Courting Kit

by Claudy Conn

  Her eyes narrowed with her thoughts. She knew she was being contrary. She wanted all those things, but she did not like being forced into it. There was the crux of the matter.

  And … change was a frightening undertaking.

  She made her way to the stables, tacked up her own horse, hoisted herself into the saddle, and trotted him to the line fence that separated their property from the wide stretch of forest. They took the fence lightly and easily, and she made her way to the country road.

  Kitty had quite made up her mind that while she would, of course, respect her guardian’s dying wish, she would not be ordered about by a stranger.

  She thought about the kind of life she would have in London.

  How would she fit in? She was a country girl with country manners. She was used to eating her dinner at five o’clock and getting out of bed at dawn. Also, she would have to ride sidesaddle, and while she was proficient in the style, she much preferred britches and riding astride.

  Ah me, she thought.

  And … what of Harry and her dear Henrietta? She would miss them so terribly. They had always served each in their own way as a compass for her, and she would so need one in the open, dangerous sea that was London.

  A large tear formed and spilled over, but then she heard a voice at her back and turned to see Harry’s bright smile as he said, “Fie, zany, … what are you doing?”

  “Oh, Harry … you see, here you are when I need you, but when I am in London … oh, however shall I get on without you?”

  Harry reached over and patted her roughly on her shoulder. “You know … for all your hoyden ways, you are a beauty. Stunning, actually. I have a feeling you will take London by storm and won’t have a moment to think of your old friend Harry.”

  “No, I will miss you and be at a loss.”

  “Nonsense. You are a plucky little thing, and the truth is you will get on very well without me. You’ll do.”

  She sniffed and said, “Harold, everyone in London will be strangers to me.”

  He shrugged. “What has that to say to anything? You aren’t going to tell me you have ever been shy, for that would be a bouncer if ever I heard one. You are the friendliest little thing—probably too friendly.” He laughed and shook his head. “As I said, you’ll do.”

  She pulled a face and put up her chin. “You haven’t the least bit of sensibility.”

  “Kit—”

  “Never mind.” She cut him off as she led her horse back into the field. “Let’s take the stone wall to the next bend in the road.” She turned when he did not immediately follow. “Are you coming?”

  He laughed out loud as he followed her. “What do you think, Miss Kingsley … just what do you think?”

  Laughing, they took their horses over the wall and cantered to the next field, where Harry tipped his hat to her as he took his leave. “Thank you, Miss Kingsley, for an enjoyable ride. I look forward to a time when we may do this again.” He grinned boyishly with an inclination of his head. “See, town manners—nothing to it. Now you answer me in kind.”

  She laughed and regally arched a look at him. “I don’t do the polite with friends … no point.” She gave him a saucy smile.

  He laughed. “I tell you what, zany, throw answers like that about at the ton, and you’ll do very well indeed.”

  She giggled. “I shall be ostracized within a week.” She then pouted. “Besides, I don’t want to do well with them—I don’t care how I do with them. I just want to stay here.”

  “The trouble is, my dear, dear Kit, Wharton Place now belongs to a bachelor. You can’t stay here.”

  This made Kitty’s shoulders droop.

  He swallowed a smile and gave her a wink before he left her to her thoughts. She sighed and put away the distance to Farmer Cribbins.

  * * *

  Some hours later, Kitty stepped out of Mrs. Cribbins kitchen, turned to wave again, and collected her horse from the round paddock where she visited with one of Farmer Cribbins big cob horses.

  She was feeling much better after their cozy visit, accompanied as it had been with sweet buns and hot tea.

  The Cribbins were one of Wharton’s tenant farmer families. Long ago, Mrs. Cribbins had taken Kitty under her wing, and a fond relationship had developed. Kitty often found herself visiting the kind woman when she was particularly troubled.

  She grimaced now as she recalled how Mrs. Cribbins had sipped her tea and said, “Ye aren’t going to like what I have to say to ye, child.”

  “That never stopped you before,” Kitty teased.

  “Look at those deep green eyes of yers twinkling.” The older woman patted Kitty’s hand. “Aye then, like it or no, yer dear guardian set a task for ye. Might as well brace yerself and do him up proud. The way I see it, ye don’t have a choice.”

  “You are right. I don’t have a choice, and you are right, I should do him proud,” Kitty responded at once.

  “Aye, so it is,” Mrs. Cribbins pronounced.

  Now, as Kitty rode away, she could hear the words again, “Do him up proud.”

  She turned her horse onto the Post Road and headed for home. A moment or two later, a large chocolate barouche came into view. Ah, she thought, ’tis broken down?

  She approached slowly and found its young driver bent over the wheel. He looked up and appeared surprised as he said, “Well, good afternoon to ye … er … miss …”

  She realized she must look like no more than a gamin of a girl in her boys clothing and was thankful that at least she had thought to tie her hair neatly away from her face.

  “Hallo,” she said. “Do you need some help?”

  “Ay, but, none that ye can give me.” The driver grinned condescendingly.

  Kitty made her own inspection of the lopsided wheel, and pointed. “You need a new bolt there, nothing more.”

  “Aye, that Oi do, and Oi carry a spare wit me, but the thing is, Oi can’t be lifting the wheel and putting the bolt in place all at the same time, now can Oi?” retorted the young driver on a superior note. He indicated with a lift of his chin. “And that one is just about useless.”

  Kitty thought the man beside him looked to be a valet. She smiled because although he spluttered, she could see he did not mean to lend a hand and said instead, “Bolts and wheels? I know nothing about bolts and wheels.”

  Kitty laughed. “Well, lucky for you, sir,” she said, giving him a bantering eye, “that I happened along.” She regarded the young driver. “You lift, and I’ll manage the bolt.”

  “Ha! Whot then, a slip of thing loike ye? I’d get two yards Oi would, and the blasted thing would come off again. Ye ain’t got brawn enough to do it up right,” the driver scoffed.

  “No, perhaps I don’t. However, once it is on you can let down the wheel and tighten the thing to your satisfaction. What say you?” Kitty offered with an accompanying warm smile.

  The driver considered her and with a nod of approval said, “Aye then, we’ll give it a go.”

  Thus, he produced the spare bolt, handed it to Kitty, and proceeded to lift the wheel and shift it into place. That done, he ordered, “Go on then, girl.”

  He obviously believed her to be a servant, but she allowed this form of address to slide and said, “Aye, aye sir.” She slipped the bolt in place and tightened it as best as she could before stepping away.

  He set the wheel down and tipped his peaked hat at her. “Oi’m grateful, half’lin.”

  She laughed and said, “Good luck, then.” She remounted her horse and threw over her shoulder as she started off, “And maybe you will smile the next time we chance to meet.”

  So saying she rode past him, hurrying her pace, for by now, Nanny would be ready with her wagging finger!

  ~ Nine ~

  THE EARL STOOD in his stirrups and stretched. A fingerpost sign indicated he was nearly at Wharton Place; however, he did not want to turn off until he was certain that Max was not far behind.

  More than a few moments had already passed b
y, and with a thoughtful frown the earl started back down the road in search of his carriage.

  Just about then, the earl rounded the bend in the road. His young gelding spooked at the sudden emergence of another steed coming right at him and veered sideways. As it happened, the earl had been relaxing his leg from the long ride and was caught off guard and nearly unseated.

  As he recovered himself, Kitty slowed to apologize, but at that particular moment the earl’s temper got hold of his throat, and he thundered, “What in blazes do you think you are doing, you young scoundrel?”

  Kitty’s chin went up. “Riding my horse, sir. And you?”

  It was at this juncture that the earl realized that the young scoundrel was a female. He frowned and looked her over, thinking she was probably a servant and no doubt rushing to return to her duties. He immediately felt remorse but said, “Riding, eh? Is that what you call it, woman?”

  Her green eyes narrowed, and he had a moment to discover that they were very fine eyes and that, in spite of her odd manner of clothing, she was a veritable beauty. “Yes, it is what I call it, though I am sorry for startling your prime gelding there. He is lovely, isn’t he?”

  She certainly did not speak like a servant. What was this?

  “Is it? Well, it is not very good riding!” he answered in what he thought was a bantering tone.

  She evidently did not find him amusing and answered sharply, “Indeed. I can see from your loose seat why you might not recognize an accomplished rider, sir.”

  He almost choked and did in fact laugh out loud. Fair-minded, he thought he rather deserved that. Right then, what sort of servant spoke to the gentry just so? This woman had a blade for a tongue. He would have prolonged their discourse had the young woman not gathered her reins, set her mare up for a jump, and lightly, easily flown over the ditch at the side of the road and then the fence-line at the field before vanishing out of sight.

  The earl was both intrigued and amused. She certainly was an excellent rider with a fine seat as well as a very fine body, amply displayed in her tight britches. Lady Caro had donned britches and taken to horse, and on a public road, but … a servant? Who was this chit? Who the devil could she be? Well, he didn’t have the time to wonder about it, for he had to find Max and his carriage.

  * * *

  “So!” Nanny tapped her foot and folded her arms across her ample bosom. “You have decided to come home, have you?”

  Kitty hurried across the library carpet and took Nanny’s shoulders in hand. “Don’t scold, Nanny. It is too lovely a day to be cross with me.” She sealed her words with a fond kiss on her nanny’s cheek.

  Nanny, however, did not appear mollified, as she frowned and sniffed and said, “Don’t go blinking your pretty lashes at me, young lady. Tch, tch, not this time. Here I wait, alone, living in dread, ever since Mr. Harkins’ visit. The dowager and the Earl of Halloway could descend on us at any moment, and here you are in dirt and britches! I shan’t have it.” She sniffed. “They would think me totally inadequate of the job of duenna for you and no doubt turn me off … and I can’t bear it. How could I be separated from you? How—”

  Kitty hugged her. “No one shall turn you off. Never. Over my dead body. You are with me, Nanny, for life. So free yourself of such a notion. I do, however, see your point. I would not like anyone to criticize you, and I shall immediately go up and bathe and change and be the demure country wench you wish me to be.” She made a face. “And honestly, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. I am only riding over my own land—”

  “That is just it,” wailed Nanny. “It isn’t your land … is it?”

  That was a depressing fact.

  Kitty’s shoulders drooped a bit. “No … that is the sad truth.” She braced herself. “But Uncle did stipulate that I should be allowed to live here until I was married.” She snorted, apologized as Nanny glared at her, and hurriedly added, “Who knows if I will ever be married, so that could be forever.”

  Nanny threw up her hands. “La, child … I don’t understand the way you think. Not get married? Nonsense.”

  “Never mind. As you say, the earl and his grandmother could arrive at any moment, of any day, so I shall do the polite when they do, but first, I suppose I must call for a bath and my best day gown just in case today is the day. Which will it be? The yellow or the blue?”

  “The green with the lace at the bodice.” Nanny smiled. “I do so like the look of it against that creamy skin, and do brush your hair until it looks like silk.”

  Kitty inclined her head. “Yes, indeed … silk hair … why don’t I just cut a length of yellow silk and wear it?”

  Nanny allowed her a restrained smile and, calmer now, said, “Go on, minx.”

  “So I shall … just allow me a cup of tea and one of those sandwiches,” Kitty said, making for the wall table. She plopped a small sandwich into her mouth and then, with a moan, sipped her tea while still on her feet.

  Nanny chatted on for a bit about Cook and the wondrous little cakes she was baking when Withers came to stand within the threshold of the library.

  He cleared his throat. Both women turned to eye him, and Kitty thought he looked startled. Then he announced, “The Earl of Halloway.”

  Nanny fell a step or two backwards as her hand went to her forehead and declared, “We are undone.” She sank onto a nearby chair.

  Kitty, who was still standing and had yet another small sandwich in her hand, whispered, “Hush, love.” She hurriedly put down her plate, brushed her hands together to shake off the crumbs, and decided she could do naught but take on and take charge of the situation.

  She moved to Nanny and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Yes, I am dirty and in britches, but there is nothing to say in that. Don’t worry. I shall handle this Earl of Halloway.”

  Kitty nodded for Withers to show him in. There was nothing for it. She couldn’t very well rush past him where he stood in the central hall to take the stairs, wash and change, and miraculously reappear, now could she? Only one thing to do: brave it through.

  She watched as the earl strode through the double doors past Withers, who had moved out of his way, and stopped abruptly to take stock of his surroundings. Kitty saw a large, impressive man not only fill the space he occupied, but dominate it, and she recognized him at once.

  She caught a gasp in her throat and attempted to find her voice. When she did find it, all she could utter was, “You!”

  The earl’s blue eyes flashed, and before he could stop himself he said, “Why, if it isn’t the little termagant.” He eyed her up and down, and a slight curve took his luscious lips before he ruined the picture and added, “Indeed, you now know who I am.” He inclined his head of black, shining waves of hair and brought up his face so that Kitty once again was struck by his devastatingly handsome face. For some reason, this made her even angrier, though why she couldn’t fathom. “However,” he continued, “I don’t have the slightest notion who you may be.” His tone she was sure was purposely insulting.

  Nanny gasped, and Kitty patted her shoulder as she turned her burning gaze to the earl and told him, her chin well up, “I am Christina Kingsley, my lord. And this is, Miss Diddles, my nanny.” She was in a white heat. She could take his outrageous behavior, but she would not allow her dear, sweet Nanny to be made to feel inferior. She cast him a bold once-over to match the one he had given her and said, “I can see by your road dust that you have been traveling for a great length of time, my lord. No doubt, you must be looking forward to washing up with some nice hot water.” There, he was dust-covered as well!

  She cast a cold look his way, thinking she was still mistress of Wharton Place and knew just how to handle herself. Britches or no, she would demand and receive respect for herself and her Nanny.

  “If you will excuse me,” she said before he could respond, “I will see our housekeeper and make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, please relax by the fire. I will have a fresh pot of tea brought to you moment
arily.” She eyed Nanny and said quietly, “Will you be all right during the time I am gone, dearest?”

  Nanny nodded got to her feet and then immediately sank back into a nearby chair, evidently too overcome to speak.

  Kitty eyed him and said, “In the meantime, you will find some very fine brandy on the sideboard.” So saying she turned on her heel and regally started off.

  The earl smiled broadly and said loud enough for her to hear as she left, “Touché! If I were wearing it, I would have tipped my hat to you.” He purposely glanced at the peaked cap at the top of her head.

  She turned sharply. No one who knew her could doubt the fury that shook her hands as she clasped them in place at her waist. She felt the flames enter her eyes as her voice shot out of her throat. “Ah, the proprieties, and how very right you were to take off your hat in the presence of ladies.” She whipped off her wool cap and said, “This?” She locked eyes with him. “Well, I am ever so sorry. Should I have tipped my hat to a gentleman? Ah, I was not aware one was present.”

  She stormed out of the room, leaving her nanny to close her eyes and wish she were anywhere but there.

  * * *

  Halloway’s jaw dropped.

  The little dirty piece of fluff had teeth.

  He was in a bit of turmoil. First of all, here was a diamond in the rough, but her rough would no doubt make her ineligible for the beau monde. Beneath the dirt was a beauty, yes, and spirited, but too outspoken to last a Season with the pink of the ton.

  Winning his inheritance was about to be much more of a chore than he had anticipated. He doubted that even his grandmother could make a silk purse out of the little sharp-tongued hoyden.

  He then noticed Miss Diddles nervously pinching at her dark shawl, and his expression softened at once. He took a chair near her and said kindly, “Well, Miss Diddles, am I correct in assuming you have been with Miss Kingsley most of her life?”