Page 112 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
The other woman sat down on the bed, her delicate hand covering Kit’s. “If Uncle William married your mother before your birth, and there has been no divorce, then this changes quite a few things.”
Listlessly, Kit nodded. “It does.”
Ellie patted her hand. “Not least of which is that a future countess is a more than suitable match for a duke.”
Sighing, Kit pulled her hand away and muttered, “That’s part of the problem.”
Her cousin hummed. “Do youwantto marry him?”
Kit finally raised her gaze to meet her cousin’s. “I love the idiot. I’m mad enough to spit right now, but I still love him.”
A long moment passed while Ellie studied her, then the other woman nodded and reached an arm around Kit’s shoulders. As she squeezed, she whispered, “Then that is what matters most. I know he loves you, the man will not stop going on about it, and as long as you each hold that knowledge in your hearts, you will be able to overcome this together. I am sure of it.”
Kit gratefully accepted the embrace, laying her head on her cousin’s shoulder…but she wasn’t so certain she could believe Ellie’s words.
She loved Thorne, yes, but did Thorne know that, since he’d been half-asleep when she’d confessed? And did shewanthim to know, after what he’d done?
Her chest and her mind were just a jumble of emotions and thoughts, and she couldn’t focus onanyof them, because the hour was drawing nearer for her confrontation with Father.
She needed all her wits to stay one step ahead of him, to not admit any ignorance to him. Let him think, until the last minute, thatshewas responsible for the announcement in the paper. Keep his attention—and his ire—directed at her.
How to keep his attention? How to keepeveryone’sattention?
You’ll have to shine. You’ll have to be like Mother. Demand all their gazes and hold them. Not just their ears and their hearts, but their minds and their eyes as well. You need all eyes on you tonight, so Thorne’s friends can set their trap.
And Kit had an idea how to do that.
Granted, she was feeling just peeved enough to influence her decision.
So when Ellie asked, “Do you need any help getting ready?” Kit shook her head.
“No, thank you. I think…” She took a deep breath and carefully placed her violin back in its case. “I think I can do this myself.”
She would. To keep everyone else safe.
So that evening, when she descended the back stairs to see Bull waiting for her, she was feeling determined. It helped that the lad brightened, his gaze skipping appreciatively over her suit.
“Well, I’ll confess I was hoping to see the orange silk again,” he quipped as he tossed the gold coin into the air and caught it one last time before making it disappear and offering her a bow. “But ye look positively smashing in a penguin suit, my friend. And such a delicately embroidered waistcoat!”
Kit pretended surprise. “Oh, you noticed it?” She made a show of glancing down at the waistcoat Bull had made her. “I picked it up second-hand somewhere, it was going unwanted.”
Her friend reared back, scoffing in outrage. “Second-hand?Unwanted! That washand-stitchedfor ye, Kit, by the darling of Society’s fashion scene!”
“I know.” She smacked him on the shoulder with a smile. “Thorne’s tailor would be jealous.”
Bull was smirking as he eyed her trousers. “Does Thorne ken ye’re planning on showing up to his musicale dressed like him?”
She took a deep breath and hefted the violin case. “As far as I’m concerned, this ismymusicale, and I’m angry at him for keeping a hell of a secret from me.” Bull looked curious, so she pushed on before she’d have to admit she was furious at finding out shewasn’ta bastard, and to someone who may well not understand. “I suspect, looking like this, all eyes will be on me tonight, and you’ll be able to set the trap easier.”
The lad was grinning as he shrugged. “I’m just glad to be along for the fireworks.” He offered his arm, as if she were in a gown. “Thorne sent me to escort ye to the music room. I believe he’s ready to start when ye arrive.”
“Oh, joy,” she muttered.
But shedidslip her arm through Bull’s, glad of the support. Glad for hisfriendship.
She’d come to London to learn about her father. And yes, she’d learnedplentyabout him, but she’d also gained more than she’d thought possible.
After years of her family being just Mother, and her friends being the theater people who would come and go, Kit had fallen in love. Not just with Thorne, but with the people surrounding him. She loved Bull’s cocky irreverence and wit, she loved Titsworth’s quiet dignity. She had cousins now, people who cared about her.
