25. Chapter 25 #3
Kitty joined him less than five minutes later, wearing her worn pelisse and the rather dashing bonnet he had chosen for her, looking as neat as if she had taken ten times as long.
William grinned at her as he offered his arm and walked along the path toward Pennsylvania Castle. “An Eliza.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My mother often despaired of having all her children ready in time for the church service. Which was embarrassing, as my father was the rector. My sister Eliza was always the quickest.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one,” William said, bringing a glow to Kitty’s cheeks. “I don’t suppose you ever kept your grandfather waiting, did you?”
“Rarely.” His arm rocked as a heartfelt sigh cascaded down her body. “It’s so strange to think he was not my papa’s sire…”
The wistfulness in her voice cut deep into his heart. He wished he could take away some of the pain she carried.
“You forget that it’s possible that Mrs Barrington lied to you.”
“I know, but why would she tell me to examine my father’s baptismal record if she knew it would disprove her words?”
“Because it seemed to confirm them, and she relied on you not checking.”
William recalled his promise to take her to see the records. He might not be free to rescue her from her situation yet, but he could keep his word to her by performing this small service.
“If we have time, we’ll check the baptismal register today, before we return to Portland, to discover if she was telling the truth. If nothing else, it will distract you from worrying about Mrs Jenkin and her husband.”
“But what if she wasn’t lying?”
“Then at least you’ll know, and those who love you will not think the worse of you because of it.” He couldn’t say more, but he hoped she understood what he was unable to declare. That no irregularity in her father’s birth would alter the way he felt about her.
On reaching Pennsylvania Castle, they visited the stables, and a few words with a groom brought Keating to William’s side.
“Ready to go home, your lordship?” his manservant asked.
“Not yet. I need to accompany Miss Lacey into Weymouth. Can you prepare the carriage, please?”
Keating glanced at the lady standing before him and then lowered his eyes. “Travelling on top with me, my lord?”
The image of being shut in a closed vehicle with Kitty invaded William’s mind, sending heat to his cheeks. Improper—and far too tempting.
“Yes, indeed. We are fetching Mr Jenkin’s mother and bringing her back to Portland with us, so she will travel with Miss Lacey on the return journey.”
With a nod, Keating disappeared into the stables.
“Don’t leave me alone with my thoughts,” Kitty said, while the carriage was being readied. “Tell me more about your sister, Eliza. Are you two close?”
“Yes—or at least we were before she married. I see little of her now. She is the most unconventional of my sisters. She was up for every lark before she became a wife and mother, even masquerading as a man to join me in the hunt.”
“Outrageous! I suppose you encouraged her.”
“I never saw the harm in it, but it almost ruined her.” He heaved a sigh. “Seems I’m not very good at recognising the danger until it’s too late.”
Kitty squeezed his arm. “Don’t take it too hard. We all make mistakes. Admitting you failed is a strength, not a weakness. You can’t fix something until you realise it’s broken. You will listen to the voice of caution more readily in the future.”
Keating stopped the carriage in front of them, preventing William from making any reply. Not that he knew what to say. She sounded so like his mother that it warmed him from the inside out.
The horses were a team of the Duke’s, which he had borrowed to drive to Portland over a month ago.
As expected, a quick inspection showed that the animals were as healthy as when he’d last seen them.
Leaving them in Keating’s care had been the right thing to do, though he was looking forward to having his groom-cum-valet back with him.
After helping Kitty inside, William mounted the box seat next to his man. Within the hour, they passed over the bridge across the harbour which led into town, and the Golden Lion came into sight.
“Stop here, Keating, and we’ll walk the rest of the way. Take the carriage to the Duke’s mews, and I’ll send word when we’re ready to return to Portland.”
With Kitty on his arm, William strode down St Mary Street and stopped outside the church.
“There’s no time for this now. We should go straight to Mrs Jenkin’s house,” she said, pulling him forward, but he held his ground.
“Yes, there is. Mr Jenkin will not notice if his mother arrives a few minutes later.”
“I think we should leave it. I’m not sure I want to know.”
For a moment, William hesitated. Was he making a mistake forcing Kitty to find out the truth about her father’s birth?
“Sometimes we must be brave to face up to who we are. I’ll be right there beside you—whatever we learn. Coming?”
She nodded, and they entered the church building.
What was the worst they could discover? That her father was illegitimate? No matter what the baptismal record told them, they would deal with it together.