Page 87 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
Since his stepfather scowled darkly at him, Kit wasn’t certain the truth of the matter. But Thorne stepped up to her side and placed a hand at the small of her back. When she glanced at him, he nodded toward one of the clusters of chairs set around the room.
“Now that we’ve established ye no’ only have the right, but thedutyto be in on this conversation, let’s tell them the plan, eh?”It took little time for them to settle in. Griffin stood behind his stepson’s chair, and Demon remained standing so he could bounce wee Rosie, but Fawkes and Ellie settled beside one another, hands clasped tightly in the folds of her dress.
Swallowing, suddenly uncertain, Kit sank gingerly to the settee, beside Georgia. Her cousin. It was impossible to know how to act, suddenly. She was wearing trousers and a waistcoat, yes, but that wasn’t who she was.
Not really.
Suddenly quite desperate to prove to these people—and toherself—that shecouldfit in among their company, Kit straightened her back, tucked her ankles together, and folded her hands in her lap. As if she were wearing a day gown, taking tea in a friend’s home.
It didn’t feel…wrong. Not exactly.
Maybe shecouldbelong here.
With Thorne?
These people have accepted you as who you are. Perhaps, even if the story got around about how you met Thorne, it wouldn’t really matter?
There was still the fact she was a bastard.
Society wouldn’t overlookallof that.
Thorne remained standing as well, and he paced as he spoke, talking with his hands in a way which made Kit smile. He summarized the investigation thus far, starting with Sophia stealing the documents and ending with Ellie’s translation of the code.
As Titsworth creaked in with the tea cart, Thorne told the others about their plan to gain information only Blackrose and his brother would know, and Bull’s scheme to sneak into Father’s home.
Everyone was enthralled by the story—Kit suspected mainly at the thought of Bull in a ball gown—and she doubted they noticed when Titsworth stopped in front of Kit. The older man tilted his chin toward the tea service…and winked.
He was inviting her to pour and serve the tea.
As if she were the lady of the house.
A duchess.
In fooking trousers!
Kit suddenly wished she’d paid more attention to her clothing choices today.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the teapot and began the ceremony her governesses had drilled into her from a young age.
“So ye got information we can use to bait him?” Griffin leaned forward eagerly. “In his safe?”
Thorne was nodding. “Remember the Greede-Ahl Silver Mine?”
“Blackrose gave hispoisonera stock certificate as part of hisretirement.” Judging from the scowl Demon sent Fawkes, the scarred man hadn’t forgiven Fawkes for his part in her father’s schemes.
And judging from Fawkes nonchalant nod and the way he crossed one leg over the other knee, he wasn’t bothered by his brother-in-law’s vitriol. “Aye, I’ve held onto it, but didnae cash it.”
“Good.” Thorne pointed at his cousin. “If ye had, authorities would’ve likely investigated the mine and discovered it was merely a front for laundering money.”
Ellie gasped, clutching her husband’s hand tighter. “You would have been blamed, as a shareholder!”
Griffin nodded. “Aye, likely another layer to the bastard’s plan, to layer blame on those around him.” He caught a glimpse of Kit and flushed darkly. “Nae offense, Miss Pastorino.”
“None taken,” she said mildly, passing the man a cup of tea. “And call me Kit. I have no love for my father, and plan to be there at the end to ensure his downfall. You know the plan is to set a trap for him?”
“I want to ken more about the Crown’s involvement,” growled Demon, turning down the offered tea.
Thorne winced slightly. “The person who contacted me on behalf of Her Majesty is…a friend. Whose name I cannae reveal, no’ until I’m given permission.”
