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has been good seeing you this morning, Mr. Thornton, and meeting your son.” She backed away. “I believe Dora must be wondering what has happened to me.”

    Thomas didnʼt want her to leave, not before he could figure out why she behaved the way she did. “Tea!” he blurted out, then winced when he realized how silly that sounded.

    “I beg your pardon?”

    “Have tea with me-at Rosehaven-this afternoon,” he stammered. “You may bring your sister and your mother, also.”

    Then as an afterthought, he added, “Oh, and your cousin may come along, too.”

    She paused, then shook her head with regret. “I fear I will have to decline your kind offer. My brother is coming home for a small holiday from Cambridge and will arrive at Ravenhurst today. I must be there to greet him.”

    “Ah, I understand. Perhaps another day,” he told her, disappointed he would not see her later on.

    Indecision played across her pretty features, and Thomas could tell she was trying to decide something. “Mr. Thorn-“
    she began.

    “Please, call me Thomas.”

    She sighed. “Thomas,” she repeated. “I would extend to you an invitation to our small gathering tonight, but-“

    Thomas held out his free hand, palm toward her. “Please, do not explain. Your family will want to be alone with your brother.”

    She shook her head and reached out and took hold of his hand, surprising him to his core. “It is not that, Thomas. I fear what Cameron might do if he sees you. Heʼs been very upset about the whole scandal, you see. Weʼve always been close, and he blames your brother and your family for what has befallen me.”

    Thomas lowered his hand, turning it slightly so he could hold onto hers. “Might I try to talk to him? Perhaps I could ease some of his anger.”

    “I donʼt know, Thomas. He grows furious every time your familyʼs name is mentioned.” It was then she realized she was holding his hand. Her eyes widened as she viewed their hands, and her cheeks were burning when she finally looked up at him.

    Hastily, she pulled her hand away and backed up a few steps. “I-I think per—perhaps Iʼd better go,” she stammered, clearly out of sorts from the encounter.

    Thomas felt oddly elated by her reaction to him-first the spontaneity of holding his hand, and now the embarrassment of being caught.

    “Of course. Give my regards to your family,” he replied smoothly, holding back a grin.

    She kept backing up until she bumped into a tree. She was quick to regain her composure as befit a dukeʼs daughter. “Yes, uh…good-bye.”

    “My, she is quite a stupendous young lady, Mr. Thornton,” Mrs.
    Sanborne spoke as they both watched Katherine dash back to where her cousin was waiting for her. Thomas had completely forgotten about his sonʼs nanny and wondered if sheʼd overheard their conversation.

    “Indeed, she is, Mrs. Sanborne. Indeed, she is.”

    “It is a pity you will not be able to take tea with her this stupendous afternoon. Perhaps you should call on her tomorrow.
    I would be stupendously surprised if she is not hoping for such a visit.”

    Thomas hid a smile as he continued to look in Katherineʼs direction. Mrs. Sanborne didnʼt seem to realize servants were not supposed to converse with their employers as if they were good friends. He rather liked it, though.

    “I think I shall not visit tomorrow, Mrs. Sanborne, but wait until church on Sunday,” Thomas replied. Perhaps seeing her family in a safe haven like the church would put the future Duke of Ravenhurst in a better frame of mind for their first meeting.

    “Oh, indeed, sir!” Mrs. Sanborne cried. “Absence does make the heart grow fonder, my mother often said.”

    This time Thomas laughed aloud, unable to hide his mirth at his governessʼs unusual way of looking at things. “Perhaps your dear mother was correct, Mrs. Sanborne. We shall see, wonʼt we?”

    He took one last glance at Katherine before leaving the park. At that moment, she,