Her son was silent for a moment. There was some truth in what his mother said. Moreover, she seemed to have taken a liking to Katharine Payne—the girl would be company for her during the winter while he was busy at Calthorpe. He said at last, ‘I must speak to Sir James. And then we shall see if it can be arranged.’
‘Henry Payne won’t let her go without a fight,’ warned Mrs Calthorpe.
‘If I have the support of her guardians, I can soon settle Henry Payne. But what if Katharine doesn’t wish to live with you, Mama?’
‘I assure you, my son, after Henry Payne and his delightful family, she would be glad to live with anyone. As you know, I can be very persuasive when I choose. In any case, what normal girl would refuse the prospect of a season in London?’
Chapter Six
Armed with an introduction from the Quentins, Adam called on Sir James Farrow the next day. Sir James, dressed in a brocade dressing gown and velvet-tasselled cap, received him in a stiflingly warm study. Next to his chair was a revolving bookcase full of books and papers. A decanter of wine and a glass, a dish of nuts and biscuits, a bowl of fruit and a plate and silver knife were arranged on the small table on his other side.
‘Come in, come in and shut the door, Calthorpe! I can’t abide draughts, they’re not good for me. Sit down where I can see you and tell me about Waterloo! They say it was pretty close. Is that right? What was your regiment? Help yourself to a glass of wine.’
Adam obediently helped himself and sat down on the other side of the fire. ‘I was in the same regiment as Tom Payne.’
‘The Fighting 52nd, eh? Colborne’s lot. They did well, I hear.’ He paused. ‘Were you with Tom when he was killed?’
‘No, I wasn’t with the regiment at that point. I’d been seconded to the Duke’s staff and was doing liaison work on that last day with the Prussians at the other end of the battlefield.’
For a while Adam answered the old man’s eager questions about Wellington and the changes of fortune at Waterloo. Then, after a while, he paused. Sir James sat up a little.
‘Talked yourself dry, have you? Have another glass of wine!’
‘Thank you, Sir James, I still have some. But I would really like to talk of Tom Payne. You knew the family well, I gather.’
‘Ah, yes! His grandfather was a great friend of mine. The boy was called after him—Thomas Frampton Payne. Sad business, his death. Very sad! What did you want to say about him?’
‘Tom had a sister.’
‘Did he? I never knew that! Fancy old Tom Payne not telling me that! Wrong side of the blanket, was she?’
‘I mean the grandson had a sister. Katharine.’
‘Oh…oh! Well, I know that, my boy! You don’t have to tell me that! Her guardian, ain’t I?’
Adam patiently worked his way through a series of explanations to the point where he could raise the question of Katharine’s future.
‘Want to marry her, do you? I thought she was to marry that cousin of hers. What was the fellow’s name, now…? Walter! That’s it! Sensible thing to do. As Henry Payne said, gets the money back where it belongs. You can’t run an estate like that on nothing. Eh? What does a female know about it? Pretty little thing, Katharine, but when all’s said and done, she’s a female, ain’t she?’
Adam reflected that Katharine’s Uncle Henry had done his job well. He had used exactly the sort of argument which would appeal to the old man, and as a result Sir James was obviously inclined to look favourably on a match between his ward and Henry’s son. It took all the guile and negotiating skills Adam had acquired during ten years in the Army to persuade the old man to agree at least to hear Katharine’s views on the matter.
‘You’ll bring her along yourself, will you? Can’t stand dealing with females on m’own. Never could. Why I never married. Come the day after tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ It occurred to Adam that some reinforcement might be advisable. ‘Er…Miss Payne would perhaps like some lady to accompany her?’
‘Not that governess female! Can’t abide her.’
‘May I bring my mother, who is with me in Basingstoke? She is an old friend of Mrs Quentin’s, you know.’
‘Ah! The only sensible woman I ever knew, Quentin’s wife. Very well. Bring your mother, my boy. Why not?’
Adam’s plans nearly foundered at their birth. Katharine raised strong objections to the changes he was proposing to make to her future.
‘I told you what I wanted!’ she said. ‘To live quietly with Tilly. Your mother is very kind, but I have no wish to live in a big city, to be presented to a crowd of strangers, to make conversation with people with whom I have nothing in common. I shan’t know what to wear, what to say, I don’t know the latest dances… I shall feel totally out of place. The idea is absurd! I won’t even consider it.’
Adam held on to his calm. ‘You really are the most unexpected female I have ever met! Most young women would be delighted at the prospect of having a season in London. Your own cousin Catherine, for example, would give anything to be in your shoes.’
‘Oh, yes, Catherine would—but she is a feather-brain.’
‘She is a very pretty one.’
Katharine looked at him, then uncannily echoed his own thoughts. ‘And would be a huge success. What a pity I am not more like her—that’s what you are no doubt thinking! Well, with a little luck, you will be able to indulge your admiration for her as much as you wish next season. She fully intends to be in London then. So why do you need me there? I assure you that I would much rather be in my own house in Tilly’s company.’
‘Thank you,’ Adam said ironically. ‘You really shouldn’t flatter me so.’
Katharine had the grace to look ashamed. ‘I didn’t mean it quite like that,’ she said. ‘It’s just that…’ She hesitated, then burst out, ‘I’m sure you mean well, but I have managed my own life for so long. I resent being told what I am to do!’
‘I had noticed,’ murmured Adam. ‘But I quite thought you had asked for my help?’
‘I did! But I wanted you to arrange for me to live with Tilly! Not to go gallivanting about the town! I tell you, I won’t do it!’
‘Katharine Payne!’ said Adam in a voice his junior officers would have recognised. ‘Do you or do you not wish to leave your uncle’s house?’
‘Well, of course I do! It’s just—’
‘Then for once in your life you will do as you are told!’
‘But—’
‘No buts! If you wish me to persuade Sir James to change his present plans for your future—which, if you remember, favour a marriage to Walter Payne—then you will remain silent and leave all negotiations to me. Understood?’
Katharine gazed at him mutinously. ‘He’s my guardian.’
‘And you have so far been conspicuously unsuccessful in dealing with him. Look, it’s not altogether your fault. Sir James doesn’t like women, and he doesn’t like exertion. Left to himself, he won’t take kindly to what he sees as the rebellion of a spoilt female, nor will he make the slightest effort to find a more agreeable alternative for you. But if we can present him with a ready-made plan which fits in with his notions of what is proper, and moreover one which makes no demands on him, he will listen. It’s your only hope, Katharine. Choose now—Herriards, or Bridge House and London.’
‘It has to be Bridge House. But I don’t like it!’
‘You ungrateful brat! You don’t deserve my mother’s offer!’
When Adam vented his exasperation to Mrs Calthorpe she was unsympathetic. ‘You must have handled the matter very clumsily, Adam. There isn’t a girl alive who would not wish to visit London in the season at least once in her life.’
‘So I told her. Her cousin Catherine—’
‘You surely didn’t mention her, did you?’
‘Yes. Why not?’
‘Why not? You have to ask me why not?’ said his mother in exasperation.
‘I merely said that her cousin would love to have such a chanc
e,’ said Adam defensively. ‘I thought it might persuade our Miss Payne to change her mind. But that was when she announced that she would prefer Tilly’s company to mine!’
His mother looked at him in amazement. ‘Adam, you have managed to be the positive embodiment of tact for years, but Tom’s poor sister seems to have a strangely adverse effect on you. Why on earth did you bring Catherine Payne into it? Your Katharine may not have been very polite, but I really cannot blame her for what she said! You deserved it. But believe me, your Katharine would without doubt like to go to London, though she would never admit it—not in her present state.’
‘Please, Mama! She is not “my” Katharine!’
‘Well, how am I to distinguish between the two girls? It is a ridiculous situation!’
‘You could call her “Tom’s Katharine”, or at a pinch she could be “our” Katharine. Or better still we could call her Kate. But she is not my Katharine! Please!’ His mother put her head on one side and regarded him quizzically.
‘She really has upset you, hasn’t she?’
‘Not at all. But I know you. Now tell me what has persuaded you that Kate wants to come to London in spite of all her words to the contrary. I have to confess you have lost me.’
‘Consider for a moment, my dear! In the space of a few months she has lost everything which made her feel secure—her grandfather, her brother, her home…even her fortune has proved to be not an asset, but a source of stress. Her guardians have ignored her, and for months she thought you had deserted her, too… She has had to learn to fight her own battles with little prospect of help from outside. Is it any wonder that she is exhausted? Your obvious admiration of her cousin Catherine must have been the last straw.’
Adam looked uncomfortable, as his mother went on, ‘Kate is not conventionally pretty. The other Catherine’s attractions are so much more obvious, and, what is more, that little minx has learned to make the most of them. Tom’s sister was brought up by two male relatives and a governess. She has never been encouraged to spend much time on her appearance, and, if she thinks about them at all, she probably rates her looks rather low. It isn’t surprising that she is nervous when faced with the prospect of submitting herself for inspection by Society. Perhaps you don’t know how critical the ton can be.’
‘Nervous? Kate Payne?’
‘Yes,’ said his mother firmly. ‘Whatever you may think, Kate Payne’s confidence is at the moment nonexistent. I am convinced that all the things you disapprove of, Adam, her rudeness, her aggression, her desire for independence, they are all a form of defence. But you needn’t worry. Once she has been in my care for a month or two you will be astounded at how she will change.’
‘It can only be for the better,’ muttered Adam.
His mother decided to ignore him. But, she thought ruefully, the next few months would prove quite interesting if Katharine Payne agreed to come and stay, and Adam persisted in this disapproval of her.
Adam was still not completely sure how Katharine would behave in the all-important interview with Sir James, so he arranged for them all to meet at Tilly’s beforehand. Mrs Calthorpe had been given the task of persuading Katharine to look more favourably on the idea of being presented next season. She even pointed out that six or seven months were not a lifetime. If Katharine were of the same mind after experiencing life in London, she could still, supposing her guardians would consent, look for her house to share with Tilly.
‘But pray do not mention that today, Kate! Today we all have to concentrate on getting Sir James to allow you to accept my invitation. If he has the slightest notion that you might revert to your original scheme, he might well refuse to listen to anything further.’
‘I really don’t see why he would object—Tilly is eminently respectable.’
‘Kate, believe me, I know what I am talking about. It won’t work! To be frank, I should be very surprised if any guardians worthy of the name would ever consent to such a scheme. In their eyes it would certainly mean virtual isolation from your proper position in society, and they would regard it as their duty to your grandfather to see that it doesn’t happen. In fact, the very possibility might cause them to insist on your returning to your uncle.’
This gave Katharine pause. Then Tilly added her voice to the debate. The governess told her plainly that Lord Calthorpe was acting beyond the call of duty, and that Tom would have been astounded and very angry if she refused Mrs Calthorpe’s invitation.
‘I don’t understand you, Katharine. For months you have thought of nothing but escape from Herriards, and now, when such a golden opportunity is presented, you hesitate, merely because it isn’t quite the rescue you wanted. Not the retreat we planned, but an adventure into a new world—a world that should have been yours years ago. Yes, it needs courage, but you have never wanted for courage in the past. I shall think you a coward, if you do not do as Lord Calthorpe suggests. Learn to enjoy life as you were meant to, my dear!’
When they reached Sir James’s house, Adam presented his suggestion for Katharine’s future, claiming that he was fulfilling the promise made to Tom at their last meeting.
‘Tom said that, did he? Asked you to look after his sister? He should have been here to look after her himself, the young scamp! But you may be right, Calthorpe, you may be right. You’ve shown sense in your career, you probably know what you’re doing otherwise,’ Sir James said at last. He turned to Mrs Calthorpe. ‘What do you think, ma’am? You know the world as I do not. What do you say?’
‘You can hardly expect me to give you a completely unbiassed view, Sir James. I would regard it as a great kindness on your part if you would grant me Katharine’s company. But, since you ask…’ She hesitated.
‘Well? What is it?’
‘Katharine has spent all her life at Herriards. I mean no offence, but have you considered how the world might regard it, if you agreed too readily to Mr Payne’s plan for her to marry his son?’
Sir James sat up a little. ‘How is that, ma’am?’ he asked, a trifle coldly.
Mrs Calthorpe was undisturbed. She went on calmly, ‘The temptation to bring a fortune back into the Herriards estate must be strong, especially to Mr Payne, and his wish for his son to marry into the Payne fortune might seem very reasonable. Though it is odd that such a thought had not occurred to Katharine’s grandfather. Was it because he did not approve of his cousins? One cannot tell. But how will the world regard it? Living retired as you do, it may not have occurred to you that young ladies of Katharine’s birth and wealth are generally expected to be presented to Society before marriage. Sir James, Katharine really ought not to be married off before she has seen anything of the world.’
‘Ha! I never thought of that! You’re quite right, ma’am, quite right! But we can’t do it!’
‘Why not, Sir James?’
‘You see a sick man before you, Mrs Calthorpe,’ said Sir James, sinking back into his chair. ‘And I dare swear old Armitage’s state is not much better, for all his cures in Bath. How could either of us junket about arranging chaperons and dressmakers and milliners, and I don’t know what else besides?’ He took a sip of wine, and settled himself more comfortably. ‘It can’t be done!’
Katharine began eagerly, ‘In that case—’ but Mrs Calthorpe’s voice drowned hers.
‘If that is the only difficulty,’ she said cheerfully, ‘then it is easily overcome! There’s nothing I should like better than to introduce Kate to Society. And we women, you know, positively enjoy visiting mantua makers and buying gloves, shawls and all the rest. There is no problem there, I assure you.’ She paused. ‘Er…Kate will need to have her allowance considerably increased…’
‘Strange,’ said Sir James shaking his head. ‘There’s no accounting for female taste. Still, if you mean what you say, ma’am, that you’re prepared to stand the racket of it all, you needn’t worry about the cost. Send the bills to my man of business. He’ll deal with them. And I dare say your son here will take an interest in her w
elfare, too, eh? Well, well, well!’ He smiled benignly at his ward. ‘I hope you’re grateful for all the trouble I’m taking over you, miss!’
Katharine opened her mouth. ‘But you’ve not heard my—’
‘She is indeed, Sir James. Quite speechless with gratitude,’ said Mrs Calthorpe firmly.
‘All I wanted—’ Katharine began again.
‘Was to have your permission to travel with us when we leave for Dorking in a day or two’s time. She is such a dutiful child,’ said Mrs Calthorpe with an admonitory look at Katharine and a sweet smile for Sir James.
Since the ‘dutiful child’ was beginning to look prepared to argue, Adam decided it was time to take their leave. Pleased to have solved the problem of Katharine with so little trouble, Sir James readily agreed that she should leave Herriards when the Calthorpes set off for Dorking in a few days’ time. This was all subject to General Armitage’s agreement, of course, but there was no doubt that he would give it.
There was only one small flaw, as far as Adam could see. Sir James seemed to think that Adam had a deeper personal interest in his ward. And though there was nothing he could put his finger on, Mrs Calthorpe appeared to have fostered this belief. For some unaccountable reason she seemed to find Katharine far more attractive than her son did. Adam decided that he must be on his guard against whatever plans his mother was brewing. She had a knack of getting her own way before anyone noticed what she was up to. But in this she would be defeated—Katharine Payne possessed none of the qualities he was looking for in a wife. Not even her fortune was enough to tempt him!
Katharine did not seem to have noticed any of this—she was too preoccupied to question anything. But just before the carriage reached Tilly’s cottage the Calthorpes realised that she was still fighting.
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