Page 53 of To Follow her Heart

“This isn’t the way to Mitcham Priory,” she said, giving him a puzzled look. “This takes us into Tunbridge Wells.”

“Ah,” Jasper said, giving Luke a rueful smile. “Shall I explain, or will you?”

“Oh!” Miss Stanhope said, as her face cleared. “You’re eloping today! Yes, of course Tunbridge Wells makes sense, then. You will no doubt hire a carriage there?” Her easy acceptance of their plan made Luke blink and perhaps accounted for the slight delay before Miss Hunt exclaimed.

“Eloping?” She stared around at everyone, and a rather indignant expression settled upon her lovely face as she realised no one else was surprised. “Oh! Am I the only one who didn’t know?”

“No,” Miss Stanhope said with quiet calm. “Though I suppose I knew they would… just not that it was happening now.”

“Guilty,” Lady St Clair said, though she didn’t appear the least bit guilty.

Luke thought she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

Miss Hunt looked from him to Kitty and then leant forward, taking Kitty’s hands. “You’re sure, darling?”

“You know I am, Tilda,” Kitty replied, such a look in her eyes that Luke felt his throat tighten.

“Oh!” Miss Hunt said, waving a hand in front of her face as tears sprang to her eyes and everyone hurried to find her a handkerchief. “Sorry,” she said, as Lady St Clair thrust one into her palm. Miss Hunt sniffed, dabbing at her eyes, laughing and crying all at once. “I don’t know what’s got into me but… but it’s so romantic. Oh, Kitty, darling… I’m so happy for you.”

She threw her arms about Kitty’s neck and hugged her, nearly toppling them onto the floor of the carriage. It made them both laugh, which was a relief to everyone.

“So, we are to be your alibi?” Miss Hunt asked, smiling now.

Luke nodded. This part of the plan had made him uncomfortable. “I’m afraid so. I do hope it does not cause you any distress or difficulty. Mr Derby will not take it well.”

“What news of him, Mr Baxter? Is he recovered this morning?” asked Miss Stanhope, and then blushed as Jasper shook his head at her.

“Recovered?” Kitty echoed, looking at Luke with a frown.

“He had a bit of a turn last night,” Luke said in a rush. “Nothing to worry about. Miss Derby said he was much better this morning.”

Jasper looked sharply at Luke now, a puzzled expression in his eyes, but he said nothing.

Miss Hunt snorted and gave a shrug. “Well, I suppose we must be pleased he is recovering,” she said, though she sounded sceptical. She cast Luke a mischievous glance. “And I’m sure we can come up with a story that makes us appear quite innocent. Whether or not he believes it is neither here nor there.”

Luke grinned at her. “That’s just what Jasper said you’d say,” he replied.

Miss Hunt raised her eyebrows. “I had no idea you knew me so well,” she said, laughing as Jasper touched his hand to his hat in a wry salute.

Luke watched this and glanced at Miss Stanhope to gauge her reaction. There was the slightest frown upon her face, but she was a rather serious girl, so perhaps it was nothing. He wondered if Kitty had made any headway with discovering why she was so brittle with the earl, and then noticed that Lady St Clair was also studying Miss Stanhope with an avid expression.

Noting that she herself being observed, Lady St Clair returned a bland smile and looked away.

***

The post chaise rocked into motion and Kitty’s breath caught. It was happening. It was really and truly happening.

“No regrets?” Luke asked her, his eyes grave and worried. “We will create a bit of a stir. Even if no one cares about Mr Baxter marrying Miss Connolly, your parents will have something to say about us eloping.”

Kitty laughed at that and shook her head. “Oh, Luke, you ninny. You’ll be the Earl of Trevick one day. My father will fall at your feet in gratitude for taking me off his hands, and then ask you to invest in his new mill.”

Luke’s countenance darkened at that. “It might be years until I’m earl, you know. Trevick is too damned spiteful to die and Derby has attacks like last night’s often enough, and always recovers, looking hale and hearty. Until then I’ve really very little to offer you. In fact,” he added, rubbing the back of his neck and sounding somewhat sheepish, “the only thing that belongs to me is the house in Ireland. Trevick gave it to my father when he banished us, so I inherited it, for what that’s worth.”

“You own the house next to ours?” Kitty exclaimed, astonished.

Luke nodded. She gave a squeal of delight and leapt from her side of the carriage to sit beside him and fling her arms about his neck.

“Oh, but that’s perfect! We can go home, we can make the place ours like we always dreamt of.”