Kate sat on the floor of her great-aunt’s sitting room thanking the heavens for Jasper the puppy.

He was the one thing helping to keep her mind off everything that could go wrong or right at tomorrow’s inauguration of the London Society of the Creative and Performing Arts.

Aunt Havens was in a wingback chair, hunched over a scrap of embroidery that she still refused to let anyone see. Such spells had been happening more and more often.

Ravenwood was with the House of Lords. As usual. But not only did Parliament adjourn next week, there was no meeting tomorrow. Her husband would be free for the entire evening, as would all of the other peers making up the House of Lords.

Kate hadn’t been able to promote the event as much as she would have liked, for fear of an uncomfortable incident with Aunt Havens.

She wasn’t willing to risk her aunt getting into trouble or danger, nor was she willing to risk subjecting her aunt to the level of humiliation she’d suffered as the brunt of Phineas Mapleton’s cruel comments.

So she’d stayed in. And concentrated on being mistress of Ravenwood House.

Nonetheless, a steady stream of missives had flooded her escritoire, letting Kate know that this earl and that baroness were delighted to attend her event, and intended to ensure their financial contribution would be the largest.

It was baffling. Terrifying. Exhilarating.

She thrummed with so much nervous excitement, she could barely sit still, let alone eat or sleep.

“Your grace?”

Kate lifted her head up from the puppy to see the butler and a gaggle of footmen clustered in the doorway. “Yes, Simmons?”

“Several large crates have just arrived for you.” He cleared his throat. “The calling card merely reads, ‘Repeating history.’”

He held out the card, but Kate had no need to see it. She was already on her feet, handing Jasper off to Aunt Havens. Repeating history could only mean one thing.

The furniture had arrived!

“Take everything to the back parlor. The one with the Ravenwood family portrait.”

The butler blinked as if he did not quite comprehend her orders. “Your grace?”

“It’s not Egyptian artifacts, Simmons. I swear.” She grinned at him and clasped her hands to her chest.

This was perfect. This was better than perfect. It was not only exactly what she needed to distract her mind from tomorrow’s inaugural gala, it was perfect timing for Ravenwood as well. He had mentioned he thought he might be able to make it home early. Perhaps she could reveal her surprise to him this very night!

She raced to the parlor in order to direct the footmen as to where to put which piece.

As it turned out, no such direction was necessary. Not only was a visual map staring back at them from the painting, the butler had served long enough to remember the room as it was twenty years ago and needed no instruction on arranging each item.

Once the staff realized what was inside the crates, their enthusiasm matched Kate’s own. They marveled at the uncanny resemblance of the new pieces to the old painting. Simmons’ only complaint was that if anything, the replacement furniture was in better condition than the originals.

Kate hugged herself. She couldn’t wait to see Ravenwood’s expression when he saw the reconstruction. He would see how much she cared. How hard she was trying to know him. To make him happy.

“When is the last time my husband came by this room?” she asked the footmen.

They glanced at each other uncomfortably. “Not since the day you took down your Egyptian things.”

Her spirits fell a little. She had pictured him visiting the parlor every night. Imagined herself incredibly clever for having slipped the painting out for an entire day without him noticing. When in fact, he might not visit again unless she dragged him here by the hand.

“Is that usual?” she asked the butler. “Has he always avoided this parlor?”

Simmons shook his head. “The longest he ever went between visits was a few days at the most.”

She frowned. “Then why hasn’t he been by for weeks?”

The butler’s smile was kind. “He gave the east wing to you.”

She blinked rapidly. Foolish man. But not as big a fool as herself, for not realizing how much he was giving up when he’d proclaimed the east wing as hers.

Well, she was about to give it back.

“In that case, please don’t tell him what we’ve done.” She gave the staff a conspiratorial grin. “Now that I know he won’t see the room until I show him, I’d like to pick the perfect moment. Next week, I think, when Parliament has adjourned and we have more time for each other.”

The footmen nodded and promised not to spill a word. Simmons complimented her on the fine work, and assured her his grace would love every inch of it.

Kate smiled back. She no longer wanted Ravenwood to love the furniture. She wanted him to love her.

As she walked back to her aunt’s sitting room, Kate’s mind hummed with thoughts of how her future with Ravenwood might be. Which led to thoughts of what the future might bring in general.

Which led to thoughts of Aunt Havens.

She was fine for right now—mostly fine, anyway—but Kate needed to keep her safe when she wouldn’t be able to be by her side.

Ravenwood, she remembered suddenly.

Warmth spread through her. She was no longer in this alone. Her spirits lightened. Gone were the days of Kate and Aunt Havens against the world. Now there were three of them. Ravenwood would keep everyone safe.

She reentered her aunt’s sitting room just in time to see Aunt Havens swat Jasper out of her embroidery basket.

“Beastly creature,” she muttered with a comical eye roll toward Kate. “Can’t he see I’m working?”

Kate scooped the adorable beast into her arms and stretched out on the chaise longue. “What are you working on?”

“A gift for you.”

Kate sat up, intrigued. “What is it?”

Aunt Havens hid the basket from view. “Something for you to remember me by. I think you’ll love it.”

Kate’s heart skipped a beat as the blood drained from her face. “I don’t need a gewgaw to remember you by. Don’t say things like that.”

“Memories are good things, not bad things, Kate.” Aunt Havens smiled. “Just think of all the memories you’re making with your husband. Isn’t life so much richer with love in it?”

“My life is richer with both of you in it.” Kate pushed stiffly to her feet, leaving Jasper to look after her aunt. “I’m going to my room to begin preparing for tomorrow. When you decide to stop talking nonsense, knock on my door.”