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The rest of the day Kitty attempted to forget the reason she was there and all the worries she had waiting for her in London. She enjoyed the planned festivities and the company of surrounding her.
The only thing she couldn’t forget about was the feeling of Christopher watching her. He was always there, across the room, keeping an eye on her. He never approached, but remained close enough that she couldn’t ignore him. Even as they took their seats to play, him at one table and her at another, she felt his presence.
“Ladies and gentleman.” The host spoke to the crowd now. “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the second night of play. We are down to four pairs and it should be an exciting evening.”
The crowd cheered and Kitty felt the excitement racing across her nerves. It was the same feeling she used to get when she would step on stage. An unwelcome thrill that she attempted to get past.
At first the two teams played in silence. Henry was to her left and Rory was on the right. Patrick sat across from her, with his carefree expression hiding the cunning player that he was. Kitty furrowed her brow as she tried to calculate the best cards to play. Her husband used to tease her that her face would develop wrinkles if she kept doing that. The audience was split, half the crowd watching her table and the other half watching the table that Christopher played at.
“Seems your beginners luck continues.” Henry was the first one to speak and break the silence.
“Beginners luck?” Patrick appeared confused.
“Yes, Lady Woolard claims that was what helped her win the round yesterday, but she seems to be playing well tonight too.”
Patrick laughed. “This might be the first competition she has played in, but she has been beating me at this game for years.”
“She mentioned that you had practically raised her. Were you close to her parents?”
Henry ignored the glare his sister gave him. So far they were behind in the game and he didn’t appear to mind.
The truth was that when she ran off with Christopher, she was too ashamed to return to her parents. Patrick never pushed her to contact them and she didn’t. As far as she knew they still lived in that small village and believed she had married a nobleman. That wasn’t a very pretty story, so instead Patrick told people a lie.
“No, I’m afraid I never met them. I found Kitty as a small child, left abandoned at an inn I stopped at. She was such a charming child, that I found I couldn’t leave her there. I took it upon myself to raise her and make sure she was given the proper education. Then I introduced her to a close friend of mine and love blossomed.”
In truth, Patrick had met her late husband at a performance of Hamlet, where the lord had come backstage to meet the actors. IT was between them that love blossomed. Kitty had been happy for her friend, until one night when the truth came close to discovery. That’s when Kitty offered to be the keeper of their secret and the lord’s wife as far as the world knew. That was what a person did for the people they love.
“You have lived with them the whole time?” Rory asked, a hint of spite in her tone.
“Yes, I’m afraid I never found a woman willing to put up with me and didn’t enjoy living alone.”
“I wouldn’t dream of you leaving.” Kitty added.
Patrick gave her a sweet smile and Kitty felt herself getting lighter. They were currently ahead in the game and that meant they were one step closer to financial freedom. One step closer to having their lives back. Once step closer to escaping another man’s control.
“Where is your family from?” Rory asked in a bored tone.
“Southampton.” Kitty said without hesitation.
“We know many people from that area, what was your family’s name?”
“I doubt you would know the name. My father was a simple parish pastor and my mother was the daughter of the village tailor. I come from humble beginnings.”
She cast her eyes away from Henry, who watched her intently. Something about the way his eyes flickered made her worry he saw more than he should. No one had called her out on her lies before, but there could always be a first.
Kitty tried to focus on her cards and the cards Patrick possibly held, but Henry’s gaze made that difficult. He wasn’t being obvious, likely to avoid the wrath of his sister who had her eye on him. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck told her when his eyes were focused on her and she tried not to blush. She failed at it.
“You sadly missed out on having a season in London,” Henry spoke calmly, as if his team wasn’t losing by a narrow margin. “Most women live for that sort of thing. My sister has enjoyed a number of them already.”
There was a scuffling sound and Henry reached down to grab his leg. Rory glared at him and sat straighter in her chair.
“I lived a quiet life growing up and never wanted the attention that a season would bring. I was happy to have avoided it.” Kitty said, hiding her smile behind her cards.
“My brother makes it sound like I have failed every season, but the truth is I’m selective. I am waiting to find the right match for my temperament.” Rory said.
Kitty wondered what kind of man would match such a strong-willed woman. Personally, she had always been better at letting someone else make the decisions. First her father, then Christopher, and eventually her husband. Not that he was strong handed, but he was always there to give her guidance. Patrick wasn’t the authoritative type, so she had been managing on her own since his passing. Although she had done well enough, part of he wished she had someone willing to share the work with.
“Perhaps we can see you again once we are back in London?” Henry looked at her with an intensity that made her shiver.
“I don’t think so. I rarely accept visitors.” Kitty answered.
“We wouldn’t be visitors; we would be friends. Both of us would like to have that distinction.” Henry motioned at his sister who made a face like she had bitten into a lemon. She did not want to be friends.
“I like to keep to myself. I’m a private person.” Kitty explained, hoping she didn’t sound rude by refusing.
“A secretive person.” Rory mumbled under her breath, her gaze on her cards.
Perhaps it was better if they played in silence. Kitty kept her lips pressed together and the rest of the table did too. Patrick and she were able to finish strong, stealing the win from the other team. Rory was clearly upset, storming off without a goodbye to any of the other players.
“I underestimated you, it seems.” Henry was not as upset about the loss as his sister was. “You were both fine players. It was as if you could read each other’s mind.”
A large part of the game is working together with your partner and Kitty knew she was good at reading Patrick’s signals.
“That comes with years of knowing each other.” Patrick chuckled, giving Henry a pat on the shoulder. “No hard feelings I hope?”
“Not from me, though my sister is another story. She tends to take these things personally.”
“I’m sorry if that means she will be angry with you.” Kitty said.
“I can handle it. Have been doing so since we were children.”
“Good game.” Patrick gave her a wink before moving away from the table leaving only the two of them standing beside it.
Her senses were heightened by the close proximity and she noticed that he had the scent of leather around him. Most likely from an enjoyment of riding. That could be the reason he had such a fit physique as well.
“Kitty, I hope you realize that I consider us friends.” Henry spoke softly, so that his words wouldn’t carry across the room.
“That is kind of you.”
“Does that mean that we will be seeing each other again, after the tournament? Perhaps I could call on you in London?”
A flicker of joy lit her up but was quickly dampened. She wished she could see him again, but that would be far too dangerous. No one was allowed to visit her, not at her home. There was too much risk that they might notice something out of place. She had to protect her secret, for both her and Patrick’s sake.
“I’m afraid I will not be receiving visitors yet. I still have a few more months of mourning.”
“After that?”
“Perhaps.”
Kitty had no doubt he would forget her quickly once she was out of sight. He was a man who had plenty of females lining up for his attention. One lonely widow would not matter for long. She saw his eyes flicker at something in the distance and his expression soured.
“Will you excuse me? I seem to be beckoned by my sister and cannot refuse.”
“Into the lion’s den?”
“Lioness, even more dangerous.”
He gave her that smile that make her stomach flutter and then walked away. She could feel her cheeks burning with a pink blush and her lips pulled into a grin. Then a shadow fell over her shoulder and her smile fell.
“I believe we need to talk.”