Holiday in Bath Read Online Free PDF Page B

way for me to repay him for his expenditures on my behalf.”
    Kitty touched the lines on his forehead with gentle fingers. “You make light of what cannot be a pleasant situation. What will happen when you wish to marry?”
    “He’ll make a handsome settlement on me—if I marry the lady of his choice.”
    “And has he chosen someone for you?”
    “Oh, yes, there was never any question. He thinks when I tire of living hand to mouth I will marry and unite the two neighboring properties.” Cranford traced the oval of her face and bent to kiss her.
    After a while she asked, “And will you?”
     “I suppose so, if Trelenny will have me, which is doubtful. But not because of my father.”
    “You love the lady?”
    “Dear God, no. She’s ... no matter. There is another debt I owe. May I?” His hands rested on the buttons of her gown and when she nodded he began carefully to unfasten them, kissing the nape of her neck as he did so.
    “And will you and your bride live with him?”
    “He thinks so. I doubt he can imagine our living at Coverly, but he’s wrong. I’ve spent as much as I dared in restoring the house there and it won’t be long before it will be acceptable.” As the gown fell unheeded to the floor he gathered her in his arms. “I’d like to have set you up somewhere this last year or so, Kitty. I couldn’t afford to.”
    Her long fingers paused as she unbuttoned his coat. “I’m happy here, Cranford. It’s lonely sitting in a house somewhere with no one about, waiting for your protector to come and visit you. You have no friends, no life outside those visits. Perhaps it would be different in London but London is so... rough. Don’t be sorry you couldn’t take me under your protection. I probably wouldn’t have left here, anyhow.”
    “I see.” He ran his hands gently down her slender body, aware that his touch quickly brought forth a response in her. “You wouldn’t prefer. . . no, I won’t ask that. You have the most beautiful body, Kitty. The gentle swell of your breasts, not like some ship’s prow. And your hips—I should like to see you riding. You must be the most graceful rider imaginable.”
    Kitty smiled gently as he continued to stroke her body. “I don’t know how to ride, Cranford, and I haven’t the least desire to learn. You are quite a romantic, you know.”
    “Am I?” he asked, surprised. “I have always thought of myself as exceedingly mundane.”
    “You dream of ideals, I think. Oh, I like that. Shall I...”
    Some time later she lay quietly in his arms as he traced a pattern on her naked body with a languid finger. “Will you be coming again soon?”
    “I really don’t know. I hope so. You really like it here?” he asked curiously.
    “Yes. I like having friends around. Claudette keeps us laughing and Marie tells the most incredible stories. Mrs. Reed knows all the latest gossip and Susan is always ready to walk about the estate with me. I’m always warm, and full, and happy.”
    “But what of. . . years from now?”
    “Mrs. Reed puts aside money for us, and it’s ours whenever we wish to leave.”
    “And that’s enough?”
    “We are handsomely paid. Oh, I see. Yes, that’s enough.” Kitty’s gray eyes regarded him kindly. “You want there to be more. I’m sorry, Cranford, but there’s not. You are idealizing again, you see. I don’t support an aging mother or an invalid father or a dozen deserving brothers and sisters. There’s only me, and I like to dress well and eat well and be warm and comfortable. I was not victimized by some lecherous man who robbed my virtue and started me on a life of degradation. I was not even wretchedly poor and abandoned. Some years ago I made a modest living as a seamstress to a very distinguished family. I saw how they lived and I wanted more. It’s as simple as that. Now I have what I want. Does that shock you?”
    “Yes.” He sighed and then laughed. “You are right, dear lady. I build castles in the air.