Page 25 of A Misguided Devotion

“Would you?” Laura bit her lip and shot her a grateful look. “That would be so kind. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

The extra climb didn’t bother her, but Kitty was loath to leave her companion alone on the beach. If the girl was planning to meet someone, this would provide her with an excellent opportunity.

“Your father would not like you to remain here unchaperoned.”

“You’ll only be gone a few minutes at most.” Laura waved her hand toward the jetty, where the men were working on their boats. “They won’t bother me—and there’s no one else about.”

Kitty glanced around. It was true. The rest of the beach was deserted. There was no sign of Mr Jenkin or the painter, but it made her uneasy that Laura was so eager to be left alone. She would be gone at least half an hour. “I still don’t think—”

“What harm do you suppose will come to me? I know these people. They’ll rush to my aid if I call.”

Kitty felt pushed into a corner. Though Hugh would want her to stay with his daughter, if she continued to object, she might lose her friendship.

She cast another look at Laura’s short jacket. “Very well, but you had better exchange your Spencer for my pelisse or you’ll be frozen before I return.”

The two ladies swapped their outer clothing, and after promising not to be long, Kitty turned on her heel and hurried back up the hill. She slipped through the door in the wall and sped up the lawn to the house. With Laura’s cloak in hand, she retraced her steps.

As she left the garden, she almost collided with someone. A tall, male someone.

The artist. His white-blond hair had been mussed by the wind, but there was no smudge of paint on his cheek to mar his appearance today.

He greeted her with a saucy grin, and Kitty’s heart fluttered, despite itself. The man was a nuisance. He had no right to dazzle unsuspecting females with that smile, especially when it was meant for someone else.

She glowered at him, more severely than he deserved, because she was so irritated with herself for reacting like that. He backed off when he saw her scowl and made no attempt to bar her way.

Kitty escaped, hurrying down the path as fast as she could to where she’d left her friend, keen not to leave her alone with this man in the vicinity. She was halfway down before she realised he was trailing behind her.

If she continued to the beach, he would be able to pester Laura again, which was, no doubt, his intent. Her only option was to dissuade him from his pursuit.

She jerked to a halt and turned around to face him so sharply that he almost walked into her. “Please stop following me.”

“Not until your friend lets me paint her.”

Would he never give up? What would it feel like to inspire such determination? She would never find out. No one would seek her acquaintance hoping to paint her.

She pleaded ignorant. “What friend?”

“Miss Barrington. The owner of that cloak.”

“How do you know it’s not mine?”

“Because if it were yours, you’d be wearing it.”

Kitty bit back a smile at his logic. She had to admire his persistence, though his propensity to talk to ladies to whom he had not been introduced was highly improper. But did she still merit that right? She was no longer Miss Bruce of Lilac Cottage, Pendlebury. Would she have to get used to men taking such liberties with her?

He folded his arms across his chest. “Please continue down the path or move aside.”

She stood her ground. It was her duty to protect Laura’s reputation. “No.” If she were to obey Hugh’s request, she must try to stop his daughter from meeting with this Adonis, particularly if she had a partiality for him. Kitty could not blame her if she did.

He shot her a boyish grin. “I could lift you out of my way if you’d prefer.”

“It is no more than I would expect. You are no gentleman.”

He raised his eyebrows at that, but she continued to speak. “Harassing young ladies with unwanted attentions and now threatening them.”

He shrugged. “If you think so poorly of me, I have nothing to lose.”

Before Kitty realised what he was doing, he circled her waist with his hands and swivelled her around, placing her behind him on the path.