“I certainly agree.” Sophie shook her head. “I shall have to speak with Val myself. You all live together then? What is your house like?”
“It’s not very elegant but it’s comfortable,” Kat said. “My brothers and I like it.”
“Tell me about Nicholas—he was the one who brought you here—he is the eldest?”
Kat nodded. “He is a mere year-and-a-half older than I.” Sophie let out a sigh. “It must be nice to be so close in age to your brother. Val and I are eight years apart.”
“Is he married?” Kat asked.
Sophie shook her head.
“No wonder he is so indifferent to the boys,” Kat said. “How old is he?”
“Eight-and-twenty,” Sophie replied.
The answer surprised Kat. From his sour disposition and stem expression, she’d thought Newkirk far older. Well past thirty, at least. “You must be the same age as I,” Kat said to Sophie. “Nineteen.”
“Nearly—I’m past twenty. How wonderful. We could be twins!” Sophie laughed. “Except that we do not look anything alike.”
“You don’t greatly resemble your brother,” Kat said, considering that a great compliment.
“Alas, he did get the best looks in the family.” “Newkirk?” Kat scoffed. “I did not find him handsome.” “Then you must consider me a troll!” Sophie laughed. “Not at all,” Kat said. “You are very pleasant-looking. While he . . . he is a . . .”
“Ogre?”
“Exactly,” Kat said. “How did you ever abide living in the same house with him?”
“He was not here often.” Sophie looked sad for a moment, then smiled. “Did you enjoy growing up with all those brothers? I think it would be a dreadful madhouse.”
“Oh, it is,” Kat agreed with a grin. “But an agreeable one. There is always something going on, for good or ill. We are never bored.”
“You will probably find life rather dull here, then,” Sophie said. “I fear I live very quietly.”
Kat was already inclined to agree with her, but did not say so. After all, she did not intend to stay here long enough to grow bored.
A maidservant appeared at the door, carrying the tea tray.
“Ah, here is our tea. This will have to do until I can arrange a more substantial offering.” Sophie told the maid to have a tray of bread, meats, and cheeses prepared, then turned back to Kat.
“Oh, do help yourself,” Sophie said. “I do not stand on ceremony.”
Kat quickly filled her plate and shoved one of the tiny, frosted tea cakes into her mouth.
“These are really good!” she said.
“Our cook does have a way with pastries,” Sophie said. “Why, I would be as large as a house if I let her bake as much as I’d like.”
“These would be gone in an instant at home,” Kat said. “My brothers live for treats.”
“That would be the case, too, if Val were here. He loves his sweets.”
Kat found it difficult to imagine the baron being fond of anything—except perhaps his own importance. For a moment she wished he were here so she could stuff one of the tea cakes in his mouth and pray that he choked on it.
“What do you and your brothers do for amusement?” Sophie inquired.
“The boys generally get into trouble,” Kat said with a rueful laugh. “Nick and I ride, mostly. And visit the neighbors.”
Sophie surveyed her breeches and boots. “Astride, I imagine?”
Kat nodded. “Riding sidesaddle is a silly affectation. It’s dangerous, for one thing. And even Queen Elizabeth rode astride, so I cannot see why I may not.”
“That argument has merit,” Sophie said, taking a sip of tea. “I understand that Val does not agree with you.”
Kat grinned. “He thought I was a boy at first.”
“No!” Sophie stared at her with amazement. “I would have liked to have seen the look on his face when he discovered you weren’t.”
“Imagine a thundercloud come to life,” Kat replied.
Another servant entered the room, carrying a platter of more substantial food. Kat dug into the new offerings with great relish. Traveling always made her hungry.
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” she asked with a guilty twinge when she realized that Sophie was not joining her.
“I am fine,” Sophie said. “I did not have such an adventurous day, and I do not need to eat to regain my strength.”
“Nick always teases me about my appetite,” Kat said, “but I can’t help it. I get hungry!”
“There is nothing wrong with enjoying food,” Sophie said.
The conversation lagged as Kat busied herself with eating.
She rather liked Newkirk’s sister. Sophie was not at all like her stem-visaged brother, which drew Kat to her immediately. She seemed to recognize her brother’s imperious nature, and certainly sympathized with Kat’s tragedy. Kat had never had a female friend before, and she guessed that Sophie might make a tolerable companion. But there was not time for that now.
Kat would not be staying here long enough to make friends.
Val shifted his position on the pillow. He’d been sitting for far too long, but he was sick of standing or laying on his stomach. Damn that wretched girl. Why couldn’t she have nicked his leg instead?
He took Sophie’s newly arrived letter from the table beside him and opened the seal, hoping to read the news that her charge had arrived. Coming up with that plan had been a stroke of genius on his part. It removed the most bothersome aspect of this guardian business from his hands.
He squinted at the crabbed writing, trying to make out his sister’s words. “Heartless beast.” “Cruel monster.” Ob-
viously, the brat had arrived safely and regaled his sister with tales of his perfidy.
Val concentrated closer on his sister’s cramped scrawl.
I had a terrible time keeping her from heading home on foot, if need be, but we have arrived at a compromise of a sort. She wishes her brother to send funds to pay for her return journey, on which I will accompany her. I can delay any precipitate action on her part for a number of days, but I cannot promise I can keep her here beyond a week.
Val—are you certain that you are doing the right thing regarding the younger boys? Would it be better to allow them to stay with their sister for a few more years, and avoid all this fuss? They are not soldiers to order about the battlefield, but mere children.
He tossed the letter aside. He’d thought he could rely on Sophie’s good sense in this matter, but it looked as if the wool had been pulled over her eyes already by that scamp.
Sophie could think what she liked; he was not going to change his plans now. The twins were already packed and ready to leave for Portsmouth in the morning, with his valet dancing attendance on them for the journey. By the time he returned, Val judged he would be well enough to travel, and he’d personally escort that hellion Eddie to his school. Thank goodness he’d had the foresight to investigate matters before he’d come here, and knew that Eddie would be welcome at the place he’d chosen for him.
Then Val would continue on to London and try to set his life back into order again.
He groaned. He’d forgotten that Nick was already in London, no doubt making a shambles of the town house. All the more reason to get back to the city as soon as possible, where he could keep an eye on the lad until he could turn him over to a commanding officer.
Sophie, despite her protestations, would do her duty and transform Katherine Foster into a young lady who could be publicly seen and received, and would bring her to Lon-
don in time for the great husband search to begin. He’d start making inquiries as soon as he returned; if he was lucky, he might have a match lined up before the girl even arrived in town. That might be to his advantage; the less time she was in the city, the less time she would have to do something outrageous to spoil her chances for a decent marriage.
Val knew the girl was not happy with the arrangements he had made for her brothers
. It was obvious she was accustomed to being in charge of her siblings, and resented being relieved of her responsibilities. Yet she would benefit a great deal from his actions, for she would now have the freedom to think about her own future instead of worrying about her brothers’. When this was all over, she would thank him.
Chapter Five
“Are you certain this is how I should hold the gun?” Sophie stared doubtfully at the dueling pistol clutched in her hand. “It feels so awkward.”
“That is because you are not accustomed to shooting,” Kat replied. “Now, sight along the barrel until you see the mark on the tree and then squeeze the trigger.”
The gun went off with a loud bang and puff of smoke. Sophie jumped back in alarm and dropped the weapon.
Kat quickly picked it up and handed it back to her. “Never drop your gun,” she said. “You don’t want to clog the barrel with dirt.”
“Did I hit the tree?” Sophie asked hopefully, squinting at the target.
Kat shook her head. “Next time, keep your eyes open. You’ll never hit anything if you don’t look at your target.” “But the gun makes so much noise!”
Kat picked up one of the other loaded pistols, aimed at the mark, and sent the bullet slamming into the tree.
“You make it look so easy,” Sophie complained.
“All it takes is practice,” Kat replied. “If you work at it every day, you’ll be shooting like a regular trooper in a few weeks.”
She’d been pleased when Sophie had asked to learn how to shoot. The activity came as a welcome break from the slow pace of life at Newkirk Abbey. After five days, Kat was restless. Sophie was a pleasant enough companion, but to one accustomed to the lively antics of three young boys, life was dull in the extreme. If she didn’t hear from Nick soon, Kat vowed she would walk home if she had to.
“I do wish these pistols were smaller,” Sophie said, letting the long barreled gun droop toward the ground.
“You need a lady’s gun,” Kat said. “I doubt you will have much call for a dueling weapon.”
“I like that idea.” Sophie’s expression brightened. “Will you help me buy one?”
“Of course. Now, let me show you how to reload again. You must learn how if you intend to have your own gun.”
Sophie giggled. “Val will be so impressed when he sees my new talent.”
Kat flashed her a wide grin. “He’ll probably have my head, and you know it.”
“No, no, I shall insist that I must know how to protect myself, living alone as I do.”
“Why do you live here alone?” Kat asked. Sophie had eagerly plied Kat with questions about her family and life, but remained rather reticent about her own. “You keep telling me how wonderful London is—why don’t you live there?”
“London is full of too many sad memories,” Sophie said quietly.
“A broken heart?” Kat asked teasingly.
“I spent the happiest days of my life in London,” Sophie said. “I lived there for six months with my husband before he was—”
“You’re married?” Kat asked, stunned by her admission. Where was her husband?
“Widowed,” Sophie corrected. “He was killed at Waterloo.”
“How awful,” Kat said. “Do you miss him dreadfully?” Sophie gave her a wan smile. “I am growing accustomed to my solitude.”
“Were you married long?”
“Less than a year.” Sophie sighed then turned back to the tree. “Let’s see if my aim is better this time.”
Sensing Sophie did not wish to talk any more about her sorrow, Kat hastily reloaded a pistol and handed it to her. At least now she knew why Newkirk’s sister lived so quietly in the country. Yet, having suffered her own loss, Sophie might be much more sympathetic to Kat’s plight.
The practice session over, the guns cleaned and put away; Sophie and Kat sat in the blue parlor, sipping tea, when the maid entered with the mail.
Kat looked eagerly at Sophie. “Is there a letter from Nick?”
Sophie glanced at the two letters she held and shook her head. “Both are from Val, I’m afraid.” She handed one to Kat. “This is addressed to you.”
Kat took it reluctantly, afraid of the news it might contain.
“Read your letter first,” she said. “I’m not sure I want to know what he has to say to me.”
Sophie nodded and broke the seal. Kat watched as she scanned the letter, her apprehension growing as she saw a frown develop on Sophie’s brow.
“Well?” Kat asked. “What does he say?”
“I think you should read your letter,” Sophie replied. To Kat, her words sounded ominous. She tore her letter open and began to read.
My dear Miss Foster,
I am taking the liberty of writing to you in lieu of your brother, as he is no longer at Kingsford.
At present, he is staying at my town house in London.
I wish to assure you that your brothers have safely been deposited at their respective schools.
I personally escorted Edward to St. Giles and can
report that he is settled in with his new classmates.
I should like you to stay with my sister for a while longer. Town is a bit thin of visitors at the moment, but when it begins to swell for the Season,
I wish the both of you to come up and participate in the entertainments.
Until then, I remain your most devoted guardian—
Newkirk.
Kat dropped the letter into her lap, fighting back tears. Her worst fears had come true—Newkirk had broken up her family. And Nick had done nothing to stop him.
Sophie lay a comforting hand on Kat’s arm. “He is doing what he feels is best for you,” she said softly. “You cannot hold that against him.”
“He has no idea what is best for any of us,” Kat said heatedly. “He is only concerned for his own convenience.”
“I think you should give him more credit than that,” Sophie replied.
“Well, I intend to make his life thoroughly inconvenient. He will wish he had never heard of the Foster family when I am finished with him.”
“Do you intend to shoot him again?” Sophie asked.
“I’m going to get my brothers back,” Kat said. “Everyone except Nick, that is. The traitor! All Newkirk had to do was dangle that commission in front of him, and Nick’s become his slave.”
“I think it is an admirable idea to reunite your family,” Sophie said slowly. “But how do you propose to go about it?”
“I’ll go myself and fetch them home.”
Sophie frowned. “And what is to prevent Val from taking them away again?”
“He would not dare.” Kat clenched her fists in determination.
“He is their guardian,” Sophie reminded her. “By law, he can do what he wishes.”
Kat jumped to her feet and paced the room, panic building within her. What was she going to do? She turned around and gave Sophie a despairing look. “It is not fair! We were doing just fine without him.”
“I daresay you were. But now that he is involved, you must deal with him.”
“No,” Kat said. “He must deal with me. I will challenge him for the guardianship, if I have to.”
Sophie shook her head. “Do you honestly think any court in the land would allow that?”
“Why not? I’ve been caring for them since I was twelve.”
“Yes, but a single woman, asking to be put in charge of her brothers. It is highly unlikely . . . And have you thought about the legal costs? Val controls your purse strings. He could stop your suit by simply refusing to pay for it.”
“I’ll get the money somehow,” Kat vowed. “I can’t let him do this to us.”
Sophie wrinkled her brow in thought. “There is one way . .
Kat stopped pacing and looked at her with hope. “What?”
“If you were married, your husband could assume guardianship of your brothers.”
“Married?” Kat stared at her, stunned by the suggestion. �
�That’s the last thing I want. To turn my fate over to another man? Not likely.”
“A husband might be the lesser of two evils,” Sophie said. “Why, if you choose the right man, you could lead him around by the nose. You’ll never be able to do that with Val.”
“No doubt he would disapprove of anyone I considered remotely tolerable,” Kat said glumly.
“Oh, don’t be too certain of that. It is what he wants for you, you know. That is why he wishes us to go London— to find you a husband.”
A deep sense of foreboding crept over Kat. She’d been so worried about Newkirk’s plans for her brothers she had not stopped to consider that he might have plans for her as well. “He can’t force me to marry.”
“No, but he can keep your brothers at school,” Sophie said. “If you truly want to reunite your family, you are going to have to make a few sacrifices.”
Kat eyed her with renewed suspicion. She liked Sophie, but she was Newkirk’s sister, after all. Was she involved in Newkirk’s nefarious plans? Could Kat truly trust anything she said?
“How do I know he’d agree to give up the guardianship?” Kat asked.
“You yourself said he’s more concerned with his own convenience,” Sophie replied.
“But marriage?” Kat frowned. It was a drastic measure.
Yet the situation was dire. She had to get her brothers back, and soon. Especially Thomas and Sam. She did not know how long they must attend school before they were sent out on a ship, but she had to retrieve them before they were, or else she might never see them again.
The Defiant Miss Foster & A Highly Respectable Widow Page 5