The Convenient Felstone Marriage (Whitby Weddings 1)

‘She wasn’t too tired from her journey?’

‘Apparently not.’

‘Oh, for pity’s sake!’ Giles burst out impatiently. ‘Just tell her what happened and have done with it. You know we’ll never have any peace until you do.’

‘Giles!’ Kitty looked aggrieved. ‘You know I don’t want to pry.’

‘And you know perfectly well that you do. Just ask him.’

‘I’ll do no such thing.’ Kitty lifted her button nose in the air. ‘Since you both think so ill of me.’

‘I assure you that we think nothing of the kind.’ Robert shared a conspiratorial look with his friend. ‘But as I told you, it only was a brief visit to deliver the dress.’

And to ask her to marry me, he added silently. Not that he was about to tell Kitty that. He might as well take out an advert in the local paper. As to how it had gone... Honestly, he had no idea. Miss Holt might prefer him to Sir Charles, but that wasn’t saying much. That moment when their fingers had touched had seemed to affect her, too, but then she’d been the one to pull away. She hadn’t even looked at him when he’d left, had seemed no closer to accepting his proposal, though after the way his own body had reacted, he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted her to any more. That had definitely not been part of his proposal. On the other hand, the thought of leaving her at the mercy of Sir Charles made his fists curl instinctively. No matter how unnerved he’d been by their exchange, he couldn’t do that...

He dragged his thoughts back to the present, aware of Kitty still watching him.

‘As it happens, you’re already acquainted with Miss Holt. Her aunt says you used to play together.’

‘Really?’ Kitty’s face brightened again. ‘Wait, you mean, Ianthe Holt? Why, of course I remember her! Her mother was Phylidia Gibbs, Sophoria’s little sister, the one who married an artist and moved to London. Oh, she was the most beautiful woman I ever saw! No wonder you like her, Robert, if she takes after her mother.’

Robert hesitated, wondering how to answer such a statement truthfully. ‘She looked somewhat like her aunt today.’

‘Well, I’m sure she’s perfectly charming. Maybe I should call, since we’re already acquainted?’

‘No!’ Giles intervened hastily. ‘Leave Robert to it.’

‘But maybe I can help, like I did with the dress?’

‘You were very helpful.’ Robert agreed tactfully. He’d enlisted Kitty’s help in buying the gown, partly to avoid gossip, partly because he had no idea how to order women’s clothing, specifying the material, style and colour and then leaving her to do the rest, promising it as a gift with the sole proviso that Miss Holt borrow it first. That way he hadn’t lied. Disingenuous as it was, the dress was technically on loan. Not that Kitty was capable of keeping any secret for long. If she called on Miss Holt that day, the truth would be out before they ever reached the ball.

‘I could tell her all the good things about you.’ Kitty sounded alarmingly eager.

‘As opposed to the many bad ones?’

‘Just leave it be, Kitty. You’ll see her tonight.’ Giles threw him an apologetic look. ‘Sorry, Robert, you know my wife won’t be happy until she’s married off every eligible bachelor in Yorkshire.’

‘Well, I think it’s exciting.’ Kitty pouted. ‘When was the last time Robert took an interest in any woman? He didn’t even tell me about Louisa Allendon.’

‘Can’t think why not.’

‘So this is different, don’t you think?’ She heaved a sigh. ‘I wish you still talked about me that way, Giles.’

‘What way?’ Robert glanced down in surprise. He didn’t remember saying anything particularly noteworthy about Miss Holt, let alone in any particular way.

‘It wasn’t so much what you said as the fact that you said it at all. You know, you two can be very boring talking about trains and boats all the time. It made a refreshing change. You said she seemed very respectable.’

‘So you did!’ Giles broke into a grin. ‘I wouldn’t call that very romantic, though.’

‘It wasn’t supposed to be.’

‘But I could make it sound romantic. If you let me call on her, that is.’

‘I doubt there’ll be time after the gala.’ Robert struggled to be diplomatic. ‘Besides, she had other guests when I left.’

‘Oh?’

‘Her brother and Sir Charles Lester.’ He tried not to growl the name.