apologies, Aunt! But attend, I beg. I have been thinking that Bath does not
agree with Kitty. The society here is too limited. Today, I found her in
intimate conversation with that impossible cousin of hers. You know, that is
not a friendship to be encouraged. Nor do I wish her to stand upon intimate terms
with Amelia. Therefore, I think our wisest course would be to remove to London.
In any event, it is high time that she was presented.”
Lady Horatia was
rather bewildered. “But, Anthony, we have only just arrived and, indeed, Kitty
seems very pleased with Bath on the whole. We can watch her if you fear for her
safety far better here than in London.”
“Please, Aunt,
no more! My mind is made up! Kitty is quite ready to enter the world fully. We
need have no fear that she will make any mistakes. I desire my ward to be seen
by the entire monde, not just the parcel of rakes and toadies that seem to make
up the majority of Bath Society!”
“Oh, very
well, Anthony, if you must have it so. I will go and inform Kitty, though what
she will say heaven only knows!”
In the event, Lady
Horatia was surprised at Mistress Kitty's docility. She, too, seemed suddenly
to find Bath insupportable and relished the thought of a wider circle of
acquaintance. Lady Horatia was even more confused but, as it was obvious that she
had not been told the whole story, she held her peace, hoping that one or other
of her friends would confide in her sooner or later.
It was typical
of his Lordship that, his decision made, he wasted no time in removing himself
and his family. It was only five days later when the travelling coach drew up
in front of the Debenham Town House, disgorging two very weary ladies. They
were greeted by John, who, when hailed in friendly terms by the erstwhile Kit Clareville,
permitted himself a sheepish grin before ushering both ladies into an
exceedingly elegant salon, furnished by the Earl, with French gilt furniture in
the latest mode.
Kitty was still
disinclined to chatter, but she had recovered most of her good spirits. The
prospect of being presented to their Majesties was wholly exciting. Moreover,
she promised herself that she need see very little of her guardian now, for he
would naturally spend much of his time at his club and with his particular
cronies, leaving his aunt to chaperone his ward.
The ladies retired
early without waiting for his Lordship's arrival, and though Kitty was up betimes,
she found that the Earl had already breakfasted and left the house.
She was seated
in the morning room, waiting for her duenna to appear, when the door opened and
John entered the apartment, bearing a silver tray, upon which lay a letter.
Kitty smiled at the man, saying: “John, it is good to see you again. Is all
well at Debenham?”
“Indeed yes,
Miss. The gardens are looking beautiful, and the farm's doing very well. It'll be
a good harvest.”
“Is that
letter for me, John?”
“Yes, Miss, it
came this morning, from Paris so the carrier said.”
“Paris!”
exclaimed Kitty, snatching at it. “Oh, it must be from my dear Tante Hélène!”
The manservant
bowed himself out of the room, leaving Kitty to peruse her precious letter in
peace. Hélène was not a very good correspondent, and her letter was rather hard
to decipher. But it was a letter full of a warmth and affection that brought tears
to Kitty's eyes as she read it. So occupied was she that she did not hear the
door open and so jumped when Lady Horatia spoke.
“Why, child, I
declare, you are weeping again! Indeed, I do not know what has come over you,
for you were more wont to swear than cry when I first met you.”
“I beg pardon,
Ma'am, but I have received a letter from dear Hélène, bless her. She says she
misses me.”
“Are you very
fond of each other then, Kitty?”
“Oh yes, Ma'am,
for she almost brought me up. She lived with my father and me, you see, for my
father's wife ran away with an Austrian officer when I was
agree with Kitty. The society here is too limited. Today, I found her in
intimate conversation with that impossible cousin of hers. You know, that is
not a friendship to be encouraged. Nor do I wish her to stand upon intimate terms
with Amelia. Therefore, I think our wisest course would be to remove to London.
In any event, it is high time that she was presented.”
Lady Horatia was
rather bewildered. “But, Anthony, we have only just arrived and, indeed, Kitty
seems very pleased with Bath on the whole. We can watch her if you fear for her
safety far better here than in London.”
“Please, Aunt,
no more! My mind is made up! Kitty is quite ready to enter the world fully. We
need have no fear that she will make any mistakes. I desire my ward to be seen
by the entire monde, not just the parcel of rakes and toadies that seem to make
up the majority of Bath Society!”
“Oh, very
well, Anthony, if you must have it so. I will go and inform Kitty, though what
she will say heaven only knows!”
In the event, Lady
Horatia was surprised at Mistress Kitty's docility. She, too, seemed suddenly
to find Bath insupportable and relished the thought of a wider circle of
acquaintance. Lady Horatia was even more confused but, as it was obvious that she
had not been told the whole story, she held her peace, hoping that one or other
of her friends would confide in her sooner or later.
It was typical
of his Lordship that, his decision made, he wasted no time in removing himself
and his family. It was only five days later when the travelling coach drew up
in front of the Debenham Town House, disgorging two very weary ladies. They
were greeted by John, who, when hailed in friendly terms by the erstwhile Kit Clareville,
permitted himself a sheepish grin before ushering both ladies into an
exceedingly elegant salon, furnished by the Earl, with French gilt furniture in
the latest mode.
Kitty was still
disinclined to chatter, but she had recovered most of her good spirits. The
prospect of being presented to their Majesties was wholly exciting. Moreover,
she promised herself that she need see very little of her guardian now, for he
would naturally spend much of his time at his club and with his particular
cronies, leaving his aunt to chaperone his ward.
The ladies retired
early without waiting for his Lordship's arrival, and though Kitty was up betimes,
she found that the Earl had already breakfasted and left the house.
She was seated
in the morning room, waiting for her duenna to appear, when the door opened and
John entered the apartment, bearing a silver tray, upon which lay a letter.
Kitty smiled at the man, saying: “John, it is good to see you again. Is all
well at Debenham?”
“Indeed yes,
Miss. The gardens are looking beautiful, and the farm's doing very well. It'll be
a good harvest.”
“Is that
letter for me, John?”
“Yes, Miss, it
came this morning, from Paris so the carrier said.”
“Paris!”
exclaimed Kitty, snatching at it. “Oh, it must be from my dear Tante Hélène!”
The manservant
bowed himself out of the room, leaving Kitty to peruse her precious letter in
peace. Hélène was not a very good correspondent, and her letter was rather hard
to decipher. But it was a letter full of a warmth and affection that brought tears
to Kitty's eyes as she read it. So occupied was she that she did not hear the
door open and so jumped when Lady Horatia spoke.
“Why, child, I
declare, you are weeping again! Indeed, I do not know what has come over you,
for you were more wont to swear than cry when I first met you.”
“I beg pardon,
Ma'am, but I have received a letter from dear Hélène, bless her. She says she
misses me.”
“Are you very
fond of each other then, Kitty?”
“Oh yes, Ma'am,
for she almost brought me up. She lived with my father and me, you see, for my
father's wife ran away with an Austrian officer when I was
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