Page 109 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
Danielle had been born an earl’s daughter, married a viscount…and now lived as the wife of a bastard chemist in seclusion in Scotland. Kit, on the other hand, had been raised the daughter of an opera singer, and would now be thrust into Society as an earl’s daughter…and perhaps a duchess.
If he had his way.
“I’m glad ye’ve found one another,” Thorne offered. “She’s a good lass, and I ken she’s happy to have a friendship with ye.”
Kit hummed. “I am too. I never thought about havingfamily, not like her. Almost like a sister.”
He would’ve continued this conversation, except at that moment, the last of the bandage loosened and it was as if a vice had fallen away. Thorne couldn’t help the groan of relief which escaped his lips as he lifted his hand to his forehead to feel around.
All that was left was a wee padding around the actual wound. “Good Christ, that feels better.”
Kit was poking under the bandage, her tongue poking from between her lips. “At the risk of swelling your head any more than it already is, it looks like you might have been right. That bandagewasquite snug.”
“Snug, hell,” he grumbled, rubbing his left temple. “I think I was in danger of my pate popping like a melon.”
Snorting, she shook her head as she straightened. “The wound is done bleeding. I’ll change the bandage—”
“Nay, foul fiend! Any other torture but that!”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Thorne, don’t be a baby.” But she was grinning as she turned back to the tray. “You can keep it off for the rest of the day, but we’d better wrap it—no, not as tightly, don’t worry—before the musicale tonight.”
She handed him the tea, and he eyed her as he sipped at it. Thank God, it was like an elixir from heaven, and he could feel strength stealing through his limbs along with the warmth. “Are ye ready for the musicale?”
Kit settled herself on the side of the bed nearest him and was breaking apart a scone for him. “I am. I have the music chosen.”
Eagerly, he leaned forward.Yes, a distraction from what he hadto say, but it was part of the plan, wasn’t it? Important for him to know.“What pieces?”
She shot him a sly look from under dark lashes. “You’ll have to wait and find out like everyone else.”
He hoped she’d play some of his favorites, the ones he’d given her the sheet music for, but he could also understand if she’d prefer one of the pieces she’d memorized long ago.
Ye’re just putting off what ye need to tell her.
Aye, that was right. He needed to tell her before tonight, before her father—or anyone else—said something to her. “Kit, I reallydoneed to talk to ye.”
“That’s what we’re doing.” She turned to him and jammed a piece of the scone into his mouth, smiling. “Talking.”
“But—”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” she scolded, reaching for the tray. “I brought today’s newspaper. The doctor said you need to stay in bed, but webothknow you’re not going to cancel tonight, so Titsworth and I are compromising. If you stay in bed until dinner…”
Her lecture trailed off as she lifted today’s copy ofThe Daily Movement.
“Kit…”
“Did you know about this?” she asked distractedly. “They printed about the musicale.Lord Bonkinbone’s Daughter to Triumph Tonight.” She glanced at him, then back to the paper. “They know I’m his daughter? Look, it says I’m playing here tonight at aprivate event, I guess that means the musicale. Who told them…?
She trailed off again as she read, and Thorne felt a pit open in his stomach. He placed the teacup and saucer on the table. “Kit, I told them—nay, no’them. I told the editor.”
Her pale gaze darted to the masthead. “O. Wilson? You told him about the musicale and how we wanted my father to attend?”
He reached for her hand. “Olivia is the Duchess of Effinghell, but she ran the paper before she married, so she kept her byline the same.”
“Wilson,” Kit repeated in a whisper, eyes still skimming over the article. “I know that name. Her brother was one of my father’s loyal agents, yes? He tried to kill Griffin and Bull.”
Thorne nodded, head throbbing. “She’s been publishing the coded messages all along, helping us. I told her…everything, and she agreed making yer relationship to Blackrose public would shame him into attending tonight.”
When Kit looked at him, there were so many emotions warring in her eyes that Thorne grimaced, feeling sick once more. Confusion, aye, but also hurt and betrayal.
