‘Lady Abernethy was only moderately presentable when she first engaged me,’ she said calmly. ‘But, in the end, I believe she was one of London’s most admired ladies of fashion.’
‘Miss has excellent bone structure,’ she said on another occasion, ‘and her colouring is unusual enough to be interesting.’
‘Interesting?’ Katharine had exclaimed. ‘Really?’
‘We have quite a lot to work on, of course,’ Miss Kendrick had added. ‘Miss has neglected her appearance for too long. But I am optimistic about the result.’ She was even inclined to look favourably on Katharine’s height. ‘Miss is tall, but that is by no means a disadvantage,’ she pronounced. ‘Present modes favour the tall figure.’ She gave Katharine a severe look. ‘As long as the lady in question carries herself well. Not one of my ladies has ever slouched.’ Katharine didn’t doubt it. Fear of Miss Kendrick would be more effective than a whole library of books carried on the head!
Throughout the weeks that followed Katharine’s face, figure, deportment and dress were subjected to Miss Kendrick’s iron discipline. Katharine had never thought much about what she wore, had never concerned herself about styles which flattered, or colours which complemented her own colouring. But now one disapproving look from her maid could send favourite dresses to languish at the back of the cupboard forever, and other gowns, in shades she had never thought of wearing, took their place. Fortunately they both agreed that simplicity was more Katharine’s style than the feathers, frills, and ribbons depicted in the fashion magazines. But Katharine soon learned that Miss Kendrick’s ‘simplicity’ owed a lot more to art than was apparent to the casual eye.
Mrs Calthorpe was delighted. She went around the house with the look of a cat that has found a whole bowl of cream, though in her letters to Adam she merely reported that Miss Kendrick was excellent at her task, and that Katharine was working hard at her dancing. She also took care to inform him that Katharine was well chaperoned whenever they went to the Assembly Rooms, and that it was just as well—Miss Payne was proving to be very popular. She added that she wouldn’t be surprised if Katharine made an excellent match before the London season was halfway through. But though Mrs Calthorpe was a fond mother, her motive in giving her son these assurances was not to make him feel happier. It had not escaped her that Adam was becoming more personally interested than he realised in her protégée, that he had been not as pleased as one might have expected at Katharine’s success with the young men of Guildford. Adam’s mother saw no harm in giving him even more to think about.
Katharine’s marriage prospects were being discussed a mere forty miles away, too. Henry Payne and his family were also preparing to go to London, though not in such splendour as they had planned. Herriards was a comfortable property, but without the income from the Frampton-Payne inheritance, it would not run to expensive luxuries.
‘I hope you realise that we are all depending on you, Walter,’ said his father one day in March. ‘The only way to bring the Frampton fortune back to Herriards is for you to marry that confounded girl. You missed your chance once, and you mustn’t miss it again. I don’t know why she took against you—you’re a personable enough fellow, and when you put yourself out the women usually seem to like you. But you’d better make sure you don’t fail with her in London. Your cousin Kate is no beauty—she won’t find it easy to attract the gentlemen on her own account. It’ll be the money which will draw them. All you have to do is to persuade her that you’re different from the rest, that you “love her for herself alone”.’
‘I’ll try, Pa,’ said Walter, pulling a face. ‘But don’t underestimate the task. She can be damned difficult.’
‘Walter! You are not to let your dislike of the girl stand in your way! You surely don’t need reminding that we need her money! Unless you know of another heiress you might persuade to marry you?’
‘No, I don’t. And I have to admit—there’s a certain charm attached to the thought of getting that girl in my power. She wouldn’t be so high and mighty for long.’
‘You’ll have to win her first.’
‘Aye, there’s the difficulty. What about the Calthorpe fellow?’
‘He won’t present a problem. From what I saw, he didn’t like the girl much more than you did. I’d be willing to wager that it was his mother who pushed him into taking her away from here. She probably regrets it now. No, Calthorpe’s swimming in lard himself, he doesn’t need the Frampton money. He won’t be interested in her. Look, Walter, you have to remember that you have one great advantage—you can offer your cousin Herriards. She was besotted about this place, God knows why. Tell her how much the people here miss her, remind her that in time she would be mistress here again. Play that tune, and she might well fall into your arms. But marry her you must. And soon.’
The two men sat in gloomy silence, contemplating the sheaf of bills and accounts on the table. After a while Walter said idly, ‘I just wonder…’
‘What?’
‘Well, do we know what happens to that money if Kate Payne were never to marry?’
‘She gets control of it when she is twenty-five. She can leave it wherever she likes then. For heaven’s sake, don’t waste time on speculation, boy! You can’t afford to. If Kate marries someone else, or reaches the age of twenty-five without marrying, the money will be gone forever as far as we are concerned. You have to marry her, Walter.’
‘And…if something happened to her before she is twenty-five?’
‘I’m not sure, but I believe it reverts to the Herriards estate.’
‘Does it really?’ Walter got up and walked about the room. ‘Well, well!’
‘You’re grasping at straws! As far as I know your cousin is in perfect health! She isn’t going to fade away and die just to save you from having to marry her! Pull yourself together, Walter! Stop fantasising and concentrate on what is possible!’
Walter stopped pacing, and looked at his father enigmatically. Then he shrugged his shoulders and appeared to abandon whatever he had been thinking. He said, ‘You’re right, Pa. Kate has had time to get over her spleen at the loss of Herriards. And by now she must be over Tom’s death, too. She’ll probably be much more amenable. Don’t worry. I’ll get her.’
All was now ready for the Calthorpe household to move to London. The house just off Berkeley Square was ready to receive them, a few of the servants, together with numerous additional domestic comforts, were already installed there, and everything needed for the wardrobe of two fashionable ladies was finished and waiting to be packed. It only needed Adam’s presence for the changeover to take place. Some business in Bath had caused him an unexpected delay, but he was now expected hourly. In the event, his arrival took them by surprise. Katharine had been out with Cintra and she returned to find Adam waiting for her at the stables. She quite forgot the cloud under which they had parted, and gave him a dazzling smile.
‘You seem to make a habit of surprising us,’ she said gaily as he helped her to dismount. ‘Though I cannot say this time that you were earlier than expected. Have you seen your mother?’
‘Not yet,’ he replied, smiling at her in turn. ‘I left the carriage to follow on, and rode the last bit of the way, in order to be here sooner. When I saw you and Cintra on the other side of the river I waited for you here. Shall we go in?’
They strolled up to the house. ‘How are you and Mama? You at least are looking well.’ She replied suitably and enquired after his journey and the progress of the work at Calthorpe.
It was all very companionable and easy, yet Katharine was a trifle put out. She had planned Adam’s first sight of her, and it wasn’t meant to take place in the stables after she had had a demanding ride. Her hair was all over the place, she was prepared to swear that her cheeks were red with her exertions, and her old riding habit was not nearly as flattering as any of her new gowns. It was a far cry from the newly elegant Miss Payne with which she had hoped to astonish him!
Adam, on the other hand,
was feeling very pleased. Perhaps Ivo Trenchard had not been so far out, after all! Kate’s smile was indeed captivating, and, in spite of her height and the absence of any dimples, she had a great deal of charm. He had been quite taken with her when he had first seen her just now—cheeks flushed, hair loose… The riding habit was old, of course, but it somehow suited her. Perhaps it was because he was used to seeing it on her. He had missed Kate at Calthorpe, had frequently thought of her riding with him on the Downs dressed in that same habit. He had recalled their conversations, her delight in the world about them, her determination to keep up with him, however hard the going… Adam found himself hoping quite passionately that she would not be disappointed in the new world she was about to enter. What if his mother and he had not between them prepared her well enough? He did not like to think of that smile growing dimmed, of Kate becoming once again the unhappy creature he had met last October… He mustn’t let it happen!
They went into the house, where his mother greeted him with enthusiasm. Katharine excused herself and disappeared.
‘And what do you think of Kate?’
‘I told her—she is looking remarkably well, though not much changed. Is the new maid any good?’
Mrs Calthorpe began to laugh. ‘My dear boy, never let Miss Kendrick hear you say so! And, in any case, what do you mean? Kate has been transformed!’
‘Oh, really, that is going too far! The girl is happier, certainly, and that adds a charm to her looks which was lacking before. But transformed? Surely not!’
His mother regarded him thoughtfully. ‘You don’t think so? Well, perhaps I am wrong. We shall see.’
Dinner was late that evening, after the last-minute preparations for their departure the next morning were complete. Adam was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Kate came down, his mother having deliberately delayed her own descent to give him time to appreciate the new Kate Payne. At first he did not recognise her. For the moment before he came to his senses he found himself asking who this slender creature descending the stairs so gracefully could possibly be. Head held high, one hand holding the train of her golden silk dress, she had reached the bottom step before he had found his voice.
‘Kate!’ he exclaimed.
‘Well, Adam? Do you like the dress? It was your Christmas present, you know.’
Stammering like the newest subaltern, Adam said, ‘Y…yes, of course I do! It suits you very well.’
She gave him a cool sideways look. ‘You sound doubtful?’
‘No, no, I assure you! I was merely taken somewhat aback. You look so different.’
‘I should hope so,’ she said. ‘But why do I still have the impression that you don’t approve? Isn’t it what you wanted?’
‘It is! Of course it is! The dress is lovely. And…and your hair is very nice, too. I think.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ she said, beginning to sound annoyed.
‘It’s just that…it doesn’t… It’s all so elegant—it doesn’t look like you at all! Oh, God, that’s not what I meant to say—’ Adam stopped in confusion.
Since Katharine was starting to look as if she would like to give Adam a most inelegant box on the ears, Mrs Calthorpe decided it was time she joined them. ‘It is very strange,’ she said, giving Katharine a wicked smile. ‘Numerous acquaintances over the years have complimented me on my son’s exquisitely polished manners. I believe the Duke himself has said as much. What has happened to them tonight, my dear?’
Adam pulled himself together and gave his mother a rueful smile. ‘You are quite right, Mama. Forgive me, Kate! I was indeed overcome by your transformation! You look superb! I can see that I shall have a busy time keeping your suitors at bay.’ He bowed formally to each of them in turn. ‘Shall we go in to dinner, ladies?’
Mrs Calthorpe noticed with delight that, though Adam’s eyes were frequently on Katharine, the girl did not allow this to put her off. Her company manners and conversation were exactly as Mrs Calthorpe had taught her, and if Adam’s mother had ever entertained any doubt about Kate’s suitability to be her son’s wife it would have been dismissed that night.
Adam himself soon recovered all his famous aplomb, and the dinner table resounded with laughter and good humour. They talked of their plans for their stay in London. The dates for the various parties and outings which Mrs Calthorpe had planned were already fixed, of course, including one for the ball which Katharine’s guardians had asked her to arrange. But they made plans for other occasions, and Mrs Calthorpe reeled off a list of people she wished Katharine to meet.
‘That reminds me,’ said Adam. ‘I saw Ivo when I was in Somerset. He seemed quite eager to receive an invitation to your ball.’
‘He is at the head of the list,’ said Mrs Calthorpe. ‘Dear Ivo! He is such a valuable guest at a party or ball. He loves dancing and is always extremely popular.’
‘Until he makes off with the ambassador’s wife, or some such lark,’ said Adam caustically.
Later that night, after Katharine had gone to bed, Mrs Calthorpe tackled Adam about his behaviour.
‘The dear child has worked so hard, Adam. I think she was a little disappointed that you did not immediately show more approval. And I have to say that you had me a little puzzled as well.’
‘I’m not sure how to explain, Mama. There’s no doubt that you and Miss Whatever-her-name-is have worked wonders. Between you—’
‘And with Kate’s help!’ interposed his mother.
‘And with Kate’s help, you have produced a young lady of fashion who is bound to rouse a certain amount of admiration—’
His mother interrupted again. ‘A great deal of admiration,’ she said gently.
‘Whatever you say. But…it isn’t Kate. I found the girl I saw this afternoon down at the stables far more appealing than the elegant creature at the table tonight.’
Mrs Calthorpe paused. Then she said, ‘Adam, what was your aim in bringing Kate away from that uncle of hers?’
‘I…I wanted to rescue her from a life of misery. I had promised Tom, and I could do no less.’
‘Not to marry her yourself, I think?’
‘Good heavens, no!’
‘Well, then, what are you worried about? Kate doesn’t have to appeal to you. If she is to find a suitable husband, she needs to be successfully launched into Society. The young lady at the table tonight will find that far easier than the girl you met this afternoon. You know what the polite world is like. Our job is to prepare her as fully as we can, to introduce her to the right people and then to try to make sure that she chooses a husband wisely. Your responsibility to Tom’s sister will then be at an end.’
She looked sideways at her son. He was hunched over his glass of wine, looking anything but pleased at this description of the task ahead. She smiled. She didn’t like it any more than he did, but then…she had an idea that Adam’s responsibility for Katharine Payne would not come to an end with the London season!
Chapter Eleven
Their journey the following day was accomplished without delay or incident, and soon, after three weeks in London, Katharine felt as if she had lived there all her life. She quickly adapted to London hours, rising late and going to bed in the early hours, and in no time at all she knew the latest on dit, which were the most stylish shops, and where the most fashionable coffee houses were to be found. And the capital soon got used to the sight of Miss Payne dancing at Almack’s, riding through the park, driving out to Kew, or visiting Vauxhall, together with all the other activities which made up the life of the polite world during the season.
Society agreed that Miss Payne was not quite in the accepted mode. She was neither divinely fair, nor ravishingly dark, her eyes were not celestial blue, but an unusual brown and, though her figure was good, she was taller than the ideal. She did not appear to set herself out to charm, but behaved in an open, natural manner. All of which made it quite astonishing that she was on the way to becoming one of the season’s successes. Certainly the sight
of her slender form weaving its way gracefully through London’s ballrooms aroused a great deal of admiration. To evoke Miss Payne’s dazzling smile was an object of importance with many an otherwise sensible young man. And numbers of eligible bachelors were impressed by the discovery that she sometimes preferred an interesting conversation to listening to extravagant compliments.
In short, by the time the Balmennys appeared in London, Katharine Payne was on the way to having the success her heart had desired. Adam was beginning to realise that he had been wrong and his mother and Ivo Trenchard right. And, as time passed, he got used to the new Kate Payne, and began to see her with the world’s eyes. The shabby governess of Herriard Stoke churchyard was gone forever, replaced by an elegantly fashionable young lady with exquisite manners. Kate the virago was lost, buried inside a light-hearted, light-footed creature who danced and smiled her way into the hearts of Society. Adam was fascinated with the change, but was occasionally irritated by his own perversity in regretting the disappearance of the belligerent shrew and wishing he could see her just once more.
Mindful of his responsibility he kept a watchful eye on her, but took care not to appear to be too close. The world must regard Katharine as his mother’s protégé, not as any kind of future bride for himself. In this respect he and his mother were at odds, he knew. But better acquaintance with Kate had not given him any reason to change his mind. He had grown to like her, but she possessed neither the sort of looks he admired, nor the qualities he was seeking. Life with Katharine Payne would never be easy—for one thing, she argued too much. And Adam was still looking for the kind of wife he had pictured back at the ball on the eve of Waterloo—gentle, calm and undemanding, someone for whom he would have a mild affection without the turmoil of passionate love. If she happened to be a blue-eyed blonde so much the better.
Sylvia Andrew Page 16
