by Abby Ayles
Chapter 10
The air was fine, and there was a scent of flowers everywhere above the park. Though the spring sun was not yet as fierce as it would be in months to come, it had already risen its head. It was as good a day as any to join the throngs of young people gathered to picnic and chatter together.
The park was already quite crowded, with matrons seated on white stiff-backed chairs and watching over their charges. Young women and men both sat neatly on blankets spread across the fresh grass, serving themselves tea and pastries out of hampers.
Everywhere was a riot of color. The spring blooms that were opening their petals in the scattered flowerbeds were matched by the colorful fabrics stretched out, the ladies in lilacs, pinks, and yellows, and the gentlemen with cravats and waistcoats in the same textiles.
There was space still to sit, and Christopher was heading to an open area with his basket in his hand when he was hailed from afar.
“Lieutenant! Over here! Come, sit with us!”
Christopher turned to see Kitty White waving at him, her red hair tucked neatly away inside her bonnet. She was dressed in lilac, and her bonnet wore ribbons of the same color.
Christopher smiled and headed over to sit beside her, taking a space on the blanket that was offered.
“You are quite welcome to join us, Lieutenant,” another young woman said. Christopher recognized her as one of the crowd that Major Jeffords had introduced, though he did not remember her name. “We were quite lacking in officers before you arrived.”
Christopher saw that their group included a couple of young men that he knew from his barracks, though they were privates only. Also with them were a number of young ladies and gentlemen dressed in silks and linens rather than uniform, as well as an older man and woman who were no doubt chaperoning some of the gathering.
“I do not believe I am acquainted with all of your friends, Miss Kitty,” Christopher said, and another round of introductions was made. None of them were particularly memorable. He soon discovered he was the noblest of births amongst them, for most were simply Misses and Misters.
“Now that that is out of the way,” Kitty said, turning to him with a ferocity that suggested the rest of the day was theirs and theirs alone. “What of your friend, Lieutenant Rivers?”
Christopher winced slightly. There had been some sort of incident in the night, from what he could gather, and Jasper was nowhere to be found this morning. “I do not believe he will be joining us,” he said, which was the most generous he could possibly be.
“I heard he ran off with some girl,” one of the Privates, a Smith, cut in, earning himself a pout from Kitty at the interruption.
“It’s all anyone was talking about this morning,” Officer West added.
“Oh, dear,” Christopher muttered weakly. “Was there any word on what exactly happened?”
“I think she’s a Lady,” Officer Smith said. “I’m not sure which. They all blend into one after a few drinks, don’t they?”
“She’s local,” Kitty said. “I’ve seen her around many times. She’s always been desperate to meet an officer and dance with him. She doesn’t usually have much luck.”
“Isn’t she… an attractive young woman?” Christopher asked, perplexed.
“Oh, she’s fine enough,” Kitty said airily, waving a dismissive hand in the way that only someone who is confident in their superiority can. “But very shy. Awful shy. It took her a year after attending her first ball to even utter a word to a man. She blushes red like a tomato every time she dances.”
Christopher rubbed his forehead. “And Jasper managed to convince her to run away with him in the night?”
“It was right after we all stopped dancing for the night,” Officer Smith said. “She was there with her mother, I think. Next thing we all knew, the mother’s calling for her and can’t find her anywhere.”
“Then Rivers screeches past in a cab,” Officer West guffawed. “The girl in the seat beside him. Everyone saw it. She’ll not have a case at all for saying nothing happened.”
This was troubling. For all his protestations of innocence and the greater good, this was one girl who would not be able to reclaim her reputation. Jasper had done for her no good.
“Will he be forced to marry her, do you think?” the girl from last night asked.
The two privates erupted into further guffaws, explaining all too plainly what they thought the likelihood of that was.
“I don’t suppose you’re terribly interested in talk about your friend,” Kitty said, catching Christopher’s attention while the others went on. “You must hear this kind of thing about him all the time.”
“Yes, that’s quite true,” Christopher said. In both senses; he was much more interested in having a private conversation with Kitty than any kind of talk about Jasper. “It does get a little tedious.”
“So, tell me more about Lieutenant Hardwicke instead,” Kitty said, scooting a little closer to him on the blanket. “You are a much more inviting topic.”
Christopher laughed. “Tell me what you wish to know.”
“Well, what about your family?” Kitty asked. “Do you have any brothers who are as handsome as you are?”
“I have two brothers,” Christopher said, grinning. “But one is a mere lad, and the other is nowhere near as handsome. In fact, he is married, and quite boring.”
“Then I am talking with the best of the bunch,” Kitty said. “How gratifying.”
“And what of your family?” Christopher asked in return.
“I have no sisters,” Kitty smiled. “Though I am not lacking in brothers. In fact, there are times when I think that I have rather too many.”
“Too many?” Christopher raised his eyebrows, and looked about him furtively. “I wonder if I should be worried.”
“Not at all,” Kitty laughed. “I’m afraid my brothers have remained at home this season. Two are married already, and the others work. I am here with a maiden aunt. She works at one of the dressmaking shops in town.”
Of course, he had known that she was not rich; all the same, it was a little startling to hear how Kitty’s family lived. The unmarried ladies he had known were all taken care of by some wealthier family member, or else lived with them and dined on their charity. Working for a living seemed so very vulgar.
“Then does your aunt chaperone you today?” Christopher asked, casting around for someone that might share a characteristic or two that would mark them as related.
“Today, she works,” Kitty laughed. “I come with my group of friends.”
“And do you spend all of your time with them?”
“Not all,” Kitty said, giving him a look that was suggestive enough to make him sit up straighter. “I have some time to spend on my own leisure.”
“You must be very close with your friends,” Christopher commented, attempting nobly to move the conversation back to less indelicate matters.
“I suppose,” Kitty conceded. “Though none of them are half as interesting as you.”
Christopher smiled. “Because I am an officer?”
“Because none of them are quite so handsome,” Kitty replied. “And none of them speak so eloquently.”
Perhaps Jasper was right, Christopher thought. There was certainly something to be said for finding a girl that wanted to compliment you each moment of the day and night. And besides that, Kitty really did seem to have a wicked streak – the one that Jasper had suggested was just waiting to rear its head inside every girl.
“You flatter me, Miss Kitty,” Christopher said, shaking his head with a smile.
“I only speak the truth,” Kitty said. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Many of my friends are quite stupid. And none of them are lords like you.”
“So it is only my title that interests you?” Christopher teased.
“It was not your title that caught my eye from across the room, so that I begged Major Jeffords to make an introduction,” Kitty said, fluttering her eyelashes at
him. “I could not ignore such a fine and magnificent officer.”
“Someday soon I aim to become a captain,” Christopher said, figuring he may as well get his dues.
“Won’t that be a marvelous thing?” Kitty cooed. “You’ll be more handsome still with three stars instead of two.”
“And even more so, I dare say, with a crown,” Christopher said, alluding to the symbol given to the rank of Major.
Kitty raised both her eyebrows. “You had better stop there, Lieutenant,” she said softly. “I fear that if you progress any further, you will be simply irresistible to any woman around.”
“You do not wish others to find me so?”
“I do not wish for the competition,” Kitty said.
That was forward, Christopher had to admit. Perhaps Kitty wasn’t in need of being led astray at all. At this rate, it would be her who tempted him off the path of propriety.
“Perhaps we ought to go for a stroll?” Kitty suggested.
“I do not see why not,” Christopher agreed. They could hardly be accused of going unchaperoned since there were so many people sitting all around them. It was a nice day, and some activity now and then would make it all the better.
He stood and offered her his arm, and they began to walk. As they did, Kitty embarked on a running commentary of those they passed, making sly comments about the dress of other ladies or telling him the most scandalous rumors about them.
That was when he caught sight of Juliana.
She wore a white dress embroidered with notes of blue, and blue and white ribbons fluttered around her bonnet in the light breeze. She was sitting merrily perched on a tree stump, just the right height to be comfortable. Alongside her was her ever-present friend Lady Mary Westenholme, and a much older woman whom he did not recognize.
Beside them, sitting on a blanket, was a man in long boots and yellow breeches with a green velvet overcoat. His hair was thinning at the temples and he looked the picture of a dull man, but he was sitting between Mary and Juliana – and his attention was not turned to Mary.
So! It came down to this. Christopher had at last clapped eyes on the man that she had clearly chosen to pursue, abandoning him in the process.
It was easy to see from a glance that the man was wealthy. The elderly woman, who shared clear familial characteristics such as a hooked nose, held the stiff and unflinching posture of the very noble. Christopher surmised easily, then, that she must have decided to marry him for his title.
He wanted to steer Kitty away and head into the opposite direction, but it was not to be. Juliana looked up from her conversation and caught sight of him almost right away, and there was nothing for it then.
His first instinct was to drop Kitty’s arm and try a pretense that they had not been walking together, but it was useless. And besides, he remembered Lord Drevon. He would not be shamed at parading another woman in front of her since she had done the same to him.
Juliana stiffened, and within just a moment she was getting to her feet. They were close enough that he heard her announce something about going for a walk with Lady Mary, who, despite a startled expression, did not protest. Very soon, the two girls were walking arm in arm, and Christopher saw with some alarm that they were taking a circular path designed to coincide with his at a future point.
“Perhaps we ought to go back and sit,” Christopher suggested, with as casual a tone as he could manage.
“And miss the chance to be scolded by that lady again?” Kitty remarked innocently.
Christopher had just enough time to stare at her and catch the impish look she was giving him before they almost collided with Juliana and Mary, who had deliberately walked fast to bump into them.
“Good day, Lieutenant Hardwicke,” Juliana said, in a dangerous tone. “Would you care to introduce us to your friend?”
Christopher cleared his throat nervously. This was somewhat of an impossible situation. “Allow me to present Miss Kitty White,” he said. “Miss Kitty White, these are Lady Mary Westenholme and Lady Juliana Reffern.”
“Miss Kitty,” Juliana repeated, laying special emphasis on the ‘Miss’. “How delightful for us to meet at last.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Juliana,” Kitty said politely. As she did so, her hand tightened its grip on Christopher’s arm, as if to emphasize where in particular her pleasure was found.
“Lady Mary,” Juliana announced. “I do believe you and Miss Kitty may have something in common.”
“We do?” Mary replied, looking doubtful.
“Absolutely,” Juliana insisted. “The two of you ought to get better acquainted so that you might discuss it.”
Then, with one swift and smooth maneuver, Juliana disengaged Kitty from Christopher, matched the girl up with Lady Mary, and took Christopher’s arm for herself.
“There,” she said, with an air of satisfaction. “I do think they’ll be firm friends, don’t you, Lieutenant?”
“Undeniably,” Christopher muttered, thinking as he did so that he had never seen two people who had less in common in his life.
“Now that leaves us free to talk as well. Should we discuss, let’s say, the topic of treachery?” Juliana asked. Her attempt at an innocent tone was undermined completely by the clear anger with which she said it.
“I should think it a topic on which you are an expert,” Christopher said. He watched Kitty and Lady Mary disappearing further ahead of them, as Juliana deliberately kept him to a slower pace. This was not at all how he had envisaged the day going, and he was not considering this an improvement.
“Who is that young lady to you?” Juliana asked. “Pardon; I should say girl, since she is no lady.”
“She is a new friend,” Christopher said. “We met last night. I believe you may have been there.”
Juliana made a choking sound low in her throat for a brief moment. “I certainly was,” she said and left those ominous words hanging in the air.
“And who is your friend?” Christopher asked, glancing back to where they had left the seated party behind.
“Lady Ascot,” Juliana said easily. “She is a distant cousin of my mother’s, I believe. I am not sure of the precise nature of the relationship.”
“It was not Lady Ascot to whom I was referring,” Christopher said testily, knowing full well that she had known what he meant.
“Oh, you mean dear cousin John?” Juliana said.
“The Baroness’ son, I presume,” Christopher replied.
“You presume correctly,” Juliana informed him.
Wonderful. Just wonderful. So now she flaunted her future Baron in front of him also.
“I am sure that must be delightful for you,” Christopher said. “And for him.”
“I do find it so invigorating to be able to converse with people of a higher level of class,” Juliana said, with a pointed look at Kitty’s back.
“Interesting that you should say so,” Christopher said. “I always find it refreshing to talk to someone who is not so restricted by the arrogance of their own presumed authority.”
Juliana reacted as if he had slapped her. For a moment she even stopped walking, causing his arm to pull away from hers as he kept moving.
“Perhaps you should limit your conversations to only those of that lower class that you prefer,” she said icily, walking faster now to catch up with Kitty and Lady Mary.
“Perhaps I will,” Christopher said evenly, refusing to respond to her bait.
With a furious look, Juliana reached the other girls and pulled Lady Mary away. “Good day to you, Lieutenant,” she said, in a way that implied she wished his day was anything but.
“And a good day to you, Lady Juliana,” he said, giving her a mock bow as she departed.
“What a bore,” Kitty remarked, taking his arm once more as they began their return to their own party. “I don’t think I have ever met a duller girl than Lady Mary.”
“Nor I,” Christopher said, though in truth he was only half-listening. His h
eart was still racing from the fury of his conversation with Juliana, and as he saw her sit down again at the side of John Woode, he felt a stab of regret.
Perhaps he really should have said to her that he didn’t want her conversing with him – or anyone, that was not himself. Perhaps he should have invited her to join him with his own basket. But he had not, and what was done was done. He turned his face away, and swallowed down the sinking feeling that left him subdued for the rest of the day.
Chapter 11