Blackmoore(68)

Shame coursed through me. “Perfectly,” I whispered.

“Now.” She drew her shoulders back and smoothed her hair. “See if you can rein in that woman before she ruins everything. If not, the three of you will be leaving at first light tomorrow.”

She stalked out of the room. I sagged against the nearest wall and dropped my head in my hands. It would do no good to cry, especially now when I still had work to do. As soon as I reached the drawing room, 206



I was grabbed by the arm and pulled to one side. It was Sylvia, and she looked fearsome.

“This is a disaster, Kitty!” she whispered. “My mother is ready to strangle your mother. She’s been flirting with every man here, and my Mr. Brandon just told me his plans have changed and that they might very well leave tomorrow! You have to do something before things get completely out of control!”

“I know. I’m going to fix this. I promise.” I tried to smile. I tried to look confident, so she would believe me. But in truth, I had no idea how to fix my mother.

Mama had made the same mistake I had made and was talking to the abominably rude Mr. Pritchard, who was looking at her with unfiltered contempt. My cheeks were hot with embarrassment as I approached them.

“Mama,” I said in a quiet voice. “Maria is not feeling well. I think you should check on her. Come. I will take you to her right now.”

She laughed. “Nonsense. Maria is in perfect health.”

I glared at her, feeling Mr. Pritchard’s gaze on me. “In truth, Mama, she is most unwell.”

Mama leaned close to me and said in a loud whisper, “Stop trying to ruin my fun, Kitty!”

“Mrs. Worthington.” I started at the sound of Henry’s voice behind me, and whirled around to see him walking toward us, a wide smile on his face.

“Henry!” Mama turned from Mr. Pritchard and held out her hand for Henry to take. He bowed his head and pressed a kiss to her hand. She giggled. “Oh my! You are ever so gallant!”

Henry took her hand and pulled it through the bend of his arm, holding it there with his other hand. “I heard you were here and came immediately to beg the honor of taking you on a tour of Blackmoore.”

“My own personal tour! How you dote on me.” She squeezed his arm.

His smile stayed perfectly in place. His glance moved to me. “Kate?

Would you care to join us?”

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J u l i a n n e D o n a l D s o n “Oh, no!” Mama answered before I had a chance to speak. “She must take care of Maria, who became very ill in the carriage ride here. In fact, I am surprised she has left her alone for this long. What are you thinking, Kitty? Abandoning your sick sister like this? Hurry away now, or else you will have everyone thinking you are completely unfeeling.”

I wanted to scream at her.

Henry touched my shoulder. “You should go, Kate,” he murmured, and I realized he was trying to save me from myself.

I nodded, turned, and walked silently through the door and up the stairs to the west wing. I sank against the wall of the corridor, outside my bedroom, and couldn’t find the strength to enter it.

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Chapter 30


one anD a halF years BeFore

“I was hoping I would find you here.” Henry emerged from the woods and

crossed the clearing to where I sat in the shade of a tree with my sketchbook.

I looked up with a smile as he sat on the grass next to me, sprawling out with a sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“My aunt Agnes has arrived.” Cora immediately rose from her feline

lounging position on the grass and slunk over to Henry, rubbing her head against his chest until he scratched her behind her ears.

Henry’s aunt Agnes was his father’s oldest sister. Since Mr. Delafield’s death, she had made it a point to visit every year and in general make life at Delafield Manor completely unbearable for everyone there with her nosiness and her prying and her rearrangement of things.

I smiled, thinking it wasn’t such a bad thing for the Delafields to be miserable once a year. Henry had life entirely too easy, what with inheriting his grandfather’s estate and being so handsome and smart and likable as well.

“I am glad she’s here,” I said. “Somebody needs to keep you humble.”

He smirked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Humility is my

finest quality, Kate.”

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J u l i a n n e D o n a l D s o n

I rolled my eyes, then watched with disgust as Cora stretched and purred and nuzzled his hand with her nose. “She acts more like a dog than a proper cat whenever you come around.”

Henry chuckled. “You sound jealous.”

“Of you?” I scoffed. “I understand, as you obviously do not, that nobody can really own a cat, and that cats give their affections without logic. I simply don’t understand why she behaves that way with you.”

His smile flashed, a glint of mischief in his grey eyes. “I meant that you are jealous of the cat.”

I lifted both eyebrows. “Of the cat?”

He nodded, his smile ripe with mischief, as Cora rubbed herself against

his chest.

“Don’t be absurd. I have never felt the least desire for you to scratch me behind my ears.”