‘Yes,’ Becca agreed, wrinkling her nose at her sister. ‘Although you love it when people you dislike have to call you Lady Helen.’
Her sister gave a dignified sniff and chose to ignore her.
Harper opened the door to the breakfast room and Louisa saw that Mrs May and Frederica were already waiting there for dinner. But no handsome marquess who plagued her thoughts more than was seemly.
Becca and Helen tugged her into the room.
‘Frederica!’ Becca called out loudly. ‘Helen and I have solved the mystery.’
Their elder sister snorted and placed a hand on her hip. ‘Of why Wick is late for dinner?’
‘No, silly,’ Helen replied. ‘The mystery of Miss N—’
‘Oh, there you are Wick!’ Becca said in her exuberant voice. ‘Where have you been all afternoon?’
The Marquess walked into the room dressed in fine evening clothes, but with his riding coat over the top of them, unbuttoned. He still looked handsome, but Louisa supposed he would be attractive even in a farmer’s smock.
‘I have been checking on the tenants, of course, and I’ve found someone who needs a home.’
Lord Cheswick reached into his coat pocket and gently lifted out a black kitten by its neck. He cradled it in his strong hands. She wondered what it would like to be held by such strong, gentle hands.
He placed the small creature into the eager arms of his youngest sister and Becca brought the small animal against her face and kissed it several times. ‘I love him so much!’
Helen narrowed her gaze at her brother, her arms crossed. ‘It’s a girl, Becca. And why am I not surprised that you gaveherthe kitten, Wick? She’s always been your favourite.’
Louisa felt a pang of sympathy for Helen. She had never been the favourite in her home either. Aunt Rockingham only cared for her sons and never brought gifts for her.
‘You’re right,’ Lord Cheswick said, reaching into his opposite coat pocket. ‘Alas, Leech only had two other kittens to spare.’
He pulled out two more kittens. One was striped grey and white, and the other an orange ball of fur. Helen was practically climbing his arm to grab the orange kitten from him.
Louisa had misjudged him. Lord Cheswick was not treating his sisters differently.
‘Oh, Wick, he’s absolutely precious,’ Frederica cooed as she took the grey-striped kitten. ‘Forget all the nasty things I have ever said about you.’
The Marquess raised his eyebrows as he shrugged himself out of his riding coat and tossed it carelessly on a chair. ‘That may take a while. There’s been so many.’
His sisters laughed merrily as they cradled and stroked their new kittens. The Marquess watched them fondly and Louisa’s chest filled with warmth. He was clearly a loving brother and a thoughtful man.
Mrs May sighed from behind them. ‘I suppose you couldn’t have waited until after dinner, my lord? Are we to eat with the kittens at the table?’
Lord Cheswick’s lips twitched and then he threw back his head and laughed. ‘Oh, dear, Mrs May. I didn’t intend to bring them now, but one of them behaved badly in my dressing room and Older said that he would resign on the spot if I didn’t get rid of them. And I’m afraid that a more superior valet would be hard to find.’
The Marquess had a wonderful laugh, Louisa thought. It made the hairs rise on her nape and arms.
The housekeeper sighed again, appearing resigned. Except Louisa could see that her eyes were smiling. Mrs May was obviously fond of the Stringham family, and Louisa couldn’t help but be fond of them too. Even though she knew her time with them was coming to an end.
The Marquess’s brown eyes shifted to her and Louisa flushed—again—underneath his scrutiny. She was already breathing hard, but when his eyes were on her she practically panted for air.
So embarrassing.
‘Miss Nemo, are you all right?’
Louisa took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. She wasn’t all right. Certainly not when he was near. Her heart beat wildly and her hands felt hot and clammy. And there was a strange sort of pleasant burning in her stomach and a tenderness in her breasts. Sensations that she had never experienced before.
‘She’s not Miss Nemo any more, Wick,’ Becca said, not bothering to look up from her kitten. ‘She’s Lady Louisa.’
He blinked at Louisa twice, before taking a step towards her. ‘You’reLady Louisa Bracken, daughter of the late Earl of Rockingham of Greystone Hall?’