by Claudy Conn
* * *
Timing, Kit had told Harry, was everything, and so she watched the clock. Finally, dressed to the nines in a hunter green velvet hat with a single white feather that curled near her ear, she gazed at herself in the mirror. She wished the earl were home to see her in her new walking ensemble, which matched her hat to perfection.
She had left Harry only to find that the earl had left her a quickly scribbled note advising her that there were things to be done before he could carry her off to Paris.
She hugged the note to herself and smiled, and then she had gone off to see Nanny to tell her about her upcoming nuptials. Some happy tears and many hugs were shared before she went off to get ready.
A note was sent off to Henrietta, and then all she had to do was get dressed and make her way to meet her friend.
What she had to do was fix this silly situation between Harry and Ree, who were meant to be together, and make certain Clay got just what he deserved for his backhandedness in this mess.
She gave her golden curls a tweak and off she went to collect Ree. Nanny met her in the hall and stopped her. “Darling, where are you going?”
“Oh, Nanny, Harry and Ree have made a mull of everything, so I am going to sort it all out. I shan’t be long.”
She smiled, took up her purse, and hurried down the stairs. With a sensation of pure and mischievous excitement, she went outdoors and hailed a hack.
Now, she told herself, to begin!
* * *
Harry had taken a small corner table in the coffee shop. He was attempting to remain calm, but how could he in the face of what was now so obvious?
He read and then re-read Sarah Anne’s quickly scribbled note and smiled to himself. What a sapient little monkey Kit was. She had been so very on the mark. He was certainly no Bartholomew baby, but he had not seen what had been staring at him. He felt a nodcock.
Kitty was just a green girl, and yet she had realized immediately just what was going on. Now, of course, it was all so clear. Why had he been so blind before?
He gulped down the remainder of his strong coffee and motioned for the waiter to bring him another.
Timing, Kitty had said, was everything.
He still had a few minutes before he was due to make his move.
* * *
Henrietta’s eyebrows went up. “Kitty, you are early—you are never early!” Her eyes narrowed. “What is it? I can see that something is towards.”
“Yes, I am early, and you can see, can you? Well, that is a good thing, because, from what I have heard, I was worried that might be something wrong with your eyesight,” Kitty said, one brow arched.
She moved over and picked up her friend’s bonnet and cloak. “Put these on, and let’s go out, shall we. The day is too beautiful to waste indoors.”
“Why are we in such a rush?” Ree studied Kitty closely.
“Before your mother awakes and makes us take your maid,” Kitty answered honestly.
“But, Kitty, we should take my maid. After all, we should not walk about London unattended, should we?”
“I do it all the time and am all the rage, so no harm shall befall us.” Kitty waved off the censure immediately. “Come, it is too early, and no one will even be about while we enjoy the morning air.”
“Very well,” Ree said, still appearing unsure as she donned her chip bonnet and her cloak.
“Ah, that shade of blue suits you,” Kitty said as she pushed her down the hall to the stairs. “Come on, I want to get away before we are discovered.”
Ree stifled a giggle and said, “Oh Kitty, I have so missed you.”
Kitty smiled to herself. Now, if only everything in her plan went smoothly, and everyone did just what they ought!
* * *
Clay consulted his timepiece, a pocket watch he had saved from the debt collector. It had belonged to his grandfather, whom he had been very fond of.
He was well pleased with the outcome of his recent machinations. He was about to secure a very rich bride. He had seen early on that Henrietta preferred Harry and that, in fact, she had a tendre for Harry. He needed to win her away, but after a short space of time he discovered that was not going to be easily done.
He was a clear-headed thinker. He knew what needed to be done, and thus he set another idea into action. But something worried him now, now when everything was moving so smoothly and he couldn’t afford any mistakes.
Women were jittery creatures, and this one even more so than most. There was never any telling what might set her off, and Sarah Anne was his one loose wheel. Best to attend to the summons he had received earlier.
At least the hour was early enough and no one would be around to observe them together to get any notions.
* * *
Harry took up an inconspicuous place behind a large evergreen along the walkway of the Serpentine. Not far in the distance, he had pinned a yellow ribbon on another evergreen.
He could see Sarah Anne, with her maid at a conspicuous distance behind her.
Ah, she’d spotted the ribbon. Good.
She turned to her maid, and Harry imagined her asking the maid to wait for her there, before she approached the marked tree.
Right on time, he saw Clay wave and hurry toward Sarah Anne, and he could just barely hear Clay say, “Sarah Anne, why, how lovely you look.”
Even in the midst of all of this, Harry had to smile to himself. Clay was ever the charmer. Insincere, but charming.
Thus, the stage was set and ready.
Harry hurried out of sight and waited.
* * *
Ree complained as Kitty dragged her down the walking path, “Why are we in such a rush if we are supposed to be enjoying the morning air?”
“Come on,” Kitty said, taking her hand and cutting across the damp lawn.
“Kitty, what are you up to?” Ree laughed.
“You trust me. I know that you do, so I shan’t ask you to. Now be very still, my darling Ree, because you do trust me, but some things need to be seen for oneself. Some things need to be heard for oneself.” She positioned her friend behind an evergreen ornamental hedge and on a hard whisper told her, “Keep out of sight, but watch and listen.”
“But … that is Clay. Are we spying on Clay?” Ree was clearly astonished. “And … he is with Sarah Anne?”
“Precisely. Clay and Sarah Anne, hatching up schemes, but listen for yourself.”
And they heard Sarah Anne inquire in something of a screech, “What of Henrietta? Has she agreed to marry you? When shall you post the banns? Soon, I hope. Then Harry will turn to me in a fit of the dismals, and I shall console him.”
Kitty saw dawning take over Henrietta’s face and nodded, but she put a finger to her friend’s lips as they continued to spy.
“I haven’t even proposed yet. I didn’t feel she was ready to say yes. I do mean to soon,” Clay answered. “Tell me, is that why you summoned me here?”
“Summoned you? I didn’t,” Sarah Anne said.
Ree’s brows went up, and she whispered, “I fancy you had a hand in that.”
“You fancy correctly, now shhh,” Kitty whispered back.
Clay’s voice filled with anger. “I had a note from you, Sarah Anne.”
“I didn’t write it,” she answered sharply.
Kitty peeked, saw Sarah Anne tug at his sleeve, and dropped back down.
“What is this all about? You wrote that I should meet you here, by the yellow ribbon, and here it is—a yellow ribbon!”
“Go home, Sarah Anne. Quickly,” Clay commanded.
“But why? Why did you drag me out here …?”
“I didn’t. Now take your maid and get home,” he shouted.
She made an indignant sound and turned. After a moment passed, Kitty got to her feet and took Ree’s hand to help her up. “Well then, did you hear them, my dearest?”
Henrietta looked as though she was struggling with herself. “I did, and I am appalled. They hatched a scheme to make me t
hink … Kitty, what horrid people! Why? Why?” Her eyes narrowed, and she accused, “It was you. You got them both here.”
“I did. I figured out that they were in collusion and wrote each of them to meet by the yellow ribbon along the Serpentine. I knew what Clay had done. I knew there was too much coincidence for it to be real … Sarah Anne kissing Harry and being there whenever you and Clay happened by. They had to be working together. Clay is in heavy debt. He needs to make a marriage of convenience, and he thinks you are his last hope. He isn’t, for there are an astounding number of young women who wish to have a title and trade on their financial situation to get that title. The dowager told me of one just yesterday and—”
Both Kitty and Henrietta were so absorbed that they did not hear or see Clay coming upon them until it was too late.
“How very clever you have been, Kitty!” Clay snapped. “I thought you and I were … close. Did you feel scorned when I switched from courting you to courting your best friend? Is that it?” He looked at Henrietta, apparently attempting to salvage the situation. “Dearest, you see, things are rarely what they seem—”
“Of course, they are not, Clay,” Ree snapped. “As you so perfectly demonstrated.”
Clay apparently had a temper, for he took a menacing step towards Kitty. She had never seen him truly angry, and he was now—in a fury, in fact. His hands curled into fists, and she saw the threat in his eyes. “She-devil!” he spat at her. “Do you know what you have done? And for what?”
“I do, and for truth, Clay. But don’t fret. We both know you will come about. How could you not? There are other heiresses willing to sell themselves, but Ree … she is no more for you than I was. If you had done your research a bit better, you would have discovered that my inheritance was quite a bit more than you knew—not that it would have done you any good, as neither I nor Ree wanted or encouraged you. You never saw that, and you never saw that all you were doing was causing a temporary rift between Harry and Ree. She never would have accepted your suit!”
He grabbed Kitty’s shoulders and shook her hard. He raised his hand, and a voice shouted out from behind, “Unhand her, cur!” And Harry rushed forward.
* * *
The earl had arrived home only to find that his beloved was not available. Nanny advised him that she had gone off to visit with her friend Henrietta.
This early? He knew Kitty. Something was towards. He went back out, and a quick, brisk walk brought him to Henrietta’s, where he was told the young ladies had gone to the park for a stroll.
He arrived in time to witness Harry shoving Clay to the ground and turning as though to touch Kitty’s shoulder. Henrietta was worrying over Kitty, with a hand to Kitty’s cheek.
The earl didn’t know exactly what had happened, but he was fairly certain that Clay had said something wicked to his darling Kitty, for she was avoiding meeting his eye.
The earl was usually in control, but he rounded on Clay, who had just gotten off the ground and had begun shouting obscenities at Harry and wagging a warning finger.
He had the man by the throat before he knew what he was doing, and he seethed with determination. “I could kill you now. Strangle the life out of you, and no one would bother to mourn.”
Clay’s eyes bulged.
“That is not, however, what I am going to do. As you can see, the park is beginning to come to life. I don’t wish to create a scene with my fiancée and her friend here. However, they won’t always be looking on. I could choose the time and place and put you in the earth. Are we clear on that?” He shook the neck he had in his hands.
Clay attempted to nod.
“What I am going to do is this. I am going to let you go. You are going to set your sights on someone more deserving of you, and we shall forget this incident ever happened. You will never speak of it, or you will find one day retribution is bloody hell, for you will face me and I will have no compunction about beating you into a bloody mess, which is what I should like to do now.” The earl saw the surrender in Clay’s eyes and eased his hold, but apparently felt the man still needed punishing and gave him a hard, swift punch to his gut.
Clay doubled over.
“Now get the bloody hell out of my sight!”
Clay coughed but started off, and the earl turned to take Kitty into his arms.
~ Epilogue ~
“HAPPILY EVER AFTERS are in fairy tales,” Kitty told his lordship as they sat in a café in Paris and watched the fashionables pass by.
“Someone must have experienced something to its like for them to have written about it,” the earl offered and took her fingers to his lips.
“I wonder if Clay ever managed to find his marriage of convenience?” Kitty said.
“Ah, yes, I meant to tell you, but then it was our wedding day and I was distracted. I had a letter from a friend in Kent that told me Bickwerth had met the Kent heiress while she was in London, and there was a posting of the banns.”
“Oh, Minnie had mentioned her to me. I am so glad. It was something, at least, that they both wanted.”
“You are glad? He is despicable. Kitty, he slapped you. Had I known that, I would have killed him when I had my hands around his neck.”
“Then I am very glad you did not know it. You can’t go about killing people.”
“I can if they hurt my dear heart.”
“Our wedding was so beautiful, wasn’t it, love?” Kitty abruptly changed the subject. She had been walking about in a dream from the moment Harry had walked her down the aisle. She couldn’t feel any animosity towards anyone while she was so completely happy.
“It was, but nothing compares to you,” the earl said. “I will spend all my days making certain you are happy.”
“Hmm, then I think we should return to our room,” Kitty teased.
He laughed. “Do you no longer wish to visit Versailles?”
“Yes, oh yes, I do.” Again a tease came into her eyes. “If you promise to make love to me in its famous gardens,” she said saucily.
He laughed outright. “I promise to try … if no one is about.”
“I like this … traveling with you, having you near me all the time, but we must return for Henrietta and Harry’s wedding next month.”
“And so we shall.” He sat back and stared at her. “You grow more beautiful every day. I don’t know what there was to smile about before you came into my life.”
“I love you, Brandon. Now kiss me,” Kitty demanded.
He laughed. “What, here … for all the world to see?”
“Yes, here. The French love romance, so they won’t mind.”
He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, but Kitty was having none of that. She leaned in closer, put her hands around his neck, and showed him just what she meant when she said ‘kiss me’.
And the French, passing by, applauded!
~ * ~
In the mood for a Regency romance
with a hint of paranormal? Have a taste of
Netherby Halls
~ Prologue ~
Sutton Village, England
1815
SASSY WALKED THE short distance from the livery, where’d she left her cob horse and curricle, and made her way to the curio shop that also served as their village book shop. It was a busy time of the morning, nearly lunch, and the wide avenue was bustling with people, horse-drawn wagons, and quite an impressive number of carriages of all sizes, ages, and styles for their quaint village.
The dust they kicked up didn’t do her well-worn blue cloak any good. With a grimace, she brushed and shook off some of the offending dirt as she made her way to the lead-paned window of Mrs. Plummet’s Curio Shop and stepped beneath the awning.
A little bell announced her arrival, and the tall, buxom woman Sassy had known forever looked up from the counter where she was arranging a stack of the new and latest novel that had only just come in. The woman smiled and welcomed Sassy. “Hallo, m’dear, and how is the vicar today?”
Push
ing a stray hair away from her ear, Sassy adjusted her chip hat and sighed as she gave Mrs. Plummet a warm smile. “Papa is cranky today, I am afraid. He shooed me off and told me to come into town and purchase a book to keep me busy. He says I am always fussing about him, and he won’t have it.”
Mrs. Plummet laughed and said, “Good then, Sassy love. If he is feeling feisty, perhaps we will have a small miracle and he will take a turn for the better.”
Sassy almost released her pent-up emotions but fought back the urge to dive into Mrs. Plummet’s arms and cry. She held herself in check and unconsciously rubbed the ring on her right hand beneath her glove.
She couldn’t very well tell Mrs. Plummet about the guilt she carried because, once again, she felt useless. She hadn’t been able to save her mother two years ago when she had suddenly fallen ill and died within a week. What good was the power if she couldn’t rid the ones she loved of disease?
Now, her father was not getting any better, and not all the tisanes in the world were helping. Not even those her mother had taught her to concoct had worked to do more than ease his discomfort.
She picked up the latest novel by an author whose name she did not recognize and looked it over. “What do you think?”
“I started reading it last evening. It was very … absorbing.”
“Right then, I’ll give it a try.” Sassy fished in her knit purse for a coin. She shouldn’t be wasting her father’s money on a book, but he had insisted and she didn’t want him to worry about her. It was all he talked about these last few days—her future.
She knew she was going to lose him, and her heart was being ripped to shreds at the thought. How could she do without him and his guidance, especially now?
When her mother had passed, Sassy had been left to carry the burden of what she was alone, except for her father. He had kept her secret, even as he had her mother’s. Now that she had reached her majority, she was experiencing the ‘transition’; without her mother to advise her, only her father could help her.