To Catch a Husband... (15 page)

It never came. He gave a slight shake of his head; she heard a long exhalation as he gathered her in his arms and pulled her close.

‘For me to take advantage of this moment would make me an even bigger scoundrel than the fool I found molesting you. We would both regret it, for I am going north tomorrow and you…’ she felt his chest rise and fall on another sigh ‘…you are going to find a lord to marry.’

‘You must think me very mercenary,’ she whispered.

He laid his cheek briefly against her hair.

‘No, you are doing the same as every other young lady in the Town; the difference is that you are honest about your goals. So I wish you well with your quest, Miss Katherine Wythenshawe.’

‘You do?’ Safe within his arms, Kitty turned her face up to look at him.

‘Of course.’ Daniel did not glance down but continued
to gaze out through the trees towards the starry sky. ‘Harworth is already showing an interest in you. With his fortune he has no need to marry money. He is a gentleman and I believe he will treat you well. What more could you want?’

A cloud had settled over Kitty’s spirits. Perhaps everything she had hoped for was within her grasp but here, now, sitting in the little stone temple with Daniel, all she knew was that he was leaving in the morning and she would never see him again.

‘You have been very kind to me, Mr Blackwood.’

‘It is nothing.’

His dismissive tone was unsettling. She wanted to thank him, to make him know how much she would miss him. He was still gazing out at the night sky and suddenly Kitty was overwhelmed by the desire to kiss him. She lifted her head and strained to touch her mouth to the only bare flesh she could reach, the soft hinge where the column of his throat rose up from the folds of his snowy neckcloth and met the strong line of his jaw. A steady pulse was beating there and she felt it jump when her lips grazed his skin. He drew back and stared down at her, deep shadows concealing his expression.

‘I beg your pardon,’ she whispered. ‘I know I should not—’

Her words were cut short as he bent his head and covered her mouth with his own. Like a spark in a tinderbox the white-hot flame of desire ignited within her. She clung to him as a drowning man might cling to a wooden spar. Indeed, she felt as if she was drowning in the pleasure of his kiss, which seemed to tug at her very soul. He teased her lips apart and began to explore her mouth with his tongue. The wild pleasure at her core intensified, pooling somewhere between her thighs. Her hips tilted restlessly
towards him. His hold tightened and he pulled her on to his lap. He began to cover her face with kisses, then his mouth moved over the line of her jaw and trailed down the column of her neck, the feather-light touch of his lips making her moan with pleasure.

Gently he pushed aside the muslin shawl that he himself had tied over her shoulders. Little shivers of excitement coursed through Kitty as his fingers brushed her skin. The moonlight glinted on his hair as he bent his head to kiss the soft swell of her breast at the point where it emerged from the confining stays. She arched towards him, gasping. Every inch of her was alive and aching to be touched. If he had started to undress her there and then on the bench she would not have resisted him.

‘Oh, Daniel!’

The words were little more than a breath. She ran her fingers through his silky hair, trailing them across his cheek as he raised his head.

‘This has gone far enough,’ he said, his voice cracking with strain. ‘I came here to your rescue, not to ruin you.’

‘Perhaps I do not wish to be rescued,’ she whispered, her hand cupping his cheek, trying to draw him back down to her.

With a sigh Daniel slid her off his lap. The jolt of hitting the hard wooden bench was sobering. The thrilling tingle was replaced by the sudden, stark realisation of her situation. She put her hands to her mouth.

‘Oh, heavens, what have I done?’

Daniel was adjusting his coat but he paused at her anguished cry.

‘Why, you have done nothing, my dear.
Yet.
That is why I must get you back to the house before it is too late.’

Tears burned Kitty’s eyes. She felt chilled, unwanted. Undesirable.

‘Come.’ He held out his hand to her. ‘We will slip back on to the path and no one will be any the wiser. Your reputation will be secure.’

Kitty tried to stand. She was surprised to find her legs still obeyed her will. She put up a hand to straighten the folds of her shawl but Daniel reached out and grasped her fingers.

‘It looks very well,’ he assured her. ‘Come now, we must get back to the house.’

He led her through the trees and they stepped out on to the deserted path. He pulled her arm through his just as another couple came into view. Raising his voice, he said loudly, ‘The grounds were designed by Switzer some sixty years ago for the third Baron Harworth, you know. A little formal for our modern tastes, but delightful nevertheless.’

Kitty replied in kind, conscious of the chattering couples around them. The air was suddenly very heavy and oppressive, weighing down on her spirits. She was relieved to hear a low rumble of thunder in the distance.

‘A storm.’ She looked up. ‘I am glad it is not my imagination. I thought perhaps this oppression was some terrible presentiment of my disgrace.’

He glanced down at her.

‘It is no such thing. I am returning you to the house with your reputation—and your dreams—intact.’

Not my dreams!

The words echoed through Kitty’s head. She realised with a bitter clarity that her duty and her dreams were two vastly different things.

As they approached the terrace the laughter and chatter from the ballroom spilled out towards them. Everyone sounded so happy, so different from the tumult of regret,
misery and despair that warred within Kitty. She stopped at the bottom step and Daniel turned to look at her, his brows raised in enquiry.

‘Pray, Dan—Mr Blackwood, let us take our leave of each other here.’

‘If you wish.’

She put out her hand.

‘Then, goodbye, sir. I wish you a safe journey tomorrow, and…and thank you.’ She added, determined to be truthful, ‘I am only sorry our first meetings were so…stormy.’

He carried her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss upon her fingers.

‘We made a wretched beginning, did we not? For my part in that I humbly apologise, Miss Wythenshawe.’

‘I should like to have known you better,’ she confessed.

He gave her a wry smile.

‘Nay, ma’am, how should that be? When tha’art a fine lady and meself but a manufacturer!’

‘Will you never forgive me for that slight?’

‘It is no slight,’ he told her. ‘I am proud of what I am.’

And I am ashamed I ever thought ill of you!

She wanted to utter the words but a sudden flurry of laughter told her that another couple was upon them, pushing past to ascend the steps. The moment for confession was gone.

Daniel took her arm and led her up to the terrace. Lady Leaconham and her sister were standing by one of the open windows, fanning themselves vigorously.

‘So there you are, Kitty!’ cried Lady Harworth, reaching out for her. ‘The dancing finished some time ago and your godmother has been looking for you.’

‘I beg your pardon, I—’

‘The blame is mine,’ Daniel interrupted her smoothly.
‘I persuaded Miss Wythenshawe to give me the pleasure of her company in the gardens.’ He gave Lady Harworth the benefit of his rare, charming smile. ‘We have been admiring the decorative lamps, ma’am.’

‘They are very pretty, are they not?’ replied his hostess, beaming. ‘I have been very pleased with the effect and will use them again, I think. Not this Season, of course, for the house will soon be shut up for the summer.’

‘They were a splendid idea, my lady, and one I will take back to the Holme,’ said Daniel. ‘I think my mother will like the idea of being able to use the garden on warm summer nights. And I have no doubt my sister will consider it a splendid notion!’

‘Sisters, hah!’ chuckled Lord Harworth, coming up at that moment. ‘They are always troublesome at parties, ain’t that so, ma’am?’

Lady Harworth looked a little put out but she managed a smile.

‘Alas, young people can get a little out of hand,’ she admitted. Lady Leaconham’s politely enquiring look obliged her to continue. ‘I had to send Bertram out to fetch Ann away from the swing, Letitia. That little group was becoming far too raucous.’

Lady Leaconham smiled and tucked her hand through Kitty’s arm.

‘I am pleased to think my dear Kitty was not of their number.’

‘No, she preferred to stroll in the gardens with a handsome young man, ain’t that so, Miss Wythenshawe?’ said Lord Harworth, clearly in the best of spirits. ‘And I have no doubt that Blackwood, the young dog, was trying to cut me out!’

‘No such thing, my lord, I assure you,’ returned Daniel.

With another fat chuckle his host gave him a playful punch in the ribs.

‘Oh, don’t stiffen up so, my boy, I am roasting you—I know I have nothing to fear from
you!
I am delighted that you showed Miss Wythenshawe the gardens. As host I am afraid I did not have as much time to spare for my own pleasures as I would have liked.’ He beamed at Kitty for a few moments. ‘So you see, Blackwood, I am grateful to you, truly I am!’

‘Thank you, my lord.’

Kitty watched as Daniel gave a stiff little bow to include them all and walked away. She felt very low. A cold chill had settled around her heart, like the mist that sometimes clung to the moors, blotting out the sun for days on end. He was leaving. They would not meet again and she must smile and say all that was proper as she followed her godmother through the crowded rooms to take their leave. They had reached the hall and were waiting for their wraps to be fetched before Lady Leaconham turned to give Kitty a long look.

‘My child, I did not like to say anything before my sister, for I would not draw it to her attention, but what are you doing with your shawl crossed over your bosom in that fashion? It makes you look like a matron rather than a young lady in her first Season.’

Kitty had been expecting the question and had had time to work on her explanation, but she could not prevent the colour stealing into her cheeks.

‘I spilled red wine on my bodice, Godmama. It looked very unsightly.’

‘Oh, I see. Well, we must see if Meakin can wash it out when we get home—’ She broke off as the footmen arrived with their cloaks and Kitty hoped she would say no more about it, but when they were shut up in the carriage and
making the short journey back to Portman Square Lady Leaconham said suddenly, ‘Just when did you spill the wine, my love? I hope you were not…carousing with Mr Blackwood.’

‘No, ma’am. It was Mr Ashley.’ Kitty was not sorry she could put some of the blame for the spoiled gown in its rightful place. ‘He offered to fetch me some refreshment and I had asked for lemonade…’

Lady Leaconham gave a little huff of displeasure.

‘My sister has only herself to blame if Ann and her friends grow a little wild at these parties,’ she said severely. ‘It is always a mistake to allow young people too much freedom. And the idea of
encouraging
guests to walk in the gardens! I cannot pretend that I am very happy about you going off with Mr Blackwood, but there were so many people strolling out of doors I am sure there was no harm in it.’

‘No, Godmama. And you need not worry about Mr Blackwood. He is leaving for the north in the morning.’

‘Yes, so I understand, and a very good thing, too. I know I am very much obliged to him for his services to us at Barnet, but I would not have him set himself up as a rival to Lord Harworth for your affections. I admit I was encouraged by the number of compliments I received upon your behalf this evening, my love, and several gentleman commented most favourably about you, but I have hinted them away, for the present. I will not say anything too final, of course, until we are sure of Harworth, but I am satisfied he is very interested in you.’

‘Thank you, Godmama.’

‘So you must be careful to keep gentlemen like Mr Blackwood at a distance in future, my love.’

‘Since Mr Blackwood will be hundreds of miles away I think that is distance enough, Godmama, do not you?’
replied Kitty, trying to make light of a fact that weighed on her spirits.

‘Well, of course it is, for the next two weeks, until Lord Harworth goes north, but he is sure to come to Kirkleigh to discuss Bertram’s schemes for his new mill.’ Kitty shrugged.

‘That can have nothing to do with us, Godmama.’

‘Heavens, child, if he would be confined to the steward’s office I should not worry, but you have seen how Harworth treats him, almost as an equal! He lives too close to be invited to stay, so that’s a mercy, but Bertram will ask him to dine with us, I am sure.’ She paused, frowning at Kitty’s look of bewilderment. Then her brow cleared. ‘But of course, you do not know, for you were not with me when the invitation was issued. My sister has invited us to spend the summer with her at Kirkleigh! You look amazed and well you might! I have no doubt that it was Bertram that put her up to it and all because of you, you clever little puss! We are to go to Yorkshire.’

‘No!’

‘
Yes!
It is all arranged, we are to follow a fortnight after my sister. Garston, too, is coming with us and there is every reason to believe that Harworth means to propose to you!’

‘H
ow is your dear Mama, Kitty?’

Kitty looked up from her letter, forcing herself to smile.

‘She is well, Godmama, although she says Aunt Jane is coughing again.’ She looked down at the bread and butter on her breakfast plate, her appetite quite gone. There was such a weight of responsibility on her shoulders. Her godmother was so sure that Lord Harworth would offer for her and if he did, then it might be possible to find a new home for Mama and Aunt Jane before the winter. Perhaps they might even be allowed to live with her, but certainly she must do what she could to remove them from the cottage, which was cold in summer, draughty in winter and always damp. She glanced again at her letter. Mama insisted that she wanted Kitty to be happy, and by marrying Lord Harworth she
would
be happy, would she not, because she would be fulfilling the hopes of those she loved most…

‘Now, we must finish packing today, my dear, because it is an early start tomorrow.’ Lady Leaconham helped herself to another hot muffin. ‘Garston has promised me he will be here at nine tomorrow and I must say I am not a great traveller, but I am looking forward to visiting Kirkleigh. I have not been there since my dear Leaconham died. My sister Harworth has her own circle of friends, you see, and I have mine. Since I have been widowed the time has never been right for her to invite me…’ She paused for a moment to consider this, then looked up again, saying cheerfully, ‘So I am convinced that this invitation is due to you, my love.’

Kitty glanced at her mother’s letter again, her eyes drawn to one particular section.

‘Lord Harworth knows nothing of my family, does he, Godmama? More to the point, Lady Harworth thinks I come from a family of consequence.’

‘Well, I have not gone into detail…’

Kitty waved an impatient hand.

‘Have you told her I am rich, ma’am?’

‘No, of course not!’ Lady Leaconham concentrated on pouring herself another cup of coffee. ‘I may not have told her
precisely
of your condition, but if my sister thinks you wealthy then she cannot claim that I told her so!’

‘Perhaps I could visit Fallridge while we are there—’

‘No!’

‘My dear ma’am, I have nothing to hide. My birth is perfectly respectable, and if my mother has not the means now to live in the manner in which she was raised, that is not her fault…’

‘No, of course not, my love, and you know I am excessively fond of your mama, but this visit is not the time to introduce her to Lord Harworth.’

‘But, Godmama—’

‘Once my nephew has made you an offer, then of course your circumstances must be explained,’ said Lady Leaconham firmly. ‘As a man of honour he will not consider your lack of fortune an impediment.’

‘You mean once he has offered for me it will be too late for him to cry off.’

‘My dear, how you do twist my words! That is not at all what I meant!’

‘Then perhaps it would be best if I explained every
thing to him and to Lady Harworth before we travel north,’ persisted Kitty.

Lady Leaconham put down her cup and bent a serious look upon her goddaughter.

‘Now, Katherine, listen to me. My sister Harworth is naturally anxious for her only son to marry well. If she knew you to be penniless she would do everything in her power to prevent the match. I merely want her to—to give Bertram the opportunity to become acquainted with you. There is nothing so very wrong in that, is there? Especially when such a match would mean so much to your mama. She has only ever wanted one thing for you, my dear, and you have the chance now to make her dreams come true.’ The look softened into one of entreaty. ‘I know you abhor pretence, Kitty, and I would not have you
lie
to Lord Harworth, but, my dear child, pray
consider.
If you announce to the world that you are a pauper, you give up all hope of a good marriage.’

‘Is that what I am, Godmama, a pauper?’ asked Kitty in a small voice.

‘Of course not, it was thoughtless of me to use the term. You are a gently born young woman who lacks a dowry. It is not a crime, and all I ask is that you hold back from explaining the true state of your finances until Bertram proposes to you. So—’ Lady Leaconham beamed across the table ‘—that will not be so very bad, will it?’

Reluctantly Kitty gave her assurance to her godmother that she would say nothing and went off to finish her packing. She tried to console herself with the fact that Lord Harworth might not propose, but she was honest enough to admit that recently he had given her sufficient hints—drawing her aside for a few moments’ private conversation whenever they met, squeezing her hand when taking his leave of her, and now this invitation to Kirkleigh, when
Lady Leaconham freely admitted she was not in the habit of being invited to her sister’s summer home. It seemed depressingly clear that Lord Harworth was singling her out. As she watched the coachmen carrying the heavy corded trunk out of her room she determined that if Lord Harworth made her an offer she would explain her situation. She would do so immediately, before any official announcements could be made, before he had time to tell his family. That way she could give him the opportunity to withdraw, if he so wished. She would not trap him into an unequal marriage.

These thoughts came back to her when, after three days of weary travel, Lady Leaconham’s lumbering carriage arrived at the gates of Kirkleigh House. The entrance to Lord Harworth’s main seat had been designed to impress. A long straight drive led off the road towards a high, battlemented stone wall where tall pillars topped with eagles flanked a pair of ornate iron gates. There was no lodge but a small gatehouse was built into one side of the wall and her godmother informed her that when the family was in residence a gatekeeper was on duty at all times. Even as she said this, a liveried servant dashed out to throw wide the gates and they entered the grounds. They drove through a good half-mile of landscaped parkland before passing through another set of gates and approaching the house itself. Kitty gasped, her eyes widening as she took her first look at Kirkleigh House.

It was a vast building in the Palladian style, the entrance front decorated by a series of columns built into the walls between the windows. A high-pitched roof extended behind a central pediment which proudly displayed the Harworth coat of arms.

‘Well, Kitty, what do you think?’

Kitty did not know how to answer Lady Leaconham’s question. The house was so large, so magnificent, that her heart sank within her. Could the owner of this vast pile really want her, little Kitty Wythenshawe, to be its mistress?

‘It is very…grand,’ she managed at last and drew a soft laugh from her companion.

‘It is indeed, but you must not let that deter you. The house is run by an army of servants and there are housekeepers and stewards a-plenty to attend to everything.’

‘If that is the case, ma’am, then what would there be for me to do?’

Lord Leaconham, sitting opposite, found the question highly amusing.

‘Why, there will be nothing for you to do but to please your husband and enjoy yourself!’

The carriage drove past the first of two flights of steps leading up to the first-floor entrance and stopped at a wide doorway at ground level, where a series of liveried servants waited to hand them out of the coach. Kitty would have found their presence very daunting if at that moment Ann had not flown out of the house and enveloped her in a warm embrace.

‘Oh, Kitty, I am so glad you are here! You are the first of our guests to arrive. It has been so very dull here with only Bertram and Mama to talk to! And Aunt Leaconham, too: welcome to you, dear Aunt! And Garston! I am delighted you could join us, Cousin. Now we shall be a merry crowd! Come in, come in, all of you! Bertram is out riding and Mama is resting in her room. She gave instructions that you were to be shown to your rooms first so that you might rest and change before we all met up at dinner, but I could not wait for that so I came out to meet you!’

Bemused by this enthusiastic but unconventional
welcome Kitty was not sure how to react, but a glance at the butler’s face showed her that that august personage was smiling benignly upon his young mistress, so she allowed herself to be marched off, leaving Lady Leaconham and Garston to follow at a much more dignified pace.

‘Oh, I have missed you so,’ declared Ann, leaning happily on Kitty’s arm. ‘I know it is only two weeks since we were in London but it feels so much longer than that! Tell me all that I have missed. Has everyone left Town now?’

‘It is much quieter,’ responded Kitty, adding with a twinkle, ‘I think your departure signalled the beginning of the mass retreat!’

‘No! Have all the gentlemen gone, then? I expected Mr Duffey to propose to that plain Jane he was courting, and Mr Ashley seemed determined to pay court to you at my party…’

Kitty did not wish to be reminded of Mr Ashley, but it was clear that she would need to give some sort of answer.

‘He was interested only in a flirtation, which did not please me at all—’

‘Oh, my poor little Kitty, did he try to make love to you?’ Ann laughed. ‘He is a rattle, but quite amusing.’

‘Well, I did not find him amusing at all,’ retorted Kitty, remembering her torn dress, and the lies she had told. ‘I wish you had not introduced him to me.’

‘Oh, dear, you are really upset. Pray do not be angry with me, I thought he might amuse you. Did you send him away? I cannot recall seeing him at the house after the dancing.’

‘I think he left early,’ said Kitty, eager to change the subject. ‘As for Mr Duffey, I believe he has gone into Devonshire, following his plain Jane.’

‘Well, I wish him luck. He has been head over heels for
her all Season, which made him very poor company, I can tell you. He was convinced everyone would think he was marrying her only for her fortune, because he has not a penny to fly with, but I told him no one cares for that any more! But enough of that—here is your room!’

It seemed to Kitty that they had walked miles up stairs, through elegant chambers and along echoing corridors to reach a large sunny bedroom.

‘It is next to mine,’ continued Ann, leading the way in. ‘We are quite a distance from my Aunt Leaconham, but I hope you won’t mind that, and I thought my maid could look after you, if you would not object. Then Meakin won’t have to trail all the way up here from my aunt’s chamber every time you change your dress.’

‘You have thought of everything,’ Kitty, responded, a laugh trembling in her voice. ‘And, no, I have no objection at all to being here, if that is what you wish. As for a maid, I am very used to dressing myself, you know. I never had a maid until—’ Even as the words spilled out, Kitty had a vision of her godmother’s horrified countenance. With barely a pause she continued, ‘I mean, I never had a maid of my own until very recently.’

‘Norris will be more than sufficient for us both. And you know she is
very
discreet,’ added Ann with a naughty twinkle.

She continued to chatter for a while longer until she saw Kitty trying to hide a yawn.

‘Oh, dear, here I am talking non-stop and you will be wanting to rest before dinner!’ She stepped up to give Kitty another hug. ‘I shall leave you now, and I will send Norris to unpack your trunk while you sleep!’

If Kitty did not actually go to sleep before dinner she did at least rest, and when Ann came to collect her to take her
down to the dining room she was feeling much refreshed and ready to see more of Kirkleigh.

Many of the windows had been opened and a cool breeze flowed through the house. Kitty might never have moved in such exalted circles, but she had grown up with the reminiscences and instructions from Mama and Aunt Jane, so the high rooms with their gilded ceilings and thick carpets, the bustling activity of the servants, even the call of the peacock coming in from the open window, seemed familiar. Ann had told her that several other guests had been invited to join them at Kirkleigh later that week, and she was relieved to think she would have a few days to become accustomed to the house and its ways before meeting new people.

Dinner was served in the small dining room, and although the mass of silver in the centre of the table resembled a small mountain range to Kitty, she knew this was an informal dinner. Everyone appeared to be in the best of spirits, even her godmother making light of the long journey north with its lame carriage horses and unaired sheets.

‘It is even worse if one is travelling without a gentleman,’ observed Lady Harworth. ‘Bertram wanted me to bring Ann here on my own while he stopped off in Derbyshire, but I would not agree to it. I said if he could not come here directly with us then we would go with him.’

Lady Leaconham turned a smiling enquiry upon her nephew.

‘And what was there in Derbyshire that required your presence, Bertram?’