Chapter Twelve
Oliver used his own persona to answer a question from Mr. Davies, before tossing the country gentleman a very Tim-like grin.
Impersonating his brother could be exhausting.
And yet, he had not enjoyed a social event so much in years.
When Lady Sampson had requested they play their game at her dinner party, he’d been hesitant.
He had agreed only because he owed the baroness a large favor, several in fact.
But he had not expected to have as much fun as he had.
After addressing something the elder Mr. Aldridge said, he sneaked another glance at Kitty and Arabella. The two women simply watched the rest of the guests as though they were enjoying a theater performance.
When he finally had time to step away, Oliver approached Kitty. “Miss Childs, I believe it is time to put your guess in the basin.” He did his best to impersonate Tim, but he felt self-conscious knowing Arabella could see right through him.
Kitty studied him for a long moment, tying his stomach into knots. “I do not believe I will.” A smile spread across her lovely face. “It wouldn’t be sporting.”
Oliver looked to his sister-in-law, who held up her hands in a show of innocence. “I have said nothing.” She then smiled at the petite woman next to her. “But I have every faith that our dear Kitty figured it out.”
Oliver opened his mouth to ask “how,” but he was interrupted by Tim appearing at his side. “Shall we see who we fooled?”
The brothers walked over to the doorway before turning around and clearing their throats in unison. Once they had everyone’s attention, Tim stepped forward while doing his best impression of Oliver. “Now it is time to see who thinks I am Tim.”
Oliver then stepped up beside him. “And who is confident I am.”
They gave the guests five more minutes to place their theories in the bowl. Some already had, while others were waiting until the last possible minute. Once the time was up, they took the papers to Arabella for tallying and then introduced themselves. Tim in his green stickpin, and Oliver in red.
To nobody’s surprise, Lady Sampson and Lady Diana had both been correct.
Kitty’s mother and both Lord and Lady Fulbourn had been incorrect, and the rest of the guesses were almost evenly split.
But Oliver could not help but wonder if Kitty had actually made a guess, would her assertion that she knew the truth have been correct.
Wanting to know for sure, Oliver met his brother’s eye and then tipped his head towards the door.
Moments later, Tim joined him in the corridor.
“Well done.” His brother slapped him on the shoulder.
“I didn’t expect to fool Mother, but to fool Aunt and Uncle Fulbourn was a triumph.
As for the people who do not actually know us, it is hardly fair. ”
“Agreed.” Oliver nodded. “But what do you think of Miss Childs’ decision not to guess?”
“I’m not sure,” Tim admitted. “Did she explain why?”
Oliver thought back to her words. “She said it would not be sporting. Could Arabella have told her? Even by accident.”
“Never,” Tim responded with utmost confidence in his wife. Oliver agreed, which meant he needed another explanation for her confidence. And to be certain that it was well-founded.
“I want to test something,” Oliver all but begged his brother. “Will you help me?”
It took a little coercion, but Tim finally agreed. Five minutes later, the twins approached Arabella and Kitty, their stickpins switched. Oliver just hoped they had not crumpled their cravats so much it gave away the game.
“Good evening, ladies,” Oliver did his best impression of Tim’s overdone bow. “Did you enjoy our game?”
Arabella raised her brows at him, but said nothing. Kitty paused for a moment and then narrowed her eyes. Then, instead of replying, she leapt from the sofa and walked straight out the door.
“Go after her,” Tim and his wife said nearly in unison.
Oliver scrambled across the room and out the door, hoping neither of them had attracted too much attention. Kitty was halfway down the corridor by the time he caught up. “Please stop.”
Kitty spun on her heel and faced him, her eyes flashing. “Why are you trying to trick me again?”
Oliver swallowed. “How do you know?”
She folded her arms in front of her and glared. “I asked first.”
“I’m really sorry. I just…” Staring at the floor, Oliver confessed, “I just needed to know if you could really tell us apart, or if it was a lucky guess.”
“Why?” she asked after a dozen heartbeats.
“Arabella can always tell us apart,” Oliver explained, forcing himself to meet her beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. They were guarded, but the fire had gone. “No matter what we are wearing or how we are acting.”
“Why do you think that is?” she asked in a soft voice.
“I think…” He summoned his courage and took a step towards her, stopping an arm’s length away. “I think that deep in her soul, Arabella knows who Tim is. Appearance has nothing to do with it.”
Kitty looked away as she replied, “I agree.”
Oliver reached out and brushed a curl away from her face, though it immediately bounced back into place. “Please tell me how you knew.”
“I just did.” Kitty let out a huff. “He is Tim and you are Oliver, and it has nothing to do with how you look.”
Oliver took hold of her hands as he spoke. “There is no other explanation?”
It was Kitty’s turn to stare at the floor. He’d almost given up on her answering when she finally spoke. “And because of the way you look at me.”
Leaning down, Oliver whispered in her ear, “How do I look at you?”
Her hands trembled at his words, mirroring his own reaction.
“You look at me like I’m interesting.” Kitty finally met his eyes, her own rimmed with emotion. “Like my thoughts matter. Like I’m precious.”
“You are interesting, your thoughts do matter, and you are infinitely precious.” He pressed his lips to her forehead before pulling her into his arms. “I’m really glad you can tell us apart.”
“Why?” Kitty asked again, her head resting against his chest.
Oliver held her tight as he considered his answer. “Because I hope it means that deep in your soul, you know who I am.”
“But do you know me?” Kitty muttered against his waistcoat.
He didn’t fully let go, but he stepped back far enough to hold her gaze. “When I look at you, I see a woman with intelligence, spunk, compassion, just enough fire to keep things interesting, and the best bowling arm I’ve ever seen.”
“And my mask?”
“A necessary defense,” Oliver admitted. “I understand why you wear it, but still cherish your moments without it.”
Instead of replying with words, Kitty went up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
As Kitty listened to Oliver explain how he cherished the woman behind the mask, all she could think was, “Kiss him.” And before she could think better of it, she went up on her toes and did exactly that.
They both froze for half a heartbeat, their lips pressed firmly together, before Oliver reacted.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her so that only the barest touch of her slippers remained on the ground.
She relished the feelings of weightlessness as she snaked her arms around his neck and leaned in as he explored her lips with his own. He had claimed to cherish her, and she felt it with every caress.
“What is the meaning of this?” A shrill scream echoed down the corridor. Kitty dropped onto the balls of her feet and spun, finding herself face to face with her red-faced mother. “A married vicar! Really Catherine. You’ve always been rebellious, but I thought you had more sense.”
A married vicar? After a long moment, her mother’s words made sense.
The green stickpin. “This is Oliver, Mother.” She reached back and took hold of his hand.
“The twins switched pins after the game to see who would notice.” Specifically, to see if she would notice.
Though she’d been hurt and angry a few minutes earlier, she understood his reasons.
Like her, he wanted nothing more than to be seen for who he really was.
“Oliver!” Mrs. Childs all but shrieked. Then Kitty watched as understanding dawned in her mother’s expression. “Oliver!” She clapped her hands together in pleasure. She then leveled a glare at the two of them. “You’ll have to marry now, you know.”
“It would be my pleasure,” a deep voice tickled her ear from behind.
Kitty turned her back on her mother and faced the golden-brown eyed gentleman in front of her. “It would be your pleasure,” she swallowed, “to marry?”
“Yes,” Oliver smiled down at her, “but only if you are my bride.”
Unable to find her words, Kitty once again went up on her toes and kissed him. The delight only lasted for a brief second before her mother pulled her away. “Come now, there will be time for that later.”
Kitty looked up at Oliver, who mouthed “later” and then winked.
Oliver’s hand wrapped around hers as they returned to the drawing room, side-by-side.
Within moments of entering the room, Kitty’s mother announced their engagement.
As they were inundated with well wishes and congratulations, Kitty noted that neither Lady Sampson nor a single Linfield appeared surprised.
She looked up at Oliver, who was watching her with soft eyes.
How long had his family known nothing was truly feigned?
Kitty then looked at her future brother-in-law, and back at her betrothed. It would appear that Arabella would no longer be the only person who never lost their game.