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“What arrangements?”
“You wouldn’t remember him, but his nephew visited, oh, I think twice …quite well At any rate, he gave his solicitor instructions regarding you … and it all had to do with the earl—his nephew, you see, and the earl’s grandh I am not privy to what those instructions were I only know of them, because he had me attend him and made me promise to make certain it all worked out”
“No … I don’t believe it”
“Indeed, it is the truth” She pursed her lips “The thing is, apparently he wrote theain and left the letters in his drawer We did not discover theo Of course, they were er countess and the other for the earl” She clucked her tongue and folded her hands into each other at her ht e first lost hirief, but he sent a note around earlier saying that he can no longer put off the reading of the will … my dear, it has been months” She eyed Kitty “Well, we shall learn what your uncle’s wishes are when Mr Harkins arrives this afternoon, but I think you al guardian until you coe, which won’t be until you turn twenty-one”
Kitty turned on her heel, and Nanny called after her, “Darling … what are you doing?”
“Another ride … I o for another ride I have to think”
Mounted and once again allowing the breeze to wash over her, she slowed her horse from a lope to an easy trot when a familiar voice snapped her out of her daze and confusion
“Kitty! I say—Kitty!”
She turned sharply and saelcome and handsome face “Harry!” Kitty stopped her horse and waited for hi hiled and leaned over to take his gloved hand and give it a squeeze
“Coht step before he led her to a shady spot beneath a large oak
She followed suit, and he grinned, reached over, and pulled one of her long tresses to say, “I h” He laughed and put up defensive hands “Put down your fists, do!”
She grinned ruefully “Yes, sadly, I think you are right I am a bit of a mess”
“A bit?” he teased
She ed to punch his shoulder, he cried out in hed
and said, “Indeed, but I should go back, wash, and put on a pretty dress … wait, what should I do then? Stare at the walls? Eers? No, I think I would rather be a mess”