‘Oh, dear, I cannot make head nor tail of this letter.’
Mrs Wythenshawe passed the paper to her sister. ‘Jane, dear, you must read it and tell me what you think of it.’
Aunt Jane coughed and put the letter in her lap.
‘Well, it is from a London lawyer.’ She cleaned her spectacles and settled them back more firmly on her nose. ‘I do not claim to understand every word of it, but it says there is an annuity due to the widow of Mr Walter Charles Wythenshawe.’ She looked up, her mouth open in astonishment. ‘Three hundred pounds a year!’
Kitty gave a little gasp. Mrs Blackwood had kept her word, but Kitty had not expected her to be so generous.
‘And you have no idea who is our mysterious benefactor?’ Aunt Jane handed the letter back. ‘My dear sister, can you recall no acquaintance of Walter’s who would do this, and after all this time, too?’
‘No, I can think of no one.’ She looked up, her eyes shining. ‘We shall be very comfortable now! We shall be able to rent a better house. Kitty will not need to become a governess! And we will not need to take in any more sewing!’ Mama gave a little skip as she crossed to the little table beneath the window. ‘I shall reply to this immediately, for the lawyer asks me to advise him of the bank I wish to use to receive the money. Oh, dear, how exciting! I am sure I shall not be able to set a stitch today!’
‘Then do not, Mama,’ Kitty urged her, smiling. ‘You should take a holiday.’
‘And so I shall, my love, but first we have Miss Blackwood’s two gowns to finish. They are promised for tomorrow morning, and no matter how rich we may become, I will not go back on my word!’
It was Kitty’s intention to be at home the following day. She wanted to meet Mrs Blackwood and thank her for her generosity, but a sleepless night sapped her courage. To see Daniel’s mother again, or his sister, would only reinforce the feelings of desolation and loss that constantly dragged at her spirits. She rose from her bed, determined not to meet them. She would pen a letter to Mrs Blackwood. A much better idea, she decided, since she would be able to choose her words carefully and ensure that her gratitude was properly expressed.
Having made her decision, Kitty dressed quickly and announced that she was going out.
‘I am going to see…going to see…’ Kitty searched around in her mind for a name. If only her mother had not kept her quite so confined she might have comfortably spent the day with someone in the village, but her mother had never mixed with their neighbours and there was no one Kitty knew well enough to call upon unannounced. She thought with regret of Ann Harworth: by giving up the chance to marry Ann’s brother, she had lost her only real friend. The pain of that disappointment gave her an even greater desire to escape. ‘I am going to walk over the moors to Coldclough Valley. To collect elderberries.’
‘But that is such a long way,’ declared her mother. ‘It will take you the best part of the day!’
‘I know, but all the ripe berries around the village have been picked and the valley is particularly well stocked with elders.’
‘But Mrs Blackwood is coming this morning,’ protested Aunt Jane. ‘Will you not stay to see her? Upon her last visit she showed you such a flattering amount of attention…’
‘Then please, make my apologies, Aunt,’ said Kitty hastily. ‘I am sure you do not need me—indeed, it will be very cramped in here if we all stay. Besides, I fear the weather is going to break and if I don’t collect the berries today they may all be ruined.’ She picked up her basket. ‘Do not be anxious for me, I shall be back before dark!’ And with that she whisked herself out of the house.
Kitty hurried out of the village and was soon following the path across the moors. It was such a warm day that she tucked her shawl into her basket. The sun burned through the thin muslin of her gown, warming her shoulders. She loved the empty moors on days such as this when the late August sunshine seemed to acquire an added brilliance, a sudden, flaring reminder that autumn would soon arrive.
By the time Coldclough Valley was in sight she was hot and flushed with her exertion, but her spirits had risen considerably. Perhaps the future was not quite so bleak after all, and although her spirit balked at taking charity from Mrs Blackwood, she could not deny that the annuity settled upon her mother would make life considerably easier.
‘And Mrs Blackwood was very right,’ she told herself, coming to a halt on the path. ‘We would not have been in this situation if I had never met her son. Horrid, horrid man!’
As she tilted her face up to catch the sun a sudden movement attracted her eye and she looked back the way she had come. There in the distance was the small black shape of a horse and rider. Kitty gasped.
‘It could be anyone,’ she muttered, trying to calm her racing heart.
She blinked and rubbed her hand across her eyes. The figure was too far away to pick out any detail, but instinct told her it was Daniel. The big black horse, the upright figure—it had to be Daniel. As she stared, the rider changed course and began to move more quickly. He was heading in her direction.
‘Oh, heavens!’
She picked up her skirts and ran towards the clough. He was such a long way behind her, she only had to reach the wooded valley and she might be able to evade him. She reached the ridge and hurried down the path into the valley, allowing her pace to slow a little once she was sure Daniel could no longer see her. She was dismayed to see how far she would have to walk before she reached the woods, but there was no choice: the river cutting through the valley bottom might be small but it was very deep and it effectively blocked her path. She must go either up or downstream. She chose to head towards the woods. She half-ran, half-scrambled down the bank, thankful that the ground beside the tumbling waters was covered with a short, springy turf that allowed her to make good progress.
But not good enough. All too soon she saw Daniel on the ridge above her. She began to run, but he urged his horse to descend the shallow bank diagonally to cut her off. She heard the jingle of harness and the thud of hooves. Speed was useless. Kitty slowed again to a walk, turning to glare at Daniel.
‘How did you find me?’ she called out.
‘Your mother described to me the path you had taken. You have her eyes, you know: a beautiful moss green. She is a most delightful woman: I left her taking tea with Bella and my own mother. I think they will get on very well.’
Kitty refused to be pleased.
‘I do not want to talk to you. Pray go away.’
‘But I want to talk to you.’
‘There is nothing to say!’
‘But there is. Kitty, listen to me—’
‘Go away!’ she cried. ‘How dare you come here and—and torture me like this! I told you I would have nothing more to do with you.’
‘But I am a free man—Ann and I are no longer engaged.’
‘So you have broken her heart, too!’
‘No, it was—! Kitty, hell and damnation, will you stand still for a moment!’ He jumped down from his horse and came towards her.
‘No!’ Kitty stopped, putting up her hand as if to hold him off. ‘Do not come any nearer. If you do I will…I will jump in the beck!’
His lips twitched. It pierced her heart to remember how much she loved his smile.
‘That would be a little extreme, don’t you think?’
‘No!’ she retorted angrily. ‘You have b-brought me nothing but pain: I would walk through fire rather than talk to you again!’
That wiped the smile from his face, but his consternation cut even deeper into her heart.
‘I did not cry off, Kitty, you have my word on it. You see—’
She said quickly, ‘I made a solemn vow that I was done with you for ever, so whatever tricks you used to force Ann to jilt you they are wasted! I will not have anything more to do with you!’
She began to move again, hurrying along the riverbank. For a short while she thought Daniel had stopped following her, but a quick glance behind showed that he had merely paused to remove his coat and throw it over the saddle.
‘Do you know, it is far too hot for so much exertion. I wish you would slow down.’
He spoke in a conversational tone, as if they were enjoying a gentle stroll together. Anger was warring with frustration in Kitty. How dare he torment her in this way? Ahead she could see a bridge across the stream, a series of flat stone slabs supported on boulders in the stream bed. If she could cross that, the path wound up past a small cottage where a wisp of smoke trailed from the chimney. Perhaps the owner would allow her to rest inside and shut the door upon Daniel.
‘Kitty, will you please stop and allow me to explain!’ He reached for her and she sprinted away from him.
‘Go away, Daniel. Go away and leave me in peace!’
She had reached the bridge. Gingerly she stepped on to the first slab. It wobbled slightly beneath her. A few more steps took her to the centre, but Daniel had caught up with her. His hand shot out and gripped her arm, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to shake him off.
‘How dare you touch me? Let me go this instant, you…you fiend!’
‘I will let you go, if you promise to listen to me and to stop acting like some angry fishwife!’ Kitty froze, furious at his insult. He was scowling down at her, his chest heaving. ‘Well,’ he said at last. ‘If I let you go will you promise not to run away?’
‘Yes.’ The word forced itself out between her clenched teeth.
He nodded and released her arm. Kitty glared at him as he stood beside her on the narrow bridge. Every slight, every insult she had suffered at his hands returning to her mind, magnified tenfold. Deliberately, she put her hands against his chest and pushed.
If Daniel had not been about to step away from her it would never have happened, but he was momentarily distracted and Kitty’s push caught him off balance. He twisted, his arms thrown wide as he toppled into the river. Kitty watched in a mixture of horror and fascination as he disappeared beneath the water, only to surface a few moments’ later, coughing and spluttering. He rose to his feet, standing thigh-deep in the fast-flowing water.
Kitty’s hands flew to her mouth. A fleeting, sickening dread that he might have been seriously hurt on the stony river bed was replaced with fear for her own safety as he stood braced against the current, glaring up at her through the heavy curtain of wet black hair that clung to his forehead. She swallowed, transported back to their very first meeting, when she had addressed him as a servant and he had scowled at her so blackly that she had been afraid he would drag her from the gig and strangle her. That fear of reprisals returned to her now. Then, to her astonishment, she saw the gleam of amusement in his eyes. He threw back his head and laughed. A deep, rich sound that drew a reluctant smile from her in response. ‘Touché, madam! No doubt you think that a sweet justice.’ He grinned up at her. ‘Do you consider yourself revenged now for my dropping you in that muddy ford?’
‘Well, yes,’ she replied frankly. ‘I do!’
She reached down her hand to him, but as soon as his fingers curled around hers he gave a tug and she toppled off the bridge, landing with a splash in the water beside him.
‘Oh! Oh, you…you…!’ She spluttered and coughed as he pulled her to her feet beside him.
‘You did not think I would let you get away with that, did you?’
Kitty put up her hands to wipe the wet hair from her eyes, a furious retort rising to her lips, but it died when she saw him laughing down at her. A gurgle of laughter bubbled up inside her and instead of pushing Daniel away she found herself clinging to his arm, giggling helplessly.
Still laughing, they struggled to the bank and dragged themselves out, lying side by side on the short grass. Daniel reached for her hand.
‘I did not cry off from my engagement,’ he said, suddenly serious. ‘Neither did Ann. It was her brother who withdrew his consent.’
She sat up.
‘Lord Harworth? Why should he do that—oh, poor Ann!’
‘He objected to my liberal views. And you must not think Ann was heartbroken, I suspect she was as relieved as I was to be released from the engagement. She is thinking of marrying Leaconham.’
‘Garston!’ Kitty stared at him, astounded. ‘How could she prefer Garston to…?’
‘I am only too thankful that she does prefer him,’ retorted Daniel, pulling her down to him. ‘But that is not important now. What is important is that I am free.’ He reached up a hand and cupped her face, her wet hair clinging around his fingers. ‘Since neither Ann nor I cried off, you are not bound to refuse me.’ He gently pulled her face down and kissed her. ‘I love you, Kitty,’ he whispered. ‘Say yes. Say you will marry me.’
‘Oh, Daniel!’ Kitty stopped, unable to say more because of the constriction in her throat. Silently she nodded and with an exultant gasp Daniel pulled her back into his arms, rolling her beneath him as he covered her face with hot kisses.
‘Kitty, you are crying.’ He broke away. ‘Dearest, what is it?
She sat up, shaking her head.
‘N-nothing,’ she managed, smiling mistily through her tears. ‘It is j-just that I am s-so happy!’ The salty tears on her cheeks were hot and made her aware of her wet gown, which was rapidly cooling. ‘We must move, and quickly,’ she said, struggling to get up. ‘It will not do to grow chilled.’
‘We will call at the cottage,’ said Daniel, scrambling to his feet and nodding towards the little house at the top of the bank.
‘Your horse is still on the other side,’ she remarked.
Daniel gave a long whistle.
‘Marnie, come on, girl! Come!’ With a toss of her fine head the black mare stepped up to the bridge and daintily trotted across. ‘Horses are like women,’ he said, mischief glinting in his eyes. ‘Better when they are well trained.’
With a laugh he dodged the blow she aimed at him. Then, as she began to pummel him he caught her wrists and whipped her hands behind her back, pulling her against him and kissing her soundly.
‘How on earth am I to quarrel with you,’ she said severely, when at last she could speak again, ‘when you take such advantage of me?’
‘I do not want us to quarrel,’ he said, lightly kissing the end of her nose. ‘I want only to make you happy for ever more.’ He put his arm about her waist. ‘Shall you walk up the bank or would you like me to put you up on Marnie?’
‘Walk, I think. The exertion will warm us.’
With Daniel’s arm around her they started up the bank. An old woman in a grey dress hurried down towards them, trailing a large shawl from one hand.
‘Oh, my goodness, whatever has happened to you?’ She demanded as she drew closer. ‘Oh, my poor dears, took a tumble in the beck, did you? You must come in and dry yourselves. Quickly now.’ She wrapped the shawl around Kitty’s shoulders and took her arm to hurry her towards the cottage.
‘Thank you, mother,’ said Daniel, falling into step beside them. ‘We saw the smoke from your chimney and were going to ask if we could warm ourselves by your fire.’
‘Aye, of course. And you’re very lucky that I have kept it in, only I fancied a drop o’ soup before settin’ off for t’village. It won’t take a minute to get it blazing again.’ When they reached the small gate in the wall that bounded her garden the old woman turned to Daniel. ‘You can tie that great brute of a horse to the gate. No one will take him while you and your lady are indoors, and I don’t want ’im eatin’ my herbs!’
Meekly Daniel did as he was bid while the old woman led Kitty into the house. After the bright sunshine the room seemed very dark at first, but Kitty’s eyes soon grew accustomed and she saw that they were standing in a small but very tidy chamber, most of the space being taken up by a large spinning wheel. The room was bare of comforts save for a small cushioned settle and a colourful rag rug before the fire. The old woman immediately set to work stirring up the coals before taking a few small logs from the basket to place on the top.
‘Please, mother, do not use all your fuel for us,’ said Daniel quickly.
The old woman waved aside his protest.
‘Lord love ye, sir, if ye don’t get warm you’ll be catching your death, right enough. Besides, my son Jack brought me over a sack o’ coal only last week, so we’re not short o’ fuel.’ She pointed to a door behind them. ‘Beyond there is my bedroom, sir. If you and your lady will remove thy wet things I’ll hang ’em out to dry. An hour or so in the sun and with this breeze they’ll be good as new. And don’t you be afraid to give me your shirt and britches, young man: I have sons of my own, so you’ve nowt I haven’t seen before!’
Kitty was aware of Daniel’s eyes upon her, but she said nothing. She walked into the bedchamber and began to struggle out of her sodden gown.
‘She thinks we are man and wife,’ muttered Daniel, following her into the room.
‘I know.’
He pulled a ring from his little finger and held it out to her.
‘Here, wear this. I would not embarrass the woman by having her guess the truth.’ He picked up Kitty’s hand and slipped the ring on to her wedding finger. ‘I hope you will allow me to replace it with the real thing soon enough.’
Kitty’s cheeks burned and she turned away, giving her attention to removing her wet clothes. She stripped down to her shift and looked round for the woman’s shawl to put over her shoulders but Daniel had already appropriated it to wrap around his waist, his clothes lying in a wet puddle on the stone floor. She held her breath, unable to tear her eyes from his naked torso. He seemed to fill the little room; his broad shoulders and muscled arms still glistened with damp and she was shocked by her desire to put out her hand and touch the black curling hair on his chest.
‘We, um…’ She swallowed, not meeting his eyes. ‘We should ask our hostess if she has a towel we may use to finish drying ourselves.’
‘Just a moment.’ He picked up a thin coverlet from the bed, folded it diagonally and threw it over her shoulders. ‘There. Do you feel more comfortable now?’
Daniel was smiling at her, and Kitty wondered if he knew that it was not standing before him in her shift that was unsettling her but her desire to feast her eyes upon his body. Quickly she scooped up their clothes and carried them into the other room. The old woman took them from her.
‘You leave these to me, my dear, and sit yerself down in front o’fire until you are dry again.’ She gave a little chuckle when Daniel walked in and she saw the use he had made of her shawl but she said nothing and hurried away to hang out their clothes.
‘You have not yet given me an answer,’ said Daniel, sitting down beside Kitty on the narrow settle beside the fire.
‘An…an answer?’
‘You have not said that you will marry me.’
‘After this I do not think we have a choice, sir,’ she said, trying to speak lightly.
‘No!’ Angrily he gripped her arms, turning her to face him. ‘I do not want you forced by circumstances to become my wife. I want you to choose me—me, Kitty, do you understand? For better or worse, richer or poorer. It must be your decision, freely made. If you are not sure then I will remove myself from your presence until we are fit to return to Fallridge—’
‘That will not be necessary,’ she said quickly. ‘I w-want nothing better than to be your wife, Daniel.’ She added quietly, ‘For no other reason than that I love you, with all my heart.’
She smiled, her spirits soaring when she saw the glow of delight in his eyes.
His hands tightened and he was about to drag her into his arms when the old lady came bustling in again.
‘An hour, two at the most, and your clothes will be dry.’ She hesitated, took a couple of steps towards the fire, then stopped again.
‘Thank you, mother, but do not let us keep you from your work, if you have spinning to do…’
‘Ah, well, you see I hadn’t finished my spinning when Mr Jobbins called first thing this morning.’ She pointed to a large cloth bag beside the door. ‘I said I would take ’em on t’village as soon as they was done. I get paid by the hank, you see—in a good week I can make five shillings or more, but what with Jack comin’ round yesterday, and bringin’ the bairns to see me—well, they’re bonny children, to be sure, but I got behind…’
‘Oh, please, if you have to go out then we will leave,’ said Kitty rising.
The old woman waved her back into her seat.
‘That you won’t. You are quite welcome to stay here while I go out. I was planning to spend the night with our Jack, so you can stay here as long as you wish.’
‘Thank you, mother,’ said Daniel. ‘You may be sure we will lock up behind us.’
The old woman gave a cackle of laughter.
‘Bless you, sir, there’s no need for that.’ She held out her hands and looked around. ‘There’s nothing here worth the trouble o’ stealing. And besides it’s rare that anyone passes this way. No, my dears, you sit there as long as you want, there’ll be no one to bother ye. You’ll find a bit o’ broth in the kettle by the fire: you’re welcome to that and if you want water the pump is just outside the door,’ She gave another toothless cackle. ‘Although I’d say you’d both had enough water today! Well, I’ll bid you good day then.’
She picked up her bundle.
‘Goodbye, mistress, and thank you!’ called Kitty.
The woman gave them a final wave and went out, closing the door behind her.
Silence settled around them. Daniel looked down at his bare feet, suddenly feeling awkward. What was he doing here, sitting near-naked in a spinster’s cottage? A glance at Kitty showed him that she, too, was uneasy.
‘What a good soul,’ she said with forced brightness. ‘And trusting, to leave us here alone.’
‘She saw the quality of our clothes. She knows we are not vagabonds.’ Eager for a distraction, Daniel moved over to the fire and poked at the logs until they were blazing merrily. He glanced back at Kitty. ‘Your hair is still wet. Will you sit a little closer to the fire?’
‘Yes, please.’ Kitty rose and rubbed her arms as Daniel tried to move the settle, which creaked alarmingly. She laughed. ‘I think we should leave it where it is. I am afraid if we move it from the wall it will fall apart. But I have an idea!’
Daniel watched her pull the cushions from the settle and put them on the rug in front of the fire. Then she knelt down with her back to the fire, shaking her hair loose. His breath caught in his throat as he watched it ripple down her back like a dark waterfall. Daniel quickly turned away, knowing the shawl wrapped around his hips would not conceal his desire from her.
‘Daniel, will you not sit beside me?’
She spoke softly but he heard the wistfulness in her voice. He dropped down on to the rug behind her and put his hand to her hair, allowing the dark tresses to flow through his fingers like silk. With a sigh she tilted back her head and rested against him, her eyes closed. It was irresistible: Daniel leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on the slim column of her neck. Her hand came up to his cheek. She twisted round to face him, her mouth seeking his. Daniel had intended nothing more than a tender kiss but as soon as their lips met she trembled against him and a ripple of excitement flowed between them as her lips parted and their tongues engaged in a sensuous, silent conversation. He wrapped her in his arms and eased her down on to the rug. She clung to him. The firm swell of her breasts pressed against his chest, only the thin fabric of her shift between them. He raised his head, trying to contain his excitement, then he began to kiss her again, his lips caressing her eyes, her cheeks. He trailed his tongue along her jaw and lightly over her neck. His fingers clenched on the folds of the shift. He wanted to remove it, since it was the last barrier between his body and Kitty’s soft white skin. She struggled beneath him and immediately he pushed himself away from her, determined that he would in no way force his will upon her.
Kitty sat up. The cottage was silent save for the fire crackling behind her and Daniel’s ragged breathing. Keeping her eyes fixed on his face, she crossed her arms in front of her and took hold of the shift, lifting it cleanly away and upwards in one smooth movement. As she raised her arms above her head Daniel reached out for her. She gasped. Her arms and head were temporarily imprisoned in the fine linen, leaving Daniel free to plunder her breasts, cupping them in his hands, burying his face between them before fastening his mouth on one tender bud and causing a shaft of white-hot desire to drive through her. She threw off the offending material and reached for him, driving her fingers through his hair, clasping him to her as she fell back against the cushions. She had no control over her body. It arched and moved against him, inviting his hands to caress her. She moaned with pleasure as his fingers traced a line from the inside of her knee and along her thigh, gasping as those same fingers moved into her and roused her to even higher realms of delight. His fingers caressed effortlessly, she was slick with desire, opening for him, raising her hips in blatant invitation. In one swift move he rolled over her and she felt his aroused body pressed against her. His hands slid under her hips, lifting her up to receive him. Kitty clung to him, her fingers digging into his back as he entered her. A tiny gasp, a tiny pain, then the joy and exhilaration of their union overwhelmed her. She tried to follow his lead, moving with him, a fierce excitement coursing through every part of her body. She was flying, soaring, her senses on fire as they moved together. She was vaguely aware that Daniel was holding himself in check, moving for her pleasure rather than his own, but she could do nothing about it, for he was lifting her to such a height of pleasure that she was helpless beneath him, crying out as her body exploded. Deep within her, muscles were clenching in spasm and with an almost painful pleasure. She clung to Daniel, whispering his name, knowing they were still joined. He held her safe in his arms as her body relaxed against his, a perfect fit. She was filled with a pleasant torpor with Daniel’s hands gently caressing her body. Then he was kissing her, feather-light touches along her neck, fanning the flames of desire until her body began to pulse again. This time she pushed against him, revelling in her power to make him gasp and moan with delight. She quivered as he took her once more to the peak of excitement and this time he was with her, pushing, tensing and crying out as they soared together before falling back to earth, clinging to one another.
They lay before the fire, wrapped in each other’s arms, while the sun moved across the sky.
‘We must get back,’ murmured Kitty.
‘Soon.’ Daniel nibbled at her ear.
Kitty gave a little gasp and struggled to sit up.
‘We will be missed,’ she said urgently. ‘Your mother will be waiting…’
‘No, we agreed she would take Bella home. I told her it might take me some time to…persuade you.’
Kitty turned to look at him. He was lying naked beside her, reminding her of the statues displayed in many of the grand houses she had visited with her godmother, although there was nothing cold or lifeless about Daniel. She reached out to touch him, her fingers splaying through the crisp black hair of his chest.
‘And…was I difficult to persuade?’
‘Very.’ With a growl Daniel pulled her back into his arms. ‘I am not convinced I have yet succeeded.’
They made love again and this time it was even more delightful as they explored new ways to please each other as their naked bodies tangled together. Later they took great pleasure in dressing each other, with much laughter and fevered kisses until at last they were ready to leave the little cottage. Daniel dropped a handful of coins in a cup on the hearth.
‘I would give her ten times as much if I had it on me,’ he declared, grinning. ‘The old mother has secured a wife for me.’ He caught Kitty up in his arms and kissed her. ‘You must marry me now, you shameless wench!’
She wound her arms about his neck and kissed him back fiercely until with a groan he put his hands on her waist and put her away from him.
‘If you do not behave I will have to take you again,’ he muttered. ‘Come along, we’ll walk to the top of the clough, then Marnie will carry us both home.’
‘I fear we will be very late,’ remarked Kitty. ‘And I was supposed to be collecting elderberries. What shall I tell Mama?’
‘We will tell her the truth, that you lost your basket in the beck.’
‘And my shawl, too! Oh dear, she will be so vexed with me!’
With a low laugh Daniel turned her to face him, catching her face between her hands.
‘I doubt she will give your shawl a thought when we tell her that you are going to be married!’
It was growing dark as they rode over the moor, Kitty sitting across the saddle in front of Daniel, enveloped in his arms. The sun had disappeared below the horizon and the first stars twinkled in the sky. Daniel lowered his head to rest his cheek briefly on her curls.
‘Happy?’ he murmured.
‘Mmmm.’
He reached for her left hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the finger that bore the little ring he had given her.
‘Tomorrow I shall buy you a diamond ring. The best I can find.’
‘Not too big,’ she protested. ‘I should be afraid of losing it, and I want to wear it, always.’
‘If you lose it I shall buy you another,’ he said grandly. ‘And you must have emeralds to replace the ones you left behind at Kirkleigh.’
Kitty shook her head. ‘Those jewels were never mine. They were intended for the next Lady Harworth.’ She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled closer. ‘I am so relieved it will not be me.’
‘You are not sorry, then, to be marrying a mere tradesman?’
She chuckled.
‘I am not, but I fear Mama might be disappointed.’
‘I have news that may be of some consolation to her.’
She sat up.
‘News?’
He grinned at her.
‘My father is to become a baronet. He will be Sir Samuel Blackwood.’
‘Oh, Daniel, how wonderful! How long have you known of this?’
‘Since I left London. I had several meetings in Whitehall while I was there, you see. My father has been helping Pitt with, ah, shall we say, financial support. The baronetcy is by way of a reward. And as it is hereditary, you will become a lady after all!’
She hugged him.
‘You are right. Mama will be delighted.’
‘And you are not?’
‘It does not matter to me at all. I only want to be your wife, Daniel.’
He brought Marnie to a halt.
‘Are you sure, Kitty?’
‘Perfectly sure.’
He cupped her face and kissed her.
‘I love you, Kitty Wythenshawe.’
‘To think we almost lost each other.’ She put her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder, gazing up at the darkening sky.
‘I am afraid if it had not been for me you could have married your baron,’ he said ruefully. ‘I will do my best to make sure you never regret it.’
She looked up at him, her eyes shining softly.
‘You told me once I was trying to catch the moon, do you remember? What I have now is so much better, Daniel. I have your love: I have the stars.’