drive yourself too hard. Sam and I have been independent for a long time now, Dad. I’d rather you stopped working so hard and just thought about what you wanted for yourself. Take some time out. Go on an extended holiday. You’ve got plenty of people working for you who could take care of things in your absence. Falteringham isn’t going to go to rack and ruin if you’re not here, as you fear it might. You should make a new priority to have some fun. Maybe even find yourself a nice woman?’
As Henry Treverne Senior’s downturned mouth nudged into a surprising smile the drawing room door opened. Transporting a tray laden with cups, saucers, a plate of sandwiches and a full cafetière, the housekeeper—Mary—came into the room. She was a statuesque middle-aged woman with broad hips, bobbed brown hair and a clear open face that in her youth might have been called pretty.
Aware that they hadn’t been introduced—his father’s last housekeeper had retired a few months ago—Hal automatically gave the woman a welcoming smile. ‘You must be Mary?’ he said as she laid the tray down on the walnut coffee table in front of him. ‘I’m Henry.’ He held out his hand to shake hers.
Clearly surprised at a welcome she hadn’t expected, the woman slid her palm into his and smiled back.
‘It’s nice to meet you, Mr Treverne. Your father is always singing your praises. I’m so sorry about your accident, by the way. But I’m sure it won’t be too long before you’re back on your feet again. Anyway, help yourself to coffee and sandwiches. If you want any more do let me know. In the meantime I’ll be getting your rooms ready.’
When she’d departed, his father sat back in his chair and sighed.
‘She’s a breath of fresh air, that woman. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her.’
This frank confession, coming straight after Mary had told him that his father was always singing his praises, doubly stunned Hal. It opened the door to a distinct possibility that he had unfairly misjudged the man. Shaking his head in wonder, he said, ‘If you feel like that then all I can say is welcome back to the land of the living. Good for you, Dad.’ Glancing across the room at Kit, he felt his heart warm when he saw that her pretty mouth was curving in what looked to be an approving smile. ‘Why don’t you come over here and tuck into some of these sandwiches?’ he invited her. ‘They look seriously good.’
‘My son is right, Miss Blessington. Or perhaps you wouldn’t mind if I called you Kit? You must be hungry after making that long drive from London. You should definitely eat something.’
‘Thank you. I will.’
When she’d reached the table Hal couldn’t resist reaching for her hand and squeezing it. She didn’t immediately pull away, as he’d thought she might, even though her smile was somewhat tentative and shy. Catching the unspoken question in his father’s eyes, he realised he was watching them. But Hal honestly didn’t care that he’d witnessed the fact that the relationship between him and Kit wasn’t entirely a professional one. There was suddenly a great desire in him to be transparent for once—to be honest and open about his feelings and take the consequences, no matter how difficult or challenging they might be...
* * *
A short while later Kit was returning from the bathroom, just about to open the drawing room door to enter, when she heard Sir Henry’s deeply resonant voice saying to his son, ‘I must say your suggestion that I take an extended break sounds like a good one, Hal. I know I can rely on the staff here to take care of things in my absence. And while we’re on the subject, have you had any more thoughts about one day coming home to take over the estate? I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but I’m not getting any younger, and Falteringham needs some young blood in it again. Perhaps you need to think about marrying and having a family? Are you seeing any nice girls who might be suitable at the moment? The estate is your heritage, as well as your home, and I’d like you to help take it forward into the twenty-first century with a family of your own beside you.’
Outside the door, Kit froze and held her breath.
‘Given that I’ve had a lot of time on my hands lately to reflect on things,’ she heard Hal reply, ‘you and the estate haven’t been far from my mind. Yes, I would like to come back one day and take over the reins, with a wife and children of my own by my side...but just not right now. I’ll know when the time is right.’
‘Any idea when that might be?’
There was a pause, and then Hal sighed. ‘No, Dad. I’m afraid you’re just going to have to be patient.’
With her heart clamouring distressingly, Kit took a deep breath in and shakily curved her hand round the doorknob....
* * *
Dropping her holdall onto the end of the elegantly dressed half-tester bed in the room Mary had shown her into, Kit drew her hands down over her face and sighed heavily. She felt emotionally wrung out and weary to the bone. Even though she’d got through the rest of the evening without regretting that she’d agreed to Hal’s request to take him back to his ancestral home, because it looked as if his father and he were honestly resolved on healing the rift between them, she was in utter turmoil about the discussion she’d heard between Hal and his father about him returning home one day to Falteringham House and assuming the ancestral role he’d be inheriting with a wife and children by his side.
Her memory of the conversation was upsettingly fixated on Sir Henry’s enquiry as to whether Hal was seeing any ‘nice’ or ‘suitable’ girls at the moment. Nothing could have made her feel more out of place. Not just out of place, but heartsick, because she was in love with a man who was so clearly out of her league that it was pure fantasy to imagine even for an instant that she might have a future with him. Unfortunately Kit wasn’t one of those ‘nice’ and ‘suitable’ girls that Hal’s father wanted for his son. And, that being so, she would probably nurse her hurt and regret at not being able to be with Hal for ever.
You’re such a fool, Kit... How could you have been so stupid? You’re your mother all over again!
Furiously berating herself, she buried her face in her hands and cried and cried until she felt she couldn’t cry any more. There wasn’t a single place in her body where she didn’t ache for Hal. Everything about him—the way he looked and smiled, the warm, sensual scent of his body, even the way he teased and provoked her to distraction—had ensured Kit would be an addict for him for life. It was as though he’d put her under a spell that she’d never be free of, no matter how hard she might try.
But, since she couldn’t have him, the only thing she could look forward to was the prospect of the little bolthole she’d been working towards for most of her life. Making it into a reality. Perhaps when she had that she might at least have the satisfaction of achieving the one thing that she’d set out to do to make her life better. As for having a meaningful relationship... It was something that wasn’t even remotely likely. Not now. Not when Hal Treverne had ruined any chance that she’d ever be whole enough for anyone else again.
Slipping off her shoes, she wearily tugged her sweater over her head and threw it onto the bed. Then she turned and headed for the bathroom. Usually a long hot soak in the tub was her therapy of choice to help soothe her and put things into perspective when she’d had a bad day. But, knowing that wasn’t going to be the case tonight, she opted for a shower instead. After that she intended to go straight to bed.
At Sir Henry’s suggestion she would take the opportunity to have an early night because he and his son had ‘a lot to talk about’. She wasn’t to worry, he’d said, because he would help Hal to his bedroom and see that he got his medication if he needed it. There was no need for them to disturb her. Every word of that little speech had sliced through Kit’s heart like a sharpened scythe, because it had only served to remind her that she was already becoming superfluous to Hal’s needs. The fact was he had access to a raft of people he could call upon for help if he wanted to. His wealth pretty much saw to that. Would he even miss her when the time came for her to leave? Kit speculated forlornly.
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