Sally James (7 page)

Amidst her speculations on this she began to weave plans for her meeting with her cousins. Darcy Limmering had promised to send her a message the moment they returned to Town, and she was eager to meet them, her only relatives on her father's side. Perhaps she would discover why they had ignored her existence until now. Perhaps, she thought, giving Adam a baleful glance, her grandfather had threatened them too.

Suddenly Adam, his expression severe, informed her that he would take her driving the following morning, after she had spent an hour with her grandfather.

'Won't you be riding with - ' she began, but Adam ruthlessly interrupted her.

'I promised your grandfather that I would take you about,' he said curtly, 'and I think it is time I gave you a little guidance on proper behaviour.'

She had no opportunity to demand an explanation of that cryptic remark until the following morning, when they were in a dashing phaeton drawn by a team of perfectly matched greys. Kate was secretly impressed with the manner in which Adam handled the ribbons, and she knew that only very skilful whips attempted to drive a team instead of just a pair of horses.

She was in an amenable mood by the time they turned into the Park, and had almost forgotten her grievances when Adam spoke.

'You must not be seen with that puppy Limmering,' he said abruptly. 'He is not the sort of person you can encourage.'

Kate gasped. 'His sister is married to my cousin!' she exclaimed.

'Nevertheless he is not a proper person for you to acknowledge, no more than a polite nod, at least.'

'I will speak to whoever I wish!' Kate raged. 'You have no right to dictate to me about that!'

'I don't want to cause trouble between you and your aunt, but if necessary I will ask her to forbid you to speak to him.'

'But why? What is the matter with him? Surely his birth is high enough even for you to acknowledge him?'

'Even higher-born men can be rogues.'

'What do you mean?'

'There is no cause for me to explain. You must take my word for it,' Adam said dismissively.

'How arrogant! I suppose you mean that he has a mistress in keeping? In that case, Adam Rhydd, you may stop and put me down! You are hardly a man fit to drive me about either!'

Adam laughed. 'You are a termagant. Well, if you must know, it's rumoured that he wins at cards rather too frequently for it to be pure chance.'

Kate stared at him. 'That's despicable! You listen to jealous rumours? You can't prove that he cheats, but just because you suspect it you are ready to cut him and force me to as well?'

'It is not purely rumour, just lack of real evidence. He prefers to play with rich young men just come to Town, or country squires, rather than those who are older and up to snuff. His family is poor, he himself has no fortune, and yet he contrives to dress well and he sports rich jewels, many of which have previously been seen on the persons of the said young men.'

'That isn't proof!' Kate said scornfully. 'He's lucky. Some men are.'

She had to stop then as some friends of Adam waved to them from another carriage, and from then on there were so many people to speak to, so many faces to try and remember, that Kate forgot her annoyance with Adam.

It all surged back when one matron promised to send her an invitation to a ball.

'You can't go, of course,' Adam said as the carriages drew apart.

Kate was aghast. 'Why not? I've been longing to go to a ball. Why, I’ve never even been to one of the Assemblies. All I've ever done is dance with Thomas when the Squire had a Christmas party.'

'That's all you think about, having a good time,' Adam snapped, and urged his horses into a trot. 'I said no, and that is sufficient.'

She was furious. 'You say no, and that's enough, is it? Because the great Adam Rhydd speaks, all have to obey? Well, you're not yet Earl, and even when you are you'll have no control over what I do!'

'That is where you are mistaken. I'll be - ' Adam said coldly, but Kate was so angry she rushed straight on.

'If I'm invited to a ball and choose to go you can't prevent it. Grandfather said he wished me to enjoy myself while I can. There won't be the same opportunities once he dies, and he knows that. He is trying to be kind, to make up for how he treated us.'

'Are you so desperate for gaiety you cannot even contemplate a year of mourning with some sense of what is correct?' he demanded.

Kate flushed. 'He isn't dead yet,' she muttered. 'He did tell me to enjoy myself. He told you to take me about. Besides, once he does die we won't be staying in London, and I'll have no more opportunity, mourning or not, to learn how people go on.'

'You have a desire for learning, do you? For what purpose?'

'I mean to write novels,' Kate explained reluctantly. 'I have almost finished one, and even Aunt Sophie thinks it is good. When it is published the money will buy us things we need.'

'No, Kate. A Rhydd cannot be seen to descend to that level - a common scribbler.'

'I am a Byford,' Kate said haughtily.

Adam was silent and she glanced at him. She didn't like having to explain about her writing. Thomas had scoffed at the notion, and since then she'd confided only in Aunt Sophie.

Then he took a deep breath and began to speak, slowly and patiently as if to a child. 'I don't imagine it's good enough to publish, so do not let us quarrel about improbabilities. Everyone knows your grandfather is dying. If you went to a ball such as Lady Fernleigh's it would be deemed thoughtless, lacking in compassion. And however badly he's treated your mother you need not be hard and cold.'

Reluctantly Kate sighed. She recognized the propriety of this, despite her intense disappointment. 'Very well,' she said quietly.

Adam briefly put his hand over hers. 'Perhaps a small party where there is dancing would be permissible,' he said gently.

'It might be possible to go to Vauxhall one evening,' he said a little while later. 'That is not the same as a private occasion where all our friends would see you. I will see what can be arranged.'

Chapter Six

No more was said, and Kate thought he had forgotten. The next few days passed swiftly, with Kate sitting with her grandfather during the mornings, telling him over and over again all she could recall about her mother. The ladies drove out in the afternoons, her friendship with Chloe flourished, and when Kate confided her disappointment that she was forbidden to go to balls Chloe immediately invited her to accompany her to Vauxhall.

'My parents are planning to take me in a few days. I've never seen it, and Luke is going to be in London for a while.'

Miss Byford willingly gave her permission, and Adam said nothing to forbid it. Kate did not see much of him apart from when he dined with them. With all the new experiences to be had in London she had almost forgotten their first encounter, until some reminder caused her to flush with mortification and force the thoughts of him out of her mind.

Soon the visit to Vauxhall absorbed her attention. They were to dine at Chloe's house first and Kate was driven to Upper Brook Street by the Earl's coachman. Mr Shore had promised to bring her home afterwards.

Chloe's father was bluff and hearty, more interested in his acres in Lincolnshire than London Society, but a little concerned that evening since his wife was suffering from intermittent bouts of nausea and faintness.

'Something she ate, no doubt,' he reassured Chloe. 'The water here in London is unfit for cattle, not like the spring water at home. But she's determined you won't miss your treat, my love.'

'Is she well enough to go?’ Kate asked, worried.

'Of course, if she takes care and doesn't eat any of these fancy messes so many of the cooks in London serve. She says she won't eat dinner with us, she'll have some soup in her room, but she'll be fit to come. Fortunately we brought our own cook with us,' he went on, turning to Kate. 'I rented this house for three months once the harvest was in to give Chloe a taste of town life, but already I've had enough and will be thankful to get back home to Lincolnshire. Thank goodness my sister Maria promised to bring you out next year, love. I doubt if your mama could tolerate Town for so long.'

Chloe was wearing a white gown trimmed with silver lace, while Kate had a gown in a delicate shade of pink which suited her excessive fairness to admiration. Chloe was ecstatic because Luke was joining them, and she hadn't seen him for many weeks. 'I've missed him so much,' she confided wistfully. 'I'm going to hate having to do the Season, it's such a waste of time.'

Mrs Shore joined them after dinner, but although she did her best to be cheerful she was clearly feeling ill.

'Mama, you don't look fit to come,' Chloe protested, but Mrs Shore smiled at her.

'Of course I am well enough, my dear. And I cannot deprive you of such a treat, can I, Luke?'

Luke was a slight, fair man, who spoke little at the table, and did not at all resemble the romantic figure Chloe had described to her. Her brother Martin, large and hearty like his father, was in Kate's opinion a friendlier and altogether more attractive person. Perhaps, thought Kate, puzzling it out, Chloe had seen enough of bluff, hearty men and had chosen someone as different from her family as possible.

They set off for Vauxhall after dinner, driving across Westminster Bridge where, Mr Shore told her in great glee, the traffic had on special occasions been held up for hours as people tried to get to the Gardens.

'It's fortunate Madame Saqui isn't giving a performance tonight, or we'd never get there,' Mrs Shore agreed.

'I would love to have seen her though,' Kate responded. 'Just fancy being able to walk on a rope, stretched up so high, and expecting to fall at any minute!'

Chloe shivered. 'No, and I couldn't even have watched! Thank goodness there is just a concert and a firework display tonight.'

They arrived, paid the entrance money, and walked slowly down the main path. Kate gazed awestruck at the vast array of glittering lanterns lighting the main walks.

'There must be thousands and thousands of them!' she exclaimed. 'It's almost like daylight.'

'It will be even brighter when the fireworks are set off,' Martin said with a laugh.

'Why don't you young people explore while we sit down?' Mr Shore said, with an anxious look at his wife.

'Mama? Are you feeling unwell?' Chloe asked worriedly.

'Just a trifle weary, my dear. Nothing that can't be cured with a little rest. Go on, now, perhaps you'd like to go and listen to the music. They have some fine singers here tonight, I was told.'

'We can go home if you'd rather,' Chloe offered unselfishly, but Mr Shore waved a large hand at her.

'Nonsense. Go away and enjoy yourselves, leave your mama in peace for a while. I've ordered supper to be served after the musical entertainment, so we can sit in the supper booth and no doubt she'll be feeling as fit as a flea after a little rest.'

Chloe squeaked with excitement at the promise of the elegant supper, and after further reassurances from her mother permitted Luke and Martin to draw her away.

They soon split into pairs with Luke and Chloe strolling along behind the others, while Kate encouraged Martin to talk about his home.

'You and Luke were both in the army until recently weren't you? Isn't it frightfully dull just managing an estate after that?' she asked curiously.

'The army was very tedious when there wasn't a battle,' he replied, laughing. 'I'd rather be in Lincolnshire hunting foxes and shooting pheasants than galloping over muddy battlefields trying to hack down other men, deafened by the noise and unable to see more than a yard in front because of all the smoke from the guns. I'll be thankful to get back there next month.'

'Aren't you enjoying London?' Kate asked, astonished.

Martin laughed ruefully. 'There I am, putting my great clodhopping boots straight into it. You'll think I'm just a rustic, Miss Byford, saying such things instead of complimenting you.'

'I wasn't asking for compliments!' Kate retorted, annoyed. 'You don't have to behave like these conceited London dandies,' she added, looking around her scornfully at the fashionably, and occasionally extremely oddly dressed crowd of revellers.

Martin laughed again. 'I'm enjoying your company enormously, Miss Byford, but I do prefer the country.' He frowned, his expression suddenly grim, and Kate decided he was far more formidable than he'd at first appeared. 'London seems to me to be full of rogues who'd cheat you or stab you in the back moments after vowing eternal friendship. But that, I imagine, belongs to the sort of establishments where ladies never go. Will you be doing the Season with Chloe next year?'

Kate sighed. 'I don't know where I will be,' she confessed. Probably back in a small cottage, keeping chickens, and having no excitement at all, she thought, then ruthlessly dismissed the dismal picture conjured up and set herself to enjoy the evening.

The four young people had strolled up to join the crowd listening to a famous soprano when Kate, turning to Chloe with a laughing comment, felt her face stiffen and the smile freeze on her lips.

Less than ten yards away Adam Rhydd was bending solicitously over the beautiful girl she'd met him with in the Park, and seen him with on several occasions since. She clung to his arm possessively and laughed up into his face.

'Kate, what is it?' Chloe asked in sudden alarm.

'Adam, he's over there!' Kate hissed out of the side of her mouth, and Chloe, startled, swung round to stare across the small space separating them.

'Adam Rhydd? Where?' she demanded, and Kate anxiously tugged at her arm.

'Do take care, or he'll see you!' she exclaimed, and dragged her friend back through a small crowd of people until they were hidden from possible detection.

‘Chloe, what's the matter?' Luke asked, following them to the back of the crowd.

'Hush! Oh, do please hush!' Kate whispered to him. 'It's - it's just someone I don't want to see,' she explained hurriedly, desperately searching her brain for a reasonable explanation which would not be the true one.