He looked genuinely confused. “Why would I be worried about that? Lord knows I’ve been hoping my brother will come to his senses and see Katie for the diamond that she is – although I wish Colbourne had kept his dashed nose out of it.”
It was Eugenia’s turn to look confused. “What does Lord Colbourne have to do with anything?”
“Are you referring to the Northumberland estates?” interjected Lord Snowley as he turned his attention over to them. “I’m not convinced that holding the land hostage until Colbourne’s satisfied that her Grace is happy was the smartest of moves, myself. If I’d pulled such a move I dare say Bella would have shot both of us!”
“What move?” demanded Helena, and for once Eugenia was grateful for the spoilt, demanding nature of the younger girl. “What has Colbourne done to hurt my brother?”
“Nothing at all, and it’s nothing to do with you at any rate,” said Arthur, glaring daggers at his friend. “I daresay he wouldn’t be happy to hear us bandying about his business in public, either.”
Helena’s gaze narrowed and she folded her arms across her chest. “It has everything to do with me, Arthur, and if you won’t tell me then I’m sure that Lord Snowley will!”
Lord Snowley, who had already turned a shade of pale beetroot, shook his head. “I thought you knew, but if not then I should not have mentioned it.”
Eugenia, desperate to ask questions, continued to eat her lavender ice in silence.
Helena scowled for a few moments, but then her eyebrows shot up as something occurred to her. “Northumberland – you said Northumberland. You’re talking about the land that Alex wanted to buy because of the Roman ruins there!”
“How the devil did you know that?” spluttered Arthur.
Helena shrugged. “He was discussing it with Jonathan for hours. He said it was the reason he had returned to England; because Lord Pocklington was finally willing to sell it now he was married. Is that the same land? It is, isn’t it?”
“Something like that,” muttered Lord Snowley, looking uncomfortable.
Helena’s eyebrows knitted together. “But if Colbourne has asked Pocklington not to sell the land unless he thinks Kate is happy, then… oh good Lord, are you saying that Alex is only being nice to Kate in order to get the land?”
“We never said anything of the sort,” snapped Arthur, but his cheeks were as red as faux cherries on a straw bonnet.
Helena blinked a few times. “Oh. Kate will be absolutely crushed when she finds out.”
“She’s not going to find out, is she?” said Arthur, fixing his sister with a glare. “Sooner or later Alex will realise that Katie’s a diamond and the fact he needed a little encouragement won’t matter a jot. It’s not for us to interfere.”
“As if I would say a thing!” said Helena, looking affronted. “It might make Alex leave, and then I’ll never get him to consent to my marriage!”
“See that you don’t,” said Arthur. “Katie’s been through enough and she doesn’t need this added to her plate.”
“I’m hardly going to tell her that the man she’s in love with is only being nice to her because he was bribed to,” snapped Helena.
“I say, bribed is an awfully strong word,” said Lord Snowley. “Think of it more as… as an incentive.”
“It’s still wrong,” muttered Helena.
Eugenia let the three of them squabble as she quietly finished her ice.
*
Kate tried and failed to keep the smile from her face as her mother-in-law laid out her list of grievances against Alex, pacing the room and flailing her arms as she did so.
“Why he thinks I know the first thing about the amount we spend on candles is beyond me,” she said with increasing agitation. “And his conviction that I ordered the candles in the book room to be replaced with goat-tallow, or some such thing. Since when did I care about candles? Or goats for that matter?”
“Pig,” said Kate helpfully. “I believe it was pig tallow.”
“What does that have to do anything?” said Sarah, obviously nearing her wits’ end. “I never had a head for such things when his father was alive, and I have openly praised you for taking care of us ever since, so why he insists on believing that I know the first thing about economising is beyond me.”
“He probably thought you were being modest about your ability to manage the household accounts,” said Kate truthfully.
“Which shows what an idiot he is. And that reminds me – he’s as bad as you are when it comes to peas! I will not scrimp on our catering, and so I told him. Our Ball will be the event of the Season, and if the peas cost their weight in emeralds, then so be it.”
Kate couldn’t help giggling as Sarah finally collapsed into her favourite, overstuffed chair, and was rewarded with the darkest scowl she had ever seen on her mother-in-law’s face.
“I’m so sorry, dearest; and you were so looking forward to his return!”
“I’m naturally ecstatic to have all my children home,” declared Sarah, “but not when they insist on being dense. And don’t think I haven’t noticed your behaviour either, my dear. Good grief, you simper at the dining table!”
Kate straightened up. “I do not simper!”
“You never used to,” said Sarah with a despairing shake of her head. “I know you are determined to make a good wife to that son of mine, but trust my counsel on this point: do not pretend to be anyone but yourself!”
“I am sure I don’t know what you mean,” said Kate, choosing to busy herself with her teacup rather than look her mother-in-law in the eye.
“Don’t you?” said Sarah with a shrug, “perhaps it is the fact you have allowed my son to believe that the Duchess who manages the household is me rather than you.”
“In my defence, you are a Duchess as well,” muttered Kate. Sarah ignored her.
“Then, of course, is this irritating habit you have developed of agreeing with everything Alex says about the estates, even when he is quite wrong on the matter. And don’t think I don’t know that the reason Hopkins has taken to hanging around the kitchens.”
“He is quite enamoured of chef’s pastries?”
“Codswallop. He is waiting to seek clarification from you as to how best proceed with the estates, regardless of what my son has already ordered.”
Kate blushed. “I do not seek to undermine Alex, I promise.”
“But it’s a jolly good thing you do,” said Sarah. “The boy might know the intricacies of managing an excavation in the middle of Italy, but he hasn’t the first idea about repairing farmer’s cottages, or what needs to be planted on the land, or the cost of renovating the east wing at Darlington.”
It was impossible to argue with the truth. Kate shook her head. “He doesn’t listen to me.”
“Because you act like a simpering fifteen-year-old whenever he’s around,” said Sarah, rolling her eyes. “Katie my darling, you have single-handedly run this family ever since my dear husband died. Indeed, he had far greater trust in you to build our fortune than he did in me or my children. No, don’t protest because it is the truth. It is beyond me why you insist on keeping your real nature hidden.”
Kate blushed. Sarah, whose own nature was open and honest, was a difficult person to lie to.
“I didn’t mean to. At first, I was angry that he assumed you were the one who had organised everything, and so I played a few tricks to teach him a lesson.”
“Let me guess: the candles.”
“I never thought he would blame you for it, I swear, dearest! Only then… well, then he started wanting to spend time with me. And he talks to me about his travels in Europe and about his excavations and even reads aloud his papers for the Antiquarian Society.”
Sarah sighed. “And because you are in love with my doltish son, you continue to play the fool as you believe it is what will make him happy, and more importantly, convince him to stay.”
The fire in Kate’s cheeks deepened. “Is that so wrong of me? To want to be a g
ood wife?”
“You’d make a much better wife for Alex if he saw you for who you are: an intelligent, meddling, kind hearted, and managing female from whom he could learn a lot.”
“I think there was a compliment in there somewhere,” said Kate, not sure whether to be touched or offended.
“You know I meant it in the best of possible ways, my darling. This family does not deserve you, and so I shall tell my son the next time he suggests I discuss the price of peas with him!”
As sweet as the defence was, Kate somehow doubted it would make much of a difference. “The important thing is to make him conscious of his obligations so that he stays.”
“He’ll do what he pleases, I’m afraid,” said Sarah, and Kate felt her heart deflate just a little. “But yes, we must speak of obligations. In particular, what is this nonsense about your refusing to take part in the shooting tournament?”
Kate winced. “Who told you?”
“Lady Loughcroft came to beg my interference on the matter and told me that you and Bella have almost argued over it.”
“Perhaps it isn’t quite the thing,” said Kate, staring at her teacup.
Sarah sniffed. “To be sure, it is out of the common way to hold a tournament at Berkeley Square rather than at a private residence, but hardly beyond the line. You would do well to remember that not only are you a noble by birth, you are a Duchess who is well known to be a capital shot. It would be notable if you were not there.”
“Are you saying that I should be doing something daring?” Kate asked in surprise. “Forgive me, but you are the one who counselled me to toe the Ton’s line as much as possible following Alex’s departure.”
Her mother-in-law gave an exasperated sigh. “That was when you were still a green girl, and it was necessary to protect you from the gossips and tabbies. But the situation has changed, for you are no longer trying to make a debut to a hostile Beau Monde. You are not only accepted by the Ton, but loved. You have proven yourself over and over again, and your true heart is what won over Polite Society, not the act of a simpering miss.”
“Thank you,” she said, overwhelmed by the praise.
Sarah was not finished. “It’s only the truth, Katie. Yes, some of the highest sticklers may condemn your participation in a shooting tournament – but they condemned you anyway, my love, when you were a young, abandoned bride, and you will not change their opinion now.”
A lump formed in Kate’s throat. She stared at her hands for a long time before answering. “Alex was concerned that it wasn’t the done thing.”
“Oh, hang Alex,” said Sarah with an exasperated sigh. “Why didn’t you just tell him that it was perfectly acceptable?”
Kate did not want to mention the kiss.
“He would not have believed me,” she said, which was not entirely a lie.
“For such an intelligent girl you have very little common sense,” muttered Sarah.
“I know, I know, but things have been going so well between us for the last week,” said Kate, unable to keep it from flowing out of her. “He has sought out my company, danced with me at balls, complimented my appearance, and shown interest in what I do with my days. It… it’s all I ever wanted.”
This last sentence ended on a sob, and she busied herself locating a handkerchief.
Sarah sighed. “Was there ever a time when you didn’t love my foolish son?”
Kate sniffed. “My affections wavered considerably when he suggested we spend too much on clothing.”
“But you’ve always loved him. Even these last nine years.”
“Yes,” Kate whispered, wondering if she had ever felt so small in all her life.
“Then don’t you think he deserves to love the real you?” asked Sarah.
Kate blinked, feeling as though her mother-in-law had thrown her world into disorder. “I had not thought of it like that.”
Sarah stood. “I must go. I’m visiting with Lady Sefton and shall conscript their support for the shooting tournament. Do you have plans this evening?”
Kate shook her head. “Helena is to visit the theatre with lady Cordelia, and Alex has already left to visit his club. As for me, I’m fagged to death so intend to devote my evening to a good book before retiring early.”
Sarah walked over to her, then leant down to place a light kiss on Kate’s forehead.
“You are your own worst enemy, Katie. Do not let your own thoughts keep confusing you,” she said softly and left the room.
It was excellent advice, Kate told herself a few hours later while she sat, a glass of ratafia in hand, before the parlour fireplace. It was such a pity that she appeared incapable of following it.
She had come no closer to deciding what to do about Alex when the door to the parlour opened a little after Nine o’clock, and Arthur came strolling into the room.
“It didn’t work,” he said with a dramatic sigh before dropping into the chair his mother had occupied earlier. “I’m still engaged.”
Kate gave a cluck of sympathy. “What happened?”
“I mentioned that her grandfather was in trade.”
She gave a theatrical gasp, making her eyes as wide as she could. “The horror! Eugenia must have been mortified!”
“She was, and for a least a minute I thought she would dump her dish of ice into my lap.”
“But her indignation was not enough for her to break the engagement?”
“No, more’s the pity. I don’t think I shall be able to do it again, Katie, even though I see your point that acting like a brute might put her off the idea of marriage. It was surprisingly difficult to be rude to Eugenia; went against the grain, I tell you!”
“I’m sure it lacerated your sensibilities excessively,” she said, but Arthur was oblivious to her gentle teasing.
“You don’t know the half of it,” he replied as he shook his head in disgust. “She decided that I was in a poor mood because Alex is back, and condescended to forgive me.”
Kate frowned. “Why would that put you in a poor mood? He’s never been a bad brother to you; just an absent one.”
He sighed. “She thought I was afraid she’d cry off. Some rot about my being heir to the Dukedom and afraid that I’d not inherit. Utter hogwash if you ask me; why the devil would she think I’d be likely to inherit? Neither you nor Alex are in your dotage.”
Kate blushed as she realised that Arthur had not quite grasped onto his betrothed’s way of thinking, and decided it best not to enlighten him on the issue.
“She was probably trying to convince you that she would remain constant,” she said with a shake of her head. “If only she wasn’t such a disagreeable tabby!”
“Be careful how you speak about my future wife,” joked Arthur with a feeble grin.
“It won’t come to that, Arthur. I promise.”
“Not much we can do about it,” he said with a deep sigh. “If I can’t convince her I’m terrible husband material I suppose I shall just have to accept my fate.”
Kate chewed her lip. “You could try embarrassing her. It might cost you some social status to do so, though.”
Arthur gave a delicate shudder. “It pains me to admit it, but I have not discounted such drastic action. If I turn up to your ball wearing a rose-pink coat and wearing a patch, you will know I have reached true desperation.”
“The fact you are even considering it is cause for concern. The fact I’m considering letting you is equally frightening.”
“You know I would only cause embarrassment for you if I was desperate, Katie. I want you to be happy.” He paused, his face searching hers for a few moments. “Are you happy?”
“I am always happy,” she replied.
“No, you aren’t,” he said bluntly. “You are always busy, but I only see you happy when you are with your cronies. Rumour has it, however, that you are not on quite as excellent terms with your friends, old and new, now that Alex is home.”
Kate sighed. “Your mother told you about the tournament.
”
Arthur shook his head. “No, I heard about it in my club. What on earth possessed you to cry off, Katie? I’d happily give a monkey to see you best those other ladies with bow, crossbow and pistol alike! Think how much would have been raised for the orphans – and you wouldn’t have had to embroider so much as a single glove in the process!”
“And now I’ll have to embroider a thousand before Bella forgives me,” she replied with a grimace. “Arthur please don’t push me on this. It is such a small price to pay in the scheme of things.”
“Aye, until there is another small price, and another, and another. I love my brother, Katie, truly I do, but he’s ten years behind in the ways of the Ton – and he barely understood them back then, either. When it comes to Estate management the only person better than you is Hopkins – and I doubt Alex listens to our steward any more than he listens to you.”
“He takes Hopkins’ advice into consideration,” said Kate, but looked away as Arthur fixed her with a disbelieving stare.
“My point, my dear, is that Alex would be well served if he tried learning to be a Duke rather than assuming he can bluff his way through the role. Just tell him you’ll be taking part in the competition, and that he should jolly well cheer you on. Good grief, the Earl of Gloucester is publicly endorsing his wife’s participation, and there’s hardly a higher stickler in all the Ton than him!”
“Sometimes duty has to come before our desires, Arthur,” said Kate, fiddling with the stem of her wineglass.
Arthur got to his feet with a sigh. “In which case, you will need to resign yourself to having Lady Eugenia as your sister-in-law.”
“That’s different,” she said, but he shook his head.
“No, it isn’t.”
“When did the members of this family become so wise?” she said with a wan smile.
“When you started acting like a goose,” he replied without any visible remorse. “It’s against the natural order of things, Katie, and I’m not sure how much longer any of us can stand it. Now stop acting like a pea-hen and make my brother realise what a lioness he married – or else you’ll find Helena has stopped being a selfish little cat, mother has become an autocrat, I have become a Curate, and all hell will break loose.”
The Rebel Wife: Book Four in the Regency Romps Series Page 8