To Catch a Husband(43)

August was almost over when the quiet of the village was disturbed by the arrival of a large travelling carriage. Kitty had been gathering fruit from the hedgerows and was making her way home as the elegant vehicle swept past her. She saw it stop at the green and the driver leaned down to address one of the lads tending the pigs there before setting off again, only to pull up a few yards on, outside of her mother’s cottage.

Kitty stopped, her skin prickling with a presentiment of danger. As she watched she saw two ladies descend from the carriage and after a moment they disappeared into the cottage. Kitty breathed again. For a dreadful moment she thought it was Daniel come to find her. Settling her basket more comfortably on her arm, she began to walk towards her home. It must be someone with a commission for Mama. She quickened her step. It might even be a very lucrative order, since the lady could afford to travel in a coach and four.

The cottage was very dark after the bright sunshine and Kitty paused in the doorway, waiting for her eyes to adjust.

‘Ah, here is my niece now!’ Aunt Jane’s greeting was preceded by her hacking cough. ‘Come in, Kitty, come in and meet our visitors!’

Kitty stepped in, dropping a slight curtsy towards the two ladies. They were mother and daughter, she guessed, because despite the difference in their ages they were both black-haired and dark-eyed, and both had the same direct gaze that they now turned upon her. Kitty gave them her shy smile, wondering if she had met them before.

‘Goodness, you have been busy, my love,’ said Aunt Jane, taking the basket from Kitty. ‘Wimberries, lovely—and elderberries, too!’

‘Yes,’ said Kitty. ‘I thought it might be a little early for the elderberries, but I found some, not enough for cordial, of course, but we can put them into a pie, I thought…’

‘Excellent! I shall take them through to the back. Your mama is gone to fetch down her pattern books but she will be back directly. Oh, but where are my manners? Mrs Blackwood, may I present to you my niece, Katherine. Mrs Midgley recommended us to Mrs Blackwood, Kitty, and she is come to have a gown made up for her daughter—’

Blackwood! Kitty’s heart lurched. No wonder they looked so familiar. She shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, painfully aware of her old gown and fruit-stained hands. She welcomed the sound of Mama’s footsteps on the stairs.

‘Now, I have a number of patterns here that might be suitable, as well as a number of magazines that you might like to look at. My daughter was in London recently and brought them back for me… Oh, Kitty, there you are! I hope Jane has introduced you…’

‘Yes, she has,’ put in Mrs Blackwood, smiling and looking so like Daniel that Kitty wanted to cry. ‘I wonder, Miss Wythenshawe, if you are not too tired from your berry-picking, if you might take a turn around the green with me? There are such a number of books and pictures for Bella to go through that it will take her quite some time, I think. I am sure I can rely upon your mother’s judgement to guide her towards a suitable selection from which to make our final choice.’

‘Yes, do pray leave me, Mama,’ said Miss Blackwood, bending her own mischievous smile upon Kitty. ‘I am sure I shall decide much quicker without you sighing over me and growing impatient!’

‘You see, Miss Wythenshawe, we are quite de trop,’ chuckled Mrs Blackwood. ‘Let us walk.’

Silently Kitty stepped back out into the sunshine. This matron could only be Daniel’s mother—and he had mentioned to her that he had a sister—a minx had been his words, and recalling the mischievous twinkle in the girl’s dark eyes Kitty could well believe this was she. How unfortunate that Mrs Midgley should recommend Mama as a seamstress for them. However, it was highly unlikely that she would come into contact with Daniel. It was rare for gentlemen to accompany their womenfolk on such errands so there really was no reason to think it would ever be discovered that they had been acquainted.

Mrs Blackwood set out for the green at a brisk pace and Kitty fell into step beside her.

‘Well, Miss Wythenshawe, it has been quite a task to track you down.’

Kitty started.

‘Our cottage is a little out of the way…’

‘That is not what I meant, my dear. I was referring to the way you disappeared after jilting Lord Harworth.’

‘Oh.’ Kitty swallowed. ‘It…it was not deliberate. I merely came home.’

‘As any loving daughter would.’ Mrs Blackwood nodded approvingly. ‘I am sure I cannot blame you, for you could hardly remain at Kirkleigh, could you? And I understand Lady Leaconham has washed her hands of you.’ She gave a little tut of disapproval. ‘I find it hard to understand why people should object to a broken engagement, when one or other party realises they have made a mistake. It is surely better they discover the sad truth before the knot is irrevocably tied.’

‘It would have been a very advantageous match for me,’ put in Kitty, determined to be honest. ‘I have disappointed so many people by my action. I only hope that Lord Harworth can forgive me, in time.’ She added, ‘I do not believe his affections were engaged.’

‘No, I think you are right. My son tells me he is even now turning his attentions to Miss Leyton-Smythe, a wealthy heiress who has recently arrived in the area.’

Kitty hesitated a little before asking the question that was uppermost in her mind. ‘Is—does Mr Blackwood spend a great deal of time at Kirkleigh?’

‘Whenever his work can spare him, yes. But that is only to be expected. He is still advising Lord Harworth on his building project, and of course he must visit Miss Harworth.’

Kitty nodded, wondering miserably why it had been so important to ask the question, since the answer only brought her more pain.

Mrs Blackwood continued thoughtfully, ‘But I do not believe he is happy.’

Kitty’s eyes flew to her face and found herself subjected to a piercing scrutiny.

‘I think something occurred at Kirkleigh, something that my son will not divulge, but I hope that you can help me.’

‘Oh, no, no,’ stammered Kitty. ‘I am sure I do not know…’

Mrs Blackwood continued as if she had not spoken.

‘You see, when Daniel returned from London he made several references to you, Miss Wythenshawe.’

‘He—he did?’

‘Yes. He wanted to know if I had heard of the family. I am afraid I could not help him, but I thought perhaps he had formed an attachment, for he was quite preoccupied, you see. Oh, he did not neglect his duties, but I found him not quite so…attentive as he had been. My daughter Bella noticed it as well, and she also noted that Daniel’s behaviour changed markedly when Lord Harworth brought a party to Kirkleigh.’ A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. ‘It did not take long to discover that the mysterious Miss Wythenshawe was one of Lord Harworth’s guests.’

‘But there was nothing—’ cried Kitty. ‘We hardly saw each other—I mean—’

Mrs Blackwood patted her arm.

‘Oh, do not distress yourself, child. Daniel said nothing, I assure you. It was all conjecture on my part, but I think I know my son pretty well: it was very plain to me that Daniel had fallen head over heels in love.’

Kitty wrung her hands. ‘No!’ she whispered.

‘You may imagine my surprise when Daniel came home to tell me he was engaged to Miss Harworth. Of course, he also informed me that you were to marry her brother and I began to see that something had gone terribly wrong.’ She stopped, turning to look at Kitty, a mixture of sympathy and enquiry in her dark eyes. ‘Am I right to think you did not know of my son’s feelings for you?’ Miserably Kitty shook her head and heard her companion give an exasperated sigh. ‘Oh, the foolish boy.’

‘Pray do not blame him, ma’am! He…he believed I wanted to marry Lord Harworth. And…and I thought so, too, for a while.’ She fixed her eyes upon Mrs Blackwood, willing her to understand. ‘I did not know he l-loved me, until it was too late, until he was engaged to Ann. If I had married her brother then we would have been constantly thrown together. The idea of seeing him every day and not being able to…’ She pulled out her handkerchief and resolutely blew her nose. ‘Once I knew he…he loved me I was sure I must not stay. If it had been only my feelings that had to be suppressed, every look, every gesture designed to conceal what was in my heart, that would have been painful enough, but to know Daniel was suffering, too—I thought it best to leave. Without me there to remind him, I thought he would soon become accustomed to his new life. Miss Harworth is a splendid young woman: she will make him a good wife.’

‘But he loves you.’

Kitty closed her eyes. She said quietly, ‘It is an excellent match, ma’am. I believe in the highest circles many married couples begin with mere liking but soon develop a sincere affection. I can only pray that that will happen.’

‘I hope so, Miss Wythenshawe, since I can see no way out of the betrothal.’

‘I am so sorry.’

‘So, too, am I. You have been very foolish, the pair of you, but what’s done is done and we must look to the future. Tell me your plans, Miss Wythenshawe.’