lips curling into a smile. “I’m beginning to recognize that, Miss Blackmore.” He turned back towards the townhouse. “I see that your sisters decided not to join us.”
“You only now discovered that?” she teased.
“I’m afraid I have been rather preoccupied.”
Kitty’s excited voice broke through their private conversation, causing him to take a step back from Miss Blackmore. “Mr. Caney has just asked me to visit Vauxhall Gardens with him tomorrow evening.”
“That is wonderful news,” Miss Blackmore said before glancing over at him. “Isn’t it, Lord Berkshire?”
He frowned. “I suppose so, but Miss Blackmore and I will be joining you.”
Kitty nodded eagerly. “I had assumed as much,” she responded as she placed her hand into the crook of Mr. Caney’s arm.
As he turned to watch his sister and Mr. Caney walk back towards the townhouse, Miss Blackmore asked, “Are you not a fan of Vauxhall Gardens?”
“No.”
Miss Blackmore smiled. “I’m afraid that doesn’t surprise me in the least,” she remarked. She turned and began walking back towards the estate, not bothering to wait for him.
“I am so excited to be here,” Kitty gushed as her eyes darted around the grove of Vauxhall Gardens. “Look at all the lights glittering in the trees.”
Mr. Caney smiled indulgently at her. “It is rumored that there are nearly fifteen thousand glass lamps that illuminate the grove alone, creating a brilliant effect.”
“That they do. It is magnificent.” Kitty turned her attention towards her brother and asked, “Why haven’t you brought me to Vauxhall Gardens before?”
Lord Berkshire appeared displeased at her question, but replied, “Mainly because Vauxhall Gardens is awfully crowded, and I detest taking the wherry across the River Thames.”
“Those are terrible excuses,” Kitty muttered as she looked down at the map in her hand. “Which pavilion should we visit first?”
Katherine spoke up. “I would like to see the large pavilion. I hear that it was built for Prince Frederic of Wales.”
“Yes, that particular building is positioned in front of the orchestra. Did you know that the rotunda roof was designed so that sound never vibrates under it?” Mr. Caney shared.
“You seem to be remarkably well informed about Vauxhall Gardens,” Kitty commented.
Mr. Caney bobbed his head. “I should say so,” he replied. “I have been coming here since I was a little child, and I daresay I know this place inside and out.”
“Then you shall be our tour guide,” Kitty suggested a bit shyly.
“It shall be my pleasure,” Mr. Caney replied with a small bow.
Lord Berkshire scratched at his brow while saying, “It might be best if we started the tour before it gets too late.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Mr. Caney offered his arm to Kitty, and she graciously accepted it. “Shall we begin?”
As they started walking along one of the many paths, Katherine observed in a low voice, “You seem irritated this evening.”
“I am.”
“May I ask why?”
Lord Berkshire glanced over at Mr. Caney, who was pointing at one of the pavilions. “I have not decided what to make of Mr. Caney.”
“And why is that?”
“He is entirely too cheerful.”
“He is?”
“Yes, and frankly, it bothers me.”
Amused, Katherine kept her face expressionless as she commented, “That is a silly reason not to like someone.”
Lord Berkshire shifted his gaze towards her. “I am sure there must be an ancient proverb about not trusting someone who is overly friendly.”
“No, I can’t think of one.”
“Well, there should be,” he huffed.
“And why is that?”
“Because I wonder what Mr. Caney is hiding under that smile.”
Katherine watched as Mr. Caney leaned closer to Kitty and whispered something, causing a blush to come to her cheeks.
“I don’t believe Mr. Caney is hiding anything.”
Lord Berkshire shook his head. “Everyone is hiding something from the world, a part of themselves that they don’t want anyone to know about.”
Pondering his words carefully, Katherine asked, “What are you hiding?”
A pained look came to Lord Berkshire’s face. “Nothing,” he replied in an unconvincing tone.
“But you just said—”
He cut her off. “I know what I said,” he growled.
Realizing that she had pressed him too much, Katherine decided to change the direction of the conversation.
“Have you been to Vauxhall Gardens before?” she asked.
“I used to come with my parents.”
Katherine smiled. “That must have been nice.”
“It was.”
She waited for him to explain, but when he didn’t, she shared, “I rarely come here anymore.”
“Why is that?”
“It just doesn’t hold the same appeal for me now,” she revealed as a stabbing pain pierced her heart.
Lord Berkshire looked at her curiously. “May I ask why that is?”
Lowering her gaze, she confessed, “I used to come here with