“What if he carries out his threat and goes to Ives?” she asked. “I might never be able to come home again!”
“Should have thought of that before you shot Newkirk,” Nick said. “You’ve had some harebrained plans in your life, but that one takes the cake.”
“He needed to know with whom he was dealing,” she said. “He will not dare to insult me again.”
“No, since now he can throw you in jail instead. You really need to learn to think before you act, Kat. You’re not a child any longer. You are going to have to start thinking like an adult.”
“Hmmph.” Kat crossed her arms over her chest and deliberately looked off into the night.
She felt like she was being sucked into a nightmare from which there was no awakening. This morning, she and Nick had been riding and laughing together without a care; now her family was threatened with dispersement, she was fleeing from the law, and there was no end to their troubles in sight.
All because some stupid man had decided that he knew what was best for her and her family. How typical of a male, to walk in with such an attitude of arrogance, to think that he knew what was best for everyone. She hoped his wound festered and rotted.
Then she winced. She probably would be in a great deal of trouble if the baron died. She changed her wish to incorporate a full recovery, but not after a great deal of lingering, excruciating pain.
“How much farther do you think we have to go?” Kat demanded of Nick as the gig bounced down the country lane. She was hot, tired, dusty, and thoroughly tired of riding in a carriage, even if it was an open gig. They had driven straight through the first night, then stopped for
breakfast and a nap before journeying on. Last night they’d slept at an inn, but that had done little to refresh her. Now, as the second afternoon wore on, Kat wondered if they were ever going to reach their destination.
“It shouldn’t be too much longer,” Nick said. “The innkeeper said it wasn’t above fifteen miles.”
“Are you certain this friend of yours will welcome us? He can’t be that good of a friend if I’ve never heard of him.”
“I don’t tell you everything,” Nick said. “You should be able to stay a few days, at least.”
“What if he isn’t there? I wish you’d let me stay with the Phillipses.”
“Too close to home,” Nick said. “We can’t make it too easy for you to be found.”
“I’d have been better off hiding in the attic,” Kat said. “No one would ever find me amid that jumble.”
Nick gave a short laugh.
The afternoon shadows were lengthening when he reined in the team in front of two brick gateposts.
“I think this is the place,” he said.
“Then drive on,” Kat said. “I am resigned to my exile
here.”
“It shouldn’t be as bad as all that,” he said. “Once Newkirk has had time to think matters over, I’m sure he will relent and you can return home.”
“You must promise to write me every day.” Kat grabbed her brother’s elbow. “I want to know everything the boys are doing.”
“There are not enough hours in the day to put all that
to paper.”
She gently punched his arm. “You know what I mean. And make certain that Thomas and Sam include Eddie in their plans. I don’t want him moping about the house by himself.” “They will be fine.” Nick gave her a reassuring smile. “Newkirk will surely calm down within a week, don’t you think?” She searched his face for confirmation. “I could be back home in no time!”
“It’s possible,” Nick replied.
Kat swiveled back in her seat, eager and apprehensive at the same time as her place of exile drew near. The tree- lined drive seemed to go on forever. Where was the house? In answer to her question, the drive took a sharp curve
to the left, and they were presented with a splendid vista of the estate. A sturdy country house that looked to be twice the size of her family’s home sat amid a neatly landscaped yard. There did not appear to be a single blade of grass out of place. Nor any broken windows, chipped stones, or missing roof tiles. With a start, Kat realized just how shabby her own home had become.
Nick pulled the carriage up to the entry. Before he could jump down, a small, dark-haired woman came rushing down the stairs.
“Oh, you are here at last!” she cried, a broad smile on her face. “I was hoping you would arrive today.”
Kat gave her an uneasy look and followed Nick from the gig.
“You are Nicholas, certainly,” the woman said, taking Nick’s hand. Then she turned toward Kat. “And you, of course, are Kat.”
To Kat’s surprise, the woman enveloped her in a welcoming hug. “I am so excited to meet you! We are going to have such fun together.”
Kat darted Nick a bemused glance. He turned away and lifted her bag from the gig and set in on the ground.
“You are probably exhausted after such a long drive,” the woman said, linking her arm in Kat’s. “We shall have refreshments inside.”
Kat disengaged her arm. “I need to help my brother see to the horses.”
“Oh, don’t bother,” Nick said.
There was something about his tone of voice that suddenly made Kat uneasy.
“Tell me.” The woman took Kat’s arm again and leaned close, her dark eyes wide with curiosity. “Did you really shoot my brother?”
It took a moment for the import of her words to sink in, then Kat’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. She whirled to face Nick. “What have you done?”
“It couldn’t be helped,” he said with a shrug. “You brought this on yourself.”
“Nicholas Foster, of all the underhanded, sneaky, devious things you have ever done in your life, this is the—”
“Is something amiss?” asked the woman Kat now knew was Newkirk’s sister.
“Nothing is amiss,” Kat snapped, and walked toward her bag, sitting on the gravel drive by the gig. She grabbed it and made to swing it into the carriage, but Nick took it out of her hands.
“Sorry, Kat,” Nick said, an apologetic smile on his face. “But it’s for your own good.”
“You lied to me!” she yelled. “You’re in league with that . . . that monster!”
“Oh, dear,” the woman said. “Has Val been up to his usual tricks again?”
Kat glared at her. “You knew all about this!”
“Val wrote and said you would be coming to stay for a while,” she said, her expression growing troubled. “I gather he did not share that information with you?”
Kat shot a dark look at Nick. “No, he did not.”
The woman shook her head. “How like Val. He forgets he is not in the army any longer and cannot go about ordering everyone around to his liking.”
“Well, he is not going to order me around. I am leaving.” Kat started to march toward the gig, but Nick grabbed her by the arm.
“You will stay here,” he said.
“I most certainly will not!”
“You don’t have any choice in the matter,” he said.
“Sold your soul for a commission in the Guards, have you?” She felt a grim sense of pleasure at the guilty look that washed over his face.
Newkirk’s sister plucked at her sleeve. “I daresay you are unhappy with my brother—and yours—but do not let that ruin matters. I would love to have you stay. We shall have an enjoyable time together.”
While Kat frowned at her, Nick climbed back into the gig and swung the horses around.
“I’ll never forgive you for this!” Kat yelled as he drove down the drive.
Then the true state of matters hit her. Newkirk had exiled her from the house, imprisoning her here with his sister, so he could carry out his cruel plans for her brothers. Sam, Thomas, Eddie ... all would be sent away. Her family would be gone.
Kat sank onto the ground and burst into tears.
Chapter Four
Newkirk’s sister knelt beside Kat and slipp
ed an arm about her shoulder.
“You’re exhausted,” she said. “No wonder, with all you have been through. Come inside and rest.”
“I can’t!” Kat swiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I have to go back before he sends them all away.”
“Sends who away?”
“My brothers! He’s going to send Thomas and Sam to the navy and Eddie”—Kat choked back a sob—“he’s going to send Eddie to school!”
“That does sound dreadful.” Newkirk’s sister gave her a sympathetic smile.
“That’s why I have to get home,” Kat said. “I must stop him!”
Newkirk’s sister clapped a guilty hand over her mouth. “I am forgetting my manners. I haven’t even introduced myself. I am Sophie Bellshaw, Val’s sister, as you’ve guessed. And I know you are Katherine.”
“Kat,” Kat replied automatically. She examined Newkirk’s sister more closely. She had the same dark hair and eyes as her brother, but where Newkirk’s expression had seemed to be formed into a perpetual frown, Sophie’s was bright and cheerful.
“I find I can never make important decisions on an empty stomach,” Sophie said. “Am I right when I guess that your brother didn’t bother to stop for a meal since this morning?”
Kat nodded.
“Then come inside and let me feed you. It is the least I can do after Val has caused you such distress.”
“But if I don’t hurry, it will be too late!” Kat protested, although the mere mention of food set her stomach growling.
Sophie glanced at the failing sun. “You can’t think of leaving now! Why, it is nearly dark. Traveling at night is far too dangerous.”
Kat had paid no attention to the passing of time, and when she glanced up, she saw Sophie was right. It was nearing dusk. She scoffed at the idea of danger, but she did not relish getting lost in this strange part of the country.
And Newkirk was still recovering from his wound. He would not be able to do much until it healed. It had taken her and Nick two days of hard driving to get here; it would take at least that long to return. Newkirk wouldn’t even be out of bed before a week.
“I could wait until morning,” she said with reluctance.
Sophie clapped her hands. “Good! Now we shall have the entire evening together.”
“But I must leave at first light,” Kat insisted.
“Is that when your brother is coming back for you?” Sophie asked.
The question hit Kat with the force of a blow. Nick had the gig and was already on his way home. How was she going to travel?
“No,” Kat admitted. “He is going home.”
“Then there is no hurry for you to leave, if he will be there to see to matters! You can stay here for a few days, at least.”
Kat nibbled on her lower lip. After what Nick had done to her, could she trust him to keep the boys safe? He could be working hand in glove with Newkirk regarding their fate, as well.
“I cannot, really,” Kat said. “I must get home as soon as possible.”
“But how do you propose to travel?” Sophie asked.
Kat stared at her. “Don’t you have a carriage I can use? I can drive nearly anything.”
Sophie shook her head. “There’s only the estate wagon, and one could walk faster than it moves.”
“How about a horse, then?”
“Val keeps all his horses in London. There are the farm horses—and my mare—but she could never travel that far. She is a delicate thing.”
“Then I’ll just- have to hire one at the nearest town.”
“Did you bring any money with you?”
Kat flushed. She had not given the matter any thought— never anticipating that Nick would first trick her, then drive away without leaving any means to provide for her needs.
“I fear that Nick was carrying our purse. Could I prevail on you . . . ?”
“Val handles all the household accounts, and I only have my pin money, I’m afraid. Will that be enough to hire a coach?”
“It should be enough for a horse, at least,” Kat said.
“We still have to get you to the village, and find you a mount. That will take some arrangements.” Sophie leaned over and took Kat’s hand. “Why don’t you do this instead? Write to your brother, reassure yourself that your other brothers are safe, and have him send you the money for your return journey. Or he can even come after you himself. That is far better than you trying to travel alone. Val would be horrified if I permitted you to do such a thing.”
Kat gave her any angry glare. “I am supremely indifferent to your brother’s opinion.”
“Of course,” Sophie said hastily. “Think of me instead— I would be worried to death if I knew you were traveling by yourself, and would not be able to eat or sleep until I knew you were safe.” She clutched Kat’s hand. “Surely, you can wait long enough to have a proper escort? Your brother could be back here within a few days. Is that too long a time to spend in my company?”
Sophie gave her such a pleading look that Kat’s resolve wavered.
She did not share Sophie’s concerns about traveling. Kat knew she would easily pass for a boy; it would not be that difficult to find a mount and lodging for the one night she had to spend on the road.
But money was the issue. She needed to hire a horse, and unless she intended to travel at a crawl, she had to change mounts periodically. Add to that the cost of food and lodging, even for one night, and she could see that the undertaking was more complicated than she’d first thought.
A letter would reach home before she did. And perhaps by now Nick was having second thoughts about his role in all this. If she wrote persuasively, he might be willing to return for her. And if not, at least he could reassure her that the boys were still safe. She could then apply to their solicitor for funds and—
Her musings came up short when she realized that as their guardian, Newkirk now held the purse strings. She had to appeal to him for every penny that she wanted.
Sophie was right. Kat had to rely on Nick to make arrangements for her return.
“I will write to Nick,” Kat announced, “and ask him to send me funds for the journey. If you are so concerned about my traveling alone, you can accompany me. Then it will become your brother’s responsibility to get you back
here.”
“That sounds like a capital plan,” Sophie exclaimed. “I shall write to Val and tell him I am coming.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Kat said quickly. “He’s rather angry with me right now.”
“Oh, that is right.” Sophie looked at her eagerly. “You have not told me what happened. You actually shot him in a duel?”
Kat nodded.
“I have tea waiting inside,” Sophie said. “And I can arrange to have a simple meal set out in no time. We must be comfortable while you tell the tale.”
Kat sniffed again and wiped her nose on her sleeve, embarrassed by her lack of composure. Tears were a rarity for her. “You must think me a big baby.”
“Not at all. I am Val’s sister. I know what an overbearing tyrant he can be.”
Kat thought that she just might get along fine with Newkirk’s sister.
Sophie tucked her arm through Kat’s, and they walked up the stairs to the front door. “I know you do not wish to be here, but please try to enjoy yourself. I promise you that this will all work out in the end. And I am so excited to have company!”
They walked into a spacious, high-ceilinged entry hall, with carpeted floors and polished woodwork that shone with a brilliance Kat had never seen in her house. A wide stair with a carved railing led off on the right to the upper floors.
Kat found it warm and welcoming.
“Is this your house?” Kat asked.
Sophie laughed. “It is mine in the sense that I live here and run it. But the estate belongs to my brother.”
Kat stiffened. “Does he live here, too?”
Sophie shook her head. “He’s been gone so long
I don’t know that you can say he lives anywhere. Since he returned from the Continent, he’s been making his home in London.”
“Where was he?” Kat asked, curious in spite of herself.
“In the army, fighting Napoleon.”
“At least he’s done one good thing in his life,” Kat muttered under her breath. “Do you have a family?” She thought a shadow crossed over Sophie’s face.
“I five here alone,” she said.
“All by yourself?” Kat could not imagine such a thing. “How dreadful!”
“Exactly,” Sophie replied, her cheerful expression returning. “Which is why I am so thrilled that you have come to visit. Please say that you will stay for a little while, won’t you?”
“I cannot promise that,” Kat said. “I have to take care of my brothers.”
“Of course.” Sophie led her up the stairs and down a short hallway. “I hope you do not mind if I entertain you here. It’s my own private parlor. I prefer it to the drawing room; it is much more the thing for a comfortable coze.”
So saying, she walked into a room decorated entirely in hues of blue and cream. A large vase of fresh flowers stood on a side table.
Sophie spread her hands. “Isn’t it lovely? I decorated it myself.”
Kat gave an indifferent shrug, then realized she was being rude. It was not Sophie’s fault that she was related to Newkirk.
“It is lovely,” she said, although privately she felt as if she was inside of a large blue jar. The lace and ruffles that trimmed the curtains and pillows gave the entire room a cloying, girlish appearance. But the furniture looked comfortable, and it was certainly all quite new, unlike the worn- out furnishings at home.
Sophie sat on a settee covered in pale blue velvet and patted the seat beside her. “Sit down and tell me about your brothers. How old are they?”
Kat gingerly perched on the sofa’s edge. “Sam and Thomas are both twelve. And Eddie—he’s only eight. Far too young to go to school.”
The Defiant Miss Foster & A Highly Respectable Widow Page 4