To everyone’s surprise, Molly gave one last loud sniff and then reached out to take King’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Beast picked Tad up and slung him up on his shoulders.
Soon Kitty and her whole family were heading out of their home…and straight into a whole new world of danger.
Hours later,Kitty found herself back in the same guest room she’d been tucked away in earlier.
Her brothers and sister were fed and asleep in a warm room down with the servants, and Mrs.Maddox had given her a kind smile before she’d parted, telling her to get some sleep, and promising to take care of Leo through the night.
He’d sleep well, though.They all would.Kitty couldn’t remember the last time they’d been so well fed, nor so safe.
A wave of emotion hit her hard.Relief, gratitude…and something else she wasn’t certain how to name.She’d barely seen King since he’d deposited her and the others with his housekeeper.
He’d gone back out, Tracker had told her as much when she’d asked.
Beast was gone too, as well as the men Beast had brought to guard them on the way back here.
She nibbled on her lower lip, her hands twisting in her lap.She had to talk to King.To thank him.
That urge won out over her nerves and she shifted off of the bed.She’d changed out of the revealing dress Loula had lent her and into her own modest frock.The rouge had long since been scrubbed off and her hair tumbled around her shoulders.
Earlier, alone with him, she’d felt like another woman.One more daring, and more…sensual.But now she was just Kitty again.
No great beauty, perhaps, but she had her pride…and her manners.She slipped out into the hallway, her footsteps light on the creaky wooden floor.She wasn’t sure she’d ever grow accustomed to the elegance of this place.
There was no extravagance, no fripperies and fineries like she’d heard thetonhad, but everything was fine and clean and of good quality.
And the home was quiet.So very quiet.
“Good girls ought to be in bed by now.”The quiet voice behind her made her still.
Her throat tightened, her heart leapt, but…it wasn’t fear that had goosebumps rising on her skin and her heart slamming against her chest.
She swallowed hard, turning slowly.She felt the heat of King’s body before she saw him.He was a dark, towering shadow in the dim, flickering candlelight.
“What are you doing out here, Kitty?”
Her lips parted.She wished she could see his eyes.She wished she knew why he’d come after her earlier.She wished she knew how to make him look at her again, like he had earlier today.
A fire burned in her belly at the memory of that look—the heat and the desire.But it’s something more than lust.Something that had made her feel special and cherished…
Silly girl.It’s lust, plain and simple.
It was her sister’s voice she heard—the jaded and bitter tone Daphne had used that last year before her death.The one that was void of life.
Void of hope.
Kitty wet her lips, her tongue too heavy under King’s dark gaze.
She still hadn’t given him an answer.
She heard him sigh and his hand was firm but gentle on her shoulder as he steered her back toward her room.“Come.You need sleep.”
“No,” she heard herself say.
He paused.
Lord, but she wished she could see his eyes.