‘Are you deaf, Rupert? To repeat myself—we are staying.’
‘Truly?’ Rupert’s voice cracked. ‘We are staying. Here in Northumberland? I’m about to start believing in miracles.’
Kit raised an eyebrow. Miracles? Right now he needed one, but he would not allow himself to lose hope. He intended to prove to Harriet that he was worthy and worth taking a risk on.
‘I simply saw the error of my ways,’ Kit said in a tone that allowed for no further questions. ‘I regret that I haven’t been able to speak to you about the lecture before now. Perhaps going on about the mating habits of the newt while staring directly at Miss Parteger was not the best strategy. There was rather a shocked ripple which ran through the crowd. Next time, think about your audience’s sensibilities.’
Rupert had the grace to flush. ‘I adore her. The words came tumbling out.’ He pressed his hand to his heart. ‘Kit, do you think I have a chance? Her parents want a title and I have none.’
Kit pursed his lips. Once he would have told Rupert to forget Miss Parteger and move on, but now knowing Harriet, he knew that moving on was the wrong tack. There were times in a man’s life when he had to dig in and fight.
‘You are determined on this course?’
Rupert gave a slow nod.
‘Titles are not everything, Rupert. It is more important that you two get on. Sometimes you have to hope.’
‘Without a title I am nowhere.’
‘Your great-uncle might die without an heir. You’d have a title then.’
Rupert looked dubious. ‘He has just married a woman young enough to be my sister.’
‘It remains a distant possibility, I grant you, but it might get you a hearing.’
‘How will I convince her father and, more importantly, her mother of that? Mr Parteger only found the lecture of passing interest.’
‘To a truly determined man, you should see this as an opportunity rather than a door closing in your face.’ Kit repeated the words he’d told himself over and over on the way back to the Lodge.
‘She is an angel, Kit. I swear. Every man jack will be after her when she has her Season.’
‘Then you shall go to London when she goes, but for now, you can remain here.’ Kit gritted his teeth. London right now held no attraction. He had to hope that Harriet would see sense before he had to take Rupert to London. ‘I promise, Rupert.’
Rupert nodded, digesting the news. ‘Who is going to use the rose bedroom?’
Kit noticed the distinct change in subject. A small prickle of concern went through him. What precisely was Rupert planning? ‘My mother.’
‘Your mother?’
‘Even I have a mother, Rupert,’ Kit said drily. ‘She was lost and now she has been found again. I intend for her to live out the remainder of her days in comfort. And I shall be making my home here, for absence of doubt.’
‘And Mrs Wilkinson? The way you cut her at the lecture was the talk of the village.’
‘I never discuss ladies, Rupert, you know that. Now get on with your studies. You have a reputation to maintain.’
Rupert’s face broke into a wide smile. ‘You are right.’
Kit turned away. Rupert might have a reputation to maintain, but he had a reputation to change. Right now, he wasn’t sure which was the harder task.
Late the next morning, Hattie discovered Stephanie in her drawing room, with a cloth over her eyes as she lay on the chaise-longue.
After Kit left, Hattie had been unable to summon the energy to do little more than sob. The sobbing had given way to steely determination late in the night. Going and unburdening herself to Mrs Reynaud was now impossible. She shuddered at the thought of explaining the situation to Kit’s mother.
The only real option had been to go to Stephanie and hope she could bury herself again in trivial tasks, anything to keep from thinking and wishing that it could have been different, that Kit had really meant his proposal.
‘You are bold coming here, Hattie,’ Stephanie pronounced without removing the cloth when Hattie announced her presence. ‘After what you did!’
‘Is there some problem?’
‘Yes, my nerves are torn to shreds.’ Stephanie waved a hand. ‘Yesterday, dear Mrs Hampstead informed me that Sir Christopher was at your house late on the night of Mr Hook’s infamous lecture on the habits of newts. You entertained him. Goodness knows how many other people saw him go in. Your house can be seen from the road. Imagine what would happen if this news gets out! You can’t claim that he was being heroic this time.’
‘I’d rather not think about it.’ A shiver went down Hattie’s spine. Of all the times to be seen and remarked on. Right when she was finishing with Kit. She pinched her nose. It was, though, another explanation of why Kit felt the need to offer. ‘It wasn’t what you think, Stephanie.’
Stephanie tore the cloth from her eyes. ‘You promised, Hattie. My sister! Think about what this will do to poor sweet Livvy!’
‘You are not waiting to hear my side.’
‘I have been comforting Mrs Hampstead, who is in floods of tears. She told me all about how you used to go out riding and return with grass stains. She thought she knew you!’
‘Mrs Hampstead should have spoken to me. I would have explained.’ Hattie removed her bonnet with a trembling hand. Never had she been so angry with herself. She had been foolish in the extreme to think the affair would remain undiscovered.
‘Your lover reappeared yesterday morning and you entertained him alone.’ Stephanie’s lip curled. ‘Not content with the other night, was he? He had to make doubly sure that everyone knew what sort of loose woman you are. My sister! You were a widow with a spotless reputation until that man came along. One come-hither glance and you forget your principles. Everything that is important to you.’
Hattie summoned all of her dignity. Stephanie had no right to speak to her like that. Ever. But screaming at her like a fishwife wasn’t going to solve anything. ‘Sir Christopher made an offer of marriage.’
‘And you accepted?’ Stephanie clapped her hands and her entire face changed. ‘You might have said, Hattie, you sly puss. I have been worrying so. I couldn’t eat all yesterday and my head pains me. You were really too bad not to think about my nerves.’
Hattie waited a heartbeat. ‘I refused.’
‘You … what?’ Stephanie’s shriek could be heard in two counties. ‘Are you destined for a room in Bedlam?’
‘It was an infamous offer, made in such a way that he knew I had to refuse.’ Hattie tapped her foot, feeling her hard-won self-control starting to slip. ‘What sort of woman did he think I was?’
‘It was an offer,
