‘No, I am quite safe,’ she said as he helped her to alight. ‘Bianca carried me very well.’
‘Miss Wythenshawe even took a hedge in her stride,’ added Daniel, coming to collect her. ‘You are a good teacher, Selby.’
‘I allus said miss had the makings of a clipping rider,’ responded the groom, grinning widely. ‘Off you go indoors, now. You’ll find her ladyship and all the others waiting up for you.’
‘I wish I could just creep away to my room,’ admitted Kitty as she accompanied Daniel into the house.
‘Everyone will want to assure themselves that you are unharmed.’ They stopped to allow the lackey to run ahead and open the door to the drawing room. ‘Come, you have been very brave until now.’ Daniel turned to her, encouragement glinting in his eyes. ‘After you, Miss Wythenshawe.’
Their reception was rapturous. As soon as the door opened the room erupted in cries of relief. Ann flew out of her seat and enveloped Kitty in a tight hug before insisting that she come and sit down with her on the sofa. Everyone was talking at once, demanding to know what had happened. After the calm silence of their night ride Kitty found the cacophony of voices far too confusing. She was content to remain still and silent, sitting between Ann and Lady Leaconham while Daniel explained everything.
‘Well, I am relieved that no harm has been done,’ declared Lord Harworth, pouring brandy into a glass and handing it to Daniel.
‘Except poor Lizzie,’ put in Ann. ‘She was so distraught that she took to her bed as soon as we got home.’
‘I was obliged to give her a little laudanum,’ added Mrs Camber, nodding. ‘I am sure she will be fully recovered by the morning.’
‘This would all have been avoided if they had stuck to their original plan and come straight home,’ stated Mr Camber, frowning direfully at his son.
George Camber shrank down in his chair, looking sheepish.
‘In Harworth’s absence I should have taken responsibility,’ put in Garston. ‘I should never have agreed to it. It was a mistake, and I admit it.’
‘You were not solely to blame, Cousin,’ added Ann, ‘we were all of us eager to go to Chapeltown, except Kitty.’
‘Then she showed more good sense than the rest of you put together,’ retorted Lord Harworth. ‘I can only thank Providence that Blackwood was on hand.’
‘If I had not been there I am sure Hamilton or Lord Leaconham would have gone after Miss Wythenshawe,’ remarked Daniel.
‘Aye, of course we would.’ Martin Hamilton nodded. ‘Not that we didn’t have the devil’s own job finding our way back to the road, even in daylight.’
‘But we were only a little late for dinner.’ Ann cast a soulful look at her brother.
‘Aye, well, that was some relief, to have most of you home,’ he agreed. ‘And when it grew dark and the ladies began to fret about Miss Wythenshawe I told ’em not to worry. “Mark my words,” I said, “Blackwood will look after her. And when darkness falls you may be sure he will take shelter at some inn or tavern until there’s moonlight enough to see the way.” And I was right, you see. But you’ll not be riding back to Hestonroyd tonight, my boy? The least we can do is give you a bed for the night.’
‘Thank you, my lord, I would like to stay,’ replied Daniel. ‘Very much.’
Kitty knew his eyes were upon her but she dared not meet his gaze.
‘Did you dine on the road?’ enquired Garston.
‘No, we did not stop to eat,’ said Daniel.
‘Oh, how remiss of me!’ declared Lady Harworth, tugging at the bell-rope. ‘You must be quite famished! I will order something to be brought in immediately.’ Kitty disclaimed, wanting only to go to her bed, but Lady Harworth insisted and when the servant came in she gave orders for soup to be prepared and sent up to Kitty’s room. ‘And for Mr Blackwood, too, but ask Cook to send up a plate of ham and some pickles as well for him. I am sure you must be very hungry, sir,’ she added as the servant withdrew. ‘But now it is very late, and I am sure we should all be in our beds…’
‘Not quite yet, Mama, if you please, I would like to say something.’ Lord Harworth moved to the centre of the room. ‘In all the anxiety of this evening we have not been able to divert ourselves with charades, or billiards as is customary, and it has given me time to consider. I have made a decision and do not wish to put things off a moment longer. My mother and Aunt Leaconham are well aware of my intentions, and approve, so I think it is time to speak.’
Kitty was looking at her host, trying to appear attentive when all she wanted was to go to sleep. From the corner of her eye she saw Garston lean down to whisper something to Ann, who giggled. She hoped Lord Harworth would hurry up and finish whatever it was he had to say so that she could retire to her bedchamber.
‘Mama has been telling me for years that I should do this, and since I am assured by my aunt that there is no impediment I see no reason to wait. We’ll have the lawyers discuss settlements and jointures and what-not later but I want to get this off my chest so I might as well do it now, while everyone is here, eh?’ Bemused, Kitty watched as Lord Harworth crossed the room and lowered himself on to one knee before her. ‘Miss Wythenshawe, will you do me the honour, very great honour, of accepting my hand in marriage?’
Kitty stared at him. Beside her, Ann was clapping and laughing, her godmother gave a gusty sigh and everyone else crowded round, eagerly awaiting her answer.
All except Daniel. Briefly raising her eyes from the figure kneeling before her, she looked across the room. Daniel remained by the door, his face pale and drawn with fatigue. Apart from a muscle twitching in his cheek he might well have been made from marble, so cold and indifferent was he. Lady Leaconham gave her a little nudge.
‘Well, Kitty, answer his lordship.’
‘I—um—I am honoured, my lord, and, and flattered that you should think me worthy…’ She cudgelled her brain for the right words but it appeared she had said enough.
‘Oh, my dear, I am so pleased!’ cried Ann, enveloping her in another of her fierce hugs. ‘Now I shall be able to call you sister!’
As soon as she emerged from Ann’s embrace, Lady Leaconham pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
‘Kitty, my love, how happy I am about this! And I cannot wait to tell your mama—you know how delighted she will be.’
Lord Harworth, having risen to his feet, held out his hand to her.
‘Miss Wythenshawe—Katherine—Kitty.’ He pulled her up to stand beside him. ‘You have made me the happiest man on earth!’ He raised first one hand then the other to his lips before leaning forward to plant a kiss on her cheek.
‘My lord, this is not—I mean—I must speak with you.’
He beamed at her.
‘Of course, my love, of course, but everything else can wait until the morrow. We must let our guests go and get some rest now, eh?’ He looked around. ‘But where’s Blackwood? Gone to bed already, has he? Young dog, not staying to congratulate me, but there, I suppose he is tired after all the adventures of the day!’
‘I was concerned for a while today that he might cut you out,’ remarked Lady Harworth, stepping forward to give Kitty a congratulatory peck on the cheek.
‘Goodness, yes,’ cried Ann, putting her hands to her mouth. ‘Just think. If you had not returned until the morning then Mr Blackwood would have been obliged to offer for you!’
‘Do not look so horrified at that, my dear,’ said Lady Harworth drily. ‘He would not be such a bad catch, rich as he is.’
Lady Leaconham bent an enquiring eye upon her sister.
‘But, Clara, a manufacturer…’
‘Not just a manufacturer, Letitia, although he has some very wealthy connections in the trade—one of his uncles is the richest wool merchant in Leeds and another owns several cotton mills in Lancashire, not to mention his father’s interests in both wool and the cotton spinning. But not only that, he is to inherit a very sizeable property. Harworth tells me his father bought the Hartleydale estate l
ast year.’ She glanced speculatively at her daughter. ‘Mr Daniel Blackwood stands to inherit a business worth in excess of forty thousand a year. To my mind that makes him a very eligible bachelor.’ She added after a moment, ‘He does not have a title, of course.’
‘Well,’ exclaimed Lady Leaconham, fanning herself briskly. ‘I never would have thought it. He is extremely well presented, of course, but there is never anything ostentatious about the man.’
‘But he is very much a gentleman, Aunt, do you not think so?’ said Ann, looking thoughtful. ‘A few more fobs and seals, a little more time in Town…’
‘Enough, enough!’ cried Lord Harworth jovially. ‘What care I how rich Blackwood may be? There is one prize he does not possess.’
He lifted Kitty’s hands to his lips again, then stood beaming down at her. Realising she was expected to respond, Kitty could only think of one thing to say.
‘Sir, I am very tired…’
‘Oh, my poor child, of course you are!’ Lady Leaconham was on her feet in an instant. ‘Say goodnight, my love, and I will take you upstairs immediately. A betrothal, and after such a day of excitement, it is no wonder you are worn out.’
‘Yes, I am, Godmama. If you will all excuse me…’
Lady Leaconham put one arm about Kitty and led her away and as she picked up a bedroom candle from the bottom of the stairs she gave a little chuckle of delight.
‘Oh, my dear, was anything so fortunate? I was afraid at first that it was all up with you when Garston returned with the others and told me what had happened, but once it became clear that no blame was attached to you then Bertram was all concern. And to make you an offer here, in front of everyone—’
‘He does not know my circumstances,’ muttered Kitty. ‘It must be explained to him how very poor I am—’
‘Yes, of course, my dear, but what can that matter now?’
‘It matters to me,’ said Kitty, close to tears. ‘I am sure he will not wish to marry me once he knows the truth.’
They had reached the door of her bedchamber and Lady Leaconham led the way inside.
‘There can be no objection to your birth.’ She went around the room, lighting all the candles from her own before coming to stand before Kitty once more. ‘He has proposed to you most publicly, Kitty. Bertram would be a complete scoundrel to cry off now!’
Despite her exhaustion, Kitty’s sleep was disturbed by dreams and she rose late the following morning. She was still pinning up her hair when Ann bounced into the room.
‘Good morning, sister! You cannot know how happy I am to call you that. And I heard Bertram go downstairs this morning singing, so you have made him happy as well!’
‘I am very glad of it,’ said Kitty, forcing herself to smile.
‘Shall we go down to breakfast together? There is so much to discuss. Mama says Bertram wants to hold a ball to announce the betrothal and Aunt Leaconham will be planning your trousseau already. We must make sure we have our say—’
‘You go on,’ Kitty broke in, ‘I—um—I am not at all happy with this gown and will change it before I go downstairs.’ Ann was looking very keenly at her and she added beseechingly, ‘Pray go ahead of me and I will join you as soon as I am able.’
‘My dear, you are very pale, are you sure you are not ill?’
‘No, no, it is merely a headache.’
‘Poor Kitty. After the exertions of yesterday it is no wonder you are looking hagged. I shall send Norris up to you with a tisane and you must go back to bed. And I shall have breakfast sent up to you, as well!’
Ann flew out of the room and Kitty dropped her head in her hands. She had been quite truthful when she had said she had a headache, but she did not think any tisane would cure it. Tears pricked her eyelids. All her life she had dreamed of becoming a lady, and now it was actually going to happen, but instead of elation Kitty only felt anxiety. She told herself that it was because she had not been honest with Lord Harworth. Once she had explained to him about her family and her lack of fortune she would feel much better. Stepping out of her dress, she lay down on her bed again and stayed there until the maid arrived with her tisane. She drank it, but she sent her breakfast away, saying she wanted to sleep again until her headache had eased.
Kitty was surprised to find that after another hour’s sleep she did indeed feel better. She decided that her first task must be to find Lord Harworth and confess everything. She wandered over to the window and threw up the sash, leaning her head against the frame as she breathed in the fresh morning air. Of course there was always the possibility that once she had informed him of her true circumstances he would no longer wish to marry her, but she would face that problem when it arose.
A movement below caught her eye and she glanced down to see Daniel’s tall figure striding through the garden, his dark coat a startling contrast to the colourful flowerbeds. She heard a faint call and saw Ann hurrying along one of the paths towards him. Daniel stopped to wait for her. He offered Ann his arm and they continued to stroll together, Daniel bending his dark head to catch something Ann was saying. With a sigh Kitty turned away from the window. Bertram’s not wishing to marry her because she was poor was suddenly not the problem. It might be the solution.
‘My lord, may I come in?’
Kitty peeped around the door of Lord Harworth’s study and waited anxiously for his reply. He jumped up, smiling broadly.
‘My dear Katherine, come in, come in! I was just writing out the notice for the newspapers. I cannot wait to tell everyone of my good fortune!’
‘Before you do that, sir, I think there is something you should know.’
Twenty minutes later Kitty emerged from the study exhausted and depressed but still engaged. She had been at pains to explain to Lord Harworth how her father’s misjudged investments had robbed the family of its income, how her mother and aunt now lived at Fallridge in their damp, cramped little cottage, and were obliged to take in sewing to make ends meet. Lord Harworth had indeed looked serious, but he was not inclined to call off the engagement.
‘I cannot recall that you have ever told me anything of your family that was not true,’ he said. ‘You have not misled me, my dear. My mother will be disappointed, naturally, but if she was under the apprehension that your family were affluent then I am sure such a rumour did not come from you. What is not in doubt is that your birth is impeccable. Whatever hardships may have befallen your family you cannot be blamed for. It would not behove anyone who called himself a gentleman to think your lack of funds a reason to cry off from our engagement.’
So Kitty had retired, secure in the knowledge that Lord Harworth had no intention of casting her aside. She went in search of her godmother and found her in the morning room, engaged in writing letters. Kitty described her interview with Lord Harworth and watched the anxious look upon Lady Leaconham’s countenance turn to delight when she told her of its conclusion.
‘You see, my dear Kitty, I knew everything would turn out well in the end! I will pen a short letter to your mama today, and perhaps you would like to write a note to her yourself and enclose it inside mine; she will want to hear all the details. In fact, perhaps we could prevail upon Bertram to invite your mother and your aunt to Kirkleigh to join us. What do you say to that?’
Kitty mumbled some reply and Lady Leaconham shot her a frowning look.
‘My dear Kitty, I do not know what is the matter with you! You have made a most excellent match and yet you look as if you had lost sixpence and found a groat!’
‘I—I am sorry, Godmama, I am afraid I cannot quite believe it is happening to me.’
‘I confess I have been pinching myself all morning, to make sure I am awake,’ replied my lady, giving a very girlish giggle. ‘Now go and write to your mother, Kitty: I cannot wait for her to hear the news—this is something she has dreamed of since you were a baby.’
Perhaps that was the truth of it. The thought shot through Kitty’s head like a revelation. This had always been her moth
er’s dream, much more than her own. She glanced up as Lady Harworth sailed into the room. Judging by the happy look upon her rather austere countenance Kitty did not think that Bertram had told her of his bride’s impecunious state. Lady Harworth greeted her sister warmly, solicitously enquired if Kitty’s headache had gone, then sank down on to a sofa.
‘Well, this is turning out to be a most eventful morning!’
‘What is it, Clara, what has happened?’
‘My dear Letitia, you would never credit it! As if there was not enough to do organising next week’s ball—Bertram is determined that we use the occasion to announce his betrothal and I am sure it is only right, and just what dear Katherine deserves, but I had barely left my room when—but here is Ann now. She must tell you herself!’
Ann came in, closely followed by Daniel. Kitty shrank back into one corner, wishing the ground would open and swallow her. She did not feel at all comfortable amongst so many happy people.
‘Well, Mama, have you told them?’ demanded Ann, giving a little skip.
‘No, dear Niece, she has told us nothing,’ cried Lady Leaconham impatiently. ‘She is leaving that to you!’
Ann gave her beaming smile. ‘Kitty is not the only one to find a husband, Aunt Leaconham, I am engaged!’ She turned and held her hand out to Daniel. ‘Mr Blackwood has proposed to me!’ Her eyes fell upon Kitty standing in the shadows. ‘Kitty, my love, I did not see you there! Is this not wonderful, will you not congratulate me?’
Kitty swallowed and forced her stiff lips into a smile. ‘I am sure I w-wish you both very happy.’ Her voice sounded strained, but Ann did not appear to notice. She was already turning to receive her aunt’s good wishes.
‘Of course there will be no announcement until after the ball,’ stated Lady Harworth. ‘Bertram is adamant that nothing should detract from his own betrothal. He wants me to invite even more people to dine with us beforehand, which means a great deal more work, of course, for everyone must be told. Letitia, my dear, perhaps you would help me to write out the invitations.’
To Catch a Husband... Page 21
