'Oh, Daniel!'
The words were little more than a breath. She ran her fingers through his silky hair, trailing them across his cheek as he raised his head.
'This has gone far enough,' he said, his voice cracking with strain. 'I came here to your rescue, not to ruin you.'
'Perhaps I do not wish to be rescued,' she whispered, her hand cupping his cheek, trying to draw him back down to her.
With a sigh Daniel slid her off his lap. The jolt of hitting the hard wooden bench was sobering. The thrilling tingle was replaced by the sudden, stark realisation of her situation. She put her hands to her mouth.
'Oh, heavens, what have I done?'
Daniel was adjusting his coat but he paused at her anguished cry.
'Why, you have done nothing, my dear. Yet. That is why I must get you back to the house before it is too late.'
Tears burned Kitty's eyes. She felt chilled, unwanted. Undesirable.
'Come.' He held out his hand to her. 'We will slip back on to the path and no one will be any the wiser. Your reputation will be secure.'
Kitty tried to stand. She was surprised to find her legs still obeyed her will. She put up a hand to straighten the folds of her shawl but Daniel reached out and grasped her fingers.
'It looks very well,' he assured her. 'Come now, we must get back to the house.'
He led her through the trees and they stepped out on to the deserted path. He pulled her arm through his just as another couple came into view. Raising his voice, he said loudly, 'The grounds were designed by Switzer some sixty years ago for the third Baron Harworth, you know. A little formal for our modern tastes, but delightful nevertheless.'
Kitty replied in kind, conscious of the chattering couples around them. The air was suddenly very heavy and oppressive, weighing down on her spirits. She was relieved to hear a low rumble of thunder in the distance.
'A storm.' She looked up. 'I am glad it is not my imagination. I thought perhaps this oppression was some terrible presentiment of my disgrace.'
He glanced down at her.
'It is no such thing. I am returning you to the house with your reputation-and your dreams-intact.'
Not my dreams!
The words echoed through Kitty's head. She realised with a bitter clarity that her duty and her dreams were two vastly different things.
As they approached the terrace the laughter and chatter from the ballroom spilled out towards them. Everyone sounded so happy, so different from the tumult of regret, misery and despair that warred within Kitty. She stopped at the bottom step and Daniel turned to look at her, his brows raised in enquiry.
'Pray, Dan-Mr Blackwood, let us take our leave of each other here.'
'If you wish.'
She put out her hand.
'Then, goodbye, sir. I wish you a safe journey tomorrow, and … and thank you.' She added, determined to be truthful, 'I am only sorry our first meetings were so … stormy.'
He carried her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss upon her fingers.
'We made a wretched beginning, did we not? For my part in that I humbly apologise, Miss Wythenshawe.'
'I should like to have known you better,' she confessed.
He gave her a wry smile.
'Nay, ma'am, how should that be? When tha'art a fine lady and meself but a manufacturer!'
'Will you never forgive me for that slight?'
'It is no slight,' he told her. 'I am proud of what I am.'
And I am ashamed I ever thought ill of you!
She wanted to utter the words but a sudden flurry of laughter told her that another couple was upon them, pushing past to ascend the steps. The moment for confession was gone.
Daniel took her arm and led her up to the terrace. Lady Leaconham and her sister were standing by one of the open windows, fanning themselves vigorously.
'So there you are, Kitty!' cried Lady Harworth, reaching out for her. 'The dancing finished some time ago and your godmother has been looking for you.'
'I beg your pardon, I-'
'The blame is mine,' Daniel interrupted her smoothly. 'I persuaded Miss Wythenshawe to give me the pleasure of her company in the gardens.' He gave Lady Harworth the benefit of his rare, charming smile. 'We have been admiring the decorative lamps, ma'am.'
'They are very pretty, are they not?' replied his hostess, beaming. 'I have been very pleased with the effect and will use them again, I think. Not this Season, of course, for the house will soon be shut up for the summer.'
'They were a splendid idea, my lady, and one I will take back to the Holme,' said Daniel. 'I think my mother will like the idea of being able to use the garden on warm summer nights. And I have no doubt my sister will consider it a splendid notion!'
'Sisters, hah!' chuckled Lord Harworth, coming up at that moment. 'They are always troublesome at parties, ain't that so, ma'am?'
Lady Harworth looked a little put out but she managed a smile.
'Alas, young people can get a little out of hand,' she admitted. Lady Leaconham's politely enquiring look obliged her to continue. 'I had to send Bertram out to fetch Ann away from the swing, Letitia. That little group was becoming far too raucous.'
Lady Leaconham smiled and tucked her hand through Kitty's arm.
'I am pleased to think my dear Kitty was not of their number.'
'No, she preferred to stroll in the gardens with a handsome young man, ain't that so, Miss Wythenshawe?' said Lord Harworth, clearly in the best of spirits. 'And I have no doubt that Blackwood, the young dog, was trying to cut me out!'
'No such thing, my lord, I assure you,' returned Daniel.
With another fat chuckle his host gave him a playful punch in the ribs.
'Oh, don't stiffen up so, my boy, I am roasting you-I know I have nothing to fear from you! I am delighted that you showed Miss Wythenshawe the gardens. As host I am afraid I did not have as much time to spare for my own pleasures as I would have liked.' He beamed at Kitty for a few moments. 'So you see, Blackwood, I am grateful to you, truly I am!'
'Thank you, my lord.'
Kitty watched as Daniel gave a stiff little bow to include them all and walked away. She felt very low. A cold chill had settled around her heart, like the mist that sometimes clung to the moors, blotting out the sun for days on end. He was leaving. They would not meet again and she must smile and say all that was proper as she followed her godmother through the crowded rooms to take their leave. They had reached the hall and were waiting for their wraps to be fetched before Lady Leaconham turned to give Kitty a long look.
'My child, I did not like to say anything before my sister, for I would not draw it to her attention, but what are you doing with your shawl crossed over your bosom in that fashion? It makes you look like a matron rather than a young lady in her first Season.'
Kitty had been expecting the question and had had time to work on her explanation, but she could not prevent the colour stealing into her cheeks.
'I spilled red wine on my bodice, Godmama. It looked very unsightly.'
'Oh, I see. Well, we must see if Meakin can wash it out when we get home-' She broke off as the footmen arrived with their cloaks and Kitty hoped she would say no more about it, but when they were shut up in the carriage and making the short journey back to Portman Square Lady Leaconham said suddenly, 'Just when did you spill the wine, my love? I hope you were not … carousing with Mr Blackwood.'
'No, ma'am. It was Mr Ashley.' Kitty was not sorry she could put some of the blame for the spoiled gown in its rightful place. 'He offered to fetch me some refreshment and I had asked for lemonade … '
Lady Leaconham gave a little huff of displeasure.
'My sister has only herself to blame if Ann and her friends grow a little wild at these parties,' she said severely. 'It is always a mistake to allow young people too much freedom. And the idea of encouraging guests to walk in the gardens! I cannot pretend that I am very happy about you going off with Mr Blackwood, but there were so many people strolling out of doors I am sure there was no harm in it.'
'No, Godmama. And you need not worry about Mr Blackwood. He is leaving for the north in the morning.'
'Yes, so I understand, and a very good thing, too. I know I am very much obliged to him for his services to us at Barnet, but I would not have him set himself up as a rival to Lord Harworth for your affections. I admit I was encouraged by the number of compliments I received upon your behalf this evening, my love, and several gentleman commented most favourably about you, but I have hinted them away, for the present. I will not say anything too final, of course, until we are sure of Harworth, but I am satisfied he is very interested in you.'
'Thank you, Godmama.'
'So you must be careful to keep gentlemen like Mr Blackwood at a distance in future, my love.'
'Since Mr Blackwood will be hundreds of miles away I think that is distance enough, Godmama, do not you?' replied Kitty, trying to make light of a fact that weighed on her spirits.