'But you take snuff,' objected Kitty. 'Slaves are used to grow the tobacco. And think of all the cakes and sweetmeats you like so much. They are full of sugar, much of it grown by slaves.'
Lady Leaconham put up her hand.
'Now, Katherine, my love, you promised me if I allowed you to go to Somerset House that would be an end to it. Let us have no more discussion, if you please. And pray, if you have any feeling for me at all, you will not refer to it again this evening. My sister would not appreciate you bringing such contentious issues to her party.' Kitty bit her lip and nodded, knowing she had stretched her godmother's good nature to the limit. 'Garston, your aunt assures me you are very welcome, if you wish to attend this evening.'
He gave his mother a pained look.
'Devil a bit, Mama, I am engaged to meet up with friends this evening-I am sure I told you of it.'
'You did, of course, but I wondered, since you have spent the afternoon with Kitty, that you might wish to escort her to Harworth House … '
Kitty hid a smile when she saw the look of horror on Lord Leaconham's chubby countenance. She was not at all offended: she had made shameless use of Garston to accompany her to the lecture that afternoon, but she was happy to admit that they had very little in common. Ann had confided to her cousin about their attendance at Mr Clarkson's meeting and Kitty knew Garston had been disapproving, regarding her ideas as dangerously liberal. Their exchange of views as they returned from Somerset House that afternoon had become quite heated.
'Don't know why you are botherin' your head with all this abolition business,' he had told her as he followed her into the coach. 'We have laws and preachers who deal with the rights and wrongs of the case.'
'Then they are woefully neglecting their duty!' she had retorted, frustrated by his refusal to discuss the matter. 'As a peer of the realm you could influence the government.'
'They know what they are about,' replied Garston, bored with the subject. 'I let Pitt and his cronies go about their business and I go about mine.'
'And just what is your business, Garston?' she asked him. 'Just what is it that you do every day?'
He regarded for a moment, uncomprehending.
'Do? I don't understand you.'
'You are a rich man, Garston-'
'Not that rich!' he put in quickly.
'Then let us say you have a comfortable fortune,' she amended. 'But what do you do for that fortune? How long each year do you spend on your estates, making sure everything is in order, looking after your land and your tenants?'
'But I have no need to do that, m'dear. I have an excellent steward who looks after everything. He would not thank me for interfering, I assure you.'
'So your days are spent in pleasure and idleness-'
'Pleasure, yes,' he retorted, sitting upright, 'but not idleness! I'll have you know there are some days when I barely have time to think! You can have no idea how long it takes me to get ready each morning-deciding what coat to wear, which invitations to accept.'
'Whether to attend a cockfight or a mill!' she threw at him.
'Well, yes, there is that,' he said defensively. 'When one has so many friends, it's impossible to spend time with 'em all.'
'I suppose today is the first time you have been called upon to give serious thought to anything for a long while.'
'Yes, it is,' he replied, eyeing her indignantly. 'And jolly poor sport I thought it, too. Why should I bother my head with matters I know naught of?'
'That was the point of attending, to learn more.'
'Well, that seems a pretty foolish notion. I have given up my whole day to you for this-'
'If it did not take you 'til noon to dress it would not have been your whole day!' she flashed.
Garston ignored that.
'I can't see that this outing has been of any use at all. Why should we make ourselves uncomfortable over it? It ain't our business. Let those who enjoy politics argue about these things!'
Kitty had realised that it was futile trying to persuade Garston. Her godmother had been a little more sympathetic but she was aware that her views filled Lady Leaconham with unease, especially when events in France were so disturbing. If the mob could rise in Paris and bring down the old order, who was to say the same thing might not happen in England?
Kitty understood Lady Leaconham's concerns and when, after dinner, she went off to change into her gown of white organdie with apricot sprigs and to drape her shawl of fine, apricot muslin about her arms, she determined that for the rest of the evening she would be the perfect goddaughter.
Chapter Seven
Ann was waiting for Kitty when they arrived at Harworth House and she was profuse in her thanks to Kitty for her birthday gift.
'Handkerchiefs!' she cried, tearing off the wrapping paper. 'Oh, how pretty, and you embroidered them yourself, did you not? How clever you are, Kitty! I do not have the patience for sewing, I rush my stitches too much, but these are exquisite, and just what I need. Thank you, my dear. Now, you must come and see the ballroom. Mama has lined it with ells and ells of blue silk draped across the ceiling to look like the summer sky. There.' Ann stopped in the doorway. 'What do you think of that?'
Kitty looked around her, amazed at the transformation of the elegant, rather austere ballroom with its pale walls and gilded plasterwork into a heavenly chamber. Candlelight from the chandeliers was reflected in the huge gilded mirrors that hung around the room and it glittered on the silver ribbons holding up the celestial blue silk. She glanced back at Ann, laughing.
'It will be like dancing in the sky. And your dress is an exact match for the silk! How clever of you. The colouring is perfect with your fair hair.'
'Thank you. Your own gown is very pretty, too.'
'It is one of the gowns I brought with me from Yorkshire,' explained Kitty. 'I thought it the height of fashion until I arrived in Town and saw how high the waistlines had crept up, and how low the necklines had dropped!'
'It is still very fashionable,' Ann assured her. She put one hand to her bodice. 'You do not think my gown too low cut? I know Mama would much prefer me to be wearing a high neckline such as yours-although at one and twenty perhaps I should be wearing a cap and sitting with the dowagers.'
They giggled at the thought.
'No, your gown looks perfect on you,' said Kitty. 'I wish you enough partners to keep you dancing all night.'
'Thank you, but we will not only be dancing,' said Ann, leading her into the room. 'There will be music and singing, too-I have asked Martin Hamilton to join me in a duet and I shall be playing a new piece I have learned for the harp. Do you play or sing?'
'A little, but not well enough to perform here without practice. Pray do not suggest to anyone that I should do so!'
'No, of course not, if that is your wish.' Ann grabbed her hand again and dragged her across the room towards the tall windows. 'Let me show you the garden while the servants bring in chairs for the recital. Mama has had lamps strung between the trees and along the paths, and as darkness falls they will all be lighted so that the guests may step out of the room on to the terrace and even walk down into the cool garden. Aren't you glad the evening is so warm? It means that the windows can remain open: I do not know what we would have done if it had rained today.' Ann led the way on to the terrace and down the steps to the garden. 'I used to play here in the garden when I was a child. Look, my swing is still there, hanging from that tall beech tree. And come and look at the pretty little summer house. It is built in the style of a Roman temple.' She led Kitty through the trees. 'I wanted Mama to hang lamps in here, too,' said Ann, dancing between the pillars before sitting down on the wooden bench that ran along the back wall. 'Mama refused, saying she did not wish her guests to wander so far from the main path.'
'They should not need to,' observed Kitty, sitting down beside her friend. 'The flower gardens are delightful, and there are more than enough paths to accommodate everyone.'
Ann jumped up. 'I suppose we must go back. I have no doubt most of the guests will have arrived by now and Bertram will want to secure a dance with you.'
'Oh, I expect he is far too busy to think of that.'
Ann stopped.
'No, Kitty, he is very taken with you!' She caught Kitty's hand. 'Come along, let's find him.'
They hurried back to the house and were running up the steps to the terrace when a figure stepped out from one of the long windows and blocked their way.
'Miss Harworth.' Daniel bowed. 'I believe your brother is looking for you.' His dark, unsmiling gaze moved to Kitty. 'Miss Wythenshawe.'
Kitty inclined her head. She put one hand on the stone balustrade to steady herself. She could not deny the sudden bolt of pleasure at the sight of his tall, elegant figure but she was determined not to reveal how much his presence unsettled her. His athletic form was well suited to the tight-fitting black evening coat and satin knee-breeches and his hair, brushed until it glowed, glinted blue-black in the evening sunlight. She tried desperately to think of something witty to say, but her brain refused to work.