Mayhew made to follow Miss Culpepper, remembered the kittens, and caught up the basket. He stepped hastily into the parlor, closed the door behind him, set the basket down again, and turned to face her.
Miss Culpepper had crossed to the small diamond-paned window casement and was looking out. Her back was to him and he could see every mud stain, every wrinkle, every snagged thread.
No wonder Sir Walter had assumed the worst.
“I’m very sorry,” Mayhew said contritely. “I shouldn’t have said half of what I said and I definitely shouldn’t have said it so loudly and so publicly.”
definitelyMiss Culpepper turned to face him. To his astonishment, he saw that she was smiling. It was a small smile, not enough to set the dimples dancing in her cheeks, but enough to tell him that she wasn’t furio
