Courting Kit

by Claudy Conn

  Kitty glanced at Ree’s horse, who grazed idly near the tree it was tethered to, and, satisfied, gave her friend a raised brow and said, “Do you?”

  “You know, both Harry and Clayton escorted me home …” Ree said, her lashes fluttering.

  “Yes, I know. We met them as we were returning home,” Kitty told her, marveling to herself at how breathless her friend appeared to be. She gave her a wicked look and said, “What were you doing with the two handsome bucks, my girl?”

  Ree laughed. “Kitty, you wretch. It was just a bit gratifying and tremendously awkward to be flanked by two such men, you know.”

  Kitty laughed. “However did my shy Ree survive two bucks at once?”

  “Well, as to that, it wasn’t so very difficult because one of those bucks, as you call them, was Harry.”

  Kitty did not miss the dreamy look that came over her friend’s face and laughed out loud before saying, “Indeed, finally. I have suspected that Harry has a tendre in your direction.”

  “Why would you say so?” Henrietta asked hopefully.

  “Because whenever the two of us are together, there he suddenly appears and tags along, and it is not for my company but yours. Obvious.” She shook her head.

  “I have always believed it was you … who held his interest,” Ree said after a long intake of air.

  Kitty choked on a word before she waved this off and managed to say, “Friends. ’Tis all we have ever been.”

  “Kitty—do you think he actually does … I mean … do you think … Harry …?”

  “I do, you silly goose, I do,” Kitty said on a laugh.

  Henrietta made a happy sound and said, “Oh, I do hope so. He did seem ever so jealous, and it was obvious at the very least that he meant to keep Clayton at a distance from me.”

  “I should say so. Clay is a charmer, and he is not for you,” Kitty said.

  “I wondered why he was so pointed in his attentions.”

  “Ree, zounds…you aren’t … I mean, honestly … you can’t be attracted to Clayton Bickwerth?” Kitty knew Clay too well not to know that he was after Henrietta for her money. He was a practiced flirt, nothing more.

  Henrietta had turned a bright shade of pink by this time and picked at her skirt. “Of course, I know better than to allow Clayton’s flattery to go to my head … but it was ever so much fun, even if it didn’t mean anything, even if he didn’t mean a word. It was fun.”

  Kitty hugged her hard, sat back, and said, “Yes, he is fun. As long as you know that, then do, do have fun.”

  “Oh, I know better than to think Clayton actually is interested in more than my inheritance. I am not a dolt, but he does make Harry jealous, and that is even more fun.”

  Kitty laughed. “You devil.”

  “Oh, but I am.” Ree giggled.

  “Well, good. Time was we bring Harry up to scratch,” Kitty teased.

  “Nonsense, no … I don’t want to do that. I want it to be a natural thing for him. I want Harry to know himself … first … I …”

  “I understand, Ree—I completely understand, but some of the time men have to be made to look the devil in the eye and take that devil by the horns. You see, some men think that love and all it entails is a ‘devil’.” So saying Kitty burst out laughing, and her friend joined her.

  Henrietta flung up her hands. “Kitty, you will be leaving for London … and who will make me laugh?”

  “Ree, remember that boy who kissed you, what was he called?”

  “Baldwin …?”

  “Ah, yes, one of your father’s clerks … remember what you said?”

  “I said that his kiss cured me of the infatuation I had for him,” Ree answered and giggled again.

  “Right. It made me wonder if we should go about kissing those we are infatuated with, if only to be cured.” This struck Kitty as wildly hilarious, and she doubled over with mirth.

  “Indeed, where shall we start?”

  “You start with Harry, and I … oh dear, well, I have kissed the blacksmith’s son—he was a big strapping Adonis—and then that handsome but conceited Thomas Worely, so I have one up on you, but I should like to kiss a rogue … and learn the difference between inexperienced young men and one who knows what he is doing.”

  “Kitty!”

  She laughed. “So kiss Clay and then kiss Harry … and you will know, won’t you?”

  Ree thought this over. “You are a zany, but your plan does have merit.”

  Once again, they burst out laughing.

  When they wiped away their tears of laughter, Kitty said, “He is more handsome than an Adonis, I think. An Adonis is a godlike creature … one thinks of as perfect in stature, and then one finds a real man, like the earl, with flaws but ever so attractive … and the entire thing becomes so much more real.”

  Ree chuckled. “Yes, but you now sound as though you like the earl … very much.”

  Kitty shrugged. “He is not as bad as I thought.” She took her friend’s hand. “Ree, come to London … please.”

  “I am hoping to visit you there … talk Mama into a shopping spree.” Ree smiled. “And in the meantime … perhaps I will kiss both Harry and Clay.” The notion made her giggle and blush.

  “So be it, ’tis the kissing season. Enjoy yourself, but keep you heart well hidden from Clay.”

  Ree eyed her and said, “Indeed, we shall see.”

  “You could stay with me. I have discovered that the earl can be quite … accommodatingly kind at times. I think he won’t forbid me a houseguest. He isn’t the ogre I first thought him.”

  “I am very pleased to hear that,” a male and familiar voice said at their backs.

  Both girls twisted around to see the earl walking towards them, and not ten feet away. Kitty immediately wondered just how much of their conversation he had heard.

  “My lord,” Kitty said and wondered why whenever he first entered her space she lost the ability to breathe. “I did not hear you …”

  “Obviously,” he said, tongue in cheek, his eyes bright.

  Kitty laughed out loud. “Well, this is a poor beginning, but do please allow me to make known to you my dear friend, Miss Henrietta Harkins.” She peeped at her friend and then back at the earl. “The Earl of Halloway.”

  The two exchanged a moment’s polite conversation before Kitty eyed the earl curiously to inquire, “Out for an afternoon’s stroll by the water, my lord?” It crossed her mind as she spoke that his shoulders were so very broad, and in his rugged leather short coat he looked extremely sensual. What was wrong with her?

  “Not exactly,” he said. “I thought that you might like to know that I have made up an impromptu dinner for your entertainment this evening. I have invited your gentlemen friends, young Harry Brentley and the other … what was his name? Ah yes, Sir Clayton Bickwerth.” The earl eyed Henrietta. “I thought it might be pleasant for Kitty to have an evening with her friends before we depart for London. Please, Miss Harkins, forgive me for the lateness of the invitation, but I am remiss, as I am not yet acquainted with all of Kitty’s intimates, do join us.”

  “Oh … oh …” said Henrietta, frowning.

  “Why … my lord, how very thoughtful and kind,” Kitty said, unthinkingly getting up and taking his hands to squeeze them. She turned to her friend. “You must come … my farewell dinner, Ree—you must.”

  “Yes, very well then.” Henrietta smiled. “I’m sure my parents won’t object.”

  Once again, Kitty turned a look of sheer gratitude to the earl before hugging her friend and falling into chatter about gowns and such.

  The earl stood back and marveled at what he felt, because what he felt was a huge degree of pleasure—but why? He knew why. He had made the little sassy madcap happy.

  In truth, he had acted on impulse when he put together the dinner party with Cook. It had been a sudden, quirky notion that had taken hold. It excited him to think she might enjoy such a thing. Why should he bother trying to please her? That wasn’t his jo
b.

  All he needed to do was hand her over to his grandmother and hope she got an offer she could accept … and be done.

  Kitty looked radiant, and it was because of his actions.

  Absurdly, this pleased him.

  She was in many ways such a complete innocent … so innocent that it was most charming. There were no guiles about the girl, none whatsoever, and he found that he liked her a great deal.

  He saw she had donned her britches again, and even this made him smile. She was a singular creature, and since the moment they had called a truce, he’d found himself—ah, bah, it was all nonsense. The sooner he got her to London and saw her established, the sooner he could get on with his life.

  “Wait!” Kitty screamed, making both the earl and Henrietta jump. “I have one!” She scrambled for her fishing rod, which she had wedged into the earth.

  The earl ran over to help her, for the rod was bending in a serious arch, and together they pulled in a very large trout.

  Henrietta began clapping her hands, and both the earl and Kitty glowed with the excitement of the catch.

  Kitty released the fish from the hook and began to throw the trout back into the water. The earl frowned and stayed her hand. “What are you doing?”

  “Well, we aren’t going to have him for dinner, are we? So back he goes until we do.” Kitty put the fish back in the stream, and the earl, feeling like a boy, began to laugh, heartily laugh.

  “Kitty—Kitty …” he managed to say and continued to laugh.

  ~ Sixteen ~

  KITTY’S BEDROOM DOOR opened wide, and Henrietta glided within, saying excitedly though unnecessarily, “I’m here.”

  Kitty laughed. “So you are. Oh and, Ree, you have ever such a good eye. That soft shade of green suits you. Oh, but you are beautiful.”

  Her friend smiled and said, “Thank you and, Kit … talk about beauty. You are stunning. Do you know how many women would die to have your shade of yellow hair?”

  Kitty laughed. “Wouldn’t do them any good if they were dead.” Kitty waved this off. “’Tis all nonsense. But, Ree, I can’t be seen in this gown.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Look at me. Yes, the shade of blue is very nice, but ’tis no more than a schoolgirl’s gown,” Kitty wailed. “What can be done? I asked Nanny, but she clucked her tongue and said ‘naught’.”

  “Let me see,” Ree said and walked around her friend with her finger to her nose. “Do you know what? You don’t need this bow.” She went to the drawer and found a pair of scissors. She removed the offending bow from Kitty’s bodice and stood back. “There—that is better.”

  “Hmm,” Kitty said, still not happy.

  “Right then, we don’t need the lace, but the lace presently conceals those large swells of yours above your bodice … without the lace … oh my,” Ree advised, her one brow up.

  “Yes, we don’t need the lace. I am after all, twenty years old,” Kit said excitedly.

  Ree removed the thick flounce of lace at the scooped bodice, and both girls stood in front of the mirror to admire.

  “Oh yes, the simple lines of the gown hug your figure just so … yes, you will do for a country dinner. What do you think?” Ree asked.

  Kitty put an arm around Ree’s waist. “Thank you, Ree. You are though, I think, prejudiced by friendship.”

  “Absurd girl, don’t you see how beautiful you are? But we are not done. Now, your hair.”

  A few moments were spent brushing and pinning her long hair at the top of Kitty’s head, with the result being quite dramatic.

  “Oh, Kitty … you look like a goddess … you do,” Ree said admiringly.

  “No, I am far too short to be a goddess. You are the goddess. I am the sprite.”

  Both girls laughed, and Henrietta said, “Well … this should meet with the earl’s approval.”

  “Oh, I do hope so,” Kitty said without thinking.

  “Do you?” Her friend was surprised and looked at her. “Since when do you care about the opinions of others—especially the earl’s—for I swear I heard you imply more than once that his opinion did not matter?”

  “Well, he does matter, after all … doesn’t he? I am going to stay in his home, and he has done this little dinner for me and … well, yes, he annoys me at times, but he also challenges me, and I think I like that.”

  “Kitty, my Kitty is growing up,” Henrietta said in a worldly tone.

  Kitty laughed. “Look at you coming all wise and staid and only a year older than I. ’Tis absurd.”

  “Staid? Ha, never around you,” Ree said.

  “You know,” Kitty said quietly then, “the earl might have his doubts about me making the transition from country life to town life, but I haven’t a doubt in the world.”

  “Haven’t you?” Ree said dubiously. “Haven’t you indeed.”

  * * *

  At that moment, the Earl of Halloway found himself playing host in the library to both Harry and Clayton. They had already managed to imbibe a respectable quantity of brandy and were in high spirits.

  The two young men quickly discovered that horse, hounds, and the chase were common and safe ground, and a lively conversation ensued. As anecdotes and experiences were shared with great vivacity, the earl regarded his younger companions with something close to wonder.

  What had happened to his life?

  He was only seven and twenty, only a few years older than these lads, but for some inexplicable reason he felt a century older. Was he that jaded? Had life in London so ruined him?

  He could not help feeling, as he watched the two young men banter with one another, that he was an outsider.

  Harry burst into innocent laughter over some nonsense Clayton had spewed, and the earl smiled. He liked Harry—a great deal. He wasn’t so sure about the other one.

  In fact, he hoped that young Clay didn’t take Kitty’s fancy. He wasn’t the sort of man the earl wanted for her.

  Now where had that come from? When had he become so protective? And, yes, he was feeling protective over her. What was happening to him?

  He attempted to divert his mind by joining in the light banter between the young men, but thoughts of Kitty still came unbidden.

  As the earl contemplated this new development in his brain, the library doors opened wide to display a splatter of color in the form of two lovelies, one in pale blue, the other in soft green. He saw at once that both young ladies looked happy, but it was Kitty who held him frozen in place.

  His senses were locked on her. He couldn’t look away. He couldn’t think.

  All he could do was stare. She was exquisite, in fact the most exquisite woman he had ever seen. He was stunned by her beauty, and as she moved towards him, he felt his heart beat at a racing pace and unbidden his manhood throbbed in his pantaloons.

  The swells of her breasts captured his attention, as did her nipples protruding through the silky material of her form-fitted gown. Gone was the hoyden. In fact, not a trace of the hoyden … and then he looked into those green eyes of hers and found the mischievous girl once more. What was more to the point, he was happy to find it still so embedded in her.

  What was happening to him?

  Oh no, he told himself. She is not for you. You don’t dally with innocent maids.

  And still, he could not tear his gaze away. It was as though he and she were connected by an invisible bolt of energy. He wanted to take her into his arms and sweep her away. He wanted to kiss her luscious mouth. He wanted … No. He stopped himself. Have you gone mad?

  * * *

  Kitty couldn’t tear her gaze away from the earl. Clothed in his casual dining coat of blue, with the tight-fitting waistcoat of a paler blue, his muscular form was mesmerizing. He was masculine and desirable and, oh my, what was she thinking?

  Absurdly, it occurred to her that they were wearing the same shade of blue, and she smiled.

  That shows you what a child you still are, she told herself. Grow up. If you are going to meet
men of the earl’s stamp in London, you must have more sophistication, more … oh, but he was ever so large and well-formed, and his eyes, which reminded her of a turbulent ocean, kept her riveted. She couldn’t tear her gaze away. It was as though a bolt of energy had enwrapped itself around them, drawing them together. She wanted him to take her into his arms. She wanted him to kiss her and take her to another world … where they were alone, just the two of them.

  If she went into his arms, would he kiss her? Would he …?

  Harry broke through these wayward thoughts, thankfully, she told herself. He had called out their names and began raising his glass in a toast to their beauty. Beside her, Henrietta smiled as she looked at Harry and went into the room towards the young men.

  The earl put away the distance between them even as she took a step towards him.

  She reached him and gave him her ungloved hands, and her lashes lowered as she heard him whisper, “I am undone. You are more beautiful than any woman of my acquaintance.”

  She raised her eyes and told him, “It is all thanks to my Ree … she cut off the lace at the bodice, and the bow and—”

  “With the bow and the lace, still, you would be ravishing,” he answered softly.

  “What if I were in britches?” she teased.

  “Ah, Kitty,” he said quietly and turned away to make polite conversation with Henrietta and the lads. He did this, still with one hand in his, drawing her up beside him.

  She was excited beyond her wildest dreams. What was happening to her? Why was this happening to her? Why did he make her feel this way?

  She should withdraw her hand, but she didn’t want to, and then Harry intruded on her thoughts.

  “By Jupiter, we are blessed gentlemen, are we not? I say, here we have angels of beauty.”

  Henrietta received this with a soft smile and downcast lashes, sweetly just as she ought, Kitty thought to herself as she laughed and answered him, “Pray, Harry, you are outrageous. What is all this jack-pudding flattery?”

  “No, don’t stop him,” Ree bantered at once. “It is so very well done.”