The Seventh Suitor (3 page)

Kate hugged her sister and urged her off to bed, saying, “There is not a one in the lot of them I would consider, love. Perhaps I shall come to London with you, after all.”

Susan did not manage to hide the distress this thought caused her in time to avoid Kate’s sharp eyes. “I am only funning you, Susan,” Kate quickly assured her, and smiled down at the bowed head of honey-blond hair. “I am far too old to share a London season with the likes of you, puss. Now run along. It’s late.”

Chapter 3

Kate had the ability to sleep in almost any circumstance and consequently arose feeling rested, if restless. She was an early riser by nature and few of the household stirred as she swept out the massive front door and strode toward the stables for a ride before breakfast.

When she was galloping across the south pasturage she spied a rider on the bridle path leading from the village. He agitatedly motioned to her, and she reluctantly drew rein. It was Wayne Norris, once again looking flushed and unhappy.

She laughed as he joined her. “Wayne, I’ve heard the whole and I’m surprised at you.”

“Please say you’ll forgive me, Kate. I had no wish to participate but m’ brother thought it safest if we both did, should our guardian catch wind of it.”

“You are forgiven, Wayne, but how you should think he should not hear of it when he was present is beyond me,” Kate replied with gentle mockery.

“Not precisely present, as you might say. He was rather occupied, you know. He takes very little interest in us unless it’s to come the heavy over some escapade such as this.”

“Well, I doubt you need fear he will do so this time. I feel sure he’ll consider it quite an appropriate lesson for me.”

“You mustn’t say so, Kate. No one holds you in anything but fond regard, and it is more than a pity that this particular episode should have occurred,” Wayne protested urgently.

“Don’t give it another thought. Are you up at Cambridge now?” Kate asked, and proceeded to discuss his academic career as they rode along.

Kate had spent most of the previous three years in a town boasting a Dissenter Academy and she was capable of maintaining a dialogue with Wayne on the nature of the studies offered and ignored. They parted genially, and it passed through Wayne’s mind fleetingly that he would not be averse to marrying such a woman as Kate Montgomery, jest or no jest. But he realized that she considered him a friend, and a very young one at that, since he was more of an age with her sister. Nonetheless, he rode off relieved that she had forgiven him.

Kate had no further encounters before she presented herself for breakfast. Her father and mother were at table, and Susan grinned conspiratorially at her. Ralph had not put in an appearance as yet, and Kate suspected that he would not for some hours to come.

Mr. Montgomery was genuinely pleased to have his daughter home; she was the only one who listened to his discourses on Thomas Coke’s methods of farming with attention and pleasure. He was beginning to fear that Ralph would never take an interest in the property he would one day inherit. At six and twenty Ralph had no more serious thoughts in his head than he had had when he came down from Cambridge some years ago, which was to say, nothing beyond horses, hunting, and gambling. Fortunately, Mr. Montgomery’s son was not always so unlucky at his gaming as he had been the previous day, but he was not always wise enough to know when he had encountered a Captain Sharp, either. Therefore, Mr. Montgomery, finding only one member of his family valued the knowledge he was acquiring and employing in farming, made no effort as some fathers might to stem Kate’s sometimes unfeminine enthusiasms.

Mrs. Montgomery was quite as pleased as her husband to have Kate home; for although Susan was perhaps her favorite, being the baby of the family, the older woman was fond of her first daughter and relied on her to run the household more capably than she herself. Things went on so much more smoothly when Kate was home, her mother thought, smiling over her toast and tea. Such a dear girl. Though not so young anymore, she realized, and a frown ruffled her brow.

“Is something the matter, Mama?” Kate asked.

“No, dear. I was just thinking that you are getting on in years now, and we should be looking out for a husband for you.”

Susan was shaken by a fit of giggles at this, and Kate threw her a warning glance. “You fear I shall be forever on your hands, dear Mama?” Kate quizzed her.

“I’m sure you are a great comfort to me, my love, but there is nothing like an establishment of your own. It is a woman’s duty to marry and have a family.”

“Her duty to whom?” Kate asked quietly before taking another sip of chocolate.

“Why, to herself, I suppose. Or to . . . well, to fit in with everyone else, you know,” her mother fumbled.

“As to that, I cannot imagine that anyone else cares a fig whether I marry or not. And for myself, yes, I should like to marry, but not just to be married. I wish you could have seen Aunt Eleanor and Mr. Hall, Mama, for they are so very well-suited and so fond of one another.”

“No doubt, my love, though why Eleanor should wish to remarry at her age is more than I can understand. Sir John left her well provided for. It must be quite uncomfortable to have to learn all those little things she must do and not do to make her new husband happy.”

“I cannot think she will mind, dear Mama. Mr. Hall has the most accommodating nature, and I’m sure they will rub on very well together.”

Mr. Montgomery glanced up from the paper to comment, “I, for one, wish them happy. You say they are to visit us on their return from their trip abroad, Kate?”

“It’s their intention, though it will be several months, I imagine.”

The conversation, thus successfully diverted from the subject of marrying Kate off, dwindled to a companionable silence. Susan nudged her sister and grinned. “Shall we walk to the village this morning, Kate?” she asked. “I am in need of some trimming for one of my bonnets.”

They set out on this expedition shortly after. Kate told her sister of her meeting with Wayne Norris that morning, and Susan wanted to know whether his brother had been with him.

“No. I think Wayne was coming to apologize, and I doubt that Charles will do so.”

“If Wayne was so against the scheme, be should not have partaken in it,” Susan remarked scornfully.

“It appears his brother wanted moral support should their guardian learn of it. Are you still angry with Charles?”

“I am. He shall learn that he cannot play with my affections,” Susan sniffed.

“I should shake were I in his boots,” Kate allowed. “Speak of the devil!”

Striding down the muddy street toward them was Lord Norris himself, making a most determined effort to appear casual and at ease. This was belied, however, by the determined set of his smile and the quirk in his eyebrows. “Kate, Susan, a pleasure to meet you this morning. May I accompany you to your destination?”

Kate greeted him kindly, but Susan lowered her eyes and refused to speak to him. “I told you she would be annoyed, Charles,” she whispered as she placed her hand on his arm. Susan would have looked awkward if she had trailed behind them, so she stiffly laid her hand on his other arm and paced reluctantly down the street with them. Kate maintained a conversation with Lord Norris, but her sister refused to respond to his repeated attempts to draw her out.

In exasperation he finally turned to her and blurted, “It was only a joke, Susan, and your sister has obviously accepted it as such. Why can’t you?”

“You have not apologized to my sister for your senseless and tasteless joke, sir!” Susan cried.

Lord Norris was at a stand. He did not wish to apologize, for it would indicate he had been in the wrong, which he well knew. If he did not apologize, his enchanting Susan seemed quite capable of cutting him for good. As he hesitated, Susan became indignant and dashed across the street toward a shop on the other side, directly in the path of an oncoming curricle!

Lord Norris stood frozen, and Kate, who had stepped away from them to avoid their personal quarrel, swung back at his cry. As she dashed forward she was ruthlessly thrust aside, and her sister was swept out of the way of the now-plunging horses by the Earl of Winterton, who had emerged from a shop behind Kate. He carried Susan to the side of the road and exclaimed, “Now she’s going to faint, drat the girl. Miss Montgomery, see to your sister!” His command was not necessary, but it roared over the considerable commotion in the street, nonetheless. Kate hastened to her sister’s side and began chafing her wrists, while the Earl attempted to quiet the horses still plunging wildly. He addressed himself to Lord Norris, his ward, in no uncertain terms.

“Help me with these beasts, you slow-top! Think this is a party?”

Lord Norris at last sprang into action, and the horses were quickly settled. A shaken Benjamin Karst kept muttering, “She ran right in front of me!” He gave the reins to his groom so that he could descend from his bright scarlet curricle, but he had some difficulty in walking over to Kate and Susan, for his legs were trembling. “Is she all right, Kate?”

“I think so, Benjamin. She has merely fainted and is coming round now. Do not be alarmed.”

“It’s
my
fault,” Lord Norris proclaimed dramatically, coming over to them. “I
do
apologize, Kate.”

“Oh, do be still. I do not wish to hear another word on the subject, do you hear me? I have lost patience with the lot of you,” Kate cried, her nerves strained intolerably.

“A most unhandsome acceptance of an apology,” the Earl commented sarcastically.

Kate chose to ignore this remark. “Charles, will you help me get Susan to the inn? She should have a glass of wine.”

“I’ll get us a private parlor,” Benjamin offered, and was followed more slowly by Kate and Charles assisting Susan. When it became evident that the Earl intended to join them, Kate turned to him and dropped an exaggerated curtsy. “I must thank you for saving Susan’s life, Lord Winterton. We would not wish to disturb you further.”

“I’ll leave when I’m ready, Miss Montgomery. Thompson, brandy for the lot of us, if you please,” he directed the landlord.

“It is not necessary . . .” Kate began.

“I’ll decide what’s necessary, Miss Montgomery. You and Charles and Karst do not seem to have managed things so very well.”

“But it wasn’t my fault,” Benjamin protested. “She ran right in front of me.” Charles could think of nothing to say, and Kate merely glared at the Earl.

Susan whispered, “I’m sorry to have given so much trouble. Thank you, Lord Winterton. I was most foolish, I know.”

“Hush, my dear,” her sister comforted her. “Sip this, and you’ll feel better,” she urged, taking the glass the Earl handed her. When Susan had taken several sips, the color began to return to her face.

Kate was offered a glass by the Earl and shook her head. “Drink it,” he ordered. “You need it.”

Since this was no more than the truth, Kate acquiesced and savored the stinging warmth it brought. She ignored the disdainful look the Earl bent on her.

“Do you think you can manage to get the two of them home safely, Karst?” Lord Winterton asked.

“I
can see them home,” Charles declared.

“Don’t you think, Charles, that they would do better in Mr. Karst’s curricle, even if they will be a bit crowded?” his guardian asked, his patience wearing thin.

“Yes, sir, I suppose so.”

“Then give Karst a chance to answer for himself.”

Benjamin did not like the Earl’s tone, but he was more than willing to take the sisters to Montgomery Hall. “I can see them home safely,” he muttered. “The accident was not my fault.”

“Lord Winterton is not noted for his reasonableness in placing blame,” Kate offered. “Do not be offended, Benjamin. We welcome your assistance.” She helped her sister to her feet, and the three of them left. The door closed before they could hear more than “Stay, Charles. I have something to say to you” in the Earl’s icy voice.

“I’d give much to hear that,” Benjamin whispered to Kate.

“So should I,” she replied, her eyes twinkling. “Poor Charles. He absolutely froze.”

“I cannot say I did so well myself. You would have been under the horses’ hooves as well, Kate, had he not thrust you aside.”

“Tut! He has no patience with anyone. There was a time . . . but that was long ago,” she faltered, remembering the Earl’s kindness to Carl and his mother. “He has grown selfish and bitter, I fear.”

“But he saved my life,” Susan remarked rather forcefully. “I am grateful to him.”

“So are we all. I am chastened; I should not have spoken so of him when he risked his life for you, my love. Forgive me.”

“I did not mean to scold you, Kate. But you are always so fair. I have seldom heard you speak unkindly of anyone. Except in anger, of course,” Susan remarked. “When, you are angry or upset you do have a sharp tongue.”

“How right you are! No one has ever accused me of having a placid temper,” Kate agreed.

When they arrived at the Hall, Susan was immediately hustled up to her room, after once again apologizing to Benjamin for having frightened him by her carelessness.

When she was advised of the circumstances of their arrival home, Mrs. Montgomery fluttered around her youngest chick. She scolded and petted in turn, until Kate was driven to distraction. But Susan obviously found this the necessary prescription, so Kate excused herself and went to the music room. She had managed to calm herself by playing a few airs on the pianoforte when Sampson intruded to announce Lord Norris.

“Is Mama still with Susan?” she asked.

“I believe so, Miss Kate.”

“Then show him into the parlor. I shall join him in a minute.”

Lord Norris sported the aggressive air of one who has just been severely and justly chastised and is unwilling to admit the right of it. He stomped about the room after greeting Kate darkly, finally stopping to speak.

“I have already apologized to you for yesterday. My guardian has informed me,” he continued sarcastically, “that I chose an inappropriate moment and that I should express my regret again.”