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James’s fingertips skimmed Kitty’s back and shivers of delight washed over her. She turned her head to the side, glancing at James, who lay beside her.
His skin was smooth to the touch she had come to realize when she’d removed his dress shirt earlier. His pale, broad shoulders—the same shoulders that had held her against him—were now beside her, at ease and exposed.
Kitty rolled onto her side, allowing James’s fingertips to graze along her shoulder and down her arm.
“James,” Kitty whispered.
“Kitty,” James whispered in return.
“The rain has stopped.”
There was a moment of quiet as James turned his head to listen. “Indeed, it has.”
“When I was a young girl, I spent most rainy nights indoors, as a true lady should,” Kitty said and rolled her eyes. “But there is no better feeling than walking in the rain. It awakens my senses and allows me to feel invigorated.”
“Was that why you were outside last evening?” James inquired.
“How did you know?” Kitty asked.
“I saw someone dash into the stable, but I could not see who it was. If I had known it was you, I would have ensured you were not drenched by the rain, my lady” James answered.
“But I would have been no less drenched regardless.” Kitty grinned and pouted her lips.
James shrugged. “But what were you doing in the stables?”
“In all honesty,” Kitty said and glanced at James, “I wished to relive the happy moments I spent with you in the meadow by spending time with the horse you rode. And perhaps it sounds utterly daft, but it made me feel better for a while.”
“Only for a while?”
She nodded her head. “Indeed, which was the reason I came to your bedchamber. I wished to receive clarification with regards to your withdrawal. As I mentioned, I was convinced I had done something that upset you, despite not knowing what it was,” Kitty explained.
“Kitty,” James murmured once more and shifted his body closer to hers. He reached his hand over to hers and weaved his fingers between hers then closed them, creating a firm grasp of her hand. “There is nothing more important to me than your happiness. Despite not being acquainted with you for a long period of time—”
“Or even a week,” Kitty chuckled with amusement.
“Indeed,” James smiled. “But it does feel as though we have known one another longer.”
“I could not agree more, James. Why is that?” Kitty asked as she placed their interlocked hands against her chest. Hopefully he was able to feel the pounding of her heart.
“I am not entirely certain. I attempted to rationalise it in my mind, but I could not. I still cannot, in fact. Opening up to people is difficult for me.”
“Your father taught you not to,” Kitty whispered and turned to look at him.
His eyes were filled with a sadness she understood, as both she and James had been raised to appease their parents.
Kitty smiled and slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. “James, I must return to my chamber. I wouldn’t wish for my mother and father to see me as I leave your bedchamber. There is no telling what my father might do.”
“I understand,” James answered and sat upright as well. He reached out his hand to her and smiled tenderly. “Perhaps we can speak during breakfast, with Lord and Lady Dunne present, of course.”
Kitty’s eyes widened and a wave of panic moved through her gut. “To discuss what precisely, James?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Not this, my lady. I simply wish to discuss the plans for our wedding.”
A swarm of butterflies appeared in place of her panic, and the tension in her shoulders eased. “Of course, Your Grace. That would be lovely.” Kitty slid off the bed.
She dressed herself while feeling James’s gaze on her as she moved about the chambers. Kitty held her shoes in her hands, which were still drenched from the rain, and approached the bed. She leaned closer to him and smiled. “It has truly been a pleasure, Your Grace.”
“Indeed it has, my lady,” James murmured and kissed her on the lips. “I look forward to breakfast.”
“As do I,” Kitty whispered, and without another word, she left his bedchamber, hoping her parents would not catch her in the dark hallways, or hear her as she entered her chambers.
*
KITTY GLANCED INCONSPICUOUSLY at James and noticed the smile on his lips. Was he still thinking of their encounter in his chambers last night?
Did he still feel her touch on his skin, as she most certainly felt his?
Their eyes met in a brief yet powerful moment, before her mother interrupted.
“I am delighted to hear you wish to shorten the engagement, Your Grace, but what prompted this decision?”
“There is no need to wait, Lady Dunne. After your daughter and I went riding in the meadow, we have come to know one another quite well and it only seems fitting that we marry as soon as possible,” James answered.
“The duke is correct. Why wait?” Lord Dunne agreed.
“Indeed,” James answered and glanced at Kitty. “Your daughter is a wonderful young woman, and she would make an excellent wife. She has poise and grace, and is a daughter who should fill you with delight.”
“Your words are kind,” Lady Dunne beamed. “We are utterly proud of her, and the woman she has become.”
“As you should be,” James smiled.
Kitty’s heart pounded in her chest as James glanced at her intently, a smoldering smile on his lips weakening her knees.
“If I may, Your Grace,” her father interjected, “perhaps suggest a wedding nearer to Christmas. Our family normally travels to Somerset and it would be ideal.”
Without wavering, the duke answered, “It is entirely Kitty’s decision.”
Kitty’s jaw dropped as she glanced at James in disbelief. From the very beginning of this arrangement, she had no choice, no opinion, and no control over anything, yet James now passed the decision of when they would be married to her.
Of course, she wished to marry him sooner than anticipated, but she was unsure of how soon.
“Perhaps an autumn wedding would please my lady?” James suggested.
Kitty pursed her lips and hesitated. Autumn was her most adored season. How had he guessed?
Possibly she’d mentioned it in passing and James had remembered that small and seemingly insignificant detail?
Kitty sighed happily and nodded. “Autumn is my favourite time of the year, Your Grace.”
James nodded knowingly, which meant the world to Kitty, and she reciprocated the gesture.
“With all due respect, Your Grace, I understand your wish to marry my daughter at the soonest, but is that not perhaps too soon?” Lady Dunne interjected, a scowl of disapproval on her aged face. “My daughter is still a child.”
“I am most certainly not a child, Mother,” Kitty corrected.
“My lady,” James said to the countess and shifted in his seat to have a better view of Lady Dunne. “I understand you and Lord Dunne have raised Kitty from the moment she came into this world, and what a fine woman she has turned out to be. For that, I thank you. As Kitty has mentioned, she is not a child any longer, and despite still being my your daughter, she is free to choose, as she will be even after we are married.”
Lady Dunne opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it again.
James’s opinion of her meant a great deal, and she knew she wouldn’t tire of this wonderful man to whom she had given herself.
The moment reminded her of the tale he had told her about how his mother and father had fallen in love so quickly. She hoped she would be lucky enough to have such a long and happy life with the man she would soon marry.
There were more moments of silence around the table, until James finally spoke. “So be it. We shall have an autumn wedding.”
“There is certainly much for which to prepare,” Lady Dunne said.
“Indeed,” James agreed.
“Your Grace, could I have a word with my daughter—”
“Whatever you wish to say, Mother, you can say to both myself and the duke,” Kitty interjected, her voice confident as she gazed at her mother.
She was not certain if it was due to James giving her the control to decide things for herself, having had enough of her mother’s incessant demands, or perhaps both, but Kitty had not felt as powerful as this before.
Lady Dunne pursed her lips for a moment and nodded. “Are you certain that you do not want to wait a while longer before you are married, my dear? We have mere months to prepare, and I would not wish for you to rush into this.”
“You and Father both agreed that there was no need to wait longer. The duke and I have become well acquainted, despite what you think. I cannot begin to describe it, but he and I share something wonderful, something rare. I would not call it love yet, but there is certainly something there,” Kitty explained. “He and I will be wed in the autumn, on a beautiful day between the shedding trees, upon a carpet of leaves in hues of orange, yellow and red. We will be wed and start our life together as the Duke and Duchess of Somerset.”
Lady Dunne swallowed quietly, as if there was something stuck in her throat, but nodded. “As you wish, my dear. The decision lays with you. Your father and I simply want the best for you.”
Why was her mother changing her mind now? She had all but forced Kitty into this marriage from the very beginning.
“I am aware of that, Mother, and that is why you have arranged for me to marry the duke. There is no better man,” Kitty said.
Lady Dunne glanced at her daughter, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes.
“Your words are kind, my lady,” James said and she smiled confidently at him.
Urgent footsteps sounded on the pathway outside and Kenneth appeared at the stairs, his face flushed and his eyes panicked-stricken.
“Your Grace,” Kenneth said. “My sincerest apologies for this abrupt intrusion, but there is something you must see.”
“What is it, Kenneth? Is everything all right? What has happened?” James inquired.
“There is no time, Your Grace. Please, you must come with me to the stable,” Kenneth urged.
“Pardon me, my lord, my ladies,” James said apologetically and stood from the table.
“I shall accompany you,” Kitty offered.
James nodded silently, offering his hand to her.
She took it, and he assisted her from the table and they followed Kenneth down the steps.
Kitty turned to her parents. “I shall be careful. You have my word.”