She smiled up at him with unshadowed affection. “My dear, how I wish that I could return the compliment, but, indeed, you look tired, Anthony. Are you unwell?”
“No, Aunt, I am not conscious that anything is amiss,” he answered rather abruptly, dismissing the subject. “How is my ward?”
“Delightful in every way. I cannot wait until you see her. I think you will be pleased with what I have done. She is in the garden at the moment, though I have no doubt that she would very much rather be in the stables. I sent her out to pluck some roses to arrange, which is something all women must learn to do. I fear the road to young lady–hood is rather hard on the poor sweet.”
The Earl smiled. “I shall render myself agreeable, then, and rescue her. In the rose garden, you say?” Lady Horatia nodded and watched in great satisfaction as the tall figure made his way out into the hot summer sunshine.
As Debenham walked slowly towards the perfumed rose beds, he reflected that he had no right to expect a very warm welcome. He had not seen Kitty since that night last March, but the memory of the terms he had used towards her haunted him still. He had sent her down to Debenham with John the next morning, without attempting to see her again, and had communicated with her since only through her lawyers. He had devoted all his time since to proving his ward's claim to the Brabington fortune; and, thanks to the evidence of the family Bible, combined with surprisingly little opposition from young Lord Brabington, his lawyers were able to establish to the court's satisfaction that Kitty was indeed heiress to the vast inheritance. The house was, of course, entailed to the new Lord Brabington, together with the estate and revenues; but these had diminished as the old lord had allowed the estate to fall off in later years. However, the fortune that Kitty was to inherit had nothing to do with the land and was invested in various ways that ensured her a very generous income for life without her ever having to touch the principal.
This was the news that had brought Lord Debenham down to see her. He wanted to tell her himself that she was a wealthy young woman and advise her to take care. He had not forgotten Mr Wellbeloved, nor did he think that Wellbeloved had forgotten them.
He found Kitty where Lady Horatia had told him, sitting rather disconsolately on a rustic bench surrounded by fragrant rose beds. She made an exquisite picture as she leant her head upon one white hand, the ruffles at her elbows accentuating the new womanly curves of her lovely arms. She was attired in a Robe a l’Anglaise of cream and gold brocade, very fashionably made up by my Lady's own modiste. The riotous curls had been arranged to frame her face while one dark ringlet fell across the décolletage of her gown. A basket of roses at her feet testified to her former occupation, and in her hand she held a bloom, from which she was engaged in slowly stripping the petals.
The Earl became conscious that his breath was coming rather quickly and, with an effort, he regained something like his usual composure before leaving the shelter of the walk and strolling forward into the sunlight.
As his shadow fell across her, Kitty glanced up quickly and, over her face, there came a smile of such breathtaking sweetness that Debenham found he was quite unable to greet her with the formality he had determined upon. Instead, he smiled tenderly upon her and took her hand, saying, “My dear, I am overcome. I think I should have been given some warning, for I swear I was near to begging pardon for having intruded upon this fashionable young lady in mistake for my ward.”
Kitty laughed. “Do you approve, Sir? Truly, I have tried very hard and, of course, Lady Horatia has been so kind that I love her already.”
“My dear, what can I say? I fear I shall have much to contend with when I introduce to the ton a young lady with your attractions, in addition to a tempting fortune. There will be match-making mammas ready to murder me, I dare say.”
“I am glad you think well of me, Sir,” she replied, rather wistfully. Their eyes met; each knew that the shadow of their last meeting must be dispelled if it were not to destroy this promising new relationship.
“Kitty, I have to beg you to forgive me for my words on the occasion of our last meeting. I have regretted them deeply. There is no excuse that I can give you. I am in your hands.”
Mistress Brabington searched her guardian's face and, seeing real anxiety there, she gladly accepted his apology and signified the event by throwing her arms around his neck, a proceeding that severely tried Debenham's resolution. However, if loyalty to his bride had not acted as sufficient restraint, the knowledge that her embrace was as innocent as a child's must have done so.
“Now that we are friends again, Sir, I wish you will explain to me how I come to be an heiress, for I find it very confusing.''
Lord Debenham seated himself beside his ward and retained her hand in what he hoped was an avuncular manner. “First of all, Kitty, I must tell you that what Wellbeloved related to you was basically the truth. Your father was the youngest son of the Brabingtons and, for various sins, was cast off when he was twenty or thereabouts. No one could have foreseen that his three elder brothers would all fail to reach their fortieth birthday. It was the most unlucky series of mischances and must have seemed to the old man, who outlived all his sons, to be a curse of some kind. However, he died in forty-five and, in default of a direct heir, your father, having been presumed dead, a distant cousin became the new baronet. Now, if your father had been tried and convicted of treason, he would have forfeited his goods to the crown; but—forgive me if I pain you, my dear—as he died before being convicted, all his goods are inherited by yourself. Lord Brabington, of course, retains the title and all that is entailed upon him, but there is a very large fortune un-entailed, of which you are now the possessor.”
Kitty whistled, a heartening reminder of her boyhood, and then became rather grave. “Poor Lord Brabington,” she remarked. “He must be very angry that I have turned up out of nowhere to deprive him of a fortune.”
“One would have imagined so, Kitty, but I must say he has behaved very well, unexpectedly well when one considers his reputation.”
“And what is his reputation, dear Sir?” she inquired softly.
“He is, I fear, a weak and vicious young man,” responded Lord Debenham. “Indeed, if it were not that the closeness of your relationship makes it impracticable, he is precisely the kind of man I would wish you to avoid.” The Earl regarded his ward thoughtfully. “You see, my dear, you are not only a supremely attractive young woman, you are a very considerable heiress, and when you appear in town there is no doubt that you will have many suitors. You are very young and, though I do not desire to impose restraint upon you, I must ask that you consult either myself or Lady Horatia before forming any friendships or attachments. Can I depend upon that, Kitty?”
It is not to be supposed that a young lady accustomed to roaming the cities of Europe with an indulgent father would submit readily to such dictatorship. However, she had learnt quite enough from Lady Horatia to know that this was a case for feminine guile rather than the open rebellion she would have made a few months ago. Therefore, she smiled sunnily upon his Lordship, secretly, however, reserving the right to be friends with exactly whom she chose. My Lord, who was falling momentarily more deeply under the spell of his ward, was unsuspicious of a docility that would certainly have warned him had he been regarding the young lady objectively.
Observing that they had left his good aunt alone for quite long enough, the Earl offered his arm to his companion, and together they made their way down the shady paths that led them back to the house.
Lady Horatia was on the watch for them and immediately rustled forward to draw them into the morning room, where a cold collation had been laid out for their refreshment.
The meal was passed very merrily, for Kitty kept them laughing with her naughty account of her recent trials and drew laughing protests from Lady Horatia in describing that good lady's first arrival.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent in showing her guardian the skills she had acquired over the last three
months in order that he might assure himself that she was quite ready to appear in Society. As he was able to praise everything he saw, from her court curtsies to the fluttering of her pretty fan and the placing of her patches, he pronounced himself very satisfied and announced his intention of taking his ward to the fashionable city of Bath within a month.
Debenham returned to town early the next morning, the bearer of a good many commissions from his affectionate aunt concerning all the little trifles indispensable to a young lady making her first appearance. Within a very few days, a constant stream of packages began to appear, containing, besides such entrancing articles as fans, shawls, muffs, slippers, and stockings, the even more important lengths of silk, satin, brocade, and lace that were to furnish Kitty with a wardrobe worthy of the Brabington heiress.
The great Celine herself journeyed down from London and stayed long enough to render herself odious to the local seamstresses, whom she bullied unmercifully in order to produce her exquisite creations in time.
Debenham had signified that he intended to hold a ball in honour of his ward upon her arrival in Bath, and, naturally, the gown to be worn on this important occasion was the subject of long and delightful discussions between the three ladies. They decided finally upon an open robe of figured brocade in palest pink worn over a petticoat of silver net. Lady Horatia grew quite tearful when she saw her charge arrayed in this creation and, when questioned, could only mutter direfully against poor Amelia Henshawe, who was quite unconscious of the uncharitable feelings she had aroused in the gentle lady's breast.
Kitty grew tired of being fitted for her new gowns long before her wardrobe was complete; but, eventually, all was finished, packed up, and sent on before them to Bath, and they were able to step into Lord Debenham's well-sprung coach on the first stage of their journey.
Six
It is not to be supposed that Mistress Kitty, inured to the more exotic splendours of Rome, Vienna, and Madrid, would find much to impress her in the fashionable watering-place of Bath. She compared it unfavourably, indeed, with Baden-Baden, where a good many of her adolescent summers had been passed. But she settled down happily enough in the pleasant house Lord Debenham had acquired for the season and was willing to own herself glad of the change.
It was in Bath that she tasted the first pleasures of being female and realized that even tight lacing had its compensations. She was not to be seen formally until my Lord's Ball, but on the several shopping expeditions she made in company with Lady Horatia, she was at first astonished and then delighted to find that she commanded an uncommon degree of admiration wherever she went. Lady Horatia also rejoiced in her charge's success, which she not unnaturally regarded as a compliment to herself.
Lady Horatia had no doubt that Kitty would be besieged with partners at the coming Ball, but as she said to her nephew: “My dear Anthony, I cannot but feel our sweet Kitty would go on very much more comfortably at her party if she were acquainted with one or two young ladies of her own age. Do you not think that I might perhaps take her to the Pump Room tomorrow in order to introduce her to some sweet girls I know of?”
The Earl shrugged. “Whatever you think best, dear Aunt. I believe that you will find Lady Amelia at the Pump Room tomorrow, indeed, for I have just received this note, which informs me that the family arrived in Bath this afternoon. Perhaps you would be good enough to introduce them.”
“But my dear, surely that is a pleasure you would prefer to reserve for yourself?” responded Lady Horatia, with a touch of malice.
She found Debenham was regarding her very seriously. “I realize that you have discovered in some way my feelings for my ward, but pray believe me when I say that there is no possibility of my breaking with Amelia. I must request you not to tease me on the subject. I know I can rely on your affection. It can afford me nothing but pain to see them together; to be offered the chance of comparison is what I dread. But, dear Aunt, I shall find it very much easier if I am not conscious that I am watched and my behaviour noted.”
Lady Horatia was much affected. “My dear boy, I shall never refer to it again, I promise. But how I wish it were not so, for, of all the women in the world, Kitty is the very one to make you happy.”
He made no reply, and Lady Horatia slipped from the room, from whence she retired to her chamber and relieved her feelings by setting them all down in a lengthy letter to the Comtesse de Longueville.
True to her promise, she escorted her charge to the Pump Room the next morning. Mistress Kitty could not comprehend the pains her mentor took with her that morning, but Lady Horatia was determined that Kitty should outshine poor Lady Amelia in every way, if only for her own satisfaction. His Lordship would not be there to compare the two women, but the rest of the Polite World undoubtedly would.
And so, when Kitty finally entered the Pump Room that morning, she was a vision of fashionable loveliness. Lady Horatia had arrayed her in dull amber silk lavishly trimmed with gold lace, in which costume she entered the fashionable throng like a golden rose. Several ladies took an immediate and lifelong dislike to her upon first sight while, upon the impressionable men, she produced a quite contrary effect.
She and Lady Horatia soon became the centre of a crowd of admirers, well-wishers and hangers-on, and Kitty passed the morning very agreeably being introduced to as many of the fashionables as her guide considered suitable. The Polite World had, of course, long been agog with the news that Debenham had become the guardian of an heiress; now they were delighted to find that she was a Beauty as well. The situation promised to be interesting, for not a man or woman there but was sure that the relationship between ward and guardian was of the closest. Thus, when the assembly became aware that the Lady Amelia Henshawe had entered the Rooms accompanying her Mama, a hush descended, and they watched with delicious anticipation as Lady Horatia led her young friend forward to be presented to her guardian's betrothed. They were disappointed. Something was said, and a chaste salute was exchanged. With unexpected cordiality, Lady Amelia invited Kitty to sit beside her and engaged her in conversation. The sensation seekers were disappointed but soon entered once more into the more important business of the day—making assignations, flirting desperately, and destroying reputations.
Had they been able to overhear the conversation between the two women, the fashionable assembly would have been little the wiser regarding the sentiments of either lady. Lady Amelia was far too well-bred to betray any animosity towards her young acquaintance, and, as yet, Kitty was conscious of none towards her. The conversation was kept up mostly between the two older ladies, and Kitty was well content to listen to the gossip they exchanged.
Lady Amelia was graciously intent on including Kitty, however, and began to question her about the coming Ball and upon the gown she was to wear. Nothing loath, Kitty embarked upon a minute description of its glories, which Lady Amelia was pleased to approve.
“My dear, it sounds delightful and most decidedly suitable. No colour becomes a brunette so well as pink.”
“Indeed, Ma'am, I hope so, for above all things I desire to be a credit to my guardian and to dear Lady Horatia,” answered Kitty demurely.
“Oh, do not exclude me!” cried Lady Amelia playfully, tapping Kitty's hand with her fan. “For I am one of the family, am I not? You must know, my dear, that I look forward to having you under my own roof very soon now.”
“Yes,” answered Kitty, a little taken aback by this sudden affection, “yes, indeed, Lady Amelia.”
“When we are married,” pursued the lady, “my Lord and I have quite decided that you shall make your home with us until we can find an eligible match for you. Debenham is very anxious to establish you creditably, my love. I am sure you must be very grateful to him.”
Kitty opened her eyes very wide. “You have discussed my marriage with the Earl?” she repeated incredulously.
“But, of course.”
“Then, Ma'am, perhaps you would be kind enough to inform Lord Debenham that I have no
intention of marrying now or at any time any man chosen for me by him. No, do not trouble yourself. I shall tell him myself!” announced Mistress Kitty defiantly.
Lady Horatia judged it time to intervene. ''Do not fret, my love,” she interposed soothingly. “Anthony would never dream of acting without consulting you. Your happiness must and shall be the paramount consideration. But why should we be talking of bridals when our dearest Kitty has not yet made her first appearance? There is time enough to be thinking of such things.”
“Of course, there is,” agreed Lady Amelia with a gracious smile. “I did but mention the matter so that Kitty might know how hard dearest Debenham is striving to establish her, despite the doubtful nature of her upbringing.”
Lady Horatia decided that Kitty had been exposed for quite long enough to the honeyed spitefulness of her guardian's prospective bride, and at the conclusion of this speech, she swept Mistress Kitty from the Pump Room and secured a couple of chairs to convey them back to Milsom Street.
The next evening was that of the Ball, and as her ladyship was determined that her charge should be in the best of looks and spirits for the evening, she ordered the reluctant Kitty to remain quietly in her chamber until midday, which time she was allowed to take a gentle stroll in the gardens before being summoned inside to partake of an early dinner. This was a hurried affair, for there was much to be done, but Lady Horatia completed her multiplicity of tasks in good time to attend Kitty as she embarked on the all-important business of dressing for the Ball.
When Lady Horatia arrived in Kitty's chamber, the coiffeuse had just completed his work. Kitty's curls formed a flattering frame for her enchanting little face while her heavy back hair had been twisted into a stylish chignon into which several tiny pink rosebuds had been pressed in a purposely haphazard fashion.
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