and then shot himself in the library over a year ago.
Was Lady Kirkwood's letter the answer to his problems?
He looked back down at the neatly penned words, inviting him and Gertrude to Kirkwood Manor for a Christmas house party. He had not been invited there since the last party four years ago. Indeed, he had heard that Lady Kirkwood ceased entertaining at all when her husband died.
This new sociability seemed to signal only one thing. Lady Kirkwood was feeling her age, and perhaps looking about for a suitable heir.
William studied the drawing room around him. There was very little furniture in it, and no paintings or ornaments at all. Only a very small fire burned in the vast marble grate, hardly warming the space at all.
It was not a place where a quiet, shy young girl could learn to laugh again.
William had thought to go to London in the spring, to find an heiress who could restore their home, a nice lady who could help Gertrude. But to be the heirs to the Kirkwood money would be ever better in the long run.
He felt a sharp stab of guilt at the idea of taking advantage of a lonely, elderly lady. But for his sister, he would do it. For his sister he would do anything.
As he refolded the letter, he wondered idly if he would see that pretty girl Allison Gordon again.
Chapter One
“Oh, Allie, it's huge !” Kitty pressed her nose against the window of the luxurious carriage Lady Kirkwood had sent for them, gawking unashamedly as they rolled up the muddy drive to Kirkwood Manor.
“ It is a castle,” Jane added, crowding in next to her sister. “Just like in a book.”
Kitty giggled. “That would make Lady Kirkwood queen!”
Allison peered out at the looming-closer house with more trepidation than the twins were obviously feeling. It was indeed very grand, a concoction of weathered gray stone crowned with leering gargoyles in an old, unfashionable style. There was no softening shrubbery or greenery in the depths of winter, so the house seemed even more austere and majestic. She did not remember it being so intimidating four years ago.
Allison bit her lip. Her green pelisse, with its black velvet collar and cuffs and matching black hat, had seemed so nice before she left home. Her mother had scrimped and saved the egg money to buy the fabric. Here it felt shabby and unfashionable. She felt shabby, like the poor country cousin she was.
Well, there was nothing for it now. The pelisse was the best she owned, and Lady Kirkwood knew they lived quietly in the country. Surely she was not expecting London fashion.
And your family is as good as any , she reminded herself sternly. Never forget that .
Allison sat up straighter, and smoothed her hair back underneath her hat. The wild red curls, the bane of her life, were always escaping no matter now many pins she used.
“Girls, sit down, please,” she said, tugging Kitty and Jane back into their seats. “What if someone saw you there, pressing your faces to the glass like two little monkeys?”
“ There's nobody to see us, Allie,” Kitty protested. “The place looks almost deserted.”
“ Yes,” Jane said. “Are you sure they're expecting us?”
“ Lady Kirkwood sent this carriage, didn't she?” Allison said briskly, retying the girls' hair ribbons and straightening their matching red cloaks.
She just finished wiping a smudge from Kitty's nose when the carriage lurched to a stop, and the front doors opened to reveal a stern-looking man.
“The Misses Gordon, I presume?” he said.
“ Yes,” Allison answered slowly, allowing the man to take her arm and help her alight from the carriage.
“ I am Matthews, butler here at Kirkwood Manor.”
Kitty ignored his outstretched hand and jumped down herself, closely followed by Jane. “How do you do, Matthews,” she said cheerfully. “I am Miss Katherine Gordon, and this is Miss Jane Gordon.”
Matthews blinked at her. “Er—yes. Indeed.” His lips pursed.
Oh, dear, Allison thought,
Was Lady Kirkwood's letter the answer to his problems?
He looked back down at the neatly penned words, inviting him and Gertrude to Kirkwood Manor for a Christmas house party. He had not been invited there since the last party four years ago. Indeed, he had heard that Lady Kirkwood ceased entertaining at all when her husband died.
This new sociability seemed to signal only one thing. Lady Kirkwood was feeling her age, and perhaps looking about for a suitable heir.
William studied the drawing room around him. There was very little furniture in it, and no paintings or ornaments at all. Only a very small fire burned in the vast marble grate, hardly warming the space at all.
It was not a place where a quiet, shy young girl could learn to laugh again.
William had thought to go to London in the spring, to find an heiress who could restore their home, a nice lady who could help Gertrude. But to be the heirs to the Kirkwood money would be ever better in the long run.
He felt a sharp stab of guilt at the idea of taking advantage of a lonely, elderly lady. But for his sister, he would do it. For his sister he would do anything.
As he refolded the letter, he wondered idly if he would see that pretty girl Allison Gordon again.
Chapter One
“Oh, Allie, it's huge !” Kitty pressed her nose against the window of the luxurious carriage Lady Kirkwood had sent for them, gawking unashamedly as they rolled up the muddy drive to Kirkwood Manor.
“ It is a castle,” Jane added, crowding in next to her sister. “Just like in a book.”
Kitty giggled. “That would make Lady Kirkwood queen!”
Allison peered out at the looming-closer house with more trepidation than the twins were obviously feeling. It was indeed very grand, a concoction of weathered gray stone crowned with leering gargoyles in an old, unfashionable style. There was no softening shrubbery or greenery in the depths of winter, so the house seemed even more austere and majestic. She did not remember it being so intimidating four years ago.
Allison bit her lip. Her green pelisse, with its black velvet collar and cuffs and matching black hat, had seemed so nice before she left home. Her mother had scrimped and saved the egg money to buy the fabric. Here it felt shabby and unfashionable. She felt shabby, like the poor country cousin she was.
Well, there was nothing for it now. The pelisse was the best she owned, and Lady Kirkwood knew they lived quietly in the country. Surely she was not expecting London fashion.
And your family is as good as any , she reminded herself sternly. Never forget that .
Allison sat up straighter, and smoothed her hair back underneath her hat. The wild red curls, the bane of her life, were always escaping no matter now many pins she used.
“Girls, sit down, please,” she said, tugging Kitty and Jane back into their seats. “What if someone saw you there, pressing your faces to the glass like two little monkeys?”
“ There's nobody to see us, Allie,” Kitty protested. “The place looks almost deserted.”
“ Yes,” Jane said. “Are you sure they're expecting us?”
“ Lady Kirkwood sent this carriage, didn't she?” Allison said briskly, retying the girls' hair ribbons and straightening their matching red cloaks.
She just finished wiping a smudge from Kitty's nose when the carriage lurched to a stop, and the front doors opened to reveal a stern-looking man.
“The Misses Gordon, I presume?” he said.
“ Yes,” Allison answered slowly, allowing the man to take her arm and help her alight from the carriage.
“ I am Matthews, butler here at Kirkwood Manor.”
Kitty ignored his outstretched hand and jumped down herself, closely followed by Jane. “How do you do, Matthews,” she said cheerfully. “I am Miss Katherine Gordon, and this is Miss Jane Gordon.”
Matthews blinked at her. “Er—yes. Indeed.” His lips pursed.
Oh, dear, Allison thought,
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