Miss Nothing (Unexpected Heirs)

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

A maid brought her a glass of madeira. Her stomach was so empty that the modest amount of alcohol filled her body with warmth. She closed her eyes for a moment. Her limbs felt heavy. The prospect of returning home was a defeat, yes. But being defeated was almost a relief. Not having to keep struggling… allowing herself to give up…

“Miss Ryder. Miss Ryder .”

She jolted awake. Mr. Keynsham was kneeling beside her chair. His hand was on hers. “I beg your pardon, Miss Ryder. Would you prefer to stay here?”

Here ? She blinked at him, confused. Had she really been asleep? “No… no. I must…” She pulled her hand away from his and rubbed her forehead. “I must go… home.”

“But where is that? You still have not told me.”

She opened her mouth to reply, and then closed it again.

Of course, there was an answer. Home was a village in Hampshire, of course. But what was that—besides a place on the map? Now that her father was… She swallowed. Every time she woke up again from a brief doze, she had to remember all over again that her father was dead.

And as improvident and selfish and—well, frequently unkind as he’d been, he’d been all that she had… her only family in the world.

Mr. Keynsham was still looking at her. “Are you quite well? You seem—forgive me—rather… confused.”

She shook her head. “I am fine.”

“You do not seem fine.” He was frowning. “Miss Ryder, it is impossible for me to see you in this state and not feel concerned. You are plainly exhausted, and not yourself.”

Not herself ! No. She was not herself—but not in a way that she could explain to him. She was Miss Nothing.

“I am perfectly fine.” She got to her feet. But her tiredness got the better of her, and she swayed slightly.

His grip tightened on her hand and his face filled with concern. “I shall speak to my grandmother and ask the housekeeper to arrange a room for you.”

“No!” It came out too loud and sharp. “I—I am in a hurry,” she added.

He blinked. “Of course.”

But if she was in a hurry, why was she still standing here, holding his hand? She couldn’t seem to force herself to let it go.

He wasn’t letting go of her hand either. And when she raised her eyes and met his gaze, the strange bond that had seemed to exist between them all evening was still there—even more powerful than before. The words they spoke scarcely mattered. It was the current of connection that flowed beneath the words that was the real communication.

He cleared his throat. Was it her imagination, or had he reddened slightly? “My, er… my cousin repaid me the money.”

“Oh.”

“Miss Ryder, I wish that…”

He stopped. He gave his head a slight shake and took a breath. “Well. My offer to arrange a post chaise for you stands. If you—that is, if you still intend to…”

He trailed off again. Neither of them seemed able to move. She had to run over his words in her mind several times before she could grasp what he meant. What did he mean, intend to ? Intend to what?

Oh. Yes. Did she plan to go on to Norfolk? It was difficult to think. Nothing outside this moment seemed to matter. She was caught in his gaze. Her brain seemed only capable of spinning gauzy fantasies… of strolling with him, of sharing jokes… of sharing kisses.

He was studying her earnestly, as though he wished to memorize her face. How had they come to be standing so close together? And why did she wish that they were standing even closer? He raised his hand. She knew, without any doubt at all, that he was about to caress her cheek.

“Keynsham! I have been looking all over the house for you.” A lady in a diamond tiara and an ermine-trimmed velvet wrapper advanced into the room.

Then she saw her… and stopped short. “What on earth…? What are you doing here? Get out.”

The contempt in her voice felt as much of a physical blow as Mrs. Fairleigh’s slap.

“Ma’am.” Keynsham made a curt bow. “This is Miss Ryder. She has been sorely imposed upon. I insist that she not be spoken to in this manner.”

The lady tossed her head. “Well! Insist away! I wish to speak to you about your sister. Urgently .” She walked out without a backward glance.

“That, er… that was my mother.” Now he was definitely red. “Miss Ryder, I…”

She turned away. Mr. Keynsham’s mother was the last straw. He was from another world entirely. Why, his grandmother was on friendly terms with the prince regent. All the half-formed fantasies of a few moments ago had evaporated, leaving her mind strangely clear. “I must leave now.”

He blinked. “I thought that we had agreed that I would help you.”

“I am quite capable of taking a cab.” In fact, she’d never taken a cab by herself, and didn’t quite trust herself to manage it.

He cleared his throat. “But I have already arranged to borrow my cousin’s gig. I insist that you at least accept a ride across town.”

She hesitated. “Very well.”