Page 39 of From Rakes to Riches

The kitten was a great nuisance, but after yesterday’s fiasco on the staircase, she’d just as soon keep Hestia out of Lord Hawke’s sight in case he flew into another temper and tossed her out the door.

NotjustHestia, but herself, as well.

No doubt it would grow tiresome, having to tiptoe about the castle and duck around corners like some sort of thief, but whatever scandal had chased Lord Hawke from London would be forgotten soon enough. Theton’s outrage would vanish the instant another scandal caught their attention, and he’d be on his way back to town before Mrs. Norris was obliged to replenish the brandy in the crystal decanter in his study.

Or nearly so. Brandy seemed to be one of the few things Lord Hawke did approve of.

The difficulty would come once he was gone, as Ryan and Etienne were sure to be devastated. Tears, anger and questions with no answers would follow, but she’d deal with that once it happened. At the moment, she’d have her hands full keeping away from Lord Hawke, as he was certain to dismiss her for good if there was another confrontation between them.

“Good morning, Miss Templeton,” Abby called as she entered the kitchen, but the cheerful smile fell from her lips when Helena collapsed at the table with a groan. “Oh, dear. You don’t look well at all. Are you ill?”

“No, just fatigued. Hestia isn’t the most decorous of bedmates, I’m afraid.”

“No, I don’t imagine she is. Can’t you put her out?”

“It’s best if she stays in my bedchamber while Lord Hawke’s here.” Helena accepted the cup of tea Abby offered her with a grateful smile. “He doesn’t like cats, not even kittens.”

Abby snorted. “That’s not the only thing he doesn’t like, from what I hear. He’s a bit hard to please, by all accounts.”

“He’s not overly fond of governesses, if that’s what you mean.” Or mistletoe. Or trees, morning sunshine, and drinking chocolate. At this point it would be easier to list the things Lord Hawkedidapprove of, rather than those that threw him into a temper.

“Bad luck, miss, that mishap on the stairs yesterday. I’ll carry the boys’ tray up this morning, if you like.”

“You’re a good soul, Abby, but there’s no need. The boys are on their way down already. We have our animal husbandry lesson in the stables this morning, and will take our chocolate in the kitchen afterwards.”

“Alright then, miss. But speaking of animals, what will you do about the rest of the kittens? They’re scattered all about the castle, you know, and one or the other of them is sure to cross Lord Hawke’s path sooner or later.”

“Yes, I thought of that.” Helena set her teacup down with a sigh. “I’m afraid there’s not much I can do but gather as many of them as I can find and put them in my bedchamber until Lord Hawke is gone.”

“What, all of them, miss? But you’ll not get another wink of sleep with those little imps scampering about!”

“Perhaps they’ll keep each other entertained, and leave me out of it.” But of course, that wouldn’t happen. It was pure self-delusion to imagine a half-dozen kittens could somehow prove to be less troublesome than one, but as far as Lord Hawke was aware, Hestia was the only cat on the premises, and it was best to keep it that way. “Have you heard anything from Lord Hawke yet this morning? He hasn’t ventured from his bedchamber yet, has he?”

“Oh no, miss. I doubt you’ll have to worry about him for some time. Fashionable sorts like Lord Hawke never rise before late in the afternoon, you know. I daresay we won’t see hide nor hair of him before teatime.”

“My goodness, Abby, you’re right! I didn’t even think of that.” That was good news! It reduced her chances of running into him quite significantly, didn’t it? It was just the reprieve she needed to lift her spirits. “Why, with a little luck, I’ll hardly have to see him at all.”

“One hopes not, miss.”

Indeed, now she thought of it, even when he was awake, he wasn’t likely to stir a step much beyond his bedchamber and study. It was all going to be just fine, and she was a perfect goose, worrying herself into a tizzy as she’d done. “I’d best be off. I daresay the boys are waiting for me. Thank you for the tea, Abby.”

She waved to her friend, then hurried up the stairs, a spring in her step, a smile rising to her lips when she saw Etienne andRyan already in the entryway. “Good morning, boys. My, you’re both prompt this morning. Are you ready for our lesson?”

“No.” Ryan shook his head, his gaze on the staircase. “Our papa isn’t here yet.”

“Your papa?” Oh, no. Did the boys think their father was going to rise this early in the morning and join them in their lessons? Where could they have gotten such an idea? Now she was going to have to explain that he wasn’t coming, and their tender little hearts were going to be broken.

She knelt down in front of them and put a hand on each thin shoulder. “I’m sorry, boys, but I don’t think your papa will be able?—”

“Good morning, Miss Templeton.”

The deep voice coming from behind her so startled her she nearly fell flat on her face, but she managed to stumble to her feet, and there, at the top of the stairs was Lord Hawke, peering down upon her like a king reviewing his lowly subjects.

Hewasn’tstill asleep. He wasn’t in bed at all, or even in his bedchamber as he should be, but at the top of the stairs, his brows lowered in the same fearsome scowl he’d worn when he’d found her at the bottom of the stairs yesterday morning, half-drowned in drinking chocolate.

It was becoming distressingly familiar, the scowl.

“My sons tell me we’re to have our morning lesson in the stables, Miss Templeton,” Lord Hawke said, making his way down the stairs.

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