Page 26 of Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord's Heart 1)

“Can I see?” She opened the basket, and they peered together at the small creature. Looking envious, Geoffrey reached in to stroke it. “When the stable cat had kittens, I wanted one, but Cook hates cats.”

“She does?” asked Miss Saunders uneasily.

“She said they’re sneak thieves, and that I wouldn’t take care of it. But Iwouldhave.” He pouted at Benjamin. “How comeshecan have a kitten, and I—”

“Why worry about kittens,” Benjamin interrupted, “when you have a pony?”

Geoffrey froze. He stared up at his father as if afraid to move. “A pony?” he whispered.

“Bradford has taken it—them—around to the stables. We will—”

But Geoffrey was gone, with only the pounding echo of small feet to show he’d ever been in the front hall.

In the past hour he’d granted two people their wishes, Benjamin thought. Rather minor wishes, he’d have said. Particularly the kitten. And yet the effects had been rather stunning.

“I didn’t know Tab would upset your cook,” said Miss Saunders, closing the basket.

“Tab?”

She flushed. “I thought I’d name him Tab. He’s a tabby.”

His accidental houseguest was adorable when she was embarrassed. “Ah. I’m sure the cook will manage.”

“I can keep him in my room, out of her way. I’ll set up a sand box for him and feed him there. He’s really not old enough to wander about anyway. Unless…you don’t think he’ll feelimprisoned?”

Her voice vibrated with emotion far beyond what the situation warranted, Benjamin thought. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to have a home.” It seemed the wrong thing to say, because she winced.

“He can stay when I go,” she replied. “You said so. Geoffrey will take care of him. Obviously, he’ll be glad to.”

She hurried up the stairs with the basket before Benjamin could respond to this series of emphatic remarks, which had left him quite bewildered.

Six

Jean established Tab in her room without difficulties. She was adept at making friends with the staff in houses where she stayed, and those in Furness Hall supplied the kitten’s needs without much complaint. Cook grumbled quietly when asked for a dish of chopped meat, but relented when assured Tab would live in Jean’s room. For his part, Tab seemed content. After a thorough exploration of all the chamber’s corners and his meal, he curled up in the window seat and went to sleep.

Watching the rise and fall of his tiny rib cage, Jean wondered if she might take him along when she left here. A cat wasn’t much trouble. Many people liked them. And many didn’t, she had to admit. The latter tended to have very strong opinions. She shook her head. No, a polite visitor didn’t arrive with a pet. She came prepared to socialize and entertain. Even when she didn’t feel like either.

Jean turned at a brisk knock on her door, glad for the interruption. She’d come very close to moping. Which was unacceptable. She hadn’t even changed out of her borrowed riding habit.

Lord Macklin stood in the corridor outside. “I was just going down,” he said. “I thought you’d want to see Geoffrey’s first riding lesson.”

“I do indeed.” Jean came out, making certain the latch caught to keep Tab safe. She walked downstairs at the older man’s side.

“I had a surprising encounter this morning,” he said.

“I hope it didn’t involve Geoffrey and his hatchet.”

Lord Macklin smiled. “The tomahawk is securely locked away, I understand. No, I went walking, and I met an old friend in the village. The last person I would have expected to see in the country. I’d have said that she is an absolute fixture in London.”

“Did you lure her here with tales of some wrong that must be righted?”

The older man looked down at her. He and Lord Furness shared fathomless blue-gray eyes, Jean observed, and a disarming smile. “We may have spoken of the beauties of this part of Somerset. No more. Are you twitting me, Miss Saunders?”

He was years older and greatly respected, but Jean couldn’t quite let it go. “Youarebehind my presence here. Those conversations we had at the Phillipsons’… You steered them.”

“No.” The word was emphatic. “They evolved. Things you said, or almost said, turned my thoughts in a particular direction. I merely…continued along the path they laid out for me.”

Jean didn’t like the idea that she’d revealed things she was unaware of. What had he seen in her, or thought he’d seen?

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