A knock on the bedroom door had them all turning to see Lillian, Beast’s wife, standing in the doorway, her belly so round Kitty jumped up, handing Leo to Jeremiah.“Miss Lillian, should you be on your feet…?”
She smiled and waved away her concerns.“I feel just fine.It’s you I’m worried about.”
Kitty’s siblings stared in awe like they did every time Beast’s wife spoke to them.Beast, it seemed, failed to intimidate them with his size and his growls.But a proper lady…?
This scared them speechless.
Lillian ignored their gaping mouths as she smiled at Jeremiah and the twins.“Mrs.Maddox asked me to tell you that she has some fresh baked bread if you’re interested…”
She laughed as the twins scrambled off the bed in a race to get to the kitchen.Even Jeremiah ran.Kitty moved at a slower pace with Leo now back in her arms.“They have gotten spoiled by Mrs.Maddox, I fear.They’ll have to get used to scraps again soon.”
“I heard,” Lillian said.With a quick smile she added, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”
“No, no, it’s all right,” Kitty said.“You and your husband and, well, everyone…you’ve all been so good to us…”
And all because of King.The thought made her throat ache.
King had invited them here, and he’d instructed Mrs.Maddox to welcome them as guests.She looked down at Leo, who gave her a toothless little grin.
She smiled back and caught Lillian grinning as well.“He’s a sweetheart.”
“He’s the best of my sister,” Kitty said simply.
Lillian’s expression grew sympathetic.“Beast told me what happened.With your sister, your family…”
Kitty looked down to the floor.She didn’t need to ask how Beast knew.King must have told him the sorrowful tale.To think that he’d done all this for her and her family out of pity was nearly enough to make her weep.
“Kitty, I heard you talking, and…” She moved in further, her expression pained.“I understand why you feel you cannot keep the money.”
The other woman’s cheeks pinkened, no doubt on Kitty’s behalf.
Kitty’s belly turned.Did everyone know what she’d done with King?Or was Lillian merely embarrassed about the way Kitty had tried to sell her body.
Kitty winced as she turned her gaze to the floor.“It was good of King to save me.And…and to give me money that I did not…did not deserve.”
Oh blast.Now her cheeks were burning as well.No matter what the other woman knew or didn’t, this was a dreadfully awkward topic.
Lillian moved toward her.“Kitty, you need the money and he’d want you to have it.”
Her head came up and she caught Lillian’s small smile.“You think so?”
“He’s not as cold and cruel as he’d have you believe,” Lillian said.
Kitty swallowed hard.I know.
“He reminds me of my husband in that regard,” Lillian said, her tone thoughtful.“Sometimes it’s those with the best hearts who have the thickest armor.”
Kitty didn’t know what to say to that so she said nothing at all.
“Not that he’s a saint,” the other woman continued.“But he has his own set of rules that he lives by.And from what I’ve learned, it’s the men with personal convictions who have the best morals.Even if they’re a bit…skewedby society’s standards.”
Kitty nibbled her lip.She couldn’t shake the feeling that Lillian was trying to make King’s excuses.Like she was hoping to make him more agreeable to Kitty.But why?
“I have nothing but gratitude for King,” she said quietly.“He was good to me as an employee and he’s gone above and beyond for my family.”
“And yet you won’t take his money.”
It wasn’t a question but Kitty shook her head, her throat tight.“No, I…I cannot.”