by Lucy Langton
“I have high regards for Lord Harding, and even Lord Blackmore. I would never think ill of either gentleman,” Kitty said with her chin held up high. Miss Talbot stood still then and seemed to be put off by her comment as she narrowed her eyes at Kitty.
“Ah yes, Lord Blackmore. I thought I spotted you speaking to the Duke after the incident,” Miss Talbot said next. “You do keep such strange company.”
“A wise woman once told me that a man’s reputation often does not represent the man at all,” Kitty said then, smiling down at her aunt as she sat proudly next to her.
“I think the Duke is rather handsome, if I do say myself,” one of the other young ladies spoke up, coming closer to Kitty. “Would you please tell us more about him?”
“Oh, I’d be pleased to,” Kitty said as she smiled brightly, glancing at Miss Talbot who seemed displeased to see that her friends were now paying more attention to her.
For the next few minutes, Kitty talked about Hugh in his younger years and a few of his funnier antics. She said how honourable his parents had been and how doting his father had been in his education. Kitty talked about how kind Hugh could be and that it sometimes took a while to get to know him because he could also be a very private person.
All the while Kitty spoke highly of Hugh she began to realise that she did have a good opinion of the Duke. And after she finished speaking, she wondered if it would be her that could change his reputation. Pushing the thought out of her head, she focused on the group of young ladies around her, enjoying the much better conversation than what Miss Talbot had originally introduced.
Chapter 4
After returning to his townhouse, he was greeted by Portlock, who once he’d taken in his appearance, couldn’t contain himself as he began to laugh without restraint. He quickly ushered in the Duke and helped him to his bedchamber where he arranged for a bath and a new set of clothes. And once Hugh was cleaned up and fresh once more, he retired to his study to contemplate how the evening had gone.
He was glad that he could spend time with Kitty and convince her to at least dance with him. He’d never expected the challenge she gave him, or the time frame he had to work with. Hugh had to think quickly in order to win over Kitty’s affections. It was clear to him now that Kitty had other admirers. And if he was going to succeed at this challenge, then he needed to come up with a good plan.
“Are you ready, Your Grace, to explain what on Earth happened this evening?” Portlock asked as he came into the Duke’s study with a tea tray.
“Perhaps you could serve me a glass of brandy first,” Hugh suggested as he gestured to his large wooden desk for Portlock to deposit the tray.
“If I must be so bold, Your Grace, it seems you had enough brandy last night,” Portlock said as he started to pour a cup of tea. Once finished, he handed it to Hugh.
“I suppose you are right,” Hugh said, taking a small sip of the hot tea. Hugh could detect hints of lavender and chamomile and figured that Portlock was serving him tea to help him relax. “Have a seat, Portlock. I have much to explain.” Hugh took the next few minutes to explain to his trusted butler all about the evening, to include Kitty’s challenge and the tumble he had with Lord Harding. Portlock had to cover his mouth with his hand as he did his best not to laugh.
“Of all the things you’ve done over the years, Your Grace, this by far is one of the funniest,” Portlock said once he was able to compose himself once more.
“It’s not like I did it on purpose, Portlock,” Hugh said with a sigh.
“And what of Miss Worthington? How did she react to the accident?” Portlock asked.
“About the same as you are now,” Hugh said. This time, Portlock did laugh openly. Hugh smirked, knowing that the story was quite funny. Even more so because it had all been a complete accident.
“Well, I’m sure that Miss Worthington won’t think to unkindly of you after this evening. But perhaps you’ll think of something quickly to win over her affections,” Portlock suggested. “It is prime time for you to find a wife and continue the Blackmore line.”
“As you keep reminding me, Portlock,” Hugh said with a sigh. “But how am I supposed to convince Kitty that I’m capable of being a decent husband?” Portlock smiled as he leaned over the wooden desk towards him.
“Your Grace, you’re going to have to act quickly and with a clear mind,” Portlock said. “That means that you need to stop drinking brandy so much.” Hugh sighed as he rolled his eyes. “And you also need to stop visiting the gaming hells.”
“But how is that supposed to help me with Kitty?” Hugh asked, not liking the idea of avoiding the things he enjoyed most.
“It’s only the start, Your Grace,” Portlock explained. “You’ll want good articles written about you and published in the papers.”
“And how is that going to happen?” Hugh asked, thinking that perhaps his butler had gone mad.
“Donate a large sum of money to a good cause,” Portlock suggested. “Be out in Town in the daytime and start showing everyone how charming you can be.”
“The idea of appearing in Hyde Park during noonday doesn’t settle well with me,” Hugh admitted. “It’s all a pony show anyway.”
“But that’s exactly what you need to be doing, Your Grace. You need to show the Bon Ton that you are a decent human being,” Portlock enthused. “And you need to show Miss Worthington that you can be a decent husband.” Hugh observed Portlock for a few moments. Normally, the butler was very silent. But in this case, he seemed to be coming alive. He remembered Portlock’s earlier comment about the butler wanting to see him happy again.
“Let’s make a list that we can complete tomorrow then,” Hugh suggested as he withdrew a sheet of writing paper from his desk and pulled his quill and ink pot closer to him.
“We, Your Grace?” Portlock asked, a little surprised by his question.
“Yes, Portlock. It seems you are the more realistic one of the two of us, and since I’m not comfortable with any of this, then perhaps you’ll have to be the voice of reason,” Hugh explained as he wrote the words ‘road to success’ at the top of the piece of paper. Portlock chuckled as he saw what the Duke had written.
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Portlock said as he ended up taking the piece of paper from Hugh and began to write the list of items they could complete during the very next day.
~*~
Kitty was thrilled with the number of letters she received by the late morning the day after the ball. She sat in the sitting room with her aunt in a simple day gown. With no other plans for the day, she didn’t expect to change into anything fancy for the evening. Therefore, she was eager to read all the letters at a leisurely pace so she could answer them all in due time.
“My dear, what on Earth are you going to do with all of these letters?” Aunt Matilda asked as she helped her niece read through them all.
“I will go about this in a very logical matter,” Kitty said matter-of-factly. “Some need to be answered sooner than later since they are important invitations to major social events. While others are so ridiculous that I’m afraid I shall not answer at all.”
“This Viscount was bold enough to propose on behalf of his son,” Aunt Matilda exclaimed as she read through a particular letter. The ladies laughed together over the outlandish letter.
“It seems I must be a siren of the sea if men are so bewitched by my voice,” Kitty said amongst her giggles.
“I’m afraid so, my dear, if this gentleman is so quick to propose in place of his own son. And without meeting you first, no doubt,” Aunt Matilda said as she shook her head. For the entire morning they went through each letter, sorting them between most important and letters that would be completely ignored.
They were both surprised when the footman came to announce that they had a visitor. They exchanged a glance before Aunt Matilda spoke up to allow the visitor to come. Thinking of their deal, Kitty wondered if Hugh had come earlier this morning to pay her a visit, and she was
only momentarily disappointed when Lord Harding came through the sitting room doors.
“Good morning, Lady Winthrop, Miss Worthington,” Lord Harding said as he bowed before them. The women dipped their heads towards him, and then Kitty gestured to the chair next to her.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Aunt Matilda spoke up. “And to what do we owe this pleasure?”
“I felt dreadful about last night’s accident. I wanted to come by first thing during calling hours to give you two my dearest apologies,” Lord Harding explained with a frown on his face. “I was so distraught that I left immediately without saying farewell.”
“Understandably so,” Kitty said with a kind smile. “I don’t blame you one bit, Lord Harding.” His face brightened at her words, and Kitty was confident that she had taken away his worry. Lord Harding was a handsome man, after all, and a very wealthy one with a good standing in society. He was everything Kitty expected from a man who could possibly be her husband one day.
“My goodness, you two seem to be quite busy this morning,” Lord Harding said as he gestured to all the opened letters around them. Kitty smiled with pride as she glanced at the many piles.
“Indeed. I’ve received a large response in lieu of my performance last night at the ball,” Kitty explained. “It will take some time to go through all of them and give the appropriate responses.”
“If we’d been born into another life, I’m sure my niece would have made a wonderful opera singer,” Aunt Matilda spoke up. It pleased Kitty to no end to be compared to her idols. She very much enjoyed attending the opera and sometimes daydreamed about performing in front of such a large crowd of people. But since she was a prestigious lady, it would be quite scandalous of her to ever perform in such a manner. She’d always be restricted to singing at social functions such as a ball or dinner party while she was still an unmarried woman.
“You truly have a marvellous voice,” Lord Harding added.
“It seems all of London would agree as well,” Kitty said as she looked at all of the letters. “It will no doubt take me a few days to respond.”
“Well, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you besides apologising for my early departure from the ball last night,” Lord Harding said. He turned his eyes on Aunt Matilda as he said, “I would like to request a private audience with Miss Worthington.”
The air in Kitty’s lungs seemed to become trapped as she stilled. There was only one reason that a gentleman would ask for a private audience with a young lady, and as the two women exchanged a particular look, they both knew what Lord Harding was about to say.
“Of course, Lord Harding,” Aunt Matilda said as she set the letters in her hands aside, and using her cane, pushed herself up onto her feet. “I will just be in the other room.” She dipped her head towards Lord Harding and gave Kitty a soft smile before making her way out of the sitting room. Once the doors were closed, Lord Harding moved from his seat and came to kneel before Kitty, making her heart race in her chest.
Lord Harding took the letters from her hands and set them aside before taking his hands in hers. Kitty noted the way his hands felt rather cold instead of warm like she would have assumed. But she tried her best to smile kindly as Lord Harding addressed her.
“I had wanted last night to be the most perfect night for us, Katherine,” Lord Harding said. Kitty did her best not to flinch when the man used her formal name. She pushed down the need to correct him and simply did her best to listen to what he had to say as she planned her response.
“It frustrates me to no end that Lord Blackmore had to intervene so by trying to argue with me. And when the man pretended to trip and drag me down onto that table, it proved to me that the man will go to all lengths to disrupt my plans,” Lord Harding said. Kitty didn’t like that Lord Harding was speaking so lowly of Hugh, but from his perspective, she could understand why he would say those words.
Perhaps he really did think that the fall had not been an accident, but a deliberate plan. But since she hadn’t seen it herself, she couldn’t argue with Lord Harding at this moment. So instead, she did her best to simply focus on what he was saying instead of picking it all apart.
“However, I have come first thing this morning to finally share with you my deepest feelings. I’ve come to grow very fond of you and wish for you to become my wife,” Lord Harding declared, a bright smile on his face as he delivered his words. Kitty did her best to smile as well for certainly any lady in her position would jump quickly to accept such a good offer. But Kitty had made a promise to Hugh, and she would never go back on a promise.
“Lord Harding, I am flattered by your proposal,” Kitty started with. “But at this time, I don’t feel like I know you well enough to accept your proposal.” Lord Harding took a moment to understand what she was saying. He continued to smile as he let go of her hands and positioned himself back in his chair. He seemed to be thinking about what to say as he looked away from her.
“Do you wish us to enter into an official courtship, that we may exclusively see each other in the hopes of gaining a deeper understanding of one another?” Lord Harding asked, hope seeming to come back into his eyes. Kitty quickly understood what Lord Harding was implying and couldn’t let herself fall for it.
“No, Lord Harding. Not at this time,” Kitty said plainly. She was saying that she’d need to be firm with Lord Harding and not allow him to imply anything.
“Then is there another gentleman that has won over your heart and therefore you wish to decline me?” Lord Harding asked, seeming to be concerned now.
“I will admit that I have many suitors, Lord Harding. But I can honestly say that there is no gentleman who has captured my heart,” Kitty said, glad that she could at least be honest with that statement. “I don’t feel at this time I have come to know any gentleman well enough to accept a proposal.” Lord Harding nodded his head, seeming to understand her meaning.
“Well then, I shall only continue to pursue you, Katherine. I shall show you that I am the best choice,” Lord Harding said with a smirk. He rose from his chair and bowed towards her. “Good day, my dear.” He quickly turned and left the sitting room before Kitty had a chance to say her own farewell.
The moment he was out of the townhouse, Aunt Matilda returned quickly to the sitting room. Kitty was certain she was eager to hear the news, but after taking one look at Kitty, she was certain her aunt already knew her answer.
“So, how did it go, my dear?” Aunt Matilda asked as she settled down onto the settee next to Kitty.
“It went as well as anyone could expect,” Kitty said. “I don’t feel at this time that I know Lord Harding well enough to accept his proposal, even though he has many good qualities about him.” Aunt Matilda nodded her head as though she understood.
Her aunt smiled at her as she said, “That is because you are still waiting to fall in love.” Kitty nodded her head as she giggled.
“Aunt Matilda, I know that it’s a silly thought. But I really do feel the need to love a man before I can marry him,” Kitty confessed, hoping her aunt didn’t think she was completely mad.
“My dear, I don’t think you are unrealistic because I think having a good connection with a man is ideal for a long-lasting marriage,” Aunt Matilda said. “Your uncle and I were very much in love, and I know your parents were, too.” Kitty smiled at the thought. Even though Aunt Matilda was much older now with long white hair that she always had her lady-in-waiting pin up for her, she could imagine how beautiful her aunt was in her prime.
“And that’s what I want for myself,” Kitty said proudly. “I want to fall in love.” Aunt Matilda chuckled then as she picked up her cup of tea and took a long sip.
“I just hope that you can do so quickly, my dear. Unfortunately, there is only a certain time in a woman’s life when it’s best to give birth, and since you are already twenty-one years of age, I think you’re pushing your luck,” Aunt Matilda said. Kitty stilled then at the thought, never really realising that s
he might miss her window of opportunity to have children. She thought of the deal she made with Hugh and figured that if he couldn’t impress her in a week, at least she’d have Lord Harding’s proposal to fall back on.