How would you like me to be embroiled in a scandal?’
‘Some people are entirely too touchy.’ Stephanie gave a loud sniff. ‘Very well, you will hear no more from me on the subject. I entirely wash my hands of you, Harriet Wilkinson. I hope you enjoy your widow’s bed.’
‘I find it utterly comfortable. Far better than my marriage bed,’ she muttered under her breath.
‘Aunt Hattie, it is his carriage. I know it is,’ Livvy breathed when Hattie turned the governess cart into the Corbridge High Street the morning after the concert.
‘Whose carriage?’ Hattie asked absently as she brought the cart to a halt outside the ironmonger’s. Her dreams had been confused last night after the concert. Twice she had woken with her mind full of thoughts of Kit and the way his lips had moved over hers. She should have said something before he left. It was quite possible he considered that she had a part in that saving of a seat débâcle. She couldn’t decide which was worse—Stephanie’s behaviour or the fact she had been supremely aware of him.
Today was a day for concentrating on the jobs that needed to be done before the Stagshaw Bank Fair, rather than considering what might have been. Once the fair was over, he’d depart the neighbourhood and she would not have a constant reminder. She could get over this attraction.
‘Whose carriage, Livvy?’
‘Sir Christopher’s, of course!’
Hattie ignored the sudden fluttering in her stomach. She had made the correct decision. She’d no other choice. Any lady would have done the same thing. ‘I wasn’t aware that you ever paid much attention to carriages.’
‘It has butter-yellow wheels and is quite new. Mr Hook told me all about it. Sir Christopher purchased it once they arrived in Newcastle by packet boat.’
‘Other carriages have butter-yellow wheels,’ Hattie said, more to control her own sudden onset of nerves than Livvy’s. After the concert where he’d barely spoken to her, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
Livvy kicked the board under her seat. ‘Can I go to the circulating library?’
‘May I. Where are your manners today, Livvy?’
‘May I go? Portia, you will come with me.’ Livvy grabbed her sister’s arm. ‘Aunt Hattie, surely you can’t object if I have a companion. I wish to improve my mind.’
Portia gave an indignant squeak.
Hattie pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘I thought you wanted to go to the haberdasher’s for more ribbon.’
‘I can do that after. Please. I want to see if the latest by the author of Waverley is there. And Papa wants a book on animal husbandry. He wants to settle an argument with Colonel Cunningham. I will catch you up in the haberdasher’s.’
Hattie gave a weary wave. It would make life easier if neither Livvy nor Portia accompanied her on her errands, particularly when she needed to find out if indeed the firebox for Mrs Belter’s cook stove could be repaired as Mr Ogle had promised weeks ago or if she’d be better investigating the range of stoves at the Stagshaw fair for Mrs Belter. The fair did represent an opportunity to buy a wider range of goods than were generally available in the Tyne Valley.
She watched the pair for a few steps and decided that they would be all right. Livvy could not get up to any mischief at the circulating library and the probability that Mr Hook was actually there was slim. The back of her neck crept. The last person she wanted to encounter was Kit and if Mr Hook was in the library, Kit would not be far behind. And she certainly did not want to explain about the concert.
She stepped into the ironmonger’s and collided with a solid expanse of chest. Hattie inhaled the sandalwood scent. Strong fingers caught her elbow and steadied her.
She hurriedly took a step backwards out of the shop. She ducked her head, hoping that he wouldn’t see her flaming cheeks. ‘Sir Christopher. This is most unexpected.’
‘Mrs Wilkinson.’
Hattie shifted in her boots. Of all the people! This time she refused to be cut. ‘I wanted to make sure Mr Ogle had finished a job for me.’
‘It is your habit to enter establishments without checking to see if anyone is coming out?’ His grey eyes danced.
Her heart did a little flip. He wasn’t angry with her. He was flirting with her as if the breach never happened.
‘Yes, I mean, no. I was thinking of other things.’
‘Obviously of great import.’
‘Domestic triviality.’ She squared her shoulders. This encounter would not throw her off balance. She had made her decision, but it did not prevent her from being civil. ‘You understand how it is.’
‘Wool-gathering,’ he said decisively. A smile tugged at his lips. ‘It is a bad habit. You neglected me dreadfully during the concert.’
‘You left straight after the concert.’ She pulled at her gloves, straightening the fingers. ‘I wanted to thank you for rescuing me.’
‘Rescuing you?’
‘From Dr Hornby. He can be difficult to sit next to.’
He tilted his head to one side. ‘It was my seat. Your sister signalled to me when I came in, I thought you knew.’
‘Obviously I was mistaken.’ Hattie picked at the seam of her glove. She wished she had thought of that scenario. She should have guessed something like that had happened. Stephanie could be singularly stubborn. ‘Despite my best efforts, my sister harbours hopes.’
‘If he bothers you again, let me know. Simply being the vicar does not give him the right to touch people.’
Hattie glanced up quickly. ‘You saw that.’
‘I happened to look over. Even if it had not been my seat, I would have done something.’
‘You would have?’
‘You are the only true friend I have in the neighbourhood.’
‘You plan on staying in the neighbourhood?’ Hattie gripped her reticule tighter. He was going to stay for longer. A mixture of fear and excitement vibrated through her. She would have to see him again and again, but on what terms? Friendship was the only sensible course. She had to think about safeguarding her reputation.
‘I am undecided about what to do with the Lodge.’ The tone in his voice seemed to indicate something troubled him more than the Lodge.
‘And will you be doing up your tenants’ houses?’ Hattie asked, trying to steer the conversation away from their friendship.
‘They appear to be in good order. My uncle may not have cared for his own comforts, but he did make sure that his tenants all had a roof over their heads.’ Kit drew himself up to his full height. ‘I do employ the same estate manager. No one has been to me with complaints about him.’
She thought about Mrs Reynaud and how she had mentioned him. It would be the perfect opportunity for them to renew
