changed the subject. “Who else is here?”
Russell reeled off a list of names and added at the end, “Oh, and Amabel Renchester, although I’m not aware if you know her.”
“Oh, yes, we’re, er, acquainted. I first met her just before she and Renchester left for the Peninsula. I’m surprised she’s here. Don’t tell me she and Charlotte have settled their differences after all this time?”
Russell sighed. “Well, the truth is that Charlotte and Amabel haven’t settled anything; indeed we didn’t invite her, Henrietta decided to bring her.”
“How very thoughtful.” Marcus shivered. “I trust this cold relents soon, for I vow it’s enough to freeze the very sea.” A thought struck him. “Has this harbor ever frozen?”
“It has been known, although not in my lifetime. Don’t fret, the Avalon is in no danger.”
“Good, but right now I’m more concerned about my own precious hide. Does the hospitality of Mulborough Abbey await, or are we to stand here all night?”
“You know the abbey is always at your disposal, but what of your luggage? There is a ball in progress, and—
“And I am suitably garbed,” Marcus interrupted, flicking his cloak aside to reveal superb evening clothes beneath. “The rest will be brought ashore in a while.”
Russell grinned. “You never fail to amaze me, Marcus. Come on, then.” They ascended the steps and crossed the deserted quay to the customs house, where Marcus snuffed the torch against the wall as Russell untethered the waiting horses.
As the two men rode off into the snow, Kit looked at Jane, who had joined him at the top of the steps. “Well? Does my Fitzpaine descendant pass muster as far as you’re concerned?”
“I fear not.”
Kit was surprised. “But you were quite set on it when we left the abbey.”
“The Marquess of Rothwell is a book with some disturbingly secret pages,” she replied, taking Rowley from him.
“He and Henrietta appear to offer our only hope this time,” he reminded her.
“I know, but he seems completely uninterested in her. I confess I think they are poles apart, and will remain so.”
“Poles apart? Dearest, where is your usually infallible perception? Even I could see that he was as sensitive to every mention of her as she was to him! Besides, he is my very twin, even to our shared liking for sailing, so at heart he must be a good fellow. There’s much to do, I grant you, but I think he and Henrietta Courtenay have definite possibilities.”
New hope stirred through Jane. “Oh, Kit, do you really think so?”
“Of course.” Kit put an arm around her and pulled her close to kiss her on the lips. At the same time, unseen by Jane, he clamped his other hand firmly around Rowley’s muzzle.
Chapter Six
Meanwhile at the abbey, the ball had resumed. A country dance was in progress, and Charlotte and Henrietta stood at the edge of the floor. Henrietta would have preferred to retire to her room now that Marcus was in the offing, but Charlotte was determined that she should remain.
“You have to face him sooner or later, and it might as well be sooner,” she declared firmly. “Please steel yourself, because once the first moment is over, the rest will be easier.”
“Charlotte, you’ve never behaved as shockingly as I did, so how can you possibly know? Marcus will no doubt find it amusing to whisper the tale to his relatives, and before long it will be all around the ball!” Henrietta felt sick with trepidation.
“Don’t be silly. If he intended to spread the tale, it would have been all over London by the time your parents returned from looking after your aunt. He didn’t say a word, did he?”
“Well, not that I know of, but—
“No buts. He didn’t say anything, and that’s the end of it.”
Henrietta fell silent, and when the country dance came to an end, she was claimed by her uncle, Thomas Courtenay—he who’d been raiding the punch bowl—for the polonaise that followed. If
Russell reeled off a list of names and added at the end, “Oh, and Amabel Renchester, although I’m not aware if you know her.”
“Oh, yes, we’re, er, acquainted. I first met her just before she and Renchester left for the Peninsula. I’m surprised she’s here. Don’t tell me she and Charlotte have settled their differences after all this time?”
Russell sighed. “Well, the truth is that Charlotte and Amabel haven’t settled anything; indeed we didn’t invite her, Henrietta decided to bring her.”
“How very thoughtful.” Marcus shivered. “I trust this cold relents soon, for I vow it’s enough to freeze the very sea.” A thought struck him. “Has this harbor ever frozen?”
“It has been known, although not in my lifetime. Don’t fret, the Avalon is in no danger.”
“Good, but right now I’m more concerned about my own precious hide. Does the hospitality of Mulborough Abbey await, or are we to stand here all night?”
“You know the abbey is always at your disposal, but what of your luggage? There is a ball in progress, and—
“And I am suitably garbed,” Marcus interrupted, flicking his cloak aside to reveal superb evening clothes beneath. “The rest will be brought ashore in a while.”
Russell grinned. “You never fail to amaze me, Marcus. Come on, then.” They ascended the steps and crossed the deserted quay to the customs house, where Marcus snuffed the torch against the wall as Russell untethered the waiting horses.
As the two men rode off into the snow, Kit looked at Jane, who had joined him at the top of the steps. “Well? Does my Fitzpaine descendant pass muster as far as you’re concerned?”
“I fear not.”
Kit was surprised. “But you were quite set on it when we left the abbey.”
“The Marquess of Rothwell is a book with some disturbingly secret pages,” she replied, taking Rowley from him.
“He and Henrietta appear to offer our only hope this time,” he reminded her.
“I know, but he seems completely uninterested in her. I confess I think they are poles apart, and will remain so.”
“Poles apart? Dearest, where is your usually infallible perception? Even I could see that he was as sensitive to every mention of her as she was to him! Besides, he is my very twin, even to our shared liking for sailing, so at heart he must be a good fellow. There’s much to do, I grant you, but I think he and Henrietta Courtenay have definite possibilities.”
New hope stirred through Jane. “Oh, Kit, do you really think so?”
“Of course.” Kit put an arm around her and pulled her close to kiss her on the lips. At the same time, unseen by Jane, he clamped his other hand firmly around Rowley’s muzzle.
Chapter Six
Meanwhile at the abbey, the ball had resumed. A country dance was in progress, and Charlotte and Henrietta stood at the edge of the floor. Henrietta would have preferred to retire to her room now that Marcus was in the offing, but Charlotte was determined that she should remain.
“You have to face him sooner or later, and it might as well be sooner,” she declared firmly. “Please steel yourself, because once the first moment is over, the rest will be easier.”
“Charlotte, you’ve never behaved as shockingly as I did, so how can you possibly know? Marcus will no doubt find it amusing to whisper the tale to his relatives, and before long it will be all around the ball!” Henrietta felt sick with trepidation.
“Don’t be silly. If he intended to spread the tale, it would have been all over London by the time your parents returned from looking after your aunt. He didn’t say a word, did he?”
“Well, not that I know of, but—
“No buts. He didn’t say anything, and that’s the end of it.”
Henrietta fell silent, and when the country dance came to an end, she was claimed by her uncle, Thomas Courtenay—he who’d been raiding the punch bowl—for the polonaise that followed. If
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