Page 44 of The Ones Left Behind
“I still mean to convince you to let me help you. It will hurt them very much to know you refused to seek their assistance when you needed it.”
Kitty wrenched her hands out of his grasp. “I am not their responsibility, nor yours.”
“Please, Kitty. Do this for me, at least until they are gone.”
“Regardless of what you think, I have been performing various tasks here, and having guests of that stature will require even more work of the other servants. You burden them by keeping me away from my duties.”
Matthias smiled and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Give me a modicum of credit. I have brought in extra help for the occasion, and Dunford’s sister arrived yesterday to take over your duties.”
“You are replacing me? How could you?”
“I could, because I care about you. I want you to take your rightful place and enjoy our guests!”
His hands were on her shoulders and for a moment she thought he wanted to shake her. But he would never do that. Instead, he placed his forehead to hers and looked her in the eye.
“Kitty,” he whispered, then placed his lips to hers.
She should not allow it, but it had been so long since she had felt any touch—let alone Matthias’s—her body did not obey her mind. She leaned into him as if she were being drawn forward with a rope.
It was soft and tender, gentle and reverent. Warmth rushed through her and, for a moment, five years fell away.
There was a knock on the door. When had it been closed? Kitty jumped apart from him and struggled to catch her breath.
“Forgive me, my lord, and my lady, but a carriage is coming up the drive,” Thomas said through the door.
“Thank you, Thomas. We will be there directly.”
“This cannot happen again, my lord. Promise me or I will leave now,” Kitty demanded.
His jaw clenched, the way it did when he did not like something. “Very well, if you will participate as my hostess while our friends are here.”
It would be lovely to see them again on the same footing, but she did not want to give in so easily. If she gave in now, he would continue to find ways to undermine her.
“Shall we?” Matthias offered her his arm, though it was more for formality with him still using the crutches.
“You leave me little choice.” Reluctantly, she took his arm, her pulse still beating fast from the kiss.
“The choice is always yours, but this time I want you to choose me.”
With that statement, he opened the door and almost pulled her through it, not leaving her any time to respond. Choose him this time? What an unfair accusation to make—as if she had had any choice before—and at a time when she could not argue with him. Every one of the kitchen servants, Cook included, had paused in their labours and were looking upon the two of them with curiosity.
Reluctantly, Kitty turned her attention to the guests. The new arrivals were Captain Elliot and his strikingly beautiful wife, who had the most glorious red hair. Kitty had been at their wedding, but at the time she had been barely surviving and had been trying to hide her exhaustion and hunger.
“Kitty, is that you?” Elliot asked with his devastating, darkly handsome smile. He came over to greet her, arms outstretched. “I am so glad to find you here. Do you remember my wife, Lady Amelia?”
The exquisite woman held out her arms and came straight towards Kitty. “Amelia will do very well. I am so pleased to be able to know you better. I was barely able to exchange a word with you at our wedding.”
“It was lovely and you had many, many people to speak with.” Kitty’s wedding had been nothing like it. It had been small and impersonal, with two witnesses and the Army chaplain. “Do you wish to be shown to your chambers to refresh yourselves or would you care for some tea?” she asked, not certain whether she was enquiring as a housekeeper or hostess.
“Tea would be lovely,” Lady Amelia said, and they walked on through to the drawing room. A room done in ivory with gilt, it had been decorated to Lady Thackeray’s style and untouched since her death. Lady Amelia chose one of four Bergère armchairs situated about a small table which stood in front of a large marble fireplace, the latter carved with the Landry family crest. It was very quaint. The ladies sat down and the gentlemen followed.
In hot pursuit with refreshments were Hayes and Dunford’s sister, apparently. Kitty tried not to be hurt by her own replacement or the woman’s efficiency. The new arrival was an older woman with a severe bun, and was allowed to wear an apron and cap, and look like a proper housekeeper. Kitty cast a look of irritation at Matthias, who grinned sheepishly at her.
Kitty realized they were waiting for her to do the honours. Matthias gave her a discreet nod and she poured tea for the ladies and coffee for the gentlemen.
“I assume Waverley will be joining us?”
“He should be returning from Ireland by now. He went to attend Tobin’s wedding,” Captain Elliot answered. “Tobin seems to have mostly recovered. He was injured in a blast that killed Bridget’s brother.”
