“I am off to visit with my cousin Jane this morning,” her mother was saying. “Perhaps you should come with me. I’d hate for you to wander about here by yourself.”

Alice’s pulse leapt. With her mother out of the chateau, perhaps she could convince Kit to give her another lesson. Two of the questions from last evening still remained unanswered. “I have a touch of a headache. I didn’t sleep well last night. I think I’ll spend the morning in my room.”

“I told you not to have that second cup of coffee after dinner.” Her mother looked down her nose sharply. “Alice, we need you at your best during this house party. How will you ever land a decent husband if you—”

“Miss Lusk, I didn’t see you when I arrived,” Kit said smoothly from the end of the table. “Forgive my rudeness in not greeting you earlier. I trust you are well this morning.”

Her mother made a strangled noise in her throat at the interruption, but Alice ignored her. “Good morning, Mr. Ward. Mr. Archer,” she said.

“Miss Lusk,” Harrison said with a polite nod. “Good morning.”

The other occupants at the table—two heiresses, three chaperones and Mr. Webster—all looked up at this exchange, the dining room so quiet one could hear the coffee getting cold. Grateful that Kit had interrupted her mother’s tirade, Alice gave him a small smile.

He winked at her.

Winked, like they were co-conspirators . . . or lovers.

Her chest expanded, an unexpected heat blooming in her lower half. She pressed her lips together as her mind tripped over the possibility of that small gesture. Before she could react, however, the moment passed. He went back to his quiet conversation with Harrison and everyone else continued their breakfast.

“How incredibly rude,” her mother said under her breath. “If the duke hadn’t arrived, I swear I would have taken you back to New York already. I’m not certain these people are a good influence on you. Not dressing properly for breakfast, interrupting our conversation . . . the lack of manners is staggering.”

Alice said nothing. She knew better than to argue with her mother. If Mama wanted to leave, there would be nothing Alice could do to stop it.

I must make the most of my time here.

The house party would end in a few days, and the goal was to leave Newport a much different woman than the one who’d arrived. She needed to speed things along. Hopefully, Kit hadn’t made other plans this morning.

Moments later, Mama pushed back from the table. Alice followed her upstairs, silent, as her mother kept up a steady stream of commentary. Instead of listening, Alice wondered over that wink and what it had meant.

They stopped outside her mother’s door. “How long will you stay at Jane’s?” Alice asked abruptly.