Sylvia Andrew

by Lord Calthorpes Promise

  Another newcomer to the London scene would seem to be ideal. Kate’s cousin, Miss Catherine Payne, enchantingly fair, with eyes the colour of summer skies, and a delicately submissive air, had already impressed him at Herriards, and she was now also in London for the season. And because of a curious set of circumstances he found himself quite frequently in her company.

  Henry Payne and his family had arrived not long after the Calthorpes. Their paths did not cross at first, for they tended to move in different circles. But, ironically enough, it wasn’t long before Society was divided into two camps, each claiming that the success of the season would be a Miss Payne. The smaller, more discerning, group declared that Miss Kate Payne was the cream of the débutantes. They refused to allow that her lack of more conventional beauty in any way detracted from her charms. The larger group, while granting that Miss Katharine Payne was very charming, swore that London had seldom seen as beautiful a creature as her cousin, Mr Henry Payne’s daughter, the lovely Miss Catherine Payne. Rivalry between the factions increased, and society hostesses, eager to add interest to the endless round of balls and soirées, tried to make sure that both girls were present at their events as often as possible.

  Katharine was thus forced to see far more of her cousins than she wished. To avoid them would encourage just the sort of gossip she disliked. Society already found it slightly odd that she was being sponsored in London by Mrs Calthorpe, rather than by Mr Henry Payne and his wife. If it was seen that she was reluctant even to talk to her cousins, society would soon start to speculate on the rift in the Payne family. Even less did Katharine want to encourage any thought of rivalry between herself and the family beauty, Catherine. So she hid her distrust of them, chatted to Catherine, danced with Walter, and listened with apparent attention to her uncle and aunt. And of course, Adam saw quite a lot of them too.

  Walter was delighted. Matters could not have turned out better. After his failure to attract her in Hampshire, it was most unlikely that Kate Payne would have spent a second longer in his company than she had to. But now fate, and Society, had taken a hand, and it was up to him to take advantage of it. He took care to escort his sister to every occasion where Kate was likely to be present. Once there, he made sure he reserved at least one dance with his cousin before she could legitimately claim that her card was full. And during the dances he exerted himself as never before to remedy the damage done to his cause at Herriards.

  At first Katharine froze him out whenever he became personal. But Walter was a fast learner and he soon knew how to hold her interest by giving her titbits of information about the people she had known at Herriards. He had always been an excellent improvisor and his accounts of how he had defied his father to defend the interests of the poor in the community were quite convincing. After a month or so, Walter began to feel that he was making some headway, that in a while Kate Payne would listen more favourably to his suit. And about time, too! Very few women had resisted him for this long before.

  Into this intriguing situation came Lady Balmenny, beautiful, spoilt, trapped in a boring marriage and looking for amusement.

  The day after she arrived, she appeared at the Marchmonts’ ball halfway through the evening. It was one of the season’s most prestigious events and the rooms were full. Julia wandered slowly through the throng, waving her fan languidly, apparently enjoying the scene. But she was searching all the while for one face among the crowd, and she finally saw it. Adam Calthorpe was dancing.

  She turned to the person next to her, who happened to be an old friend. Hetta Jerrard was one of London’s most notorious gossips. ‘Who is that delightful girl?’ Julia asked. ‘The tall one dancing over there.’

  ‘You mean the one with Lord Calthorpe, Julia?’

  ‘I suppose I do. Yes.’

  ‘That, my dear, is one of the latest stars. A Miss Katharine Payne. Charming, isn’t she? Some say she is the star. But I myself prefer her cousin. She is infinitely prettier. You must meet her, Julia.’

  Julia nearly dropped her fan. ‘Wait! Katharine Payne! You said Katharine Payne? That girl dancing with Lord Calthorpe is Katharine Payne! I don’t believe it! Is she staying with the Calthorpes?’

  ‘Yes. Mrs Calthorpe is sponsoring her. We are led to believe that there isn’t any other reason for Lord Calthorpe’s interest in her. But one does wonder…they seem very close.’

  Julia looked at the pair on the floor. They were laughing as they rejoined the set. ‘That’s nonsense,’ she said sharply. ‘It’s easily explained—she’s the sister of one of Lord Calthorpe’s friends, who was killed at Waterloo. Adam made him some ridiculous promise about looking after the girl. That is all.’

  ‘It can’t quite be all, my dear. Katharine Payne is not alone in the world. She has some perfectly good cousins, who are also in London for the season. Why aren’t they looking after her?’ Lady Hetta sent a significant look in the direction of the dancers. ‘Perhaps Lord Calthorpe’s interest is more than just an obligation to a friend?’

  ‘What nonsense you talk, Hetta! The girl isn’t at all his style.’

  ‘That’s true,’ said Lady Hetta with regret. ‘He appears to be far more taken with her cousin.’

  ‘What cousin?’

  Hetta Jerrard started to smile. This was going better. Julia sounded quite annoyed. ‘Another Miss Payne, Julia dear. Another Catherine Payne! And a real diamond. The two girls may be cousins, but they are not at all alike—one is tall and the other tiny. In fact…’

  ‘Well?’ said Julia impatiently.

  ‘The other Miss Payne bears a remarkable resemblance to you—as you were years ago. You might almost be mother and daughter!’

  Julia took a moment to recover, then snapped, ‘You were never very good at arithmetic, Hetta. I dare say there’s a bare seven or eight years between the chit and me. And what do you mean—as I was years ago? I look exactly the same now as I did before I married Balmenny. Everyone says so.’

  ‘Well, they would, wouldn’t they? But perhaps it would be better if you didn’t meet the second Miss Payne, Julia. In fact, I would stay away from her altogether if you can. Comparisons can be very disconcerting, don’t you think?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Excuse me, I see that the set is ending. I must go and congratulate Katharine Payne on her début.’

  Hetta Jerrard watched eagerly as her friend made her way through to Adam Calthorpe and his partner. She would eat her best hat if Julia’s interest was in Miss Katharine Payne. Not when handsome, charming Lord Calthorpe was standing right next to the girl.

  ‘Miss Payne!’ called Julia. ‘Miss Payne, don’t go away! Remember me? You came to Redshaw Hall on Christmas Eve—’ She turned and gave a start. ‘Why, Adam! It’s you! This is an unexpected pleasure. Still looking after Katharine, I see.’ She smiled at him archly. ‘When do you take time off for your own enjoyment, Adam?’

  ‘Julia! When did you arrive in London?’

  Julia fell into step with them as they walked towards the supper room. ‘Last night. What a journey we had! The packet tossed us about till I thought we should die! And then the roads were impossible!’

  ‘But here you are tonight, looking as beautiful as ever.’

  ‘Oh, never say so! I am a hag, a positive hag!’ said Lady Balmenny, looking deeply pleased.

  Katharine was annoyed. She had not been taken in by Julia’s apparent surprise at seeing Adam. The woman had probably come over with the express design of talking to him. And though Julia’s barbed remark seemed to have passed him by, it had not been lost on her. Refusing to allow Julia to leave her out of the conversation, she said now, ‘Have you come direct from Ireland, Lady Balmenny?’

  ‘What? Oh, yes. Balmenny left everything so late that there wasn’t time to stop for any length of time on the way. We spent but four days driving from Holyhead.’ Her wonderful eyes turned back to Adam. ‘I really wanted to be here much sooner,’ she said wistfully.

  Katharine persisted. ‘I
s Lord Balmenny here tonight?’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ There was a slight snap in Julia’s voice. ‘He said he was going to rest this evening.’ She threw out her hands and said, ‘But you know me, Adam. I was starved for some company. Ireland is a desert. However, I have to say that I recognise very few people here tonight. I feel very alone.’

  They had reached the supper room. ‘In that case, why don’t you join us for supper?’ said Adam. Katharine gazed at him in disbelief. Even while they were walking the short distance from the ballroom, at least a dozen people had nodded to Julia! But the invitation had been made and it was impossible to get out of it. Katharine sighed. She had been looking forward to this supper with Adam. He seemed to spend so little time with her nowadays. And though she frequently reminded herself of his arrogant, domineering ways, of how often he had annoyed her, she had not yet found anyone else whose company she enjoyed more. Try as she might to stop herself, Adam’s face was the one she first looked for, Adam’s voice the one she wanted to hear…

  And now, the rare prospect of a delightful supper party à deux with him had been ruined by this…this relic of the past! She was willing to wager that, if matters were left to Julia Redshaw, the à deux supper would consist of Lord Calthorpe and herself, and Katharine would be pushed to the fringe. But that was not going to happen. She could not get rid of Julia, but she could enlarge the party—perhaps not altogether to Lady Balmenny’s taste. It wasn’t to hers either, but in matters of war… Walter Payne was passing their table with his sister on his arm.

  ‘Walter! Catherine! Do come and join us,’ she called.

  Walter could hardly believe his ears, but he didn’t hesitate. ‘This is very nice,’ he said as he approached. ‘Good evening, Kate. Calthorpe.’ He nodded and regarded Julia.

  ‘Lady Balmenny, may I present my cousins, Catherine and Walter Payne?’

  Introductions over, Katharine ignored a glance of outrage from Adam and sat back. She wasn’t particularly happy, but she found the situation intriguing. Adam, she knew, couldn’t stand Walter, but he had a very soft spot for Walter’s sister. And now, looking at Catherine and Lady Balmenny as they sat together, she could see why. Julia Redshaw had been the love of his life ten years earlier, and Catherine Payne must be almost the image of Julia at seventeen. Even now they were very alike, but Catherine’s beauty still had the dew on it, a rose which was delicately unfurling. Julia was a strikingly beautiful woman, but her looks were just beginning to owe less to nature and more to art. The comparison was cruel.

  Conversation flourished, in spite of the tensions round the table. Julia did her best to dominate Adam’s attention, but was not altogether successful—largely because Adam’s innate good manners wouldn’t allow the rest of the party to be excluded. When Adam was talking to Catherine or Kate Payne, Julia turned her attention to Walter, who was, after all, a very handsome young man. He responded gallantly, for Lady Balmenny was an illustrious member of the highest circles, and he found her overtures most flattering. However, it annoyed Julia to note that the true focus of Walter’s attention was always his cousin Katharine, and as soon as he could he turned to talk to her again. Catherine Payne contributed little, merely gazing shyly at Adam and blushing whenever he addressed her.

  Katharine found this most irritating. How did the girl manage it? she asked herself. She sits there, saying nothing worth listening to and blushing to order, and Adam looks at her with a warmth in his eyes which I have never seen directed towards me… Just when Katharine was regretting her impulsive invitation, and beginning to long for the end of the supper interval, a diversion occurred.

  ‘Adam! I’ve found you at last! And Miss Payne, too.’ It was Ivo Trenchard. ‘I see you have a spare place at the table—you weren’t by some miracle saving it for me, were you?’ He smiled engagingly at the rest of the company.

  All three ladies were delighted to make the numbers even with such a handsome and distinguished addition to the party. More introductions were performed and Ivo sat down next to Katharine. ‘I’ve been hearing so much about the ravishing Miss Payne, that I was very much afraid I would never get near you. You haven’t forgotten your promise to dance with me, I hope?’

  ‘No, indeed,’ said Katharine warmly. ‘You were my first supporter, sir, I don’t forget such things.’

  ‘Wonderful! Do you dance the waltz? And, if so, would you delight me by saying you will dance it with me? I believe it follows the next set of country dances.’

  ‘I would love to dance the waltz with you, Lord Trenchard,’ said Katharine, casting a glance at Adam. He was frowning slightly, but at his friend, not at her.

  ‘Adam! You must dance the waltz with me!’ cried Lady Balmenny. She turned to the company. ‘I was such a child when I knew Adam last that we would never have been able to waltz together. Indeed, I don’t believe I knew how! Miss Payne, you must have made lots of progress since last Christmas, if you can manage the waltz. When Mama last wrote, you appeared not to be having a great deal of success with your dancing. I understand that Monsieur Edouard gave up in despair!’

  ‘Ah, but since then I have had the best of teachers, Lady Balmenny,’ said Katharine demurely.

  ‘What? Better than Monsieur Edouard? Who was that, pray? We always considered Monsieur Edouard outstandingly good, even with the most inept. Who was this wonder?’

  Ivo had been regarding Lady Balmenny with appreciation. He said now, ‘My dear ma’am, do not ask! Mrs Calthorpe produced him, just at the right time.’

  ‘But what was he called?’

  ‘Er… He had a very curious name,’ said Lord Trenchard with a grin. ‘Twinkletoes… Twinkletoes… What was the rest?’

  ‘Smith!’ said Katharine promptly. ‘Twinkletoes Smith. An excellent fellow. But I understand he has retired from the art of giving instruction. At least, I hope he has.’

  Lord Trenchard gazed at Katharine in laughing admiration. ‘Why did I wait so long before returning to London? You’re even better than your brother said!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘What are they talking about, Adam?’ asked Lady Balmenny, looking bewildered.

  ‘Don’t waste time trying to understand them, Julia. Lord Trenchard often talks nonsense and he has infected Kate,’ said Adam, with a glare at his former fellow officer.

  The sound of music came from the ballroom. Walter, thinking it was time he made a mark, stood up and reminded Katharine that she had promised him the set of dances after the interval. Adam had already asked Catherine Payne. With a look on his face which Adam had seen countless times in ballrooms all over Europe, Ivo Trenchard bowed to Lady Balmenny.

  ‘May I have the pleasure of dancing this set with one of the most beautiful ladies in London?’ he asked. Julia looked at him sharply. Had there been a touch of cynicism in Lord Trenchard’s tone? But then he smiled, as he took her by the hand and led her to the ballroom, and she was reassured.

  Walter had been much encouraged by Katharine’s spontaneous invitation to join her at supper. Now, dancing the long set of country dances with her, he allowed himself to become more personal again. He spoke more boldly of his hopes for the future, of how much she really meant to him…

  Katharine hardly heard him. Whenever the dance permitted she watched Adam’s tall figure out of the corner of her eye. As he danced with her cousin Catherine, his face, which in repose was normally rather severe, was softened by an indulgent smile. Her heart twisted. It seemed to Katharine that she had been watching that smile for weeks, while Adam talked, danced or walked with her cousin Catherine. He seemed to handle the girl as gently as he would a piece of the delicate porcelain she so much resembled. Was this what Adam wanted? Someone to cherish, to protect? Was he about to ask Catherine Payne to marry him, thinking he would find in her, not an equal, but someone who would let him make the decisions, without argument or protest? Or was she merely a reflection of his lost love—a younger, available, substitute for Julia Redshaw?

  For all the smiles Katharine di
rected at Walter as she made her way up the set with him, her heart was heavy. Julia would never have made Adam happy, and nor would Catherine. Catherine might be young, but she was just as selfish, and, in spite of her submissive appearance, just as determined to have her own way as the lovely Lady Balmenny. They neither of them regarded men as partners, as possible friends, but as trophies, to be coaxed with smiles and threatened with tears into giving them whatever they wanted at the time.

  What a waste it would be! Life with Adam Calthorpe could be wonderful! What a strong, loving, tender husband he would make for the right woman! He might be a touch autocratic, and his self-control was such that Katharine couldn’t imagine him ever falling desperately in love again. But there was no one in the world that she, Kate Payne, would rather marry…

  Her heart missed a beat and she came to a sudden halt. No one she would rather marry? Was she really in love with Adam Calthorpe! Yes! It seemed to her that she had always really been in love with him, ever since the beginning, ever since he had knocked her over in the churchyard. Though she had only just realised it, she had fallen in love with him then, and had loved him ever since!

  ‘Kate? Kate! Are you unwell?’

  Katharine came to with a start. Walter was looking at her in concern. The set round them was in some confusion.

  ‘I…I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Please excuse me… No, no, I am perfectly well—pray carry on.’

  Fortunately the set came to an end shortly after and they returned to the table in the supper room. Walter, still full of concern, went away to fetch Katherine a drink of water, and Adam came to sit by her almost immediately.

  ‘What was the trouble?’ he asked.

  ‘Nothing!’ For the life of her she could not speak naturally. She knew her tone was too detached, almost rude, but the revelation on the ballroom floor had been too great a shock.