suspected she would need friends of influence. Adam disliked her, he would doubtless send her back to the country, and she now knew that she did not want to resume that life. She had to be able to remain in London amongst her new friends.
'He and Amelia are in Yorkshire. My mother has been unwell, and they have been visiting her.'
'Oh, I'd have loved to meet them. I never have, you know.'
'They plan to return in a few days, and then, if you permit, I will take you to visit them. They live in Park Street.'
Kate was preoccupied that evening, when Adam dined with them. She kept glancing speculatively at him, wondering if his mother knew of his liaison with the lovely Annabelle Wilson. That, no doubt, explained his reluctance to select a bride. And yet, she knew from Diana, many married men kept mistresses.
Amidst her speculations on this she began to weave plans for her meeting with her cousins. Darcy Limmering had promised to send her a message the moment they returned to Town, and she was eager to meet them, her only relatives on her father's side. Perhaps she would discover why they had ignored her existence until now. Perhaps, she thought, giving Adam a baleful glance, her grandfather had threatened them too.
Suddenly Adam, his expression severe, informed her that he would take her driving the following morning, after she had spent an hour with her grandfather.
'Won't you be riding with - ' she began, but Adam ruthlessly interrupted her.
'I promised your grandfather that I would take you about,' he said curtly, 'and I think it is time I gave you a little guidance on proper behaviour.'
She had no opportunity to demand an explanation of that cryptic remark until the following morning, when they were in a dashing phaeton drawn by a team of perfectly matched greys. Kate was secretly impressed with the manner in which Adam handled the ribbons, and she knew that only very skilful whips attempted to drive a team instead of just a pair of horses.
She was in an amenable mood by the time they turned into the Park, and had almost forgotten her grievances when Adam spoke.
'You must not be seen with that puppy Limmering,' he said abruptly. 'He is not the sort of person you can encourage.'
Kate gasped. 'His sister is married to my cousin!' she exclaimed.
'Nevertheless he is not a proper person for you to acknowledge, no more than a polite nod, at least.'
'I will speak to whoever I wish!' Kate raged. 'You have no right to dictate to me about that!'
'I don't want to cause trouble between you and your aunt, but if necessary I will ask her to forbid you to speak to him.'
'But why? What is the matter with him? Surely his birth is high enough even for you to acknowledge him?'
'Even higher-born men can be rogues.'
'What do you mean?'
'There is no cause for me to explain. You must take my word for it,' Adam said dismissively.
'How arrogant! I suppose you mean that he has a mistress in keeping? In that case, Adam Rhydd, you may stop and put me down! You are hardly a man fit to drive me about either!'
Adam laughed. 'You are a termagant. Well, if you must know, it's rumoured that he wins at cards rather too frequently for it to be pure chance.'
Kate stared at him. 'That's despicable! You listen to jealous rumours? You can't prove that he cheats, but just because you suspect it you are ready to cut him and force me to as well?'
'It is not purely rumour, just lack of real evidence. He prefers to play with rich young men just come to Town, or country squires, rather than those who are older and up to snuff. His family is poor, he himself has no fortune, and yet he contrives to dress well and he sports rich jewels, many of which have previously been seen on the persons of the said young men.'
'That isn't proof!' Kate said scornfully. 'He's lucky. Some men are.'
She had to stop then as some friends of Adam waved to them from another carriage, and from then on there were so many people to speak to, so many faces to try and
'He and Amelia are in Yorkshire. My mother has been unwell, and they have been visiting her.'
'Oh, I'd have loved to meet them. I never have, you know.'
'They plan to return in a few days, and then, if you permit, I will take you to visit them. They live in Park Street.'
Kate was preoccupied that evening, when Adam dined with them. She kept glancing speculatively at him, wondering if his mother knew of his liaison with the lovely Annabelle Wilson. That, no doubt, explained his reluctance to select a bride. And yet, she knew from Diana, many married men kept mistresses.
Amidst her speculations on this she began to weave plans for her meeting with her cousins. Darcy Limmering had promised to send her a message the moment they returned to Town, and she was eager to meet them, her only relatives on her father's side. Perhaps she would discover why they had ignored her existence until now. Perhaps, she thought, giving Adam a baleful glance, her grandfather had threatened them too.
Suddenly Adam, his expression severe, informed her that he would take her driving the following morning, after she had spent an hour with her grandfather.
'Won't you be riding with - ' she began, but Adam ruthlessly interrupted her.
'I promised your grandfather that I would take you about,' he said curtly, 'and I think it is time I gave you a little guidance on proper behaviour.'
She had no opportunity to demand an explanation of that cryptic remark until the following morning, when they were in a dashing phaeton drawn by a team of perfectly matched greys. Kate was secretly impressed with the manner in which Adam handled the ribbons, and she knew that only very skilful whips attempted to drive a team instead of just a pair of horses.
She was in an amenable mood by the time they turned into the Park, and had almost forgotten her grievances when Adam spoke.
'You must not be seen with that puppy Limmering,' he said abruptly. 'He is not the sort of person you can encourage.'
Kate gasped. 'His sister is married to my cousin!' she exclaimed.
'Nevertheless he is not a proper person for you to acknowledge, no more than a polite nod, at least.'
'I will speak to whoever I wish!' Kate raged. 'You have no right to dictate to me about that!'
'I don't want to cause trouble between you and your aunt, but if necessary I will ask her to forbid you to speak to him.'
'But why? What is the matter with him? Surely his birth is high enough even for you to acknowledge him?'
'Even higher-born men can be rogues.'
'What do you mean?'
'There is no cause for me to explain. You must take my word for it,' Adam said dismissively.
'How arrogant! I suppose you mean that he has a mistress in keeping? In that case, Adam Rhydd, you may stop and put me down! You are hardly a man fit to drive me about either!'
Adam laughed. 'You are a termagant. Well, if you must know, it's rumoured that he wins at cards rather too frequently for it to be pure chance.'
Kate stared at him. 'That's despicable! You listen to jealous rumours? You can't prove that he cheats, but just because you suspect it you are ready to cut him and force me to as well?'
'It is not purely rumour, just lack of real evidence. He prefers to play with rich young men just come to Town, or country squires, rather than those who are older and up to snuff. His family is poor, he himself has no fortune, and yet he contrives to dress well and he sports rich jewels, many of which have previously been seen on the persons of the said young men.'
'That isn't proof!' Kate said scornfully. 'He's lucky. Some men are.'
She had to stop then as some friends of Adam waved to them from another carriage, and from then on there were so many people to speak to, so many faces to try and
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