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invitations to dine started coming to the house on a daily basis.
Gracious! I never took my father for the romantic kind.
Oh, he is, believe me. Caroline swallowed a bite of toast,
then her expression became serious. There is one thing I should
tell you. Henry did feel compelled to invite Rafael back before
he goes on to Liverpool to take the steamer for New York.
And no doubt Señor Ortega accepted.
Oh, yes. He said he would be delighted.
Amanda was extremely relieved Rafael had gone and only
sorry they had not seen the last of him her instinct told her
that his leaving had everything to do with Kit.
With a lifting of her spirits brought about by Rafael s de-
parture and the whole day stretching ahead of her and nothing
204 Rogue s Widow, Gentleman s Wife
much to do, Amanda asked Cook to pack a small picnic
hamper, intending to reacquaint herself with Sky and the
thought that she might see the child s father was a powerful
stimulant.
Caroline walked with her as far as the stables and, instead
of going back to the house to write her letters, stood breath-
ing in the sharp spring air, watching Amanda walking with a
definite spring in her step towards Kit s cottage. With a wistful
smile on her face she was about to turn away when the most
curious thing happened. The cottage door opened and Nan
appeared with a small, dark-haired girl by her side.
Caroline was quite unprepared for what happened next. On
seeing Amanda the child waved and, leaving Nan behind, ran
down the garden path and out of the gate as fast as her little
legs would go. Laughing delightedly, Amanda stopped,
dropping the hamper on the ground. Bending from the waist,
she opened her arms wide, and with a squeal of absolute joy
the child ran into them. Amanda hugged her tight, lifting her
off the ground and spinning her round. Setting her back on
her feet, she took Sky s hand and headed for the cottage, the
happy child skipping along beside her.
Caroline was dumbfounded. There was something going
on concerning Kit and Amanda that was beyond her under-
standing, but only because she did not have sufficient knowl-
edge about what it was. Well, who would have thought it?
she murmured as she turned to go back to the house. There s
more to this than either Henry or myself know about.
Chapter Nine
Sky gazed up at Amanda with her big dark eyes, a smile
stretching from ear to ear. Nan told me you d come and see
me. She pointed to the hamper on the table. What s in there?
Is it a present?
Well, sort of. I ve come to take you on a picnic. Do you
know what a picnic is, Sky?
Sky shook her head, her eyes alight with excitement.
Well, the hamper is filled with all sorts of nice things to
eat. I thought we might take a walk to the lake.
Nan gaped at Amanda, thinking she d taken leave of her
senses. A picnic? In April?
Oh, come now, Nan, where s your sense of adventure? It s
a perfect day and it will be lovely down by the lake.
Suddenly a shadow fell across the doorway. Amanda
turned and saw Kit. His eyes held hers in an enquiring glance.
Am I missing something?
I ve come to take Sky on a picnic. Nan s coming too,
aren t you, Nan?
I think a picnic is a splendid idea, Kit said before Nan
could reply, and so as not to disappoint Sky, Nan, since you
206 Rogue s Widow, Gentleman s Wife
are party to our deception, would you mind if I went on the
picnic instead?
Nan thought it highly inappropriate for the two of them
with Sky in tow to be seen going off together to picnic by the
lake. What on earth would people make of it? Still, it was one
thing to criticise Amanda s actions when she was alone, but
an entirely different thing to do so in front of her husband.
I m not really one for eating outside, Nan said, wiping her
hands down her apron. And I m sure Sky would rather her
father went with her than me.
Kit looked at Amanda. We ll ride over the moors Sky
would like that, wouldn t you, Sky?
Sky nodded, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
But are you sure, Kit? Amanda said. Do you have the
time?
I doubt Henry would object to my taking time off to spend
with my two favourite ladies. His gaze encompassed them
both, his expression holding a rare look of softness and pleasure.
I m glad Sky still remembers me, Amanda murmured as
Nan began buttoning the little girl into her coat. I was more
than a little apprehensive that she might not.
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