Some minutes passed before he appeared in his dressing robe with his hair standing on end and looking none too pleased.
‘What’s brought you here so early?’ he said rudely as he stomped past her to reach the cigarettes, and she could have sworn as he passed that she got a whiff of perfume. It’s probably just his cologne, she told herself as he lit a cigarette and blew a plume of smoke into the air.
‘Well?’ he repeated.
Kitty gulped, then taking a deep breath she blurted out, ‘I had to see you, Richard. You see, I’m going to have a baby – your baby!’
She watched the horrified expression on his face and felt like crying. It wasn’t the reaction she had hoped for, but then she had been shocked too. He just needed time to come to terms with it, that was only natural.
He began to pace up and down, then stopping abruptly he barked, ‘Are you sure? And how do you know it’s mine?’
‘Of course it’s yours,’ she said. ‘For the last few months I have only been entertaining your two most elderly friends and they … Well, let’s just say that neither of them are capable – if you know what I mean.’
‘And what are you going to do about it?’
She stared at him aghast. He looked so cold and aloof. ‘Wh-what do you mean?’
‘I mean there are people you can go to. Women who will get rid of it for you.’ All the while he was speaking he was glancing nervously towards the door but Kitty was so distraught that she barely noticed.
‘But I don’t want to get rid of it.’ She was crying now. ‘It’s our baby! I want us to get married and to be a family.’
‘And what about the photos, if the men turn ugly and decide that they will sell them to the newspapers?’
Her chin rose. ‘Then let them. We’ll go and live somewhere far away where nobody knows us. I’m tired of being used and I want to lead a normal life now.’
Seeing how distressed she was becoming he ran a hand distractedly through his hair as he commenced his pacing again. Then suddenly he stopped in front of her and, taking her hands in his, he smiled – the smile that could still turn her to putty in his hands.
‘Of course, you are quite right, my darling,’ he said. ‘Let them do their worst and we will be married. How does a month from now sound to you? That should give me time to arrange everything. But can we have a quiet wedding, perhaps at the registry office? I don’t think the circumstances warrant a grand affair, do you? If you’re happy to leave everything to me, I shall go ahead and make all the arrangements. You just find yourself a pretty white outfit.’
Suddenly her face was radiant. She would have married him in a shed had he asked her to because finally all her dreams were coming true. They would be wed and live happily ever after just like in the fairy stories Sunday had used to read to her.
He gently led her back towards the door. ‘And now, darling, I really must go and get ready for the client who is due shortly.’
Once he had hurried her out of the door, she felt as if she was floating on a cloud. She hastened back home to tell Maggie the good news, although she wasn’t looking forward to telling Ruby. Still, it couldn’t be helped and her mother would just have to accept the situation, Kitty decided.
‘You’re what?’ Maggie gasped when Kitty burst into her bedroom to tell her the news.
‘I’m going to be married – in a month’s time!’ Kitty was beaming from ear to ear. ‘Richard has promised to make all the arrangements. It will be a quiet wedding though. We don’t want a big fuss although I will need a new outfit, of course. Just think what fun you and I will have choosing it. And there must be one for you as well, Maggie dear. I want you to be my bridesmaid.’
Maggie was so flabbergasted that she was rendered temporarily speechless. She had feared that Richard would turn his back on Kitty once she had told him about the baby, but it appeared that he had come up trumps.
‘And where will you live?’ she asked eventually when she found her voice again.
Kitty shrugged. ‘I don’t know, to be honest. We haven’t looked that far ahead yet, but wherever it is I shall want you to come with me. I shall still need a maid because once the war is over I shall take up my singing career again and I’ll need someone to help with the baby.’
‘But I don’t know anything about babies!’
‘Neither do I,’ Kitty giggled. ‘But we’ll learn together. Oh, Maggie, I can’t tell you how happy I am, although I dread telling my mother.’ A frown wiped the smile from her face then as something occurred to her. ‘I wonder how she will manage without my money coming in? I’m not entirely stupid and I know that Richard gives her money and so does Max when I get a booking, and I doubt I ever see a fraction of it.’
‘You shouldn’t worry yourself about that,’ Maggie said stoically. Personally, she found it appalling that any mother could treat her daughter as Ruby had treated Kitty, but for the sake of her friend’s feelings she had never said as much. Kitty had already sold all her jewels to help out with the bills and the money that Sunday had once given her had gone, too. The only item of jewellery Kitty had kept was the locket that Sunday had given her on the day she left Treetops.
‘Hmm.’ Kitty went to stand and stare thoughtfully out of the window. ‘Well, I know Richard is very rich,’ she said quietly, ‘so perhaps if Ruby and Foxy move to somewhere slightly smaller he might still help them out financially?’
I wouldn’t bet on it, Maggie thought, but again she remained silent. This was all happening a little too quickly and easily for her liking. Richard had shown no signs of wanting to marry Kitty before, during the years they had been together.
Kitty whirled about then, the smile once more in place. She was so excited that nothing could worry her for long. Lifting Tallulah into her arms she kissed her silky head and told her, ‘We’re going to live with your new daddy soon, sweetheart.’
And seeing her friend so happy, Maggie couldn’t help but smile too. Everything would work out, she decided. It usually did.
Kitty had planned to tell Ruby her news that evening after dinner but her plans went awry when Miss Fox informed her that Ruby was ill in bed with a tummy upset.
‘Then perhaps I should tell you,’ Kitty said solemnly. ‘The thing is, Richard and I are going to be married – in a month’s time.’
Foxy’s mouth dropped open and she reminded Kitty of a goldfish she had seen at the fair she’d gone to with Sunday and Tom once, back in Nuneaton.
‘That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ the woman managed to say eventually.
Kitty didn’t want her to know about the baby yet, not until after the wedding. ‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘I’ve known him since shortly after I came to live here, and we can’t see any reason to wait any longer.’
‘I see.’ But Miss Fox didn’t see. In fact, she was knocked for six. Richard Fitzherbert was a renowned lady’s man, and many young women had tried to snare him before Kitty and failed miserably. Deep down, she was actually quite relieved, especially if this was what Kitty wanted, which judging by her animated face it certainly was. She hadn’t approved at all of the way Ruby had treated her daughter and could only hope now that her husband-to-be would make up for it. ‘Then I wish you both all the very best,’ she said sincerely and once again Kitty glimpsed the soft heart behind the no-nonsense exterior.
‘There’s just one thing,’ Kitty said, serious again. ‘Will you and my moth … Ruby be all right for money when I’m gone?’
Miss Fox nodded. ‘Of course, why wouldn’t we be? I’ve already put plans into motion for us to move to a smaller house. Lord knows, this place is far too big for us now and it will be even more so once you and Maggie have gone. I take it Maggie is coming with you?’
When Kitty nodded, Miss Fox smiled. ‘Right, so where is the wedding to be then?’
‘I don’t know yet, probably at his local register office. Richard said it wouldn’t seem right having a big do, what with the war and everything.’
‘Then I shall
do you a wedding breakfast back here,’ Miss Fox told her.
‘Oh, but you don’t have to—’
‘I insist.’ Miss Fox suddenly did something that she had never done before and, leaning forward, she gave Kitty a tender hug. Inside, her heart was breaking. This lovely girl deserved to have someone to love her, and if that someone turned out to be Richard Fitzherbert, then she would force herself to try and like him for Kitty’s sake. Perhaps things would start to improve for the girl now?
‘Right!’ She turned towards the door. ‘I shall have a word to Cook about getting some extras in for the big day.’
Kitty watched her go in amazement. Miss Fox had been perfectly lovely about her forthcoming nuptials. She just hoped her mother would react as well.
It was almost a week before Kitty saw Richard again. She had been waiting for him to telephone or call by, but when he didn’t she went to visit him and found him at work in his studio.
‘I was getting worried,’ she told him truthfully. ‘I expected you to call and see me and when you didn’t …’
‘I’ve been run off my feet organising the wedding and I was going to come and see you this evening.’
‘Oh.’ She instantly felt guilty and he was forgiven. ‘And how is everything going? Do we have a venue and a date yet?’
‘We do, as it happens.’ He lit a cigarette and leaning against the back of a chair he stared at her. ‘We’re to be married in the registry office in Westminster at eleven o’clock on the fourteenth of July. How does that sound?’
‘It sounds wonderful.’ Crossing to him she flung her arms about his neck. ‘And afterwards Miss Fox is organising a small reception back at Ruby’s. Will you be inviting many people?’
‘Not that many.’ He gently untangled her arms. ‘I thought we’d just have it quiet and select.’
‘But your family will be coming, won’t they?’ She sighed with relief when he nodded. Secretly she thought it would have been far better if she had been able to meet them before the wedding day but she supposed it was too close to worry now, only three weeks away.
‘And where shall we live afterwards?’
‘Ah, now that’s a secret.’ When he tapped the side of his nose she giggled. It was all so exciting. She had supposed that they would live here, but perhaps he was planning to surprise her with a new house somewhere? He hadn’t been spending a lot of time here lately, she suddenly realised.
‘And what about … your friends?’ Her face was anguished now. ‘Have they agreed that I won’t have to entertain them any more?’
‘Yes, of course. Everything has been concluded most satisfactorily. I even have the photographs in my possession now so you can stop worrying and concentrate on getting ready for the big day. Unfortunately, I heard from my mother that my father has been ill, so I will be going away tomorrow to spend a few days with him. I hope that he’ll be well again in no time, but don’t fret if you don’t hear from me for a while. I shall be back in plenty of time for the wedding, never you fear, and then it would be better if I popped over to see you at Ruby’s when I get back, as there’s a lot of packing up to be done here.’
Kitty felt a tingle of excitement. He had just confirmed what she had suspected – that he had found a new house for them to live in. Otherwise why would he be packing? But she didn’t wish to spoil what he obviously wanted to be a surprise so she simply nodded sweetly. Inside, her heart was singing. She would never have to kowtow to any of Richard’s colleagues again, and very soon now she would be Mrs Katherine Fitzherbert. She was a little disappointed that Richard had to go away, admittedly. And again, she was also a little miffed and hurt that he hadn’t offered to take her along, but the knowledge that she would soon be his wife, for better or for worse, and with their child on the way, outweighed every other emotion and she would have laid down her life for him if asked.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Richard called in to see Kitty the week before the wedding and she flew into his arms. ‘I’ve missed you,’ she told him, the soft mound of her tummy pressing into him.
He smiled. ‘Sorry. I was away longer than I expected to be, but everything is booked for the wedding now. I shan’t be seeing you again before the big day though. Lots to do, you know? And it’s bad luck anyway.’
Kitty pouted. ‘But that only applies to the night before the wedding.’ There were still four days to go until they became man and wife.
‘Even so, I’m very busy but just think – after Saturday, we’ll have all the time in the world together.’
Slightly pacified, she nodded. In truth, she would be glad to be away from Brunswick Villa now. Her mother hadn’t taken the news of the forthcoming wedding at all well and had barely spoken to her since.
Now Kitty took Richard’s arm, intending to take him into the day room where they could have some privacy, but he gently put her from him, saying, ‘I just need a word with Ruby. You run along and I’ll catch you before I go.’
Slightly crestfallen, Kitty watched him stride off down the hallway before hurrying upstairs to her room where Maggie was busily packing their cases.
‘I thought I might as well make a start,’ she told Kitty. ‘But do you have any idea where all our things have got to go to?’
Kitty shook her head. ‘Not yet, Richard hasn’t said. I dare say he’ll arrange for them all to be collected in due course.’
‘Hmm, well, perhaps he ought to get a move on,’ Maggie answered fractiously. ‘It would be nice to know where we’re going to be living after Saturday! This is all a bit disorganised, if you ask me. I mean, all we know is what time to turn up for the ceremony.’
‘That’s all we need to know,’ Kitty chuckled. She went over to stroke the new outfit she had chosen to wear for her wedding, which was hanging on the wardrobe door. Their choice had been severely limited because of the shortages of clothes but she and Maggie had finally found it in a little shop off Bond Street and Kitty loved it. It was a gown in a lovely summer blue colour, trimmed with cream satin ribbon all around the handkerchief edge and neckline. The lining was a heavy satin, the overlay a thin floaty material that swayed about her with even the slightest movement. And they’d even managed to find an adorable little hat in the same colour to go with it. A pair of cream satin shoes and a matching bag completed the bridal outfit, and they had then decided that her bouquet should consist of tiny cream rosebuds and gypsophila. It would be a long way from the fairytale wedding that Kitty had always dreamed of, when she would float back down the aisle of the church in a froth of tulle and lace on Richard’s arm, but she didn’t mind any more. All she cared about was becoming his wife, and very soon now her wish would come true. Kitty had even managed to persuade Maggie into a new outfit in a very pretty pale green that complemented her colouring.
Maggie had not been at all happy about what she termed as unnecessary expense. She had saved almost every penny she had earned since coming to London, but she hadn’t wanted to disappoint Kitty. After all, the wedding was going to be a very quiet affair, so if her having a new outfit pleased Kitty then it was worth every penny. And she could wear it again. Glancing up from the packing she saw that Kitty was still fingering the material of her wedding dress and she bit down on her lip. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t rid herself of the feeling that there was something not quite right about this wedding. On the odd occasions when she had seen Richard and Kitty together she got the distinct impression that Richard was far less enamoured of Kitty than she was of him. In fact, Maggie had been frankly disbelieving when Kitty had informed her that he had agreed to marry her. But perhaps she should give him credit for that at least? Now Kitty’s child would be born in wedlock, which was something to be grateful for.
She closed the bag she had been packing and told Kitty, ‘I think it’s time we had a tea break. I’m going down to make some, shan’t be a tick!’
She had almost reached the bottom of the stairs when she became aware of raised voices coming from the direction of the
drawing room. Richard and Ruby were clearly having words. She knew that she should carry on, but instinct made her creep closer to the door to try to hear what the row was about.
‘You can’t expect me to do that!’ she heard Richard say, but she couldn’t hear Ruby’s reply, and was so afraid of being caught eavesdropping that she hurried on her way. She was deeply concerned. What was it that Richard didn’t want to do? If it was about the wedding, she knew it would break Kitty.
The smell of cabbage met her as she entered the kitchen. The summer cabbages in the garden were on every menu because they were plentiful and Cook had been baking pies for the wedding feast for days now. Far more than they would ever be able to possibly eat, Maggie secretly thought, but she didn’t say so.
‘So how is the bride-to-be bearing up?’ Miss Fox asked cheerfully, looking up from the bread she was kneading at the opposite end of the table to Cook. The latter had been giving her cooking lessons as she intended to retire soon after the wedding.
‘Oh, she’s fine.’ Maggie filled the kettle and placed it on the range then asked cautiously, ‘Are you and Ruby going to manage all right when we’ve gone?’
‘Why, bless you, of course we will, pet.’ Miss Fox wiped a floury hand across her forehead. With all the baking that was going on it was uncomfortably hot in the kitchen even with the back door and the windows wide open. ‘I’ve actually found quite a nice little house nearer to the river in Wandsworth that I’m thinking of renting for me and Ruby,’ she confided. ‘Cook here has informed me that she’s finally going to retire and I can’t say that I blame her. The house I’ve got my eye on will be much cheaper to run and with no wages to find each week I shall go out to work. Probably in one of the armament factories.’
‘But why can’t Ruby go out to work instead? She’s younger than you,’ Maggie objected.
Miss Fox raised her eyebrow. ‘Can you really see that happening? I’m afraid Ruby is used to being waited on.’
The Little Angel Page 41
