Read After the Kiss for Free Online

fine,” she said, fighting the shiver of awareness that streaked down her spine and shrugging to free herself from his touch. “How are the kittens?”
    He seemed momentarily nonplussed but answered, “They’re fine, too.”
    “Frances has five kittens in all,” one of the twins said.
    “Would you like to see them?” the other asked, tugging on her jacket—or rather, Julian’s jacket.
    Eliza lowered her gaze to the identical girls standingside by side before her. “Certainly, if you would like to show them to me. I would rather meet you both first.”
    “I am Lady—” The twin who had spoken glanced at her uncle, then turned back, chin upthrust, and said, “You may call me Reggie. This is Becky, and this is Uncle Marcus. Who are you?”
    “Eliza Sheringham, lately of Ravenwood.” She started to curtsy, stopped herself, and executed an elegant bow.
    The captain’s eyes narrowed assessingly. For a moment she was afraid he might know Cousin Nigel. Or what if he had encountered Julian in one of those taverns soldiers were forever frequenting? Or maybe he knew about the scandal. Or had heard one of the tales about her objectionable behavior being bandied about the neighborhood—all of which were true, only a few of which she regretted, and for none of which she would ever apologize.
    She was surprised when he merely nodded and said, “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sheringham. It is
Miss
?”
    “Yes, Captain. Miss Sheringham,” she said, unaccountably blushing again. How did one control such revealing behavior? she wondered. Especially when one had no reason to be blushing. She was in love with Julian. No mere handsome face was going to sway her loyalty to her cousin.
    Besides, the perfect male standing before her could not possibly find anything attractive about her figure in Julian’s clothes. And her odd facial features had matured into something equally out of the common way.
    Eliza soon found herself on her knees in the straw beside a motley mother cat and her five kittens, all of which, she discovered, already had names. “They are so perfect when they’re born, are they not?” she said, reaching out to stroke the soft fur of the solid black kitten under Frances’s and the twins’ watchful eyes. “And so very helpless.”
    “Would you like to have Blackie?” Becky asked. “When he is grown up enough, of course,” she added.
    “I will probably be far away when Blackie has grown up enough to leave his mother,” she said, unable to keep the wistfulness from her voice. She thought about how much Aunt Lavinia would have enjoyed having a cat to purr in her lap.
    “Where are you bound?” the captain asked.
    Eliza was not sure she should tell him, but since they were perfect strangers, and he could have no interest in her, she decided there could be no real harm. “I am riding to London, where I plan to meet my cousin, Major Julian Sheringham.”
    “Where is your baggage? And your maid?”
    “My traveling bag is there by the door. I haven’t any maid,” she answered airily.
    She did not like the look on his face when he asked, “Why not?”
    She rose, and he rose along with her. “I do not believe that can be of any concern to you.”
    “Surely you must have some escort,” he insisted, following her as she headed for the tack room to collect Mephistopheles’s saddle and bridle.
    “I really do not need one,” she replied.
    “The twins and I will be glad to accompany you,” he said.
    She eyed him with distrust. “Are you attempting to importune me, sir? I assure you—”
    Before she could launch a verbal attack, he said, “I assure you, Miss Sheringham, I have nothing but your best interests in mind. I merely thought you might enjoy some company on your journey.”
    “How can we go with Miss Sheringham, Uncle Marcus?” one of the twins asked, appearing suddenly at his side. “I thought we had to be at—”
    “There is no commitment we have that is more important than escorting