The Seventh Suitor (9 page)

Kate could not help returning his smile. “May we see him now?”

Her father raised an admonitory hand. “We have not thanked his lordship yet, my dear. We are once again in your debt, Lord Winterton. How did the accident come about?”

“He probably drove Ralph off the road,” Kate murmured, to her father’s astonishment and Winterton’s amusement.

“Not this time, I assure you, Miss Montgomery. I found your brother had had an accident but a short distance from my gates. I’ll take you to him, and he can answer your questions himself.”

As he led them through the house, Mr. Montgomery regarded his daughter with a puzzled frown. Winterton left them alone with Ralph as soon as they entered the room. Kate hastened to her brother’s side to avoid the question on her father’s tongue. “How are you feeling, Ralph?”

“I’ve been better,” he grumbled with a crooked smile.

“What happened?”

“Benjamin and I were having a race. Tried to overtake him on a corner, more fool I. Made it all right, you understand, but I had to pull over quickly to avoid a horse and rider. Horses stumbled. M’ curricle was thrown into a bank and I was tossed out. Most undignified. Winterton came along after a bit and here I am. Dr. Armitage set the arm, I remember, though I fainted before he finished.”

“That was fortunate,” his father grunted. “I thought you had given up such pastimes, Ralph. Racing at night in the dead of winter, indeed! Perhaps Dr. Armitage should examine your head,” he suggested sarcastically.

“I admit it was foolish, Father. It was just . . .” Ralph’s face became suddenly sad and he finished lamely, “just a lark.”

“I shall enjoy telling your mother so,” his father retorted.

“Can we take you home, Ralph?” Kate interjected.

“Winterton says Dr. Armitage suggested I stay here a day or two. My bruises and arm do not take well to a jolting. But I dare say I could manage it,” he proclaimed stoutly.

“There’s no need to rack your body about,” Mr. Montgomery stated gruffly. “I’m sure Winterton won’t mind you here for a day.”

“No, indeed,” Kate said. “I am sure he must be the perfect host.”

“Well, as to that, Kate, you should know that he stayed here with me last night. I thought it very obliging of him.”

“I think it astonishing,” she returned pertly.

“What did I do to deserve such skip-brains for children?” Mr. Montgomery lamented. “Winterton is excessively proud, to be sure, but he is also a remarkably intelligent and generous man. We have seen examples enough of his kindness in our family to overlook his manner, surely. I expect both of you to treat him respectfully in future. Am I understood?”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.

“Excellent! We must go and advise your mama of this latest scrape, Kate. No doubt she will call to see you this afternoon, son. She can bring any necessities.”

On their way out of the room they were intercepted by Mr. Single, who advised them that Lord Winterton would welcome their waiting on him in the library. He was frowning over a document when they entered, but readily dropped it and greeted them. “I hope you have found Ralph in satisfactory condition. Dr. Armitage suggested he spend a day or so here, and I trust you will avail yourselves of my home. No doubt Mrs. Montgomery will call this afternoon.”

“We’re grateful to accept. Ralph says you sat with him yourself last night. That was extremely kind of you,” Mr. Montgomery remarked.

Kate was intrigued to see that this remark clearly embarrassed Winterton.

“I am surprised he remembers,” Winterton finally conceded with a smile. “He had a restless night, but he appeared to have less pain this morning.”

“I only hope he’s learned a lesson,” Mr. Montgomery opined.

“Forever optimistic, sir?” his host queried.

Mr. Montgomery laughed. “Always. I regret I may not live to watch
you
raise a brood, Winterton. Don’t bother to see us out. We are imposing on your hospitality quite sufficiently already.”

But Winterton insisted on seeing them to the door, and then returned to look in on Ralph. He surprised the young man staring miserably at his hands and, in an effort to cheer him said, “You’ll be up in no time, Ralph. Feeling rotten?”

“Yes. That is, no, I feel much better this morning.”

“Your father ring a peal over you?”

“Yes,” Ralph grinned. “Told Kate and me that we should treat you with respect. Sorry if I’ve been churlish. I took exception to your interfering in my horse trading some weeks back, though you were right, of course. Don’t hold my brandy well, I fear.”

Winterton surveyed the young man for some time before replying. “I was used to looking out for you and Carl when you were younger. I have no right to interfere with you, and I do not blame you for being annoyed. But I hope you will feel free to call on me for advice about the farm if there is anything I can help with.”

Ralph sighed and mumbled, “Thank you, sir. The farm has lost its attraction for me.”

Winterton eyed him sharply. “Since when? Karst spoke enthusiastically last night of the preparations you’re both making. I made sure you were as eager as he to have a go at it. You won’t be in bed long.”

“It’s not that. There was another hope I cherished, and it has been dashed. What good will the farm be now?”

“There never was anything like work to take one’s mind off a sorrow,” Winterton replied softly.

“How would you know?” Ralph spoke angrily, waving his injured fist unwisely. He recalled himself sharply and said penitently, “I am a fool. Forgive me, Winterton. I must be totally distracted.”

Winterton regarded him with tolerant exasperation. He had no doubt that Ralph was talking about a woman, and the only candidate he could picture was that gentle creature Miss Montgomery had introduced into the Hall. How the spitfire had ever become friends with such a composed, patient soul strained his imagination. “You might ask your sister’s help,” he suggested.

“Kate refuses to meddle,” Ralph said disgustedly.

“Then it must be the first time,” Winterton retorted and rose to leave his guest.

* * * *

Kate and her father arrived at the Hall while the rest of the family was still in the breakfast room. Kate happened to glance at Charity as her father was explaining Ralph’s accident and injuries. Charity’s face paled alarmingly and Kate was about to rush to her when a sixth sense warned her that it would not be wise to do so. Instead she urged, “Charity, would you come with me to see the cook? I would like to send Ralph a special treat with Mama.”

“That is kind of you, dear,” her mother commented distractedly. “I shall of course take everything necessary when I go to call. Shall I take some elixir? Is it cool in his room? Does he have a warm nightshirt? He will need his dressing gown, of course.”

As Mrs. Montgomery rattled off the list she intended to take, Kate caught Charity’s arm and ushered her out of the room. Instead of heading for the kitchen, she led her friend into the book room and sat her on a comfortable couch.

“Can I get you a vinaigrette? I’m sure I must have one in my dressing table.”

“No, no. I shall be fine in a moment,” Charity replied faintly.

Kate smiled encouragingly. “Ralph is really not so very bad, you know. He will have a lot of aches and bruises for a while, but nothing that will not mend. I cannot say that he was in much pain when we saw him.”

“Why would he do such a thing? Racing at night must be very hazardous. He might have been killed!”

“But he was not. Oh, there had been talk of such a race some time ago, but I felt sure that he and Benjamin were much too involved in the farm to give it any thought. Perhaps it was a last fling before settling in to the farm.”

“He asked me to marry him yesterday, Kate, and I refused him,” Charity said very softly, as she twisted her sash with nervous hands.

“Well, I am sorry to hear it. I should love to have you for my sister, and it is plain to see that Ralph is very attached to you. But I promised you I would not meddle, and so I shall not.” With an effort Kate put aside her disappointment and smiled at her friend. “Do you feel up to invading the kitchen with me? Or would you rather stay here a bit?”

“I feel better now.”

“Then come with me, for if we leave it to Mama the hamper that goes will consist of broth and possets, when Ralph would much rather, I am sure, have some cinnamon tarts and Chantilly cake.”

Mrs. Montgomery subsequently drove off with Susan in the barouche with enough food and clothing to last her suffering firstborn for a week. Kate saw to it that Charity was not invited to join the party; she improvised an important errand for the two of them in the village on Ralph’s behalf.

There was an awkward silence between the two young women when the carriage had left and they started walking along the frozen lane. Charity was the first to speak.

“You are not angry with me for refusing Ralph, are you?”

“How can you ask such a question? I would have to be a hypocrite to be so. My dear, I want you to do just what you must to be happy,” Kate assured her firmly.

At this Charity burst into tears, much to Kate’s astonishment. She led her friend into the woods and seated her on a fallen log. “Do you cry for hurting Ralph? You are too sensitive, my love. He is a bit spoiled and is used to having just what he pleases. I have never known him to be interested in a woman before, and this will be a blow for him. But, Charity, he is my father’s son, and I think there is a strength there under his careless exterior. Wipe your tears. He shall come about.”

This advice did not ease the ache is Charity’s heart, but she dutifully wiped her eyes and attempted a tremulous smile. Kate regarded her closely and noted the pain in her eyes. Why, she loves Ralph, she thought in amazement. It was not amazing to her that someone should love her brother, of course, for she was extremely fond of him herself, in spite of the fact that he exasperated her frequently.

But she could not conceive of any reason for her friend to refuse Ralph if she loved him. They were not of unequal stations or even fortunes, for Charity had a reasonable inheritance from her great-aunt. But Kate had promised not to interfere, and it was no more than she should expect, she thought grimly, to be handicapped just when she most wished to help.

That Charity would not confide in her was upsetting. It might have to do with Ralph’s being her brother, but more likely it was that Charity knew her to be forever managing the lives of those around her. Kate felt suddenly ashamed and hugged her friend impulsively, and said, “Forgive me.”

Charity blinked her eyes in bewilderment. “Forgive you for what?’

“For being . . . oh, just me.”

“But you are my dearest friend and I love you.”

“You must find it difficult at times.” Kate was afraid that if she said any more her friend would feel forced to confide in her against her will. “Come, we shall go into the village and look for something to cheer up the invalid. And I am in need of some stockings. We shall indulge ourselves and have tea at the Unicorn.”

When they had managed to dispense with their errands—Kate purchasing blue stockings just for the fun of it—they wandered to the inn and were directed into the public parlor. Here they found Mrs. Marsh and Lady Tolbert, who invited the young women to join them.

“The young people enjoyed your skating party, my dear,” Mrs. Marsh assured Kate, “though it tempted them to do some skating on their own, which did not end so well. James chased Mary over onto some thin ice, and they both took quite a dip. Fortunately Lord Norris had been watching them and immediately came to their rescue, though I fear he had quite a time of it getting them both out, soaked as they were. Neither contracted the slightest cold from it, which I must ascribe to his quick action.”

“I’m glad they took no harm. Lord Norris had not mentioned the escapade.” This in itself impressed Kate, for he had formerly dramatized events and called to Susan’s attention any action worthy of merit. Such self-restraint surely deserved that Kate inform her sister of his heroism, which would delight Susan.

Mrs. Marsh proceeded to inform her auditors that her children enjoyed the most exuberant health, and that James had a scolding for his part. “But he is not one to worry over such matters.” Mrs. Marsh smiled indulgently, wagging a turbaned head. “I shall be relieved when they reach Terence’s age and outgrow such mischievous behavior,” she sighed, and took a bite from one of the three biscuits on her plate.

Kate and Charity shared an ironic glance, considering Terence Marsh’s part in the recent prank, but Kate, who had planned to drop a word in the ear of Mrs. Marsh or Lady Tolbert concerning the possibility of brilliant futures for their sons in politics, remained demurely silent. It was obvious that the two older women had not heard of the episode of the five suitors, and naturally they were not enlightened. So the four women enjoyed a comfortable tea and shared the local gossip over tasty scones and biscuits.

Charity drew her green pelisse about her against the chilly wind when they emerged from the Unicorn. She regarded Kate quizzingly and said, “Did you not just pass up the most golden opportunity for promoting the political careers of the Honourable Geoffrey Tolbert and Mr. Terence Marsh?”

“I have decided to give up meddling,” Kate said with a sad sigh. “No good can come of it.”

“Nonsense,” Charity retorted briskly. “You are very good at it, you know, and you should not hide your light under a bushel.” She laughingly eyed her friend as Kate shifted the packages from one arm to the other. “My dear, you have a knack of pointing people in the right direction without lecturing them or scolding them. Do not tell me
I
have discouraged you from your pursuits! I enjoy them enormously,” she admitted frankly.

“Do you? But you would not have me meddle in your affairs,” Kate responded unhappily.

“I would not have you pity me,” Charity retorted cryptically, and changed the subject.

Chapter 9

The Earl of Winterton bore with equanimity his neighbor’s stay at Winter Manor. He was pleasant to Mrs. Montgomery and Susan when they called, and he even went so far as to take his dinner in the West Room with Ralph, conversing easily on matters of farming and breeding which might interest his guest. When Benjamin Karst called in the evening at a rather unorthodox hour, explaining that it had taken him the whole of the day to soothe and placate his family, the Earl merely smiled reminiscently and showed him to the invalid’s room.