A Kiss at Midnight (28 page)

“It’s awkward,” Kate said, considering that an understatement.

“I’m
illegitimate
,” Victoria said again. “I wake up in the middle of the night and think about that. That word. It’s a horrible word, all those syllables and none of them good.”

“The circumstances of your birth are not your fault.”

Victoria bit her lip. “But when my mother married your father, you lost your inheritance, and she gave it to me . . . it’s not right! I keep thinking about it. It’s as if I’m some sort of parasite. I look like a lady, but I’m really nothing more than an illegitimate, thieving
chipper
!” And with that she broke into genuine sobs.

“Chipper?” Kate asked, feeling rather dazed. “What on earth is a chipper?”

“A baggage,” Victoria wailed. “A trollop. I’m—I’m carrying a child out of wedlock. I’m just like my mother!”

“No, you’re not,” Kate said firmly, reaching over and pulling a handkerchief from the dressing table and giving it to her. “A wise old man in this very castle told me that kindness is the most important thing, and he was right. You are kind, Victoria, and your mother, unfortunately, is not. You are not a thief. Papa wanted you to have that money.”

“No, he left it to my mother and she—she—”

“He left it directly to Mariana, knowing full well that she would give it to you. My mother left me a dowry, you know that.”

“I’m just so grateful that he married her at all,” Victoria said, with a sob.

Kate had wondered for years why her father married Mariana. But now, looking at her pretty, silly, sweet sister, she knew why. “I want to show you something,” she said, jumping up and running to the little writing desk. “Just let me write a note first.”

“What?” Victoria said, taking another handkerchief out of her reticule. “I know it annoys you when I cry, Kate. I’m sorry. It’s something about being with child. It’s made me worse than ever.”

“It’s all right. I’m used to it.”

“Algie says I’m a watering pot and he’s going to put me out in the garden,” Victoria said dolefully.

Kate composed the note to Gabriel.

Your Highness,

May I show my sister the statue of Merry in the chapel garden? Your uncle thought that you might have the chapel key. I’m sure that Berwick would be able to help us find the door.

Yours & etc.,

Miss Katherine Daltry

“What are you going to wear tonight?” Victoria said, putting away her handkerchief.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” Kate said. “Rosalie has something chosen. I wish she’d bring up something more to eat. I’m positively ravenous.”

“You
have
to think about it,” Victoria said. “This is your presentation to society, Kate! I’m here, so you can go to the ball as yourself.”

Kate blinked. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I bought a powerful corset,” Victoria said, “so that I will look thinner. And I’ll wear a wig, and take the dogs with me.”

Just then Rosalie entered with luncheon on a tray, so Kate sent her off to deliver the note to the prince.

“It’s so odd to think of you exchanging
billets-doux
with a prince,” Victoria said, a forkful of chicken halfway to her mouth.

“Because I’ve been a servant in Yarrow House, you mean?”

“You were never a servant!” Victoria said. “Mother can be harsh, but not that harsh. You were . . . you were . . .”

“The label doesn’t matter,” Kate put in. “I think it’s odd that I’m writing to a prince as well. I wasn’t even sure how to address the note, if the truth be told. What am I to do tonight, Victoria? I can’t dance, you know.”

Victoria’s mouth fell open. “Of course you can’t dance. Mother only got me a dancing master when we went to London for the season. And we haven’t time for Algie to teach you either.”

“Algie?”

“Algie is a wonderful dancer,” Victoria said proudly. “And he’s such a good teacher, so kind and patient. He’s taught me no end of things.”

“You two are—” Kate said, and the door opened.

“The prince is waiting in the chapel for you both,” Rosalie squealed.

“I want to show you something,” Kate said, holding her hand out to Victoria. “Something that you’ll like.”

“I’ve never met a prince,” Victoria kept muttering as she trotted behind Kate down the stairs. “I wish Algie were here. I do wish Algie were here. I just wish that he . . .”

Thirty-six

G
abriel looked so beautiful, waiting for them at the door to the chapel, that Kate actually felt her head spinning a little. But if there was one thing Katherine Daltry would never, ever do, it was lose her head over a man. Or swoon. Or throw herself on a funeral pyre.

So she held her head high and greeted him with a curtsy, introduced him to her sister, and generally behaved as if they were no more than passing acquaintances.

And since he did the same, there was no cause for the pain she felt. It was as bad as an arrow to her side, she thought glumly as she followed Gabriel’s brisk footsteps through the chapel to the back room, where a red door had been discovered behind a tapestry.

Wick was there as well, and of the two brothers, he was the only one who seemed to have a tongue to speak. “We had no idea the door was here,” he was explaining to Victoria, “until His Highness noticed it from the garden side.”

“I found the key,” Gabriel said, speaking for the first time since they exchanged greetings. He pulled out a huge rusty key and thrust it in the lock. It turned, but the door didn’t open.

He threw his weight against it in a surprisingly violent gesture that made Victoria squeak and jump back. Still, it didn’t move. Then Wick stepped up beside him. When they both put a shoulder to the door it opened with a terrible screeching noise.

“Rusted shut,” Gabriel said, his voice as cool and distant as if he were addressing a group of village drunkards.

Kate walked past him without comment. After a wet morning, the sun was shining fitfully on the drooping branches of the garden’s one oak tree.

“How messy,” Victoria said in dismay, as she picked her way through the door. “Dear me, Your Highness. Perhaps you should put some gardeners to work here.”

“They’re all busy in the village mending roofs,” Gabriel said. “This is not the weather to leave people without cover.”

“Here,” Kate said, catching Victoria’s hand. “I’ll show you the statue.”

“What statue?” Victoria said, trailing behind. “Drat, there’s my skirt caught on a rose bush. Wait for me, Kate!”

But Kate walked ahead, desperate to create space between herself and Gabriel. She stopped in front of Merry and then bent down to say hello, wiping a rain drop from her marble cheek.

“What a sweet baby,” Victoria crooned. “Oh, just look at her adorable plump fingers and her dimples.”

“Her name was Merry,” Kate said. “She was illegitimate, Victoria. Her mother’s name was Eglantine.”

“Oh.”

“There’s no record of her father . . . but there’s a record of one thing.”

“What?” Victoria reached down and pulled a leaf from Merry’s shoulder.

“She was loved, you see? She has her own garden, her own memorial.”

Victoria’s big blue eyes filled with tears. “Merry
died
?”

“Merry lived in the 1500s,” Kate said, schooling her tone to patience. “Of course she died.”

“But—”

“My point is that her mother loved her just as much as she would have loved any child. And my father loved you that way as well. So the ugliness of that word
illegitimacy
doesn’t matter. Because my father loved you enough to marry Mariana, Victoria. He was the son of an earl, and he married his mistress, a woman who wasn’t a lady. For you.”

“Oh,” Victoria said softly. “I didn’t think of—are you sure, Kate?”

“I’m absolutely sure. He knew I was taken care of, and that my mother had left me a dowry. He made sure that you were taken care of by marrying your mother, and leaving your dowry in her hands.”

Victoria’s eyes overflowed, but the sky had started splattering tears as well. So Kate wound her arm around her sister’s shoulders and led her back into the chapel, past the men standing silently next to the large red door.

She gave Wick a smile, and Gabriel a nod, because one didn’t smile at princes as if they were common folk.

And definitely not if the only thing one wanted to do was kiss him until the haunted look was gone from his face.

“He’s so handsome,” Victoria whispered, on the way back up the stairs.

“Who, the prince?” Kate asked. “Yes, if you like the dark and brooding sort of man.”

“Well, he’s not Algie,” Victoria said, with perfect truth. “But Kate, did you see the way he looked at you? His eyes were positively burning!”

“He opens the ball tonight with his betrothed, Princess Tatiana,” Kate said flatly. “I would expect their marriage to be celebrated within the fortnight.”

“That’s so cruel,” her sister said. “I can’t like it. Would you like to leave now, Kate? My maid is packing already. We could be gone in an hour or two.”

“I will
not
run and hide. We shall attend the ball, and I mean to dance with every man who has two good legs, even though I can’t dance. And then we’ll leave for your wedding, and after that, London. The prince does not care for large cities. I shall forget about him.”

“I could never forget about Algie,” Victoria said doubtfully.

“But you and he are betrothed. It’s a different set of circumstances. You’re going to be parents together. I hardly know the prince,” Kate said, trying hard to give her voice an airy ring.

Victoria didn’t answer, but she slipped a hand in Kate’s and gave it a squeeze.

Thirty-seven

H
enry was waiting in Kate’s chamber when she slipped through the door, having dropped Victoria in her room to begin the long process of dressing for the ball. Kate took one look at her godmother and her lip trembled. Henry started forward, arms open.

She was crying before Henry even reached her. Her godmother pulled her over to the settee, sat them both down, and rocked her against her shoulder, saying things that Kate didn’t hear. She cried until her lungs burned and her stomach twisted.

Finally Kate lifted her head. “Just don’t tell me to stop loving him,” she said, choking out the words. “I couldn’t stop breathing, I couldn’t stop loving—” She lost her voice in a sob.

“I’m not,” Henry said. She pushed Kate gently backward, so she was lying down. “I am going to tell you to stop crying, though. You’re making yourself ill.” She got up and went to the washbasin, bringing back a cool, damp cloth. “Put this over your eyes.”

So Kate lay there under the wet cloth, feeling the sting of her swollen eyes, and the way her chest still hurt from the violence of her sobs, and the comfort of Henry’s fingers twined in hers.

“I won’t tell you to stop loving him,” Henry finally said, “because I know it’s not possible.”

“My father . . .”

“I cried for a week when I heard he died. I cried on his wedding night; I cried when your mother died, because I knew he would be hurt by it.” There was a moment’s pause. “I
never
cry,” Henry added.

Kate gave a watery chuckle. “I don’t either.
Ever
.”

Henry’s fingers tightened. “I’m so sorry, Kate. I’m just so sorry. All I can tell you is that life can be joyful, even if one of the people you love isn’t beside you. Because there will be others. I know it doesn’t feel that way, but it’s true. You’ll marry—”

“That’s the worst of it,” Kate burst out. “How am I going to marry anyone now? Now that I know—I know . . .” She fell silent, unable to put into words what it was like to nestle in Gabriel’s arms, to laugh with him, to relax against him, to make love to him. “I couldn’t,” she said flatly. His scent was imprinted in her skin, and the way he shook when she touched him, the way his face grew wild and needy.

“I know,” Henry said. “I know.” She got up. “I’m going to change your cloth. Your eyes look like raisins soaked in brandy.”

“Charming,” Kate said, her laugh cracking.

“Love is messy,” Henry said, pulling off the cloth and putting another cold one in its place. It was a little too wet, and a drop of chill water rolled down Kate’s cheek. Even as Kate was reaching to wipe it off, Henry patted her dry. “Messy, messy, messy.”

“I hate it,” Kate said, with conviction.

“Well, I don’t. Because it’s better to live like a flame, Kate, to know a man and love him, even if he can’t be yours, than never to love at all.”

“There will be no one else for me.” She said it out of the quiet conviction that it was true.

“Do you think I believed your father was perfect?”

Kate gave a strangled half giggle. “I doubt it.”

“He wasn’t,” Henry stated.

Kate nearly took off her cloth to see Henry’s face, but at that moment she heard her godmother get up and walk across the room. “He was not perfect,” Henry repeated. “He was a fool who believed that money was more important than love, that the two of us would never be happy together because he couldn’t provide for me as he felt he should.”

“Stupid ass,” Kate muttered.

“Maybe,” Henry said. “I do like being well-fed.” There was laughter in her voice. The cloth disappeared from Kate’s eyes and Henry peered down at her. “Much better,” she said with satisfaction. “I’ll get one more.”

Kate heard her walk away again. And then, over the splashing of water, she asked: “What does she look like, Henry?”

“The little Russian, you mean?”

“Gabriel’s bride,” Kate said. “What is she like?”

Henry lifted off the cloth and put a fresh one in its place. “She’s not you. She will never be you.”

“Yes, but—”

“It’s not important,” Henry stated. “Your mother was your mother. She loved your father, and I was glad of that. But I didn’t think about the two of them together, because it wouldn’t be helpful.”

“I suppose not,” Kate said.

“You can make yourself stop thinking of him,” Henry commanded.

Kate tried to imagine a world without Gabriel.

“Starting tonight.” Henry pulled off the cloth again. Kate opened her eyes. “Very good,” Henry said, as if she were checking the progress of a baking loaf. “You’ll be just fine in an hour or two.”

“I don’t think I want to go to the ball tonight,” Kate whispered. “I’m just not strong enough. He took us—Victoria and me—he took us into the garden behind the chapel, and his voice . . . it was as if he hardly knew me.”

“Don’t you
dare
start crying again,” Henry interrupted.

Kate gulped.

“You are going to that ball tonight. You are going to look more beautiful than you have ever looked in your life—because
I
am going to dress you. You are going to give that prince one last chance to be a man.”

“To be a man,” Kate said. “He
is
a man.” An image flashed into her mind of Gabriel standing before her naked, his chest heaving, his eyes hungry.

“Your father couldn’t imagine life any way other than he’d been taught. He’d been told since birth that because he was a younger son, he had to marry a rich woman. Your prince has been told that he has to marry the woman his brother chooses to send him.”

“He has the castle to support,” Kate protested.

“I’ll give him that,” Henry said. “He has far more responsibilities than your father did, and they’re real ones. His uncle is a loon, and it’s not as if those elderly princesses could start tatting lace to bring in money.”

“He has no choice,” Kate said, sighing.

“There’s always a choice. And tonight we’re going to make that choice brilliantly, absolutely clear to him.”

Kate sat up. She felt washed clean, as if all those tears had rinsed away some of the grief. “He won’t break his promise to marry Tatiana.”

“Then you’ll know for certain that he’s a fool,” Henry said. “I have to admit that my understanding of your father’s character was a great help in moments when I missed him. If Gabriel doesn’t have the backbone to take you, Kate, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

“I wish you could just tell him that,” Kate said, getting to her feet. “It would make it all so simple.”

Henry smiled wryly. “It
is
simple. You’ll be at the ball, and so will Tatiana. And there it is: his life before him. He can choose.”

“Did you have a night like this?” Kate asked, drifting over to the dressing table. Her eyes were not terrible, all things considered, though she looked awfully white.

“Your father’s betrothal ball.”

Kate turned around. “The very same occasion?”

“The very same. I wore yellow ribbed silk, trimmed with flounces and silk tassels. My skirts were so large I could hardly fit through a door. I wore a wig that night, and three patches. I painted my lips, which was far more scandalous in those days than it is now.”

“You must have been beautiful,” Kate said. Even now, Henry was absolutely luscious.

“I was,” Henry said. “You may not like this, darling, but I’m going to say it anyway. Your mother was very frail, like a tulip that had been out of water. She spent most of the night reclining on the side of the ballroom.”

“Please don’t hate her,” Kate began.

“Oh, I didn’t,” Henry said. “Anyone could tell she was a lovely person who was deeply unlucky when it came to her health. She longed to be up and dancing.”

Kate’s mouth wobbled. “Poor Mama,” she said. “She always wished she had the energy to get up . . . but if she tried, she would end up back in bed for days on end.”

“I can imagine,” Henry said, nodding.

“Did my father dance with you?”

“No.”

“And yet you were there.”

“I was the most beautiful woman in London that night,” Henry said flatly. “I received four proposals of marriage in the week thereafter, and I chose my first husband from that group. And I did not look behind me.”

“I—”

“You will do the same as I, if it comes to that,” Henry said, fixing Kate with her eyes. “I sincerely hope that the prince has more backbone than your father, but if he does not, you will leave this castle with your head held high.”

Kate nodded.

“And now,” Henry said, “we must begin to dress. Where’s that maid of yours?” She pulled on the cord.

Rosalie rushed into the room a few minutes later. “Oh, miss, we’re that late!” She caught sight of Henry and bobbed a curtsy. “Excuse me, my lady.”

“We are indeed late, and it’s my fault,” Henry said, smiling. “I’m sure that my maid Parsons is shaking with anger. May I see what you have planned for my goddaughter’s attire this evening?”

Rosalie obediently trotted over to the cupboard and then returned with a pale yellow ball gown reverently laid over her outstretched arms. “It’s edged in gilt thread,” she said, “and there’s the yellow wig that goes with it just perfect. And there are some diamonds—”

“No,” Henry said. “That won’t do. She’ll look jaundiced. Did you bring any other ball gowns?”

“Well, yes,” Rosalie said, alarmed. “But I didn’t—”

“Let’s see those.”

“There are two more,” the maid said, running back to the cupboard. “I could only choose three from Miss Victoria’s wardrobe. They each take a trunk of their own, of course.”

“We understand,” Henry said.

“There’s this silk damask,” Rosalie said, turning around. “And the wig.” She nodded toward a wig that was tinted a distinctly bilious shade.

But Henry was already shaking her head. “Green will swear at your hair,” she told Kate. “Your mistress is not wearing a wig tonight,” she instructed Rosalie.

“No wig? Of course I don’t need to wear a wig,” Kate said with relief. “Victoria is here so I can be myself.”

“
She
has to wear a wig,” Henry said with satisfaction. “You might as well send that green wig back to Victoria’s room, because I’ll not see that on your head as long as I’m living.”

“The last gown,” Rosalie said, hopefully. Over her arms was a great swath of gorgeous cream taffeta with designs in a delicate pale blue.

“Perfect,” Henry said, at the same moment Kate cried, “It’s beautiful!”

“If I don’t return to my chamber Parsons will have an apoplexy,” Henry said. “So, Kate: no wig, and put your hair up very simply, yes? I shall send Parsons to paint your face.”

“Paint my face?” Kate repeated, a bit dismayed. “I’m not sure—”

“Parsons is a brilliant artist,” Henry said, overriding her. “You won’t recognize yourself. Now be quick about it, my dear. We want to make a grand entrance, not enter after everyone has gone to bed.”

Kate nodded and then darted across the room to give Henry a quick hug. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Henry gave her an odd half smile. “I look at you, and I can find it in my heart to think that your father was not such a fool after all.”

By the time Kate had had a restorative cup of tea and emerged from her bath, she felt quite calm and almost happy. This night would decide the rest of her life. That was an odd and interesting thought.

She ran her fingers through her hair. It was tousled, and streaked with gold from all the riding she’d done in the sun. “So what can we do with this, Rosalie?”

“I could do curls on top of your head,” Rosalie suggested. “Or we could make coils, for a classical look, but that would be harder because your hair is so thick. I would have to use a curling iron to flatten it.”

Kate shuddered. “Let’s put it up, with some curls falling down the back as well. It weighs too much to pile all of it on top.”

“What would you like to wear as decoration?” Rosalie was poking around in a box on the dressing table. “We have a silver net, but that would make your hair look brassy. There’s a jeweled comb, but it’s deep green and won’t suit your ball gown.”

“I’ll do without anything in my hair,” Kate said, shrugging.

“Oh miss,” Rosalie moaned. “I’m begging you . . .” She rummaged about in the box. “Here’s a silver comb with emeralds,” she said in relief. “I knew that had to be here somewhere.”

“It’s only until midnight,” Kate pointed out. “I’ll hardly enter the ballroom before it will be time to run to Algie’s carriage.”

“I’m almost packed,” Rosalie said, glancing around the room. Open trunks lined the wall.

There was a brisk knock on the door, and a maid so elegant that Kate could easily have confused her with a guest at the castle entered the room. “It’s Parsons, miss,” she said, dropping a curtsy. “Lady Wrothe asked me to aid you.”

“Thank you, Parsons,” Kate said, seating herself before the dressing table.

Parsons opened a box and started rummaging through her various beauty aids. First she patted cream all over Kate’s face. She opened a jar of rouge and then shook her head. “Too pink,” she said. “What I need is crimson.”