Page 87 of Restored

Clara swallowed and nodded. “I know, but Kit, my work—”

“As I’ve said, I will make provision for you,” Kit replied gently.

“It’s too much,” Clara said, and her expression was distressed. “I could not impose on you so. And then, to go somewhere new again, somewhere we know no one.” She rubbed at her forehead wearily. “It would be a big change, for both of us. And for you, Kit. We would both miss you terribly.”

Kit smiled, touched. “And I would miss you too, but… I have had a hankering to move to the country for a while. It’s difficult with the club, of course, but if I purchased a property, you could live there with Peter, and I could visit from time to time.” He smiled fondly. “Your beloved brother. And if you wanted to look for teaching work, you could do so.”

Her eyes brightened a little at that, and he saw her begin to consider his words.

Well, he had sown a seed at least. It would do for today.

“Just think on it for now,” he said, and Clara nodded.

Peter came back then, with a large, half-eaten biscuit in hand.

“What happened to your eye, Uncle Kit?” he demanded, noticing Kit’s bruises for the first time. He approached and set his sturdy little fingers gently on Kit’s face, tracing the bruise beneath his eye. “It’s red and purpleandblue. Is it sore?”

“A bit,” Kit said, smiling.

“How did it happen? Did you get in a fight?”

“Yes,” Kit said simply, at the exact same moment that Clara said, “Of course not!”

They looked at one another and laughed.

“Sort of,” Kit said, by way of compromise, then swiftly changed the subject. “Do you want to play me at dominoes? I warn you, I’mmuchbetter than your mama…”

Needless to say, Peter did want to play.

They had just finished their fourth game when Tom swept in.

“You’ll never guess who it is, Kit,” he said. “Only bleedin’ Jake Sharp!”

Kit wasn’t sure if he should be surprised to see Sharp so soon after the previous evening’s events. And he certainly wasn’t sure what mood the man would be in. On any view, last night had not gone precisely as planned. Sharp had agreed to Kit confronting Bartlett in his club—not to a full-scale brawl.

However, when Sharp was shown into the parlour, after Clara and Peter had left, he seemed perfectly relaxed, greeting Kit pleasantly and declining his offer of tea.

He watched Tom leave the room with undisguised interest.

“Ogling my footman?” Kit said, amused.

“I remember him,” Sharp said, one corner of his mouth quirking up. “That arse is unforgettable. He was selling it up at your club, wasn’t he? What’s he doing here?”

“He wanted a change of direction,” Kit replied.

“That so?” Sharp nodded. “Still, I’m a bit surprised at you keeping a footman. And with all the fancy livery too. Don’t seem like you, Kitten.”

“It’s a temporary arrangement,” Kit said. “Tom is… gaining experience with me before he looks for a permanent position.”

Sharp raised his brows. “If he’s looking for a position, there might be one directly under me”—he cleared his throat—“so to speak.”

“That’s precisely what hedoesn’twant to do anymore,” Kit said drily.

Sharp chuckled. “I was only jesting anyway—I’ve got someone else in mind for that post.”

“Have you?”

Sharp’s smile was wolfish.