“Come. I shall make it up to you by fixing you a plate.” She drew him to the table. “What do you like most?”

She smiled happily at him, and for some reason his eyes saw only her lips. What did he want most? Other than her? With an effort, he dragged his gaze to the food. “I am quite partial to beef and cheddar.”

He held out a chair for her, and once she had taken her seat, she busied herself piling slices of rare beef and two huge chunks of cheddar cheese on a plate, then added bread and strawberries before handing it to him. “There.”

Kendal doubted any gentleman had ever served her, and that was a great pity. He took a plate. “What would you like?”

Her turquoise eyes widened, and a look of wonder appeared on her face. “Me?”

He nodded. “I did tell you that I am yours to command.”

“So you did.” For a moment, she looked at him as if he were the strangest creature she had ever met, then her eyes twinkled enchantingly. And his breath caught in his chest. “I would like some ham, cheddar cheese, and strawberries.” She lowered her thick lashes. “I am very partial to strawberries.”

He’d never given the fruit much thought. His gardener forced them, and, therefore, they were available whenever Kendal liked. “As am I. I especially like them in tarts.”

“Mmmm.” She sighed. “Strawberry tarts are lovely. I used to think our cook made the best ones, but my aunt’s cook does something special to them, and I like her tarts even better.”

He wished he could take her to his estate in Kent and let her eat all the berries she wanted. But now he needed to work out a way to be invited to dinner at her aunt’s house. They must have a property in the area. He had to spend more time with her. “I would love to taste them sometime.”

She daintily cut a bit of ham and ate it. “I shall ask her to invite you.”

Kendal made a sandwich of some of his beef and cheddar. “Do you see any mustard?”

“Oh, yes.” She plucked a small earthenware container from her other side. “Here it is.”

Taking the jar, he dipped in a spoon and spread the mustard on his beef. “How long will you be here?”

“At least until the beginning of July.” Her forehead creased, and Kendal wanted to smooth the lines away. “Then I do not know what will happen.” She took another piece of meat and chewed thoughtfully, then shook her head. “What do you think of the birth of Princess Alexandrina?”

“I hope she lives.” The royal family had had a great deal of bad luck when it came to legitimate children.

Lady Thalia’s brows puckered. “I do as well. I hope there are others.”

“That would be a good thing for all of us.” He cut a piece of beef. “I am concerned about the unrest around the country.”

“I agree.” She eyed the strawberries, but stabbed another piece of ham with her fork. She was very disciplined for a younger lady. “The accounts are not comforting. There is too much poverty and hunger. The Corn Laws were a mistake. Reform must be passed or there is going to be a lot of trouble.”

That she knew about the plight of the poor was surprising. That she supported reform pleased him to no end. “You are well informed.”

She gave him a small smile. “Despite how close I have been kept, I am allowed to read. Once my father is done with the papers, they are sent to my mother’s rooms. She and I review them, and we discuss the events. I have a great deal of time to think as well.”

“What does your father think of that?” Kendal could not imagine her father would approve.

“I do not believe he knows. Or is interested in knowing. His apartments are on the other side of the castle.”

The noise of the others in the parlor became a low drone, like the buzzing of bees, as Kendal gazed at Lady Thalia and decided he had to get to know her much, much better indeed.




CHAPTER 3




THALIA WAS happy and terrified at the same time. She and Kendal were in the middle of her family talking as if they were the only two people in the room, and everyone had been letting let them do it. Her mother was in a deep conversation with the duchess, and her brother and sisters and their spouses were playing with the children. No one was paying any attention to her and Kendal at all.

“Do you ever dream of traveling?” he asked.

She dreamed of everything, and right now this man was making her want to dream of even more. “I dream of being able to visit my other brothers and their wives . . . well, except that I do not know if I would like to cross the ocean. Frank, my second-eldest brother, lives in America with his wife and her family.”

Kendal leaned forward excitedly. “Did you know a steamship is crossing the ocean as we speak? It might even have made port by now.” His eyes gazed off into the distance. “Someday ships will cross in a matter of days as opposed to weeks.”

That would be wonderful. “If that happens, I shall visit.” One of the servants brought tea, and she poured him a cup. “Milk and sugar?”

“A bit of both, please.” She handed him the cup, and he took a drink. “Excellent. Thank you.”

“Do you have brothers and sisters?” Suddenly it was important to know everything about him.

“I have two older sisters. They are both married with their own lives and children.” He grinned. “My oldest nephew is a year older than I am and married last year.”

“Who is he?” She might not have met anyone, but she had practically memorized Debrett’s. And she might have read about the wedding in the paper.

“The Marquis of Quorndon.”

“I read about it. Did he not wed about the same time as Earl Elliott?”

“Yes.” Kendal grinned again. He seemed like a very good-natured gentleman. “As a matter of fact, it was Elliott’s wife who introduced Quorndon to his wife.”

She tried not to feel jealous over the freedom other ladies had. “That was nice of her.”

“My aunt certainly thinks so. She had almost given up hope that he’d find the right match.” Kendal ate the rest of his beef and moved on to the cheese.

Thalia still had more food than she should have on her plate. They had been talking so much, she’d forgotten to eat. They sat in comfortable silence while they devoted themselves to their plates. Then she picked up a strawberry, bit into it, and quickly brought up a finger to stop the juice from running down her chin. Kendal eyes caught hers, making her breath falter.

Goodness. It was much too soon to react this way to a gentleman. Or she thought it was. But what if it was not? Both her sisters had fallen in love in a matter of a few weeks. Could it happen even sooner?

“Thalia.” His voice was a harsh whisper. “Take my serviette.”

Such a simple thing, a napkin, and she had her own. But he’d called her by her name. She should tell him it was too soon, that she had not given him permission. Yet the way her name sounded on his lips made her want him to continue. “Thank you.”

“We should go back the house now.” Her aunt’s voice filled the room, ending Thalia’s discussion with Kendal. “You will all want to rest before this evening’s activities.”

“What is going on tonight?” he asked.

“There is to be dancing in the village, and everyone will stay up until it is dark.” Or that is what she had been told. “I have never been to something like this.”

He took her hand. “Dance with me tonight.”

“Yes.” She had also never been asked to dance. “I would be delighted.”

“Kendal,” the Duchess of Hull said, “you are invited to stay for the festivities.”

Thalia held her breath as she waited for him to answer. Fortunately, it did not take long.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I will take you up on your kind offer. If you do not mind, my lady?” He glanced at her as if truly asking for her permission.

She wanted him to call her by her name again, but the rest of her family was listening. So much was happening at once, Thalia was almost overwhelmed. Yet this was what she wanted. “I have no objection at all.”

Kendal’s silver gaze remained on her. “Thank you.” Then he bowed to Thalia’s aunt.

“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”

“You will have to spend the night here,” the Duchess of Hull. “It is too dangerous to cross the river after dark. As soon as I return, I shall send your valet across with a change of clothing.”

Thalia could feel the movement around them, but it was as if they were in their own space that no one could violate . . . until little Giffard, Meg and Hawksworth’s son, toddled against her leg and grabbed onto it. “What have we here?”

The nine-month-old baby gazed up at her with his mother’s blue eyes.

“I have him.” Meg scooped Giffard up, and wrinkled her nose as she looked at Thalia’s gown. “I’m afraid he got his sticky hands on your gown.”

“I’m sure it is nothing my maid cannot remedy.” The wrinkles his hands had left might be harder to repair. “I would like to spend more time with him before we leave.”

“That can be arranged.” Meg cuddled the boy, who was already bouncing to be put down. “But you might want to wear an apron or an old gown. He always seems to be into something dirty.”

“There are no nursemaids?” Kendal seemed struck by the idea.

“They do have them, and nurses for the babies, but my family all think children benefit from being with their parents. I think it was Meg and Hawksworth who started it.”

Kendal held out his arm, and she tucked her hand in the crook. “When I marry and have children, I shall do the same.”

Kendal could not help but to focus on Thalia . . . Lady Thalia . . . for a few moments. Surprisingly, he could see her holding a baby. Perhaps one with silvery blonde hair and gray eyes or dark hair and turquoise-blue eyes. Some mix between the two of them. Their child. “Yes. I believe that is an excellent idea.”