“By all means.” Lady Agnes rose. “I’ll leave the gentlemen to their port and see you at breakfast. Christopher will be brought over here for his skill testing, and you can say good-bye properly then.”

Kendra nodded and withdrew, as did Lady Agnes and Miss Emily. When the women were gone, General Rawlings cocked an eye at Lucas. “Do you like port, or would you prefer brandy?”

Lucas grinned. “Brandy, please.”

He enjoyed talking with the general, who had thoughtful and far-reaching views. If he knew of Lucas’s disgrace, and he probably did, he didn’t mention it. As a man of wide experience, he apparently recognized the many shades of gray in life.

They each enjoyed a leisurely glass of brandy before Lucas excused himself for the night. The worldly and tolerant Lady Agnes hadn’t asked about the relationship between Lucas and Kendra, but she’d assigned them adjacent guest rooms so they could sort it out as they wished.

When he reached his room, Lucas stripped off his coat and cravat and tossed them over a chair, trying not to think that Kendra was a mere wall away, presumably sleeping the sleep of the relieved. All soft womanly warmth . . . and memories of a night they both agreed shouldn’t have happened.

* * *

Though Kendra was tired when she reached her room, she was too restless to go to bed right away. After changing from her black day wear, she donned her nightgown and robe and slippers, which were a soft ivory. She hoped the day would come when she would feel that she didn’t need to wear black as a statement of injustice.

Then she settled at the desk and made a list of things Christopher might need. She suspected that the academy wasn’t the sort of place where flaunting wealth was approved of, but she could buy new copies of some of her son’s favorite books, like Robinson Crusoe. A Bible, of course. Perhaps a small bedside rug so his feet wouldn’t land on a cold floor first thing in the morning.

When she finished her list, she had a modest selection of items that might be useful to a new boy at this particular school. She’d show it to Kit and Lady Agnes in the morning to see what they thought.

Then she stretched and took the pins from her hair so she could brush it out. She’d always found the ritual relaxing both physically and mentally.

She’d worked out all the tangles and was almost done when the full emotional force of what had happened this day really struck her: Christopher was safe! In the months since Denshire had thrown her out of his house and told her she’d never see her son again, her greatest fears and despair had concerned Christopher. Not knowing where he was had driven her half mad. She had also feared that Denshire would turn her son against her.