by Abby Ayles
“And what if nobody is serious?” Kitty asked.
“Then would you not rather be a spinster, than married to a coward? I know I would,” Delilah replied with a smirk.
Kitty just sighed.
“But that is beside the point. The right man will come along, you'll see,” Delilah insisted. “And he shall be everything you ever dreamed of and more.”
Kitty smiled. Delilah was such a wonderful person. How could she be so warm, so kind, so encouraging to someone she had only just met? Although they had barely been talking half an hour, Kitty felt a strong affinity for Delilah, as though she were discovering a sister she had never had.
“Thank you for being so kind to me,” Kitty said softly.
“Not at all, I am just telling you the truth. Sometimes we cannot see the truth since how our emotions get in the way of our senses, hiding things that are in plain sight. So, like a blind person, we need to have the truth described to us, so that we will recognize it,” Delilah explained.
“So you truly believe one day my prince will come?” Kitty replied with a laugh.
“I do, I honestly do,” Delilah said.
“I just wish he would hurry up. Or I shall be a hundred on my wedding day,” Kitty replied.
“But perhaps then you would both be so old that your ailment will be of no concern to him,” Delilah said. “I am sorry,” she added hastily, “that was in poor taste.”
Kitty laughed. “No, it is also true. Perhaps when I am not so young I can find a man who understands me. Or perhaps, if I look after myself well, I shall soon be considered in excellent health for my age.”
Delilah laughed too now. “Perhaps so. You just wait and see. He will find you.”
A head of shiny blonde hair stuck in through the door. “Delilah, come back to the dance. Duchess Haskett is asking after you.”
Delilah nodded and the blonde head lingered in the doorway, beckoning excitedly with a lily-white arm. “I must go,” Delilah said, turning to Kitty. “I've had a chance to rest my feet and made a friend. I hope I shall see you again soon.”
“I also hope we shall meet again soon,” Kitty replied, watching as Delilah slipped her perfect little feet into her slippers and all but floated out the door.
She was so in awe of Delilah's grace and beauty that she did not pick up her book again until the door had clicked softly shut.
Chapter 4
Several weeks passed and slowly Kitty's father forgot about her disobedience and she enjoyed some of the few freedoms that he did not consider “too much” for her. She was now able to go out into the garden, free run of the house including the dogs' room, and, most importantly, to entertain guests a couple of times per week.
Although her heart still yearned for more, for now she was just glad not to be stuck in her room with nothing to do but read. She loved her books, but even at the resort she enjoyed more variety than one room and a shelf of books day after day.
Her friend, Duke Haskett, had come to visit her shortly after the gala, and his wife, Mary, had promised to spend more time visiting Kitty. She was a wonderful woman, and kept true to her word, regularly stopping by with flowers, books, sweets, and little trinkets, to brighten up Kitty's day.
Dr. Allen was not exactly company, but it was nice to have him around. He rarely had much work to do with Kitty, as most days she needed no care at all, but he would make sure he was seen to administer oils for her joints, and to prepare her special herbal teas, to let Baron Langley see that Kitty was looked after.
Baron Langley too was more present, and he spent long days talking to Kitty, reading to her from his paper, and teaching the dogs new tricks, much to her delight. Although it got frustrating at times, in some ways it was nice that he still saw her as his little girl
Whereas many young women did not have a relationship with their father as they grew older, instead bonding with their mother, Kitty had grown very close to her father. And not having any male heirs to pass the title onto, Baron Langley was pleased to teach Kitty all about his responsibilities and rights.
She would listen to him intently, imagining herself in the future as a spinster, Baroness Kitty Langley, fulfilling the same position.
So she was not short of good company.
But the person who Kitty longed the most to see had not yet made an appearance. Helena Keats, her childhood playmate, was still very ill.
They had met through Dr. Allen, before he became their private family doctor. Back then he was a consultant for five families in the area, and one day, when visiting his office, Baroness Langley had bumped into Lady Keats. Although Lady Keats was several ranks below Baroness Langley, the two of them found they had much in common and soon became the best of friends.
Which meant that Kitty and Helena would play together a lot as children.
Both being sickly, they never left the playroom, and barely did anything, but they enjoyed it. It was nice to be able to play with another child that had their own energy and movement restrictions.
With time, Kitty had learned that Helena could not move her legs effectively or breathe very well because at the age of two a cart had run into her, crushing the lower portion of her back and ribs. She had regained some mobility, but would never walk normally again.
They found solace in one another, but whereas Kitty grew stronger and stronger as she received increasingly effective treatments, Helena only got worse and worse. It reached a point where Helena became bedridden, and besides the odd walk in a wheelchair, she barely left her house any more.
Nevertheless, they had remained friends. Although not as close as they were before, they never forgot one another and remained in contact through letters, visiting each other as much as possible.
But Helena had neither stopped by nor written a letter inviting Kitty to visit in all the time since she had returned. And now Kitty was worried.
One night she woke up with a sense of dread. As though something absolutely terrible had just happened. She sat bolt upright, unable to get back to sleep at all. Something was very, very wrong.
As soon as she heard him walking down the hallway, she threw on her bed coat and went to find her father.
“Daddy,” she said, walking into the drawing room, “have we not had any news from the Keats family at all?”
“Not a bit, I'm afraid. I suppose they are busy. Or in London again,” he replied.
“But it has been nearly three weeks since I returned,” Kitty sighed. “Surely they should be home by now?”
“I am not sure, I have not heard much from them,” Baron Langley said. “Not since you last left for the resort, at any rate. I am sure they are simply busy. Helena's condition does require a lot of upkeep. More than yours. No doubt they will reach out to us when they are ready for visitors.”
“Or perhaps their letters have been lost in the post,” Kitty replied.
“If you are that worried, how about you write to her?” Baron Langley said. “You have permission to use my study before breakfast, to compose the letter.”
Kitty felt a little excited. The study was not always open to her. “Thank you, I shall do that immediately.”
Her father's study was a big, brown room with not much light and not much room to move around in. It was so full of different files, books, and stationary items, Kitty sometimes wondered if he had just bought an entire book store.
Settling into the vast leather chair behind the desk, Kitty sat down to pen a letter for Helena. The post would arrive later that morning, so perhaps she would be able to send it with the mail man.
“My darling Helena,
I hope that my letter finds you well. It is only that I have returned from my treatment at the resort and I was wondering if you should perhaps like to visit. Or perhaps I should visit you?
Please write back to me and let me know how you are!
Your dear friend, Kitty.”
Folding it into the envelope and rushing downstairs, she got to the door just as the post man k
nocked. At the second knock she swung the door open, startling him and causing him to drop the letters he was holding for them.
“I have a letter for you to take with you,” she said.
He shook his head a little. “And I have a letter for you, miss,” he replied, leaning down and picking up the three envelopes from the floor. “Two for your father, but one for you.”
They exchanged letters and as he walked off, Kitty's heart beat faster. Perhaps this was from Helena? Then she could rest easy, knowing her friend was well.
Kitty looked at the letter in her hand. The handwriting was, sadly, not Helena's. It wasn't that of anyone she knew, for that matter. The letters were big, looping, and beautiful, in a thick ink which left folded ribbon-like lines behind, like an inscription beneath an artist's drawing.
Kitty put her father's two letters on the dresser beside the front door and tore her own letter open.
“Dearest Kitty,
Please forgive me, I have asked Duke Haskett for your address as I need your assistance most urgently. My little brother has foolishly injured himself whilst riding down country roads last night. He is in great pain and needs someone to care for him.
Unfortunately, he rejects all medical care. No matter what I have said or done, he stubbornly refuses to have a doctor or nurse care for him. It is only after arguing with him the better part of the night that he agreed to a normal person, with some experience handling such conditions, becoming his in-house nurse.
The problem now is that I do not know of anyone else who could perform this task. And then I thought of you. You have lived with aches and pains much of your life. Perhaps you would be able to persuade him to care for himself? And to nurse him back to health?
I know it is a lot to ask, but my little brother really needs help, and it may be the only way of assisting him.
I beg of you, please consider my request.
Yours sincerely,
Delilah Sinclair.”
Kitty was so surprised she read and re-read the letter a few times over. She didn't even hear as her father walked into the hallway.
“What have we here? Why are you standing by the front door? There are cracks under the door, you will catch cold,” her father said.
“I have received a letter from Delilah Sinclair,” Kitty said. “But it's ridiculous.”
“That name rings a bell,” Baron Langley remarked. “I think Delilah Sinclair was present at the gala on the night you were punished.”
Kitty nodded. “Yes, she came and spoke to me. Seemed a lovely young woman. A friend of yours?”
“No, she was someone important, I can't quite put my finger on it... What is she like?” Baron Langley asked.
“Very tall and graceful, black hair, basically stunning,” Kitty said. “She's very warm and friendly too, so happy to talk to me even though she did not know me.”
“Red dress, very thick hair and blue eyes?” Baron Langley asked.
“That is her, yes.”
“She is not so young, Kitty, but I know who you mean. She was talking to some very important people at the gala,” Baron Langley remarked. “What has she written to you about?”
“She says that her little brother has injured himself and needs someone to help look after him and nurse him back to health, and she is asking me,” Kitty explained.
“Do you wish to go?” Baron Langley asked.
Kitty did not hesitate. “I would love to. She seemed so nice, and it would be something new for me. Besides, how could I let a little boy down? The poor child is no doubt suffering, and must want someone to sympathize with him.”
“Do you really wish to do something so sudden?” her father asked, taken aback. “It may be dangerous, and you will be living away from home. I wouldn't be there to care for you.”
She could hear pain in his voice. She knew he wanted her to say it was scary and she didn't want to go. But she couldn't lie to him. She needed to seize the moment.
“I just wish for a little freedom,” Kitty said meekly. “Just to be able to go out and do things with other women. Even if this is a bit unorthodox, I would enjoy it.”
“I see,” Baron Langley replied.
“Do you... do you not want me to go?” Kitty asked.
“I do not want you to go. I would rather keep you here, where I can see you and look after you. Nevertheless, I think it would be very good for you to go and help her. It would help improve your standing, and you would also be in the company of people who you consider friends,” he replied.
“So I may go?” Kitty asked, astonished.
“Of course you may. It is just a friend and her little brother. And your friend is a woman of standing. It is a fantastic idea to move in with them a while, and teach them from your own experiences,” her father explained.
Kitty grinned. “Thank you so much, daddy,” she replied.
“Besides, that is just the sort of thing which your mother used to do. And her recklessness led to me, and to you. I can put my faith in that,” he said, hugging her.
“I doubt I shall find love, but at least I may find fulfilment,” she replied.
“As long as my little girl is happy, I do not care,” he said.
Chapter 5
Kitty was relieved to find out that Delilah Sinclair did not live very far. Although she had always dreamed of setting off on her own adventures, actually going somewhere unfamiliar concerned her. She had only ever experienced her home and the retreat ever since she was a little girl. It was nice to know that even though she was going on an adventure of her own, she would be within a two-day journey from home. And besides, a longer coach ride might have upset her joints. Two days, stopping at an inn on the way, was no trouble at all, and she knew she would be able to move normally as soon as she got out of the coach.
As they drove in through the gates, Kitty was taken aback by how well Delilah Sinclair lived. Her father had not been wrong when he assumed she was someone of importance.
The estate was quite a bit more than she had expected. The grounds along stretched out so far, and were so full of exotic plants, it felt like she was moving into another country, all owned by Delilah's family. As the building itself became visible through the final row of silver birch trees, Kitty spied some enormous, spiky plants arranged around a fountain so vast she wondered if it carried a year's worth of water or five.
Stepping outside, Kitty felt tiny in front of the huge white pillars and the looming doors of the house. The driver carried her bags up the stairs and rang the doorbell as she made her way up the steps more slowly, taking in every little feature, every carving and every accent, on the face of this magnificent building.
The door opened slowly and a servant guided them both inside. The building was as amazing inside as out. The walls and floor were gleaming marble, and the marble stairs were adorned with a rich red carpet, held down by weighty metal bars so it hugged each individual step. The furnishings were deep mahogany, and items from around the globe clung to every wall, shelf, and table. An elephant's tusk, a Turkish carpet, a bear skin rug, and a vast brass gong were the biggest items Kitty could see, but around them cluttered countless smaller artefacts.
And yet before she could go and look at them, Delilah appeared at the top of the stairs, looking relieved.
“I am so glad you could make it!” Delilah said, gliding down the stairs and embracing Kitty warmly.
“I would not refuse you,” Kitty replied. “It is clear that you need my help, and I shall endeavour to do everything you need me to do.”
“Anything you can do at all is a blessing,” Delilah said. “He refuses all sorts of treatments. Doesn't trust doctors at all. I'm at my wit's end.”
“And where is your brother now?” Kitty asked.
“In his room, in bed,” Delilah said.
“Can he move at all?” Kitty asked.
Delilah shrugged, exasperated. “I have no idea. He won't move, but the doctors can't even inspect him to see if he needs some support
or if he is just tired.”
“I see,” Kitty said. “Is there any reason for this?”
“He is sulking,” Delilah replied, shaking her head. “But I have no doubt that you shall get through to him in no time.” She began walking up the stairs. “Come with me, I shall introduce you to him.”
“What is his name?” Kitty asked. “And why do you think I can get through to him?”
“Augustus,” Delilah said. “And he doesn't listen to doctors. But you are not a doctor. You are just another person who has experienced joint problems.”
“So it is his joints?” Kitty asked.
Delilah looked aside. “Yes, when he was found his back was twisted and his knee was completely out of place. They managed to reposition everything before he came to, but now he refuses any and all examination to determine the state of his insides. Here we are.”
They arrived in front of a tall, dark, ornate door, where Delilah stopped and knocked. Nobody inside said anything. She knocked again. Still no reply.
Delilah shrugged, swung the door open, and ushered Kitty in, following close behind her.
It quickly became apparent to Kitty that although he was younger than Delilah, Augustus Sinclair was not a little boy. In the bed lay a man, of at least thirty years, with thick black hair and a day of stubble, fast asleep between the pillows.
The blankets had slid down to his waist, revealing that he was wearing nothing but a light vest on top. A vest which was stretched at the arms and neck, revealing broad shoulders and a muscular, lightly hairy chest. A vest which clung to him so tightly that Kitty could see each outlined abdominal muscle, and even his belly button.
His chest rose and fell steadily with each breath. He stirred a little. The blankets slid down further, revealing a steak of flesh between the bottom of his vest and the top of his long johns, his hip bone and taut muscle fully in view.
“Great. He is sleeping,” Delilah said quietly. “We may do well to leave the introductions until later. He hates to be woken up. Come, let's get tea and discuss what you can do to care for him.”
