To Catch a Husband... (4 page)

‘Mama says that of every young lady we meet. But in your case I think she may be correct.’ Ann Harworth took Kitty’s arm and led her away to the other side of the room. ‘There is a liveliness about your countenance that I like very much.’

Kitty blushed and laughed.

‘Thank you, Miss Harworth, I hope I do not disappoint you.’

‘I am sure you will not. You come from Yorkshire, you said? We have estates there, or rather my brother does, which is the same thing. Come, sit here in the window with me and tell me how you like London!’

Kitty happily obliged and after a half-hour’s lively discussion was pleased when Miss Harworth declared that she had found a friend.

‘I am so glad to have discovered someone with a wit to match my own. And someone who knows their own mind, and is not afraid to say so, Miss Wythenshawe.’

‘Am I so unusual, then?’ asked Kitty, her eyes twinkling. ‘I must learn to guard my tongue if I am not to be labelled an oddity.’

‘No, no, you must say exactly what you mean. I always do. We are holding a ball on Friday and—Mama, have you invited my aunt?’

‘Manners, my love.’ Lady Harworth frowned at her daughter’s impetuous interruption. ‘As a matter of fact we were just discussing it, as well as the little party we will be holding next month to mark your birthday, Ann.’

‘So your son will be there on Friday?’ enquired Lady Leaconham, flicking a small, triumphant glance towards Kitty.

‘I would not consider such an event without his being
there,’ replied Lady Harworth. ‘It is his house now, after all, and while he says I must continue to treat everything as my own until such time as he takes a wife, it is so very difficult, for I no longer feel like the true mistress now I am a widow. But you must understand that, dear sister, since you are in very much the same position.’

‘Well, Garston is somewhat younger than his cousin, Clara, and he is content to leave everything as it was when his dear father was alive,’ replied Lady Leaconham.

Kitty heard the faint note of dissatisfaction in her voice and closed her lips tightly to prevent herself from expressing her own opinion. She had not yet met Lord Leaconham but she could not help thinking that at five-and-twenty, her godmother’s only son was more than old enough to be taking responsibility for his inheritance.

‘But you will come?’ Ann implored her. ‘Do say you will,
dear
Aunt!’

‘Lady Leaconham has agreed to attend, and to bring Miss Wythenshawe with her,’ replied Lady Harworth, a touch of impatience creeping into her well-modulated tones. ‘Now, pray you go away with your new friend and talk quietly so that your aunt and I may enjoy a little conversation.’

Ann turned to address Lady Leaconham.

‘Perhaps Miss Wythenshawe and I could take your dear little dog for a walk, Aunt.’

‘But Kitty took him out this morning.’

‘I am sure he would enjoy another airing,’ Ann persisted. ‘It is such a lovely day. I am sure the fresh air would do us good.’

‘Oh, do let them go out, sister,’ begged Lady Harworth. ‘My maid is sitting in the hall with nothing to do, so she may accompany them.’

In the face of such enthusiasm Lady Leaconham capit
ulated. Ten minutes later the girls were stepping out into Portman Square with the little Scottish terrier trotting merrily along beside them on his silken leash.

Ann gave a noisy sigh and slipped her arm through Kitty’s.

‘It is so good to be on our own, where we may say what we please. Oh, you need not worry about Norris,’ she added, as Kitty glanced back towards the maid following silently behind them. ‘She has been with us for ever and is
very
discreet. And I am so pleased that you will be coming on Friday.’

‘It will be my very first ball,’ Kitty admitted.

Ann gave a little squeak of excitement.

‘How wonderful! I shall be able to introduce you to everyone! How long will you be staying in Town?’

‘I do not know…as long as Lady Leaconham is pleased to have me with her.’

‘I hope it is for ever!’ cried Ann. They had reached the gate in the low railing that surrounded the gardens and she stopped. ‘This is very pretty, but shall we go instead to Hyde Park? There will be so many more interesting people there.’

Kitty hesitated. ‘I do not think…’

‘Oh, do say yes,’ Ann squeezed her arm. ‘We have only to slip across Oxford Street to get there.’

‘I do not know London as well as you, Miss Harworth, but I do not think one can
slip across
such a busy thoroughfare.’

‘No, but there are crossing sweepers, and we have Norris, so there can be no objection. Oh, do say yes, Miss Wythenshawe!’

Kitty was not proof against her new friend’s entreaties. They left the square, safely negotiated the traffic of Oxford Street and soon found themselves in the relative peace of
the great park. Although it was not the fashionable hour there was a considerable crowd and several carriages to be seen, but once they had crossed the broad carriageway and walked some distance from the gates they found themselves alone. Kitty released the little dog and watched him running happily amongst the bushes.

‘Oh, this is infinitely better than a dusty street,’ declared Ann.

Kitty turned her face up to the sun, so much warmer here than in her native Yorkshire.

‘I have to agree, Miss Harworth.’

‘Let us be done with this formality. You must call me Ann and I shall call you Katherine.’

‘Kitty, if you please—apart from when Godmama introduces me to new acquaintances the only time I am called Katherine is when I am in disgrace.’

‘Very well, then, Kitty! And since we are now such good friends, you can tell me if you have a beau.’

‘Goodness me, no,’ replied Kitty, laughing and blushing at the same time.

‘What, is there no gentleman waiting back in Yorkshire for you?’

Kitty shook her head. ‘There were no gentlemen in Fallridge. None that Mama approved,’ she added, thinking back to the occasions when she had seen the carriages driving up to the King’s Arms for the monthly assembly.

‘Farmers and tradesmen,’ her mother had said, dismissively. ‘Very good people, I am sure, but not suitable companions for
you,
my love.’

‘Were you very lonely?’ asked Ann.

Kitty looked up quickly, and Ann smiled at her.

‘You looked so wistful that I thought, perhaps…’

‘Yes, I
was
lonely,’ Kitty confessed. ‘I should have liked to go to school—’

‘Oh, I went to school,’ broke in Ann, pulling a face. ‘It was the most horrid experience and of very little use, for apart from learning to dance what do I need with history, or the use of globes, or even to speak French, when we are forever at war with that frightful country?’

‘But surely you made friends there?’

‘Well, of course, although most of them are married now. Or betrothed.’ She flicked a glance at Kitty. ‘I am considered quite old to be still unwed, you know. Poor Mama is beginning to despair.’

‘And do you not wish to marry?

‘Oh, yes,’ replied Ann casually, ‘eventually I suppose I must accept someone. Poor Mama is even more desperate for Bertram to wed, because he is nearly forty and Mama says we must have an heir. As for me, I am enjoying myself far too much flirting with all the gentlemen of my acquaintance! Do you like flirting, Kitty?’

‘I do not think I have ever tried it.’

Her frank reply brought Ann’s astonished gaze upon her.

‘Never?’

‘No, never. I know so few gentlemen, you see. The Squire and Reverend Denny are the only gentlemen who called upon Mama, and they are both very old.’

‘But surely you must have come into contact with younger gentlemen?’ said Ann, appalled.

Kitty considered for a moment.

‘Well, there is Joshua, of course: he is the local farmer’s son who drove me to Halifax.’

‘No, a farmer’s boy does not count,’ declared Ann firmly. ‘But you must know others.
Think,
Kitty.’

Kitty tried to think, but the only other man who came into her mind was the fierce-eyed Mr Blackwood, and he had not even liked her. At last she shook her head, saying
ruefully, ‘I fear I am not the sort of girl that gentlemen like to flirt with.’

‘Gentlemen will flirt with any female,’ Ann retorted. ‘It is quite clear to me that you have lived far too sheltered a life, Miss Kitty Wythenshawe, so we must do what we can to make it more exciting!’

Kitty laughed at her. ‘I shall be delighted if you can do so! For now, though, we had best return to Portman Square before Godmother thinks we have been kidnapped!’

Kitty called the little dog to her and fastened him on the leash, then the two young ladies set off to retrace their steps in perfect harmony. When they reached the edge of the park Kitty noticed something white fluttering against the trunk of one of the trees. As they drew closer it became clear it was a printed sheet, secured to the trunk with a nail.

‘It will be a handbill,’ said Ann, when Kitty directed her attention to the paper. ‘Perhaps there is a new play at Drury Lane!’ She stepped closer, peering up at the words. ‘No, it is one of Mr Clarkson’s meetings.’

‘Thomas Clarkson the abolitionist?’

‘You have heard of him?’

‘Why, yes,’ said Kitty, coming forwards to stare at the paper. ‘He travels the country with his talks on how badly the slaves are treated. I have never attended a meeting, however. I have only read reports.’

‘Then perhaps we should go to this one,’ said Ann slowly. ‘It is at the Red Lion in Lombard Street—in the City, where the banks are.’ She turned to Kitty, her eyes shining. ‘Shall we go? We have a week to concoct a story that will please Mama and Aunt Leaconham. We will take a hackney carriage to the City. It will be so exciting.’

‘Now, that’s enough, miss,’ said Norris, stepping up. ‘You know her ladyship will never allow it.’

‘She will not know,’ replied Ann. ‘Not a word of this to anyone, Norris, or I shall have you turned off for insolence.’

The maid snorted loudly. ‘I should like to see you try that, miss. What, when her ladyship knows just what a handful you are?’

‘You are right, of course, and I should never let you leave me,
dear
Norris!’ Ann put her arms about the older woman and hugged her ruthlessly. ‘But I am quite determined to go to this meeting, so you must come with us, Norris, to make sure we are safe!’

Kitty could not but admire her tactics. The maid argued for a few moments, but soon gave in to Ann’s cajoling, saying bitterly that if she refused then her mistress was quite capable of sneaking off alone and unprotected.

‘And what her ladyship would have to say about that, I don’t know,’ she ended, shaking her head.

‘No more do I, Norris,’ chuckled Ann, turning to take Kitty’s arm again. ‘Come along then, we had best make haste back to Portman Square or Mama will be demanding to know just what you were about to let us tarry so long in the gardens!’

They set off, Ann taking no notice of the maid’s outraged mutterings. Instead she began to describe for Kitty the gown she would wear to the forthcoming ball. As they prepared to cross Oxford Street Kitty found her attention caught by someone standing on the far side. There was something familiar about the tall, commanding figure encased in a close-fitting coat of dark superfine wool and nankeen knee-breeches. As they approached the gentleman turned and with dismay Kitty recognised the dark, aquiline countenance of Mr Daniel Blackwood. He was deep in conversation with another gentleman and Kitty lowered her gaze, hoping they would be able to walk by
unnoticed, but her companion broke off from her talk of shell-pink satins with old rose ribbons and scalloped hems to give a delighted cry.

‘Bertram! Oh, by all that is famous, what luck is this! Kitty—it is my brother!’

With a sinking heart Kitty watched the gentleman standing with Daniel Blackwood turn towards them. She was struck immediately by the similarity between brother and sister, both fair-haired and grey-eyed, although Lord Harworth was much older and his countenance was the more serious of the two.

Introductions could not be avoided. She allowed Ann to present her to Lord Harworth but all the time she was aware of Daniel’s dark, piercing gaze fixed upon her. When at last Lord Harworth drew his companion forward she raised her eyes, opening her mouth, ready to admit they had already met, but Daniel was there before her.

‘Miss Wythenshawe and I are already acquainted.’ He spoke calmly, with no hint of the broad Yorkshire accent she had expected. Stunned, she could only watch as he reached out for her hand and lifted her fingers to his lips with all the practised ease of a gentleman. ‘So we meet again, ma’am.’

Kitty tried to think of something to say, but was distracted by the shrill barking of her canine companion. She looked down to see that the little dog was greeting Daniel like a long-lost friend, jumping up and emitting a series of ecstatic yelps.

Kitty jerked on the lead, saying sharply, ‘Down, Titan!’

Daniel raised an enquiring eyebrow.
‘Titan?’

Kitty bridled. ‘Be careful,’ she said in a voice of rigid self-control. ‘He bites.’

Daniel looked down and uttered one quiet command. ‘Sit.’

To her surprise Titan sat down immediately, obviously recognising a voice of authority.

‘Oh, how sweet,’ declared Ann. ‘He likes you, Mr Blackwood.’

‘Yes, he does,’ Daniel responded. He bent to scratch Titan’s ears. ‘Very intelligent animals, dogs. They have an instinct for a fellow’s true character, while humans are so often misled by appearances.’ He straightened. ‘Would you not agree, Miss Wythenshawe?’

The wicked glint in his black eyes made her seethe inwardly. She put up her chin and gave him back look for look.

‘I have always maintained that
actions
are the real mark of a gentleman, Mr Blackwood.’

He bowed. ‘Ah, but even a gentleman may fall from grace if the provocation is great enough,’ he murmured.

Kitty glared at him, guilt and anger bringing a flush to her cheeks.

‘But what are you doing here, Bertram?’ Ann demanded of her brother. ‘Are you on your way home from your club?’