“Kate may have given her brother the idea, Lord Winterton, but she has not been kept abreast of its progress by her family. I’m sure you will wish me to convey your apologies to her,” Charity added serenely.
Winterton eyed her malevolently for a moment, flicked a speck of dust from his coat, opened and shut his snuff box, put it away, and growled, “Certainly. Good day, ma’am.”
Charity was smiling calmly when Kate returned after hearing his lordship leave. “You made a great piece of work of that, Kate. I’m surprised at you. I realize he was not conciliating, but you have handled far touchier situations with more aplomb. And he was actually charming when he smiled that once. I explained the misunderstanding about Ralph’s farm and agreed to convey his apologies.”
Kate gave a reluctant chuckle. “I cannot say why he exasperates me so. It is the lingering doubts over Carl, no doubt. I suppose somewhere in me I still feel at fault, and I do not like to be with someone else who believes it, too.”
“It was all very sad, my dear, but you have nothing with which to reproach yourself. Come, tell me what one wears for a skating party.”
Chapter 6
The next day while Kate sat with the cook to discuss the menu for the dinner after the skating and Susan went through her wardrobe to choose the costume which would most suit her coloring, Charity walked in the winter garden, where she was joined by Ralph.
“You met my sister in Daventry,” he began awkwardly.
“Yes. We were great friends there. Of course, Kate was often traveling with your aunt, but they spent a good deal of time in town, too.”
“Kate doesn’t talk much about her travels.”
“Perhaps because you don’t ask her,” Charity suggested gently.
Ralph flushed slightly. “No, well, why should I? I’ve never been anywhere.”
“I should think, then, that you would be especially interested. Have you no desire to travel?”
“I guess not. Don’t know. Never been anywhere but London.”
“I was always fascinated by Kate’s tales of Paris and Edinburgh and Dublin. She’s had so many funny things happen to her. At least, when she talks of them they are amusing.”
“Like what?”
“Oh, I could not tell them as she can. You should ask her.”
“Perhaps I will.”
“I have been tempted to envy Kate her adventures,” Charity admitted thoughtfully, “but then, it’s so much more enjoyable to simply share them with her.” She gave a shiver as the chill wind blew through the garden.
“Here. You’re cold. I’ll take you in. Didn’t mean to keep you outside talking until you caught your death,” Ralph apologized.
* * * *
The day of the skating party dawned cold and sparkling clear. Kate and Charity went down to the pond early to check the depth of the ice and returned chilled to report that all was well. A bleak sun shone through the wintry clouds as the time for the party approached. A roaring fire was built not far from the pond and benches were carried from the garden for seats. The servants arrived with steaming pitchers of hot chocolate and mulled wine, a vast assortment of tempting pastries, and an array of cold meats.
The three young ladies from the Hall arrived early with Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery and Ralph. Kate wore a fur-trimmed, deep blue mantelet and carried a matching fur muff of moderate size. Susan, on the other hand, had an enormous muff, a green cloak with a triple collar and wide cuffs with lace ruffles. Her blond ringlets escaped from a poke bonnet with three ostrich plumes. Charity’s scarlet redingote was trimmed with gold frogging, and she had borrowed a beaverskin muff from Kate. The chill in the air had lifted somewhat, but their faces were pink with the cold and excitement.
As their guests arrived, the grooms led their horses off to the warm stables and skates were donned immediately by the young people. Geoffrey Tolbert arrived with Terence Marsh and his brother and two sisters. Benjamin Karst and his sister Selina arrived next, closely followed by Lord Norris. This completed the party—a group of young men and women who had known each other since their earliest days, except for Selina and Benjamin Karst.
Kate had not seen Terence Marsh or Geoffrey Tolbert since their proposals to her, but she found them slightly embarrassed in her presence and made a point of putting them at their ease. They were grateful to her, and each took an opportunity to mumble a veiled apology.
Ralph was inclined to hover about Charity, but Kate made sure that her friend was introduced to everyone. Charles was determined to prove his newly acquired dignity to Susan, a feat which he accomplished by allowing her to circulate amongst the party yet being on hand to take her for refreshment when she required it. The laughter and chatter echoed about the pond, mingling with the crackle of the fire and the windsong soft in the wood. Kate surveyed the scene with pleasure. Benjamin Karst skated along with her and talked of his and Ralph’s plans for breeding horses.
“Your father has spoken with mine, and they are agreeable to lending the necessary blunt if we will run the farm profitably as we get into the breeding. I think Drew will accept our offer, though Lord Winterton is interested in the property, too. Drew knows your father well and is inclined to frown on Winterton. That should help us! I hope we can depend on you for advice, Kate. Not on the horses, you understand,” he hastened to add, “but on the farming. You seem to know a lot about it.”
“I’ll help all I can, Benjamin. I see no reason why the two of you should not make a go of it,” Kate replied.
When Ralph saw an opportunity to detach Charity from the young people about her, he did so, which made her look about nervously for Kate, only to find her occupied in her discussion with Benjamin.
“We don’t have a skating party very often,” Ralph offered by way of conversation. “Such a cold winter should be used to advantage, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I find it a lovely idea, and your sisters arranged it so skillfully.”
“Oh, that’s Kate. Susan simply does what she’s told; Kate is the organizer. I imagine since your father is a vicar, you assist him with his parishioners, and I dare say they’re grateful to have such an angel come to their aid.” Ralph, who was not accustomed to dispensing compliments, delivered this one rather awkwardly.
Charity’s normally placid countenance became slightly agitated. “I try to do what is necessary, Mr. Montgomery, for I adore my father and am always interested in his work. My mother and sisters and I are treated kindly by our neighbors.”
When Charity stumbled on a patch of rough ice, Ralph quickly caught her hands to steady her, but instead of releasing them, he stared bemused into her face until she flushed and gasped, “Mr. Montgomery, I am quite all right now.” She drew her hands from his in dismay when he did not seem to comprehend.
“Beg your pardon!” he gulped, realizing that he had upset her. “Here, shall I take you over to the fire?”
“No, thank you. I would like to speak with Kate a moment.”
“Oh. I had hoped to have a chance to talk with you.” His disappointment was so obvious that Charity could not bear to leave him standing there, but her invitation to him to escort her to Kate was issued diffidently. He was silent for a while as they skated across the pond. “Have I done something to offend you, Miss Martin-Smith? I would not for the world, you know. Why, I’ve never met a more beautiful, gentle creature than yourself, and I have nothing but admiration for you.”
Charity stopped a pace away from Kate to face him. “I know you mean well, Mr. Montgomery, but I assure you I am not worthy of such notice. Miss Marsh, I believe, is skating too near the edge and you might warn her of the danger.” She steeled herself to the hurt in his eyes, and with a sigh watched him move off to do her bidding.
Dinner was a noisy and cheerful occasion, followed by conversation, speculation and lottery tickets, and music. When the young people had finally departed for their homes, the Montgomerys and Charity sat enjoying tea and relaxing.
As Mr. Montgomery engaged Ralp
h’s attention, and Mrs. Montgomery and Susan were discussing the possibility that Lord Norris would be in London during the season, Kate took the opportunity to discuss with Charity a scheme which had been developing in her mind during the evening.
“I’ve been taking a break during your visit, Charity, from my plan to employ these young men usefully. I see some little success with Charles, and a bit with Ralph and Benjamin, but I am determined to turn my mind to the last two now. It occurs to me that politics might hold some interest for the Honourable Geoffrey Tolbert and Mr. Terence Marsh. What do you think?”
“Really, Kate, how should I know? Have either of them shown a preference in that direction?”
“That is why the idea occurred to me. They spent a great deal of time this evening talking about the Treaty of Paris and the Battle of New Orleans. I assure you each was quite convinced that he could have handled things better. And then they discussed the Corn Laws, too, and something about Bentham building an ideal prison, of all things. Perhaps they are no more interested than any other gentlemen in such things, but . . . I just cannot help feeling they have a bent for such an occupation,” Kate said fervently, her eyes twinkling.
“You’ll get yourself in trouble one day, Kate,” her friend laughed. “How shall you go about it?”
“Their fathers are large landowners with no doubt more than one seat in their power. I cannot imagine how we shall get them interested, but no doubt something will occur to us.”
“Us? You would involve me in your machinations, Kate? No, no. It is your affair, and I shall leave it to you. Besides, I shall only be here a few days more.”
“Now that is another matter I had in mind to speak of with you. Is there any reason you must hurry back to Bath? Your sister is with your mother, and she cannot possibly need both of you. Will you not stay on with us for a while? I cannot tell you how much pleasure it gives me to have you here.”
Ralph had been approaching them at this point and added his urging to that of his sister. Much to Kate’s surprise, this appeared to make Charity more hesitant about accepting the invitation. But when the rest of the family added their hopes of a prolonged stay, she agreed to write her mother next day.
As Kate and Charity mounted the wide oak stairs, their candles slightly dispersing the dark, Kate could not help but ask, “Ralph has not been bothering you with his attentions, has he, Charity? I shall warn him off if you wish.”
“No, no. He has been very kind to me, as you all have.”
“You seemed to hesitate when he urged you to stay. He’s not much in the petticoat line, you know, and may be a bit awkward in his courting,” Kate said with a smile.
“I do not want him to court me,” Charity responded abruptly. “I feel sure his fancy will wane. He does not know me, after all.”
“I cannot imagine but that the better he knows you, the more ardent he will become,” Kate remarked seriously, trying to observe her friend’s face in the candlelight. “Is it that you do not care for him, Charity? You may be plain with me.”
“He has been everything that is kind to me, as has your entire family, but . . . Kate, I pray you will not meddle in this,” Charity begged urgently.
“I promise I shall not. It is your own affair; forgive me for questioning you,” Kate said contritely.
“I know it is only your concern for me which prompted you, Kate, and you must not think I’m scolding you. You’re a very dear friend, and I know you will allow me to handle my own life.” Charity smiled. “Besides, you have quite enough to do just now without adding me to your list!
“You mock me, Charity. Sleep well, my dear.”
* * * *
A few days later a wintry sun invited some outdoor sport, and Kate offered to mount Charity on her favorite mare. While Kate and Susan were discussing a matter of local importance, Ralph rode ahead with Charity. He was eager to speak with her about the farm, his enthusiasm abbreviating his already terse style.
“Found the perfect horses to start with,” he confided. “Winterton put us on to them. Had to go to Trowbridge, but it was worth it. Right price, too. Anyway, I might have had to go to Tattersall’s, you know.”
Charity smiled at his eagerness. “Lord Winterton is not resentful any longer, then? I thought he wished to purchase the farm himself.”
“He did. But Benjamin ran into him one day, and Winterton just happened to mention the horses in Trowbridge. Didn’t need them himself, you understand. Didn’t cut him out or anything,” he explained urgently.
‘‘No, I’m sure you would not do such a thing,” Charity replied.
“M’ father wants us to farm the place for a profit, and Kate says she’ll help with that. Good gun, Kate.”
“Yes, and she seems to know a great deal about farming. Perhaps she can help you plan your course of study on the subject.”
“My . . . oh, yes, to be sure,” said the bewildered Ralph.
“Now that you are to own a property, no doubt you’re anxious to learn how to go about making the best of it. It’s quite an ambitious project, Mr. Montgomery, what with the farming and the breeding both unexplored territory. I admire your ambition.”
Ralph could not be sure whether she was teasing him or whether she had merely picked up some of Kate’s habits. He glanced at her glowing face, whipped to a high color by the wind, and was entranced by the trusting, doe-like eyes. Damn it, he thought ruefully, I would study archeology to justify her faith in me.
Kate was surprised when her brother approached her on the matter of reading material about farming and breeding, but she supplied an overwhelming number of books and journals to him with alacrity. At his look of dismay she marked the most important texts and articles for a start. She was therefore not quite as shocked to learn that he had been talking with her father’s tenants, but she did not discuss the matter with Charity, though she would have liked to know if this was the source of Ralph’s sudden serious study of the subject.
She and her friend were riding back from the village one day when they came upon Ralph mounted on his horse, a small child seated behind him and clinging to his waist. Ralph was singing.
“My word!” Kate exclaimed involuntarily.
Ralph halted his song abruptly and explained sheepishly, “Found the little tyke in the wood. Gotten lost and hurt himself. One of the Jones brood, ain’t he? I was taking him home.”
“Yes,” Kate agreed as she took in the tear-stained face. “You’re Jeremy, aren’t you? Feel better now?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am. Mr. Montgomery knows the funniest songs,” the lad announced cheerfully.
“Does he? We shall have to have him sing them for us, won’t we, Charity?” Kate asked with a wicked grin at her brother.
“Yes, indeed,” Charity agreed as she bestowed a warm smile on Ralph, who flushed to the roots of his hair and said he must be off.
“He’s fond of children and animals and has a remarkable knack with them.” Kate remarked when the riders were beyond hearing. “I don’t doubt that he’ll do very well with his horses.” She reined her horse toward the Hall and did not see the sad look in her friend’s eyes as Charity watched Ralph’s departing figure.
* * * *
Ralph was pleased, if a trifle embarrassed, to be asked that evening by Charity to sing some of his songs for them. There was no difficulty for Kate in providing some background on the pianoforte for his rich baritone, though she was not always familiar with the tunes. He had to stop a moment before each, considering whether the words were appropriate to the present company, before he delighted them with various amusing pieces.
While he sang he was aware of Charity’s eyes on him and he could have sworn that there was a special tenderness in them, but she would quickly bend down to set a stitch if he tried to meet her gaze. As his own reward for entertaining the family circle, he seated himself near her when Susan started to leaf through the music for a song she knew well enough to play.
“I must thank you for obliging me, Mr
. Montgomery,” Charity said softly. “You have a lovely voice and a charming repertoire.”
“I always stop to listen when the village children are singing, though I didn’t pick them all up that way,” he confessed with a flush. “It is fascinating how the songs of the countryside are passed down from generation to generation. Children seem to absorb their heritage along with their daily bread. There must be great rewards in having a family, guiding young minds to knowledge and a sense of well-being, don’t you think?”
Charity in her agitation pricked herself with a needle and sat gazing in alarm at the spot of blood Ralph dabbed from her finger. “Well, I . . . no . . . It seems to me that children are a very great responsibility. Not everyone is . . . prepared to undertake such a challenge. I myself cannot view it at all easily,” she said with a valiant attempt at lightness. “Think of all the parents who despair of their offspring! I wonder whether it is worth the effort.”
Ralph regarded her incredulously, and Charity did not give him an opportunity to respond, as she pointed out to him that Susan was ready to perform. Although it was difficult to ignore his obvious desire to continue their conversation, to understand her sentiments, she managed to devote her entire attention to Susan’s uninspired playing and fell into discussion with the younger girl when she had concluded her recital. To Ralph she accorded only a smile before she retired to bed for the evening.
Several days later there were letters for most of the family. Charity received a missive from her mother, who was happy to have her daughter spend additional time at Montgomery Hall. She asked only that Charity return to Bath for the week before her own departure for Daventry.
Mrs. Montgomery received a pretty gilded sheet from her old and dear friend, Lady Stockton, who had found the perfect house for them to let during their London stay. Lady Stockton had originally insisted that Mrs. Montgomery and Susan stay with her, for she had visited them often, but Mr. Montgomery had been firm about their having a house of their own. He meant to accompany them to town and see them established before returning to the Hall.
The Seventh Suitor Page 5