Virginia Henley by Enticed Page A

execution area is just across the street.”
    She shuddered. “The atmosphere is strange here.”
    “Wait until you go up in the Tower,” he promised.
    Instead of white wine to go with the fish, he ordered her mead and mulled wine for himself. “Do you like it?”
    “It’s delicious,” she said dreamily. “I feel like Queen Guinevere, sipping mead.”
    “Much more beautiful,” he assured her.
    He took her to the Tower as he had promised and guided her toward the Jewel House.
    “There are three floors of armor, but you must be prepared to climb to each floor, and then coming down there’s over a hundred winding tower stairs to the exit, so please, sweetheart, can we skip the armor today?”
    “Oh look, there’s one of the ravens. You must bow to him, Patrick.”
    He laughed, “I’m Irish too, or have you forgotten?”
    “I can feel the sadness here, can you?” she asked wistfully.
    “Of course; and evil and pain, but don’t let it spoil our day. Come, look at the jewels, they will really thrill you.”
    Kitty was in thrall as she viewed the crowns and scepters encrusted with precious gems.
    He whispered in her ear, “Do you like diamonds, Kitty?”
    “I like pearls,” she said softly.
    “Pearls are for tears,” he protested.
    “To be Irish is to know the world will break your heart before you’re forty.”
    “My God, it must be this place. Let’s get out of here,” he said, laughing.
    They were driving past Green Park when he said, “Half-Moon Street is just across the park.”
    “Oh, could we get out and walk the rest of the way?”
    “Of course, sweetheart.” He told his driver to deliver the packages to Mrs. Harris in Half-Moon Street. “Tell her we’ll be arriving shortly. You can return the carriage to Cadogen Square, I won’t be needing you again today.”
    He took her hand as they strolled through the beautiful park. Kitty put up her parasol and almost skipped along at his side. “Oh, Patrick, this has been the happiest day of my life.”
    The sun was sinking behind the trees and people were making their way home after an outing in the park. They received many cold stares and there was much tut-tutting as they strolled hand in hand in a public place, seemingly lost in a world of their own.
    Before they reached the top step, the door was flung wide and Mrs. Harris was curtsying to her new master.
    “Good evening, Mrs. Harris. This is your new mistress, Kit … er, Kathleen Rooney.”
    “Good evening, ma’am.” She sketched another curtsy. “All your packages arrived and I’ve taken the liberty of unpacking them in your bedroom, ma’am.”
    Mrs. Harris was very pleased when she saw how young Kitty was. She felt certain she would be able to take the upper hand. It was plain to see his nibs was badly smitten with her, as he couldn’t take his eyes from her for more than a few seconds at a time. She knew he would have a formidable temper if aroused, so she hesitated over her next words for fear of spoiling his obvious good mood.
    “Milord, I’m sorry to have to tell you, but the cook never showed up today.”
    “Well, never mind, Mrs. Harris. Fortunately Shepherd’s Market is just two steps away round the corner. Ye Grapes can provide us with a light supper, if you would be good enough to step round there for me?”
    “My pleasure, sir,” she answered, relieved that his easygoing mood had not altered.
    “The wine you sent arrived this afternoon. I put some of it to chill.”
    “Did it arrive intact, no bottle broken?” he asked, winking at Kitty.
    “Oh, Patrick,” Kitty said with a laugh, “that seems a lifetime ago; I can’t believe it was only this morning.”
    “Come, let me show you your new home while Mrs. Harris sees about our supper.” It was clearly a man’s establishment, with a richly patterned oriental carpet, a wine velvet couch and two leather wing-backed chairs in front of a small fireplace. There was a beautifully inlaid writing desk, but the whole