The Elusive Heiress

by Gail Mallin

  ‘I see! You hope that by comparing them with the Greek that you will be able to decipher them.’

  ‘Exactly!’ Randal threw her a glance of approbation before returning his attention to the road.

  The busy traffic silenced their discourse for a few moments and then Randal said with a casualness he was far from feeling, ‘If you are interested, perhaps you would like to view the collection of oddities and small items of ancient art I amassed during my travels? It isn’t a splendid hoard, I can’t claim to have emulated Lord Elgin or my father in that respect, but you might find it worth viewing.’

  ‘I should love to see it!’ Kate’s eyes began to sparkle. He must have forgiven her!

  ‘Good.’ Randal smiled at her warmly. ‘We must arrange a date for you to visit the Hall one day next week.’

  It would never had occurred to him to woo her with such bait, but her unexpected interest had brought him one step nearer to achieving his aim!

  * * * *

  For once Kate and Alicia were to enjoy a quiet dinner at home that evening and Kate decided to broach the subject of Randal’s invitation when the dessert had been set upon the table.

  ‘Lord Redesmere suggested I stay overnight so I shall require a chaperon,’ she concluded. ‘He thought next Monday, if that suits you, ma’am?’

  ‘I shall be happy to accompany you.’ Alicia gave her a delighted smile. ‘And not only for your sake, Kitty. I adore the Hall, it is such a wonderfully romantic house! There is even a ghost!’

  Kate grinned. That was one problem solved at least. Not that she had expected Alicia to refuse. Her hostess had questioned her closely about her afternoon and made no secret of her satisfaction on hearing that the outing had been a success.

  Mary’s reaction to the plan had also been predictable.

  ‘You are a damned fool if you go, Kate,’ she had said bluntly. ‘It’s too risky.’

  Kate hadn’t needed to ask her to clarify this statement.

  But she had tried being sensible and it hadn’t worked! For whatever reason of his own, Randal had ignored her attempt to rebuff him. Short of telling him she disliked him and didn’t want him near her, there was little else she could do. Such rudeness might backfire, she still needed his consent for Kitty to gain her fortune, and, besides, she didn’t think she could carry it off.

  Lying in bed that night Kate knew the time had come to confront the truth of her feelings for Randal Crawford. She had tried telling herself that it was just a physical attraction, but it was more, much more than that.

  Kate had sworn she would never fall in love again. Her heart had been so bruised by her experience with Francis that she was too scared to trust any man. Randal had broken down the barriers she had erected to cage in her emotions. When she was with him her whole being came alive.

  She had only known him a few weeks and yet it felt as if they had been friends for years. They laughed at the same things and their minds were in tune.

  What of his feelings? Did he care for her at all or was it merely desire that held him in thrall? Kate didn’t know. All she knew was that it was too late for her to wish she had never met him.

  Mary thought she was a fool. And she was probably right. Nothing could come of it, but she wanted to go to the Hall.

  It could be only a matter of days now before the situation came to a head. If Gerald Sullivan turned up and denounced her as an impostor, they would have to flee Chester in a hurry. If that happened, it was unlikely she would ever see Randal again.

  This might be her last opportunity to spend a day with him. Surely, if she kept her emotions in check, there could be no harm in allowing herself to enjoy his company?

  Chapter Seven

  Everywhere Kate went in the next few days she encountered Lord Redesmere. At a picnic hosted by Mrs Egerton at her home on the banks of the Dee, she finally asked him if he had taken up residence in Chester.

  ‘In a manner of speaking, you could say I had.’ There was a gleam of amusement in Randal’s gaze. ‘I’ve been staying temporarily with Godwin, you see.’

  Kate’s mouth formed a circle of surprise.

  ‘I shall, of course, be returning home tomorrow night in readiness for your visit,’ he reassured her with his most charming smile.

  Kate vaguely noticed that he hadn’t mentioned why he was staying at his uncle’s house, but was distracted by him saying that his sister was expected home from her honeymoon.

  ‘Emma wrote to tell me that they would be arriving around four o’clock.’ Randal took out his gold verge watch and glanced at it. The Egertons lived near Shotwick, he would have to ride hard to return to Chester in time. ‘So I’m afraid I must leave in a moment.’

  Kate hid her disappointment. ‘I understood Alicia to say that Lieutenant Lattimer’s family live in Cornwall,’ she remarked, fanning herself idly. It was another hot afternoon, although it felt a little cooler here by the river. ‘Is he going to take your sister to pay them a farewell visit before they leave England?’

  Randal shook his fair head. ‘They said their goodbyes at the wedding.’

  ‘I suppose his parents are used to him being away. Alicia said he has been in the army since he was sixteen.’ Kate had heard all about Randal’s new in-law from Lady Edgeworth, who had attended Emma’s wedding and thought it a very good match. ‘However, I dare say you will miss your sister.’

  Randal agreed. He was some fourteen years Emma’s senior, but they were close. ‘I had hoped that they would stay at the Hall for the rest of their leave, but Emma declined my offer. I think she wants to prove she is now an independent married woman. They are to put up at the White Lion until they take ship for Spain.’

  Randal had been somewhat disappointed, but now realised that Emma’s decision to assert her new status afforded him a useful privacy.

  Rising reluctantly to his feet, he said, ‘Shall I see you at Godwin’s party tomorrow?’

  Kate stood up too. ‘Try keeping me away! I love strawberries!’

  Randal grinned at her. ‘You had better wear an old dress then. Godwin takes his strawberrying very seriously!’

  Kate chuckled. Alicia had told her that Godwin’s strawberry party was an annual event. ‘It is a very informal occasion. Everyone has the greatest fun,’ she’d enthused.

  Randal raised Kate’s hand to his lips. ‘Don’t forget your sun bonnet,’ he murmured softly. ‘It would be a pity to spoil so perfect a complexion.’

  Kate could still feel a tingle of excitement from his kiss even after she had returned to Abbey Square.

  She went upstairs to remove her hat and when she came down she discovered that Alicia had ordered some orgeat to be served.

  ‘This came for you, Miss Kitty, while you was out.’ Susan set the tray holding the cooling beverage down on the ornate boulle-inlay table which decorated the morning room before presenting Kate with a letter.

  Kate thanked her. ‘Is Lady Edgeworth still upstairs?’

  ‘I heard her say she was thinking of taking a bath, Miss. Ever so hot she looked.’

  ‘Perhaps you had better take a glass of orgeat upstairs for her,’ Kate suggested.

  The minute Susan departed, Kate ripped the missive open. It was from Ned, which was no surprise to her as she had recognised his handwriting. The contents were much as she expected too.

  ‘Damn!’ she muttered, chewing on her lower lip in frustration.

  Ned wanted them home.

  Kitty has been making herself useful, he wrote. She is very handy with her needle and right willing to do anything to pay her way, bar helping out front of the house. She still hides away from strangers, you understand. We all like her, she’s a nice little thing, and I want to see her get her money, but you know how hard it is to find work at this time of year and I’ve heard rumours that there could be a good booking for us coming up. I need you here, Kate, or we’ll lose it for sure!

  Kate stared down at his untidy scrawl, her heart sinking. How much longer could she put Kitty�
�s needs above the company’s?

  Or, to put it more honestly perhaps, how much longer could she afford to linger here, indulging a senseless passion for a man who could never be hers?

  * * * *

  On their return from church the following morning Alicia announced her intention of paying a call upon her former governess.

  ‘I had promised to visit her shortly before your arrival, Kitty, but we have been so busy! I feel quite guilty at my neglect for she is an old lady now and doesn’t get about much so she looks forward to having company.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you?’ Kate suggested.

  Alicia shook her carefully coiffured head. ‘Lud, child, you would be sadly bored! No, it is kind of you to offer, but I think you would do better to conserve your energies for this afternoon.’

  She picked up her reticule and prepared to leave.

  ‘While I am gone perhaps you might like to give some thought to your costume for Lord Redesmere’s forthcoming ball? You must try to come to a decision soon, my love, for I dare say every single modiste in Chester will be swamped with orders!’

  This parting shot struck gloom into Kate’s soul. To allay her despondency, she went to fetch her sketch pad. She had explained her hesitation in ordering a costume by pretending she didn’t know what character to go as, but, in truth, she didn’t know if she would still be in Chester when the fancy-dress ball in honour of the Lattimers took place.

  Assuming she was able to attend, she certainly couldn’t afford to pay Celestine to create a costume for her. She had already spent too much at the dressmakers and the thought of trading further upon Alicia’s generosity was abhorrent. She would have to design something for herself and make it up with the help of Mary’s clever fingers.

  Taking up a position near one of the long windows in the drawing room, a large elegant apartment which caught the best of the light, Kate was intent upon sketching several ideas which had occurred to her for an inexpensive costume when George, Lady Edgeworth’s young footman, came in to tell her that she had a visitor.

  For one hopeful moment, Kate wondered if Randal had come to call on her, but it was Alan Hilton who was announced.

  ‘My dear sir, do come in,’ Kate invited, abandoning her drawing and rising to her feet at his entrance.

  Lady Edgeworth had indulged her taste for ornate furniture by ordering a pair of crocodile-footed couches, upholstered in a green brocade which matched the silk-panelled walls. They stood facing each other in the middle of the room and Kate sat down on one of them and waved Mr Hilton towards the other.

  ‘Would you care for some refreshment, sir?’ she asked, agog with curiosity, but striving to hide it.

  The lawyer, who was dressed with conventional neatness in a suit of black broadcloth and his usual wig, looked extremely hot and accepted her offer with grateful alacrity.

  They exchanged polite small talk while Kate rang for a jug of cooling lemonade, which was swiftly brought and served.

  When he had slaked his thirst and they were alone once more Mr Hilton turned to the matter which had brought him to Abbey Square.

  ‘I beg your pardon for disturbing you on a Sunday, Miss Nixon, but I have some important news for you,’ he said in his precise manner.

  ‘About Mr Gerald Sullivan?’ Kate gazed at him expectantly.

  ‘Quite so. I received an answer from him yesterday evening. He declines to come to Chester, I’m afraid.’

  Kate folded her hands in her lap in a composed gesture and strove to conceal her glee. ‘Did he give any reason for refusing?’

  ‘He states that his present health will not permit him to make the journey.’

  ‘Do you believe him?’ Kate asked boldly.

  The lawyer cleared his throat. ‘I think it is Lord Redesmere who must judge the matter,’ he murmured.

  Kate smiled sweetly and, putting on her most innocent air, gently pressed him further.

  ‘In my opinion, Miss Nixon, his refusal does not lend credence to his story.’ Succumbing to her charm, her visitor confessed his doubts. ‘Given the seriousness of his allegation, I would have expected him to make every effort to prove the veracity of his claim.’

  He didn’t believe Gerald’s excuse! Kate’s almond-shaped eyes lit with triumph and it was all she could do to sit calmly while the lawyer continued to expound upon his theory.

  ‘Would you care for some more lemonade, sir?’ she asked at length when he ground to a halt.

  ‘No, I thank you.’ Mr Hilton stood up. ‘Knowing you must be anxious, I wanted to acquaint you with the latest news, but now I will leave you to enjoy the rest of the Sabbath in peace.’

  ‘Does Lord Redesmere know about this refusal?’ Kate asked him as she too rose to her feet.

  ‘I sent one of my clerks round to Stanley Place with a note for him last night.’

  ‘Well, thank you for coming in person, sir. It was kind of you to take so much trouble.’

  Mr Hilton took the hand she extended to him and shook it warmly. ‘Not at all, my dear young lady,’ he said, making her a creditable bow.

  He declined her offer to show him out and Kate returned to her seat by the window. Picking up her sketch pad she sat down, but her mind was not on her drawing.

  There had been no real need for Hilton to give up his day of rest and call on her in person. A letter would have done as well. And come to think on it, there had been a different note in his voice as he had said farewell, a much warmer, much more respectful note.

  Pondering the change in his manner, Kate began to smile.

  * * * *

  Early in their acquaintance Randal had mentioned to Kate that Stanley Place had been erected almost thirty years ago and that his uncle had purchased one of the new houses there with his patrimony on the death of his father.

  ‘It is a good address, although the house itself isn’t as grand as the Nixon mansion in Vicar’s Lane,’ he had added in so bland a tone Kate hadn’t been sure whether he was baiting her or not.

  Kate stared up at the impressive classical facade of Mr Godwin Crawford’s house and gulped.

  What must Kitty’s inheritance be like!

  The warmth of Godwin’s greeting soon banished this flicker of trepidation.

  ‘‘Pon rep, Miss Kitty,’ he exclaimed, giving her an approving glance. ‘You look as cool as a mermaid in that rig. Don’t she, nevvy?’

  Lord Redesmere was more than happy to endorse this statement and revelling in the admiration in his eyes, Kate was glad she had taken the trouble to smarten up a pretty but faded pale blue muslin, donated by Alicia for the occasion to save her good clothes from being spoilt. Mary had helped her create the sleeveless over tunic of filmy aquamarine mousseline de soie from a remnant bought cheaply, but to her friend’s consternation, Kate had insisted on leaving off both corset and drawers.

  A zona to support her bosom, silk stockings, a pair of thin sandals and a wide-brimmed straw sunhat trimmed in the same material as her tunic completed Kate’s summery ensemble and she felt quite comfortable even when they all repaired into the heat of the sunlit garden.

  It was, she decided, a very attractive garden. Although fairly small, at least by the standards of the gentry, it was well laid out with lawns, shrubs and trees. Even with thirty-odd guests milling around, its clever design prevented it from feeling cramped.

  ‘Come and get your baskets everyone,’ Godwin called out jovially.

  He began to hand out the shallow straw containers with the help of a servant. ‘Remember there is a prize for the lady who collects the most strawberries.’

  With much laughter his guests dispersed, heading for the strawberry beds, which were scattered throughout the garden.

  ‘A penny for them.’

  Kate looked up to see Lord Redesmere watching her.

  ‘You aren’t picking fruit,’ she accused indignantly, noting his empty hands.

  ‘Neither were you,’ he countered with a smile.

  Kate admitted it.
‘I was daydreaming,’ she confessed.

  ‘About what Gerald’s dereliction of duty means for you,’ Randal continued for her.

  ‘Perhaps.’ Kate’s generous mouth curved upwards in an involuntary smile.

  A sharp stab of desire lanced through Randal. For an instant all he wanted in the world was to kiss those red, parted lips.

  Reading his expression, Kate took a hasty step back, but Randal had already regained control of himself.

  ‘Careful!’ he warned. ‘You’ll snag your dress.’

  Kate took a deep breath. Suddenly the warm air, scented by strawberries and gillyflowers, seemed stifling!

  ‘Would you like me to fetch you a cold drink?’

  ‘No…no, I’m all right.’ Kate didn’t want him to go. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she wasn’t quite that mad…yet!

  Tearing her gaze from his tall virile form she pretended an interest in the strawberries in her basket.

  ‘Actually, if you must know, I was merely thinking how much luckier we ladies are than you gentlemen,’ she fibbed. ‘You all look so hot in those tight coats and boots.’

  Randal laughed. He didn’t believe her for a moment, but he admired her pluck! ‘Granted you have the advantage of me, Miss Nixon.’

  Kate peeped at him through her long eyelashes. Was it her imagination or was there a slight edge to his tone? They had been getting on so well she had allowed herself to forget what Gerald’s refusal to identify her must mean to him.

  Not daring to ask him exactly what he meant, she tried to divert the conversation into safer channels. ‘People seem to be drifting back towards the house. Shall we join them them?’

  ‘Running away again, Katharine?’

  Kate lifted her brows delicately. ‘Why should I feel the need to run from you, my lord?’ she countered, throwing his challenge back at him.

  Randal made her an exquisite bow. ‘I’m delighted to hear that you trust me.’

  This time there was no mistaking the mockery in his deep voice, but Kate had the strangest feeling it was directed at himself.