Page 95 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

Joseph came beside him. “That one’s a female. Calicoes usually are. Full of spirit, she is.”

Like Charlotte.

“Anyone claim her?”

Joseph shook his head. “She’s yours if you want her. I expect you’ll have your hands full.”

“Perfect,” he said, gathering the kitten and her little black brother in his arms. “I’ll come back for my tackle if that’s agreeable. I wouldn’t want to drop one of these precious bundles.”

Kittens squirming and meowing in protest, he strode first to the cottage to surprise Charlotte, but none of the servants knew where she had gone.

“Well, let’s at least please one female, shall we?” The kittens meowed in agreement, and they all set off for the main house.

The footman took Simon’s rain-soggy hat, his gaze flickering down to the tiny balls of fur in Simon’s grasp. “Your wife, mother, and Miss Georgie are in the large drawing room, sir.”

Excellent.

Blissful domesticity slammed Simon in the chest at the scene, and he paused in the open doorway. His mother wasn’t present as the footman had stated. But sitting next to Georgie, Charlotte smiled at his sister with a warmth he’d only witnessed in relation to her closest friends—Honoria in particular. It was a surprising tableau.

He leaned against the door frame, gazing at her with wonder.

Georgie exhaled a sigh. “I hate embroidery. I’d rather be fishing with Simon.”

Charlotte laughed, the rich alto of her voice washing over him like warm sunlight. “He didn’t ask us.”

“Ow!” Georgie stuck her thumb in her mouth. “Baiting a hook is no more dangerous than this needle.”

“Let me see that.” Charlotte took Georgie’s finger and examined it, then placed a kiss on the tip. “Better?”

Georgie nodded, then threw her arms around Charlotte’s neck.

The warmth he experienced from Charlotte’s voice settled into his chest, heating him from the inside out as she fussed over Georgie’s hurt thumb. He’d never seen this side of his wife before. Kind. Compassionate. Open. And his father’s words echoed in his mind. Perhaps he should look past her prickliness to the woman beneath.

One of the kittens meowed, and both ladies turned their heads.

“Simon!” Georgie sprang from her seat and rushed over. “You brought him!” She plucked the kitten from his arms. As she raced over to show Charlotte, Simon followed her.

“And one for you.” When he held out the little calico to his wife, her gaze shot to his, and her eyes widened. The surprise and affection in them nearly undoing him.

Wonder of wonders. He’d actually pleased her.

“For me?”Charlotte’s heart squeezed at the little ball of fluff. No one had ever given her a pet. She’d always wanted one, but other than his hunting dogs, her father had forbidden animals in the house. Roland had followed his example.

Yet, her husband, who expressed his dislike for her, had brought her an adorable kitten for her very own. With a tentative hand, she accepted the gift.

So tiny, it meowed vocally. “Oh, it’s all right, little one. I won’t hurt you.” She brought the kitten to her face, the fur soft against her cheek.

“Careful, she might scratch you,” Simon said, his hand reaching out, ready to pluck the kitten away should it misbehave.

“You would never hurt me either, would you?” She kissed the kitten’s nose, and it meowed again. “She’s so soft.”

Georgie took a seat next to her, cradling her own little black kitten against her chest. “Haven’t you ever had a kitten, Charlotte?”

Charlotte shook her head, her gaze glued to her new love. “Once I found one in the stables and brought it inside our home. My father tore it from my hands and threw it outside, stating cats were only good for mousing.”

Simon scratched her kitten behind its ears. “Well, they are good for that, but like people, there can be many sides to them. Even a predator wants love, too.”

Charlotte lifted her gaze to her husband, warmth expanding her chest. Was there hidden meaning in his words? An uncomfortable knot formed in her throat. “Thank you.”

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