Well, there is no doubt about it,' declared Lady Leaconham, leading the  way into the house, 'Mr Blackwood is much more gentlemanly than I had  at first thought. To be sure, he does not smile a great deal or go out  of his way to make himself agreeable, but his stopping at the inn to  look after Garston, and escorting us home was uncommon kind!' Her brows  drew together. 'Do you think he has formed a tendre for you, my love?'

'F-for me?' said Kitty, forcing a laugh. 'What an absurd idea! He never speaks to me but to pick a quarrel!'

'Well, I am relieved to hear it,' said her godmother. 'Pleasant Mr  Blackwood may be, but he is nothing compared to Lord Harworth. He is in  trade and thus not to be considered at this stage. I think we had best  concentrate on securing Bertram's interest in you. Ah, Meakin, there you  are.' She turned to address her maid who was hurrying down the stairs  and she continued in a much weaker voice, 'I need you to help me to my  room. What with the anxiety over my son, and being obliged to remain  overnight in a common coaching inn, my poor nerves are in shreds … '

She tottered to the stairs and into the arms of her waiting dresser.  Realising that her assistance was not required, Kitty made her way to  the servants' hall. She was far too tense to lie down in her room so she  decided that she would take Titan for a walk and enjoy a little  solitude in which to examine her own reaction to the previous evening.

The memory of Daniel's kiss kept jumping into her mind, bringing back  that weakness in the knees and the feeling of her bones turning to  water. She had no experience of being kissed before, and the thought  that these sensations occurred every time a young lady allowed herself  to be embraced by a gentleman alarmed her. No wonder anxious parents  warned their daughters never to be alone with a man. It was also very  daunting to think that not only had she allowed Daniel to kiss her, but  she had responded in a most unladylike way. Indeed, she could not deny  that she had enjoyed the sensation of being in his arms.

For the rest of the day guilt and shame raged within Kitty. She dare not  tell anyone of her transgression, but she was determined that nothing  like it should ever happen again. She would make sure in future that she  was always suitably chaperoned. She would avoid the company of all men  and especially, especially Daniel Blackwood!                       
       
           



       



Lady Leaconham was laid low with her nerves for a few days following the  picnic and Kitty was glad of the excuse to remain indoors, even  declining an invitation to drive out with Ann Harworth. However, the  following week brought no hint that the events at the Rising Sun were  known by more than those closely involved and Kitty was encouraged to  hope that no one other than she and Daniel knew of their taking supper  together.

She had not seen Daniel since that night and was nervous of meeting him  again, so when Lady Leaconham informed her that her sister had invited  them to the opera she was reluctant to accept.

'But, my dear, we must go!' cried Lady Leaconham. 'It is so near the end  of the Season this may well be our last opportunity to visit the  theatre. And Lord Harworth has hired a box for us all.'

'But I thought you were not a lover of opera, Godmama,' said Kitty, clutching at one last straw.

'Well, in general I am not, but this is a new working of Dido, and the  review in the Herald says that there is to be a procession with an  ostrich and an elephant! There, that will be something to see, will it  not, my love?'

'Yes, it will indeed. Do you know who is to be in Lady Harworth's party, ma'am?' Kitty asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

'Well, Ann will be there, naturally.' Lady Leaconham gave a little  chuckle. 'I have no doubt the two of you will have your heads together  as soon as you meet.'

'And … and will any gentlemen be present?'

Kitty flushed as Lady Leaconham reacted to her question with a knowing smile.

'My sister does not say but I have no doubt that Lord Harworth will be  escorting us. So we must make sure you are looking your best!'

Kitty did not reply. To ask more questions might make her godmother  suspicious. She could only hope that Daniel Blackwood was not musical,  and would stay away.



Alas for her hopes, when they arrived at the King's Theatre, Kitty  immediately spotted Daniel amongst the crowd. Catching her eye, he  smiled at her but she immediately looked away, pretending she had not  seen him. Lord Harworth was in good spirits and genially escorted them  to the box, where he insisted upon directing his guests to their seats.  His sister, however, immediately objected.

'I will not allow you to monopolise Kitty,' she cried. 'We shall sit  together, at the front of the box where we may see everything.'

'And where you may be seen by all your beaux,' replied her brother, in  high good humour. 'Very well, if that is what you want! Mama, you and my  aunt should sit here, where you will have an excellent view of the  stage. Blackwood and I will sit behind you. We can stand if we wish to  see more.'

With everything arranged, the ladies made themselves comfortable. Kitty  knew Daniel was watching her but she avoided his gaze as she disposed  her skirts carefully around her. Unfortunately her nervousness made her  drop her fan and it was Daniel who immediately stooped to retrieve it.  As he leaned over to return it he said quietly, 'I think you are  avoiding me, Miss Wythenshawe.'

She tried to look at him to make her denial, but her eyes stopped at his  mouth. She could not help admiring the beautiful, curving lines of his  lips, remembering the feel of them pressed against her own. She found  herself growing hot at the memory. A sudden fanfare heralded the start  of the performance and gave her the excuse to turn her attention to the  stage, but she was all too aware of Daniel's warm breath on her cheek as  he murmured, 'I hope you will oblige me by taking a stroll with me in  the interval.'