Page 9 of By the Sword
Kate straightened and looked him in the eye. ‘I have told your sister that I hold no candle for either party, Sir Jonathan. Indeed it would be an abuse of your family’s hospitality were I to go running to the authorities. Yes, I can be trusted.’
He rewarded her with an easy smile that lit his face. His gaze scanned her face and swept down her body. She self-consciously dusted her hands on her skirts and tried to restore her wayward hair to some order.
‘I’m afraid you have caught me at a disadvantage,’ she said. ‘I’m not normally so dishevelled.’
He looked down at his dusty clothes. ‘And neither am I. Having been nearly thrown from my horse, I am somewhat discomposed myself.’
‘What did Tom really do?’
He hesitated. ‘He has my word as a gentleman but rest easy, Mistress Ashley, it was not done deliberately and I think Tom got as much of a fright as my poor horse.’
Kate shook her head. ‘It must be the slingshot. That child has a penchant for trouble.’
‘Then he must be a true Thornton,’ Jonathan said. ‘We seem to attract trouble.’
‘Really?’
‘Well perhaps not all of us,’ Jonathan conceded. ‘My brother, Ned, was a paragon of virtue. You have only one child?’
Kate nodded. ‘I was left a widow after Marston Moor and have not remarried.’
Jonathan Thornton visibly stiffened at the name of that terrible battle. ‘Richard died at Marston Moor? I had heard he was dead but not how or when. I’m sorry.’
‘Jonathan.’ The sound of Nell calling her brother’s name from the door to the house caused him to pause and he glanced at the house. Nell waved.
‘Nell will be anxious for news of Giles, and my grandfather will want to see me,’ he said. ‘Please excuse me, Mistress Ashley.’
‘Are you staying long?’
‘Just tonight.’
Kate smiled. ‘Then I shall see you at supper.’
He gave her a low courtly bow. ‘Until supper, cousin…’
‘Kate,’ she said.
He inclined his head and gave her the benefit of another half smile. ‘Kate.’
She leaned against the reassuring trunk of the oak tree and watched him stride across the lawn toward the house, flickinghis leg with the hat. He moved with a casual grace and an air of authority that she had not encountered in anyone before.
Supper, she thought, would be a meal worth looking forward to.
***
As Jonathan reached the terrace, Nell, abandoning all pretence of manners, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on both cheeks.
‘Jonathan, darling Jonathan. It’s so wonderful to see you. What did Giles say? How is he? Are you carrying a letter from him?’
Jonathan disengaged himself from his sister’s embrace and kissed the top of her head. ‘Giles is well and I have letters and packets for you and the little lass.’
Nell looped her arm into her brother’s as they walked back towards the house. ‘We only received your note this morning. You can imagine what a shock it was, particularly with visitors in the house. What are you doing here?’
‘Grandfather sent for me,’ Jonathan replied. ‘I’m not sure why. Do you?’
Nell shook her head. ‘He doesn’t confide in me. You know that. He has always thought me a scatterbrained addle-pate.’
‘Nonsense. I am sure he thinks it is better for your safety that you don’t know when I am likely to be around,’ Jonathan pointed out.
