by Alice Kirks
Robert smiled sadly and nodded his head. ‘I am grateful for your condolences, Lord Sutton. Yes, it has been a most difficult time.’
‘You are the next in line then?’
‘A title I neither desired nor want.’ Robert snapped.
‘I apologise,’ Lord Sutton bowed apologetically, ‘I did not mean to offend.’
Robert felt regret at his harsh reply and immediately sought to console the young Lord. ‘Please, it is me that should be apologising. If my reply was in haste, it is only that I have a lot on my mind. I would also beg your discretion on the matter.’
‘So, Captain Barkley,’ the booming voice of Lord Ennis travelled down the large dining table and interrupted the quiet conversation with which they had been engaged. ‘Will you be joining us for cards after dinner?’
‘Certainly, Lord Ennis.’
‘Jolly good.’
The older gentleman still looked at him suspiciously, and Robert could understand why. If the proverbial boot had been on the other foot, if it had been Alison in this situation, he too, would look at any intruder in his home dubiously.
***
The ladies retired, leaving the gentlemen to their cards, port and cigars. Two tables had been arranged and Robert found himself playing at the table accompanied by Lord Sutton and Lord Ennis. He knew better than to assume it had not been arranged as such.
‘This whole saga puts me in quite the position now does it not Lord Sutton?’ Lord Ennis regarded his cards as he spoke.
‘Er…yes Lord Ennis. I am afraid it does.’
‘Do we have any idea how long Katie is going to be in this state?’
Neither of the younger men replied to the older man’s enquiry and Lord Ennis raised his eyebrows at Robert, obviously assuming out of the two, he may have a possible answer.
‘I could not tell you Lord Ennis. I am afraid my sparse medical knowledge is limited to physical wounds.’
‘Ah yes, of course. I cannot imagine that damn mess over there was very pleasant.’
‘No Sir, it was not.’
‘This Napoleon is a cocky chap do you not think?’
Robert could not help but smile at the whimsical term for their most determined enemy.
‘A bit on the short side too, so I hear. You would wonder how, with the Irish helping out, we had not defeated him yet.’
‘If only it were so simple.’ Robert replied carefully.
‘Indeed. Where are you to be sent next I wonder? Timbuctoo!’ The older man snorted derisively. ‘Well, I suppose we should be grateful that you are home, that the war is over in America at least and we showed those Yanks a thing or two, eh?’
Robert noted Lord Suttons glance but did not bother repeating his earlier thoughts. He had a good idea that in this case, it would not fall on such open-minded ears.
‘Yes Sir. I am truly grateful. As are the men that made it back.’
‘Yes,’ he drawled, ‘damn shame we have lost so many.’
Robert held his tongue respectively, as he always did when men who had never seen battle offered their insincere sympathies to make themselves look better. Lord Ennis and Lord Sutton could not be farther apart in both demeanour and personality than the two opposite ends of the earth.
Lord Ennis lay down a winning hand and looked directly at Lord Sutton. ‘It is fortunate I had not already announced the engagement William.’ He said, completely changing the subject.
Robert looked a little confused at the sudden change in tack and raised a brow.
‘Engagement?’
‘Indeed.’ The older man continued, ‘I was to announce the engagement of Lord Sutton,’ he gestured to the uneasy looking Lord, ‘and my dear Katie, but I can hardly do that if she is convinced she is to marry you now, can I?’
‘Oh, I see. You are courting Lady Katherine?’ Robert raised an eyebrow at Lord Sutton.
‘Not exactly.’ The lord replied.
Robert, having been around enough men for any length of time to realise this was not something he looked particularly excited about, seemed confused. Why on earth would he not want to marry her? She was a beautiful woman with a wealthy family, he would be set for life.
‘No, no,’ Lord Ennis interjected. ‘It was all arranged. Lord Sutton needs a wife and Katie needs a husband. Simple really.’ He stated brusquely.
Suddenly, the situation became very clear. This was Lord Ennis’ desire, and by the look of Lord Sutton, he no more wanted to marry Lady Katherine than put his head to the guillotine. Understandable if he did not love the woman, nor she him. It appeared, however, that Lord Ennis was a person who got his own way, but Robert had already deduced the character of the man.
‘A very precarious situation we find ourselves in then. Well I suppose,’ Robert chuckled, ‘I could always marry Lady Katherine Ennis instead.’
At this suggestion, an imperceptible look of interest and dare he say it, relief seemed to pass across Lord Suttons face. The poor man was desperate to be released.
‘Absolutely not!’ Lord Ennis frowned over his freshly dealt hand of cards. ‘William will marry my Katie, no matter how long this whole debacle takes.’
Robert looked at Lord Sutton whose face fell once again, and though the men had known each other only a little time, the look of desperation almost begged Robert to alleviate him from this responsibility.
As the evening rolled on, Robert was distracted both from the conversation and the game, recalling Lady Katherine as she lay in his arms on the field that same afternoon. Her slender frame, the piercing blue of her eyes, her body crushed against his as he carried her to safety, the soft scent of orange water that he still seemed to be able to smell, even now.
Unlike many women he had met, she seemed an intelligent creature, proficient not only in riding, but able to hold herself dignified in even the most trying circumstances. He could not imagine the terror she had felt when realising she could not recall who she was. And yet, she had not dissolved into hysterics.
It surprised him to realise that he hoped she did not recover quickly. The thought should have raised a feeling of shame, but instead, the desire to get to know her better and spend time in her company overwhelmed anything else.
Chapter 7
She had found a way. It was not fool proof, but it would bide her some time. Her father had succumbed to her act of deception at the inn and now the household crept around her, colluding with each other to stave off a breakdown which, of course, she would never have.
Katie had to give the physician some credit too. Dr Croft, as he called himself, had played Lord Ennis right into his hands. Watching as her father considered all that the doctor had relayed, his skilful manipulation was fascinating. It was doubtful that the story of the Count in Italy was true. It seemed clearly obvious to her, that he was trying to impose his services, and, using her father’s vulnerability and concern, he had succeeded.
All that nonsense of ‘expertise’ in this matter and how her father would be unlikely to find someone as experienced as he who could help his daughter, had obviously sold his skills. In the short period of him treating her, it had become evident that the ‘doctor’ knew little of what he was talking about. Anyone had only to wander into her father’s library and choose a few books to know that.
He had already attempted to administer ‘medicines’ for her amnesia, of which she was sure he would be charging her father a fortune, along with his time. Being well read on quacks, for that was surely what he was, she knew it was likely to be a mixture of opium and alcohol; she swiftly disposed of it in any way she discreetly could.
But what did it matter? For now, his presence and future arranged visits to the manor, served her purposes perfectly. She could use both his ignorance and his necessity to self-elevate to her advantage.
Though at the inn, her trickery did niggle at her conscience, she was fast getting used to ignoring it. Katie recalled many of the passages in the books she had consumed, showing how women sometimes had to play again
st the rules, if not break them entirely. It was an untruth to imagine that women could become the equal sex, for in reality, they had to be the stronger to fight for their sense of self.
Katie came down before breakfast to practise on the pianoforte in the drawing room. It was early and a time that she usually had to herself. Hobbs, their beautiful black Labrador lay by her feet, his eyes closed, head resting on his paws, as he did most mornings. Her fingers danced skilfully over the keys until a strange feeling came upon her.
Lifting her head, she glanced to her right, towards the windows and the garden and suddenly, her fingers stilled. He was leaning against the window frame of the open French doors, watching her silently, a restful expression on his face. It was the first time she had seen him since leaving the inn.
The captain shifted slightly when he realised, she had noticed him. Standing tall, he bowed his head.
‘Lady Ennis.’ He smiled.
His voice, once again took her breath away, and she struggled to reply. His soft gaze gave her goosebumps, and as his dark, tousled hair fell easily around his face, she sensed her heart beat a little harder.
‘Please,’ he gestured to the pianoforte, ‘you play so beautifully.’
‘Oh…I.’
‘My presence is disturbing you.’
‘No,’ she said quickly, ‘no, please stay.’
Captain Barkley remained where he stood and she resumed playing, feeling a rush of blood and heat to her cheeks. Something she struggled to understand, for she had played for audiences before. What was it about his presence that suddenly made her feel bashful?
For the entire time, he neither advanced nor retreated, and Katie was certain, he was in the exact position he had been when she first noticed him. How he could stay so still was beyond her? Maybe, her playing bored him and he was just being courteous.
‘Do you play?’ She asked eventually.
He did not answer directly and she looked up at him again. He seemed to regard her with interest before asking how she knew the piece she was playing.
‘Have I not played this piece for you before?’ She did not stumble and had been practising answers to tricky questions that she knew she may be subject to.
‘Er…yes,’ he hesitated. ‘Yes, you have.’
‘Ah,’ she smiled a reply. She waited for a length of time before allowing herself to look a little distressed.
‘I wish I could remember…’ She began.
He waited patiently before prompting her a little. ‘Remember…?’
‘Well, I feel a little silly, but I cannot remember how we met.’
Captain Barkley suddenly looked uncomfortable and straightened abruptly. The collusion between the family made it easy for her to turn the tables on him, for how could he answer. She doubted they had prepared answers for her questions, and by his demeanour, it was also obvious he was in fear of saying anything that may cause her even more distress.
‘I am afraid I must excuse myself Lady Ennis.’ He bowed perfunctorily, turning on his heel and walking away from the window and around the outside of the house.
Hobbs lifted his large head and looked up at her and Katie stifled a giggle.
‘This could actually be quite fun Hobbs.’
But then she stopped herself, the gravity of the situation bringing her up short. This could only go so far. It gave her time, nothing more. She could certainly not trick Captain Barkley into marrying her any more than she could stop her father forcing her to marry Lord Sutton. Neither was moral or just, although, as she thought about the soft smile as he watched her play, perhaps, he could be someone she could grow to love.
***
It had been two days since the horse had thrown her. Under Dr Crofts’ direction, she had spent most of yesterday still bedridden, ‘to fully balance her equilibrium,’ or some other nonsense.
After breakfast, Katie mentioned to her mother that, since she was courting Captain Barkley, would it not be suitable and proper for them to be accompanied by chaperones on their outings. Being a Lady after all, she did have a reputation to uphold.
‘Yes, I suppose you are right.’ her mother agreed. ‘Perhaps Melinda could join you.’
Melinda had been sat beside Katie during this discussion, busy with her needlework, but before she had a chance to state her agreement, Katie spoke again.
‘Well, of course I would love Mel to come along, but I am not sure that it would be very fair. I would imagine her tagging behind with no companion of her own would be utterly boring. Surely, it would be more pleasant if Lord Sutton came along too.’
Lady Ennis looked contemplatively at her daughter. Katie could almost read her mother’s thoughts, for whilst an intelligent woman, she had always been a one-dimensional character. The debate would be running through her mind.
Why, if Katie were courting Captain Barkley, would she want Lord Sutton there? Perhaps, she was recalling something of her previous life. Perhaps, Lord Suttons’ presence would spark her recovery much sooner and we could all go back to normality. And as if Katie had planned it for that very reason, Lady Ennis agreed. But Katie had planned it for a very different reason.
Glancing down at Melinda, she could see her younger sister desperately attempting to contain her joy. Melinda loved Lord Sutton and he loved her. If any good could come out of this, perhaps, she could bring them even closer together.
Maybe, Lord Sutton could finally muster the courage to state who he really wanted to marry, which would also release her from her father’s odious plan. But first and foremost, Katie wanted to see her sister happy. At least one of them ought to be.
Over the coming days, the foursome spent time picnicking, having to wear extra layers as the winter was fast approaching, and taking leisurely walks in the gardens. Katie at first, encouraged the men to hold the conversations, walking together ahead of Katie and Melinda, but this did not last long. If she were to push Melinda and Lord Sutton even closer together, they needed to spend their time with each other.
On a particularly warm afternoon, Katie took the initiative, linking her arm in Captain Barkley’s and walking ahead with him. She felt him stiffen at first, but it did not take him long to relax. Behind her, she could hear the soft conversation of her sister and her beloved, and attempted to widen the gap between them.
‘I am sure this will be so very tedious to you, but I must ask.’ She began, but then hesitated.
‘Please.’ He encouraged.
‘Well, I am sure I know everything about you, but I cannot recall a single thing. Would it be too tiresome for you to tell me?’
Captain Barkley smiled warmly down at her. Katie assumed that there may be resignation, or sighs of frustration and inconvenience, but instead, he took on his role of her suitor willingly.
If she was honest, this raised conflicting feelings within her. Her deception provoked guilt that she had managed to repress up to a point, but had, of late, found more difficult. A more overpowering feeling rose that gave competition to the guilt. As he spoke openly of the places he had seen, the lands he had visited and the adventures he had enjoyed, Katie could feel herself drawn in.
Drawn in to his warmth and depth. Swept away by his daring heroism and bravery and yet, his gentlemanly etiquette and regard for her well-being remained starkly obvious. This man who hardly knew her, but played a part as though he did, so as to prevent her from taking a ‘breakdown’, happily sacrificed his time and effort for the benefit of her health. Her mother had told her there were no ‘knights in shining armour.’ But Katie was beginning to think that her mother could well have been very wrong.