Page 107 of The Trouble with Tigers
“Everyone save Lady Lillian.” She eyed him. “Why?”
“Because I need a private word with you.”
Kitty blinked. “Now?”
“No time like the present.”
“But, Collin. I can’t leave now. I have to know the extent of Zeke’s—Lord Thurgood’s—injury. I’m responsible,” she said, her voice rising an octave.
He gave her a look of impatience. “Is the injury likely to lead to his death?”
“No, but—”
“The doctor’s in with him now?” Collin gestured toward the closed door.
“Yes, but—”
He threw up his hands. “For God’s sake, Kitty. I’m your brother. Your family. One would think you’d have a little more partiality for my well-being.”
She winced at the direct hit. “Collin, nothing means more to me than having you here, alive and well. It’s just—” She eyed Zeke’s chamber door, then, resigned, relented. “You’re right, of course. We can talk now. Only…can we do it somewhere close by? So that I may be here in the event the doctor deems Lord Thurgood’s injury more serious than I’ve been led to believe?”
Collin sighed with impatience, but conceded the point. “Very well, someplace close. But private.”
“There’s a small, family parlor at the end of this corridor.” She was already hurrying toward it.
The room was cozy, with burnished gold papered walls, two comfortable seating areas, with soft throws and pillows strewn hither and yon. Several oil lamps burned, illuminating the small space. A baize covered billiard table stood to one side, set and ready for a game.
“Will this do?” Kitty asked.
Collin nodded, his expression once more affable. “Quite. After you. Let’s sit, shall we?” He reached behind him to close the door.
Her fingers flew to her lips. “Oh could we…that is, I’m certain we won’t be interrupted here. It’s just I want to hear if—”
He rolled his eyes and half smiled, as he finished her thought. “If someone comes or goes from Thurgood’s chamber. You know, I’d almost forgotten your tenacity. Almost. Very well, love. Now do sit and listen to what I have to tell you.”
She perched on the edge of an armchair, folded her hands in her lap, and waited expectantly.
Collin sat across from her. In spite of having pressured her into this tête-à-tête, he didn’t immediately broach the subject. Instead he glanced around the room, taking in the hanging portraits and ornately tiled ceiling. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Something to do with Garrick?” Kitty offered. Anything to get this over with so she could return to Zeke’s chamber.
“Actually, yes. As I mentioned, I had a long discussion with James this afternoon, initiated by him, to his credit.”
“Oh?” In her experience, conversations launched by dear cousin Garrick were never to his credit. One of her feet began to tap with nervous energy.
“Yes. He said he expected I was anxious to discover the status of the Maidstone title.” Collin’s face flushed with feeling. “My title. As you noted this morning, the Crown’s awarded the Barony to him.”
“But surely they’ll rescind their decision now you’re back? They’ll have to transfer the entailment to you, the rightful heir, won’t they?”
Collin’s mouth curved in a humorless smile. “It’s what’s right. It’s what should happen. But it’s a legal matter now, and as such, subject to all sorts of delays and missteps. For instance, what if Icontest James’ claim, and the courts simply refuse to undo their decision?”
Kitty’s mouth dropped. “But they can’t.”
“Can’t they?”
“Surely we could find a way…”
“We could fight. Appeal to the courts. But a drawn-out legal battle eat up every shilling.” Collin’s voice went low, and intense. “On the other hand, if James and I jointly petitioned the crown to overturn the decision, why, I’d be assured of success.”
