Courting Scandal: Most Imprudent Matches - Book One by Ally Hudson

Author:Ally Hudson [Hudson, Ally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798988218104
Publisher: Busy Nothings Books
Published: 2023-07-03T16:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

THORNTON HALL, KENT - APRIL 26, 1814

JULIET

Kate was desperate to escape Agatha’s company. In an attempt to flee, she asked that I join her to visit tenants. Asked was a weak word. Begged or pleaded might have been more apt.

She had a basket at the ready as soon as Michael and I returned from the bridge, grabbing my arm and half-dragging me back out the door.

“Where are you two off to in such a hurry?” Michael called after us.

Kate turned to answer him, calling out, “Mariah Doll had her twins the other day. We’re bringing blankets and such for the babes, and Mrs. Hudson made up a basket.”

“She married the butcher’s son? John Doll?” he asked.

Kate’s surprise was plain in her raised brows. “Yes.”

“Didn’t they only wed about six months ago?”

“It’s impolite to do arithmetic when babies are involved, Michael Wayland.”

He merely laughed in answer, and stepped forward.

“You’re joining us?”

“I have as much reason to avoid the shrew as you, more even. Besides, John deserves a scolding for the arithmetic I’m pointedly not doing.”

Kate led the charge down the walk, seemingly convinced of Michael’s determination to join us. She maintained a brisk pace until we turned out of view of the house. Where her walk slowed to a more sedate stroll.

The day was warm and pleasant. With a brief, surreptitious glance about, I untied the ribbons of my bonnet, letting it sway back and forth with my arm as we walked.

Kate considered Michael thoughtfully as we meandered. “You visit the tenants frequently, don’t you?”

“It depends on what you consider frequent. Less often than I ought, I suppose. Also, the Dolls aren’t tenants.”

He scratched the back of his neck in a gesture that was rather… sweet. His discomfort with the praise implicit in Kate’s statement made me smile, if only to myself.

“More often than Hugh. Or Agatha. And the way I’ve heard it mentioned, you’ve cared for everyone at one time or another, tenant or not.”

“Well, Agatha’s neglect is a blessing to the entire county,” he said.

“And my husband’s?”

“He’s young.”

“So were you. You are still spoken of very highly. By everyone,” Kate said.

“I’m a charming fellow.”

“Something like that…”

“You’re not going to say anything? To Hugh, I mean. I don’t fancy the quarrel that will result if he finds out,” Michael worried.

“I won’t say anything. But you should.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because he needs to hear it,” she said.

“Kate… I adore you. But Hugh and I are never going to have the relationship you seem to want for us.”

His assertion saddened me. I wanted that for him as much as Kate. The easy friendship between the two of them was nice to see, though. The way Agatha treated him—treated them both… I was glad they had each other for support.

It was what I imagined having a sibling to be like. It made sense, Kate was the closest thing I had to a sister, and she was very, very good at it. Of course, she would be so for Michael as well.

I trailed along, content to observe their jovial, false bickering.

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