Kitty

‘She is there still! Oh, what have I ever done to deserve this?’

‘Mama, pray hush!’ begged Kate.

Claud, torn between a sense of duty and a strong desire to retire from the coming scene as fast as he could, found his cousin’s eyes upon him in a scowl very like that to which he had been subjected by the female he had brought with him.

‘Claud, how could you? Look what you’ve done!’

‘How was I to know?’ protested Claud aggrievedly. ‘I thought it was you!’

His cousin turned to look at her hapless mirror image. ‘Well, I can see there is a resemblance. But surely you must have known it wasn’t me? Those clothes, for one thing! Where did you find her?’

‘In Paddington.’

These simple words acted upon his aunt as if a firework had been set off beneath her. The matron reared up, dislodging her daughter, who fell back in disorder, and gazed upon her nephew with eyes standing wide with dread.

‘Paddington?’

Claud winced. ‘Confound you, Aunt, I wish you would not shriek like that!’

She paid him no heed. ‘It is as I suspected. You must take her back! Now. Immediately.’ Her arms stretched out towards him, and her voice took on a plea. ‘And not a word to your mother, I implore you, Devenick! If Lydia were to hear of it, there is no saying what she would do. Oh, it is too bad! Why, why had you to bring her here?’

She withdrew her hands, wringing them painfully, and casting loathsome glances at the wretched female that was the innocent cause of the brouhaha. Claud’s mind was alive with curiosity. Nor was he the only one, for he perceived that Kate, having taken in the gist of her mother’s speech, was looking at the girl with a new interest. It became expedient to explain himself.

‘The thing is, I was coming back from Westbourn Green—stayed at my friend Jack’s place, for we were at cards last night until the small hours—’

‘Do get on, Claud!’

Wounded, Claud protested his cousin’s impatience. ‘I am only explaining how I came to be in Paddington.’

‘I can’t think why you should suppose I would be in Paddington!’

‘That’s just it. Couldn’t believe my eyes! Only I thought you’d run away.’

‘Run away? Why, in heaven’s name?’

It occurred to Claud that it was scarcely politic to be giving his reasons in front of Lady Rothley. Not that Aunt Silvia was in any condition to be protesting over that! He gave his cousin an austere look.

‘I should have thought that was obvious. But be that as it may, I took the girl for you and thought I’d best bring you back home before anyone got wind of your escapade.’

‘But surely this person must have told you that she was not me?’

‘She did,’ Claud confessed ruefully. ‘At some length. Only I would not believe her.’ He turned to his aunt. ‘You must not blame her, for it was entirely my doing.’

Lady Rothley shuddered. ‘Blame her? No, I blame you! I blame Lydia! I blame—’

She broke off, and Claud got the distinct impression that she had recollected herself just in time before giving away whatever secret there was connected with the girl. Vaguely it came to him that the chit had said something about skeletons. Devil take it, there was something in it!

‘What’s to do, Aunt?’ he demanded abruptly. ‘What do you know of the girl? Do you know her?’

‘Of course I don’t! I mean—no, I—You must not ask me!’

To Claud’s intense relief, Kate took a hand. ‘But, Mama, that is unreasonable. After what has passed, I do think you might tell us. Why did you cry out when you heard she came from Paddington? Do you know why she looks like me?’

Lady Rothley waved agitated hands. ‘Nothing will induce me to speak of it! You must not ask me! And for heaven’s sake, don’t either of you speak of it to anyone. Least of all to Lydia!’

‘But, Mama—’

‘Unless you wish to drive me into my grave, Kate, you won’t mention this again.’

There was a silence. Across the room, Kitty eyed the trio with a burgeoning resentment, which rapidly overlay the fear and distress occasioned by the woman’s horrid reaction to her coming. She found that she was shaking, but she resolutely trod a step or two in the direction of the sofa.

‘But I b-believe you owe me an explanation, ma’am.’

Three pairs of eyes shot round, and Kitty blenched. But she stood her ground, holding her head as high as she could, and keeping her gaze fixed upon the female. She saw her abductor move, as if he would come to her, and quickly held up a hand.

‘No, sir, pray don’t approach me. It seems that I am contaminated by my—by my l-likeness to your cousin there. I did warn you.’

Claud suffered an odd pang of compassion and strode quickly forward. ‘The skeleton in the family closet, you said. Seems you were right. But you need have no fear. I won’t let you suffer for it! The blame is entirely mine, and I shall—’

‘Devenick, fetch her here!’

He checked, turning his head. ‘I’ll not let you upset her any more, Aunt Silvia, and so I warn you! She’s suffered enough humiliation already, I should have thought.’

A riffle of gratitude swept through Kitty. He had shown himself a brute, but he had a streak of kindness. She looked quickly at the matron to see how she took this.

The creature was waving plump hands. ‘Fetch her! I want to look at her.’

At which, the girl Kate jumped up and came towards Kitty. ‘Yes, pray do come closer.’ But instead, Kate came to her. She pulled Kitty about to face Claud and stood close beside her. ‘It is extraordinary, is it not? We are much of a height, I think. Only do we really look so very much alike?’

Kitty waited tensely as Claud looked them both over. She was acutely aware of the other girl’s hand clutching her at the elbow.

‘Peas in a pod,’ said Claud. ‘If it weren’t for the clothes, of course.’

Kitty reddened, and her feelings suffered a reversal. How excessively tactless! As if she was not distressingly aware of the truly enormous gulf between her horrid gown and the elegance of Kate’s attire.

But the feeling did not long endure, for a renewed groaning from the sofa drew the attention of both cousins. Kitty was forcibly dragged towards the matron, who had sunk a little where she sat. For all she could sink, with the rolls of extra flesh that made the spotted muslin gown, with its fashionably high waist, appear grossly inadequate for its purpose.

‘Mama, who is she?’

Kitty found Claud at her other elbow. ‘Good question. Only you’d best refer it to the lady herself!’ He gave her a smile that was curiously engaging. ‘I know you told me your name, but I wasn’t taking notice and I’ve forgot it.’

The blunt honesty could not but appeal, and Kitty returned his smile. ‘It’s Kitty.’

‘Heavens, you can’t be called Katherine!’

This from the girl Kate, who was also possessed of that name. To her chagrin, Kitty heard a note of apology in her own voice. ‘But I am called Katherine. My name is Katherine Merrick.’

This information acted powerfully upon the aunt. She closed her eyes in a look of anguish. ‘I knew it!’

To Claud’s intense annoyance, Lady Rothley addressed him once more in that imploring tone. ‘Devenick, you must take the girl away—back to where she came from. And say nothing of this to a soul, I charge you!’

‘Yes, you said so before, Aunt Silvia. Only you won’t say why.’

‘I cannot. You must understand that it is a matter of the utmost secrecy. I am sworn to silence!’ She turned to her daughter. ‘Kate, you must put forth your best efforts to persuade him. I tell you, it will kill me, if Lydia gets to hear of this! To have it all dragged up again—no, a thousand times! I tell you I could not bear it!’

This was more than Kitty could endure. Shaking Kate off, she retreated a few steps, turning in desperation to Claud.

‘Pray, sir, will you take me away from here?’

He was frowning. ‘Yes, but not until I’ve got to the bottom of this!’

To his surprise, his cousin balked. ‘No, Claud! I cannot ask Mama to betray her promise.’ She turned from him to Kitty. ‘I am so sorry, Miss—Merrick, wasn’t it?—but I think it is best if Claud takes you back.’

‘Yes, but wait a bit—’

‘Pray, Claud, don’t say any more! You can see that poor Mama is upset.’

‘That’s all very well—’

Kitty cut in swiftly. ‘Sir, I have no wish to remain here! It was all a mistake, and there’s an end. If you don’t wish to embarrass me further, pray take me home.’

It was not an appeal he could refuse. With a sigh, Claud abandoned his attempt to extract the secret. Though he was by no means reconciled. The intelligence that it would upset the Countess had set him on fire to find it out. But his cousin again intervened, moving to the other girl again and taking her hand.

‘Poor thing, I am so sorry. We have been dreadfully rude—the shock, you know. I dare say you must be feeling excessively uncomfortable.’

To Claud’s intense annoyance, his cousin next turned on him.

‘I do think you might have listened when she told you she wasn’t me, Claud. Poor Miss Merrick has been disgracefully inconvenienced, and Mama distressed—and it is all your fault!’

‘I am well aware of that. Haven’t I said so?’ He took the girl’s arm and pulled her away from Kate. ‘Besides, I’m going to make her reparation.’

‘How?’

‘I don’t know yet, but I shall think of something.’

Kitty warmed to him. Indeed, his presence close beside her gave her courage. If his fat aunt Silvia had repudiated her—indeed, her gaze continued to veer towards Kitty at intervals, brimful of revulsion!—at least Claud had the decency to stand by his mistake.

‘All I want is to be returned to the Seminary,’ she urged, adding bitterly, ‘I only wish I had taken one of the posts offered to me weeks ago, and then this would never have happened.’

‘Post?’ repeated Claud.

‘What sort of post?’ asked Kate.

Kitty lifted her chin. ‘I am meant for a governess. We are all raised for it at the Seminary.’

‘Oh, poor thing!’ uttered Kate, distressfully. Then her face brightened. ‘I know! If you have not yet found a post, perhaps we could help you. Claud, you might recommend her to someone of our acquaintance.’

Claud snorted. ‘Don’t be so feather-brained, Kate! Present for a governess to some matron I know a girl who looks exactly like you?’

A shriek from the sofa brought his head round, and he winced. His aunt had once again bounced up.

‘Upon no account! Dear heaven, only think of the scandal if the girl appeared in town in such a guise! Devenick, I forbid you to help her. Or, stay! You had best see the woman at the Seminary and tell her that the girl must be given a post in a country establishment, among people who will never show their faces in town. Perhaps a well-to-do tradesman, who could never find a place among the ton. Yes, that will be the best plan. You will see to it, Devenick. I rely upon you.’

‘Lord, ma’am, I can’t do that! Who am I to dictate the girl’s future? Or you, come to that.’

To his dismay, Lady Rothley surged out of the sofa and came to him, throwing out imploring arms. ‘My dear, dear boy, if you knew the agony of mind into which I must fall if this dreadful business should be dragged up all over again, you would not hesitate. Believe me, if anyone has reason to beg your aid in this, it is I. As for authority, your mother took that upon herself long years ago. I tell you, if you do not do as I ask, you risk the worst of Lydia’s displeasure!’

Claud evaded her, shifting away to the other end of the mantelpiece, and pulling the girl with him. ‘Yes, that’s all very well, ma’am, but there’s something devilish havey-cavey about all this, and I am not at all sure—’

‘For heaven’s sake, Devenick, do you wish to drive me demented?’

In a good deal of dudgeon, he watched his aunt totter back to the sofa, Kate fussing about her. He glanced at the girl, whose wrist he had hold of, and realised she was trembling. There was strain in her white face, and the brown eyes looked enormous. A guilty pang smote him, and without thinking, he let go her wrist and put his arm about her, giving her a hug.

‘Don’t look so worn, young Kate—I mean, Kitty!’ he corrected himself, remembering. ‘Haven’t I said I won’t let it harm you?’

Kitty looked up into the even features, and a tired sigh escaped her. ‘She is right, sir. If I were seen in town, the resemblance would be remarked. I shall speak to Mrs Duxford myself.’ She looked across at the afflicted matron. ‘I have no wish to embarrass you, ma’am.’

Kate answered, for the aunt was engaged in moaning softly and rubbing at her temples. ‘You are very good, Miss Merrick. I only wish there was something we might do for you.’

Kitty moved out of Claud’s protective arm, and took a pace towards the sofa. ‘There is one thing. If—if your mother will only tell me that I am indeed a member of this family?’

Claud was beside her. ‘That much is abundantly plain!’

‘Claud!’

‘Well, it’s true, Kate. And you needn’t look censorious, for I know very well you want to know how it comes about just as much as I.’

Kitty put out a hand. ‘Pray don’t! I do not care if she does not wish to explain the exact relationship, for I have long suspected there had been a scandal. Only—’

She got no further. A loud groan issued from the aunt’s lips, and she waved podgy hands. ‘Take her away, Devenick! I cannot bear to look at her!’

Kitty’s brief moment of valour was over. The blow struck hard, and she shrank away, feeling all the force of that rejection she had known when persons she only vaguely recollected—strangers to her—had removed her from the place she had called home and dumped her at the Paddington Seminary, leaving her horribly alone.

As if through a cloud, she heard voices, saw Kate’s features close to hers, speaking words that had no meaning. She sensed beside her the presence of Claud, and moved as he directed her, going where he led with neither interest nor attention. Only when she was outside the mansion in the fresh air, and being urged into the curricle, did Kitty come back to herself. And to the full realisation of what had happened.

Having packed the girl into his curricle and taken up the reins, Claud did not immediately instruct Docking to stand away from the horses’ heads. His mind was sorely exercised by the revelation of the existence of a family skeleton, and he sat irresolute, wondering what were best to do. If his aunt Silvia supposed he would meekly bury the finding under the carpet, she had much to learn of him. Particularly in light of the fear she had exhibited on the notion of Lady Blakemere getting wind of the matter.

A surge of tingling exhilaration rose up inside him at the thought of what this could do to the woman who had long been his Nemesis. She might be his mother, but he had long ago given up addressing her as such. Lydia, Countess of Blakemere, had harried him from his earliest years, and he could not regard her with anything but revulsion. Along with his sisters, he had been terrorised by her frowns and castigated for every fault of character—of which, according to the Countess, he had more than his fair share. He had thanked his stars, and his father’s insistence—likely the only time poor Papa had succeeded in standing out against her!—for his schooling at Eton, which had toughened him to withstand the creature just as soon as he was old enough to do so without fear of retribution. Two of his sisters had escaped into matrimony—not that they’d had choice of who they married!—and it was upon the head of poor Babs at seventeen that the wrath of the Countess now fell. There was little young Babs could do against her. But for Claud, always on the lookout for vengeance, an opportunity such as this was manna from heaven. The family skeleton come home to roost!

At this point in his ruminations, it was borne in upon Claud that the skeleton was emitting suspiciously doleful sounds. Turning his head, he found Kitty valiantly attempting to stifle her sobs. Tears nevertheless gathered at her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Stricken with renewed guilt, Claud cursed.

‘Don’t cry! Told you I won’t let it harm you, didn’t I?’

Kitty gulped and sniffed, shaking her head in the hope that he would realise that she could not speak. It evidently did not occur to him that she was less hurt by the possible consequences than her reception in the Haymarket house.

‘Where’s that handkerchief I gave you? You’d best find it, for I haven’t another on me.’

The reminder served to send Kitty’s fingers digging into her pockets. One hand came out clutching the handkerchief. In the other was a package tied up in brown paper. Kitty stared at it uncomprehendingly.

‘Here, give me that!’

The handkerchief was snatched from her hand, and next instant, her chin was being grasped in a set of gloved fingers and Claud was wiping away her tears. As if she had been a little girl, he held the square of white linen over her nose and requested her to blow. Too startled to protest, Kitty did as she was bid, and then stared into the blue eyes as they inspected her face.

‘There, that’ll do. You’d best keep this.’ Claud released her chin and stuffed the handkerchief back into her fingers. Then he noticed the package she was holding. ‘What’s that?’

Kitty looked down at it. ‘I cannot remember.’ And then she did. ‘Oh, it is the hose I purchased for the new girl.’ Recalling the toothbrush and the tin of toothpowder, she dived a hand into her other pocket and found the other package. ‘Thank goodness! The Duck would scold me dreadfully had I lost it!’ It then occurred to her that Mrs Duxford was going to have far too much to scold her over without concerning herself about toothpowder and white hose. A wail escaped her. ‘Oh, what am I to tell her? How long have I been absent? The Duck will kill me!’

‘What is all this about a dashed duck?’ demanded Claud, at last signing to his groom and instructing his horses to start.

Too agitated to be other than forthright, Kitty explained. ‘She is the lady who is in charge of the Seminary. Mrs Duxford, only we call her the Duck. Not to her face, for she would be excessively displeased. Not that it matters, for I don’t know how I am to explain this. I dare say she will turn me from the door if she hears that I ran off to London with you!’

‘Must she hear of it?’ asked Claud, turning the horses out of the Haymarket and heading west. ‘Can’t you make up some tale that will satisfy her?’

‘When I have been absent for hours and hours? What should I say? And what if someone had seen you drag me off like that? They would be bound to tell her.’

‘Then you will have to tell her the truth.’

‘She would never believe it. What is more, I could not blame her. Whoever heard such a rigmarole as you have landed me in?’

Relieved that Kitty no longer showed any disposition to weep, Claud yet had no solution to offer. ‘Well, I admit it’s a thought fantastic, but I’m sure you will come up with a likely explanation.’

‘It’s well for you to say so,’ declared Kitty, incensed. ‘Do you suggest I tell her that you forcibly abducted me?’

‘You know very well it wasn’t an abduction,’ argued Claud, aggrieved.

‘Well, whatever it was, you promised you would compensate me.’

‘I intend to.’

‘How? The least you can do is help me think up an excuse. You ought to be glad that I am nothing more than a governess, or you would be obliged to make reparation by marrying me.’

‘What?’

The horses suddenly shot forward, and Kitty was almost thrown from the curricle. She clutched the seat as the groom behind issued a warning.

‘Take care, guv’nor, or you’ll have us over!’

But Claud was already bringing his cattle under control. Cursing, he turned wrathful eyes upon Kitty. ‘What the deuce made you say a thing like that? Made me jump nearly out of my skin!’

A giggle escaped Kitty. ‘I didn’t mean that you should marry me. But I cannot say I am sorry you got a horrid shock, for it serves you right for what you have put me through today.’

Claud was in no mood for this sort of thing. ‘If you think I did what I did for the pleasure of it, you’re mistaken. Last thing on my mind was to spend the day ferrying my cousin back and forth to no purpose.’

‘But I am not your cousin,’ objected Kitty.

‘As things stand, it looks deuced likely that you might be!’

This untimely reminder served to throw Kitty back into gloom. ‘I wish you will not talk about it. It serves no purpose to recall it to my mind, for it is clear that the scandal is too dreadful to be talked of, and there is nothing to be done about it.’

‘Oh, isn’t there?’ Claud swept round Hyde Park corner and turned north. ‘I’m hanged if I let it lie, if it’s going to annoy my mother.’

Kitty gazed at him in the liveliest apprehension. ‘What do you mean to do?’

‘I don’t know yet.’

‘Why should you wish to annoy your mother?’

‘Ha! You don’t know her, or you wouldn’t ask!’

‘Is she horrid?’

‘Loathsome!’ declared Claud, not mincing his words. ‘If you’d to choose between my Lady Blakemere and this Duck you speak of, you’d run to your Duck and hide behind her skirts.’

Kitty eyed the jutting chin in a species of wonder. For all his vehemence, he did not look as if he was in the least afraid of his mother. As for the Duck, Kitty knew her for a just and well-intentioned woman. And she had her moments of kindness. This Lady Blakemere sounded perfectly dreadful. Kitty was glad she would never be called upon to meet her.

It occurred to her that the curricle was travelling so rapidly, despite the press of carriages and people, that in a short space of time she would be leaving the metropolis forever. And with nothing to show for her visit but a headful of unkind memories. It was most unfair! She recalled Claud’s promise to compensate her. Did he mean to give her money?

A riffle of excitement bubbled up, followed immediately by a depressing thought. What was the use of his giving her money when she had no means of supplying herself with the things she craved? There was no shop in Paddington where she could purchase the sort of gown she wanted. Nor would the local dressmaker be persuaded to make it up for her—even could she furnish herself with the material.

The daring idea surfaced, and Kitty turned quickly to Claud. ‘There is one thing you might do for me.’

His head snapped round, frowning suspicion in his eyes. ‘Oh, is there? As long as it has nothing to do with matrimony—’

‘Of course it has not.’ Kitty drew a deep breath and plunged in. ‘Only will you buy me silk stockings and a spangled gown?’

The blue eyes popped. ‘Silk stockings and a spangled gown! Have you run mad?’ He noted a burgeoning sparkle in the velvety eyes. ‘Gad, you mean it! But you are going for a governess. What in Hades are you going to do with a spangled gown?’

‘It is just that I have longed to possess such a gown,’ said Kitty, breathless with hope. ‘Only I had never the means to pay for it.’

‘But when are you going to wear it? Besides that it ain’t the thing for a governess.’

‘I don’t care if I never wear it!’ Kitty declared. ‘If only I might have it, I could be happy for the future.’ She brightened. ‘I have just had a famous notion! It will give me all the excuse I need for Mrs Duxford. I will tell her that I came to London expressly to purchase it.’

Claud thought this over and found a flaw. ‘But you said you couldn’t afford it. Don’t she know that?’

Kitty summarily dismissed this. ‘I shall say that I have been saving my money for the purpose. Oh, and I can say that I have hopes of being invited by one of my two friends, for they are both married—at least, one is already, and the other will be shortly. It is not unlikely that either Prue or Nell will ask me to stay.’

‘Not if you’ve gone as a governess,’ objected Claud.

‘I wish you will not keep making difficulties!’ declared Kitty, annoyed. ‘I thought you wanted to make me reparation.’