Jane moved away. ‘The man’s gone for you. We all knew it on the first day you moved in. I don’t think he wants a Society wife; I think he wants you. But if you say you want to live a life of independence, then… I was going to say well done for having principles but I’ve changed my mind. You’re a nitwit.’
Kate heard the sound of a carriage drawing up outside the window. Despite herself, she rushed to the glass and peered down to the road. Her heart skipped several beats as Edward jumped down, his gaze lifting and unerringly seeking hers. He smiled and raised a hand; a grin spread across her face in response.
‘I do not think I have the strength to start again if it does not work between him and me,’ she said softly, still smiling down at him.
Jane picked up a hanger and began arranging Kate’s dresses once more. ‘I have never faced any sort of heartbreak, Miss, so I can’t say. My best advice is for you not to be a ninnyhammer.’
‘That is not entirely useful, Jane.’
‘You don’t pay me for my advice, Miss. You pay me for my excellent hairstyling, and I can honestly say you are looking particularly beautiful this morning.’
Down in the street below, Edward was reaching for something inside the carriage. Kate didn’t wait to see what it was; instead she turned and hurried down the stairs to greet him.
Chapter Thirty-two
Her heart was pounding as she stepped out into the brisk winter’s air.
Edward had lost weight in the ten days since she had last seen him, his cheekbones were more pronounced and his clothes looked looser about the shoulders. But he was smiling as he held something out to her, wrapped in a cloth.
‘I thought about bringing you flowers, but I did not want to be like everyone else, so instead I brought something I am sure you will like.’
She gasped as she saw what he had inside. ‘Fruit cake! Thank you. I love it so much.’
He grinned and her heart turned over. ‘I know you do.’
‘I would take it inside, but I do not want the boys to get hold of it and devour it before I have a chance. I will take it with us and we can eat some after we have finished with Chorley.’
His laughter dimmed. ‘Are you sure we need to confront him? Can I not just have him killed and buried in one of Freddie’s gardens?’
‘As much as I appreciate the offer, I still think the warning has to come from me.’
‘Soyouwill kill him and bury him in one of Freddie’s gardens.’
She laughed as she took his hand and climbed into the carriage. ‘If what I say fails, then we will go with your plan.’
She’d forgotten how small carriages were, or perhaps it was that, despite the weight loss, Edward was still large. As they rumbled off she was very aware of his body taking up most of the space. For all Jane’s talk of how he was her man, he did not seem similarly affected by the proximity; his legs were crossed, his hands idle on his lap.
‘Do you have time to join me for a short expedition after we have seen to Chorley?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I do.’ She had all the time in the world for him.
‘I read your plan for your Home for Disadvantaged Children and I have found a potential place. Would you like to see it?’
‘Oh, I would love to. Thank you.’
For the rest of the journey, they talked about her idea. The duke had read her plans and offered her a sum of money to help set it up. It was a very generous offer and with the amount that Edward was willing to put forward, too, she could see her having it up and running sooner than she had hoped. In no time at all, she would be living the life she wanted, and if Edward was planning to invest… well, she would still be able to see him now and then.
At least until he started with a family of his own; after that it would be too painful. That could be years from now, however. Men didn’t like to settle down until they were in their thirties. She probably had a good ten years of seeing him and talking with him before that and she intended to enjoy every moment of it.
All happy thoughts for the future faded as they pulled up outside Chorley’s London residence far quicker than she would have liked. Her knees trembled as she climbed down from the carriage, ice flooding through her veins. She thought Edward might try to persuade her to leave it, but he took her fingers in his and squeezed, giving her the courage to knock.
They were shown into a sitting room by a butler she remembered. The man smiled kindly at her, but seemed to pretend Edward did not exist. ‘I will tell Mr Chorley you are here to see him, Miss Hornel.’
Something passed between Edward and the butler, a slight nod of understanding.
‘What was that?’ Kate asked when they were left alone. ‘Did you plan it beforehand?’
‘No. I have never met the man, but I am guessing his servants like him as much as you do. The butler does not want to warn him you are accompanied. I think he would probably approve of my garden plan.’ Edward winked at her, taking up a position by her side.
