Free Keepsake (The Distinguished Rogues Book 5) by Heather Boyd Page B

due to return home and shall have tea soon. I know you must have much on your mind. We won’t stay long enough to require entertaining.”
    The little girl looked so disappointed by the news that Kit leaned down to the girl’s level. “Forgive me, Miss Mabel. Unfortunately I have no time today to entertain you properly as I must go out. When I return, I will certainly invite you for tea and we can have all the lemonade and ginger biscuits that Simon likes.”
    The little girl leaned forward and stared into his eyes. They widened with excitement, and then to his surprise, she kissed his cheek. A little startled by the kiss, Kit touched his face and straightened. Children did not normally warm to him, but these two were an exception. Mabel liked to shock him every chance she got. Simon always had questions about his estate.
    He glanced at Carrington quickly. “If she does that to everyone that offers to feed Simon, you may have a problem there, my friend.”
    Carrington shrugged. “She is extraordinarily attached to Simon. I swear it’s almost impossible to find him alone except when she sleeps.”
    The boy in question stood silently near the door, urging Mabel to return to him even as his gaze flittered about the room, inspecting Kit’s personal possessions. Carrington’s children had visited often but rarely ventured beyond the drawing room or his study. In all the times they’d met, Kit had been most impressed by the boy. He was rather calm and sensible and did as he was told. To his surprise, Kit found he didn’t mind him coming upstairs and into his bedchamber. “You must be happy that your sister thinks so well of you.”
    Simon folded his arms across his chest and glared daggers at him. “She’s not my sister. She’s my friend.”
    Kit looked at Carrington curiously, startled by the heat in Simon’s words. “I take it he still refuses the idea of adoption. It could only be to his benefit.”
    “That he does.” Carrington strolled over to the boy and put his arm about Simon’s shoulders, drawing him forward. The obvious bond of affection was reciprocated as the boy leaned into his would-be father. “We’ve come to an understanding.”
    “Oh?”
    “Simon insists he belongs to someone and is awaiting their return. When that day comes, he wishes to be free to go with them. He made me promise not to interfere.”
    How often did orphaned children cling to the hope their parents would come for them? It made him sad that the child, though intelligent, could not see he was better off as Carrington’s adopted son than entirely fatherless. He was about to offer an opinion when Simon’s expression changed to one of stubborn fury. Rather than face an outburst, Kit quickly thought better of offering advice and merely smiled instead. “Well, a promise must be kept then.”
    “Every promise is a sacred vow,” Simon said sternly, staring hard at Kit.
    Kit blinked. “Has he been spending time with your mother’s husband in the rectory? He’d make a fine sermonizer one day at this rate.”
    “Simon has a fine mind for many things. He’s an avid reader, so he claims the newssheet before I’ve even seen it and has unfortunately read the gossip and speculation about you and your wife’s marriage. He found it distressing to read about someone he knew.” Carrington ruffled Simon’s hair playfully. “As to a profession, Simon merely tolerates my new papa’s sermons but has no interest in the church. He claims to know what his career will be but can never be persuaded to tell me or anyone else who asks what it might be.”
    Kit grinned, hoping that the discussion could be salvaged. He’d hate to have the boy out of sorts with him when he was the least unruly child in Carrington’s brood. “Not everything you read in the scandal rags is true. My wife and I are at odds for the moment, but the matter will be resolved soon enough, I promise you that. Would you tell me what you hope for your life?”
    He opened