with both hands and Charles
cupped her elbow with his free hand, guiding her
around the piles of horse droppings in the road.
‘He’s nice.’ She said in explanation and then ‘I
wish they’d clear up after the horses more frequently.’
‘Yes. It is rather inconvenient.’ Charles said as he
clutched at Kitty’s arm to stop himself from falling.
Eventually they made it to the steps without
mishap, Thomas, Victoria and Agatha were waiting for
them. The gentlemen saw to the ladies wraps, handing
them to a footman and they listened to the major domo
announce each one of them by title.
‘The Duke of Durham, the Duchess of
Wentworth, the Marquis of Pikeston, the Countess of
Stockton, the Countess of Stainmore and Lord Richard
Dunsmore!’ he bellowed.
There was an instant hush in the ballroom as all
eyes turned to see Victoria walk into the ball proudly on
Thomas’s arm. Then the volume rose higher than before
as everybody speculated on a romantic attachment
between the two Dukedoms. Charles smiled and
escorted Kitty across the room towards all the other
debutantes and waited until she was seated before he
joined Richard at the punch bowl.
Richard poured out two cups and they both took
a sip, coughed, spluttered and put the cups down on the
table. ‘God! That’s awful.’ Charles muttered.
‘Let’s go and get some claret.’ Richard said and
made for the small drawing room that was lined with
tables filled with glasses and bottles of wine, spirits and
champagne. Once fortified with a brandy, Charles and
Richard took wine back for Kitty. Richard politely
handed her a glass, smiled softly and stepped back. He
and Charles took up station by a Grecian pillar, where
they had a fine view of the dancers on the floor. They
stood for a good hour and watched the vultures that
were in the market for a wife, try and coax the young
beauties on display to dance.
Kitty sat with Louise Trenchard and they chatted
amicably. Richard still watched her.
‘Who is that handsome man standing with your
brother?’ Louise asked softly, so as not to draw the
attention of the other debs.
‘That’s his friend from Spain.’ Kitty said
evasively.
‘Is he a Don?’ Louise demanded as her interest
was piqued.
‘No. He is the youngest son of the Earl of
Rutland.’ Kitty said coldly.
‘Oh!’ Louise said dismissively. ‘I thought he
might be someone important.’
‘Sorry, Lulu, but your Daddy’s not going to look
at him twice and you know it. A Lord isn’t good enough
for his little girl.’
‘I think Daddy has his heart set on your brother.’
Louise said softly. ‘Not that I’d mind having you for a
sister, but one doesn’t really know what to expect with
any man. For all we know he could be a brutal lover.’
‘He isn’t. And don’t ever imply that he could be
again.’ Kitty said harshly making Louise look at her
sharply. Kitty sighed deeply and composed her face.
‘Sorry, I’m a little over protective of him at the
moment.’
‘Hardly surprising. He was terribly injured in
Spain, wasn’t he?’ Louise asked compassionately. She
knew just how close Kitty was with her brother and
after the rumours she’d been told about Robin, Charles
was probably just as protective of her.
‘I thought he had his eyes on the young Duke of
Cardigan?’ Kitty asked to steer Louise away from her
brother.
‘Cardigan is rich to be sure, but I don’t think he’s
looking for a wife yet. Hadn’t you noticed he avoids the
debs like the plague?’
‘I had. Daddy’s going to ask soon, but will you be
coming to Durham this summer?’ Kitty asked.
‘Mickleton Hall will be boring without you.’
‘I think you’ll be hard pressed to stop Daddy
from accepting the invite.’ Louise said jovially. ‘Will your
brother Robin be home from abroad by then?’
‘Robin won’t be coming home, ever.’ Kitty said
with a frown. ‘He got himself killed in a duel in Jamaica.’
Silence followed that statement and Louise wasn’t quite
sure how to voice her
cupped her elbow with his free hand, guiding her
around the piles of horse droppings in the road.
‘He’s nice.’ She said in explanation and then ‘I
wish they’d clear up after the horses more frequently.’
‘Yes. It is rather inconvenient.’ Charles said as he
clutched at Kitty’s arm to stop himself from falling.
Eventually they made it to the steps without
mishap, Thomas, Victoria and Agatha were waiting for
them. The gentlemen saw to the ladies wraps, handing
them to a footman and they listened to the major domo
announce each one of them by title.
‘The Duke of Durham, the Duchess of
Wentworth, the Marquis of Pikeston, the Countess of
Stockton, the Countess of Stainmore and Lord Richard
Dunsmore!’ he bellowed.
There was an instant hush in the ballroom as all
eyes turned to see Victoria walk into the ball proudly on
Thomas’s arm. Then the volume rose higher than before
as everybody speculated on a romantic attachment
between the two Dukedoms. Charles smiled and
escorted Kitty across the room towards all the other
debutantes and waited until she was seated before he
joined Richard at the punch bowl.
Richard poured out two cups and they both took
a sip, coughed, spluttered and put the cups down on the
table. ‘God! That’s awful.’ Charles muttered.
‘Let’s go and get some claret.’ Richard said and
made for the small drawing room that was lined with
tables filled with glasses and bottles of wine, spirits and
champagne. Once fortified with a brandy, Charles and
Richard took wine back for Kitty. Richard politely
handed her a glass, smiled softly and stepped back. He
and Charles took up station by a Grecian pillar, where
they had a fine view of the dancers on the floor. They
stood for a good hour and watched the vultures that
were in the market for a wife, try and coax the young
beauties on display to dance.
Kitty sat with Louise Trenchard and they chatted
amicably. Richard still watched her.
‘Who is that handsome man standing with your
brother?’ Louise asked softly, so as not to draw the
attention of the other debs.
‘That’s his friend from Spain.’ Kitty said
evasively.
‘Is he a Don?’ Louise demanded as her interest
was piqued.
‘No. He is the youngest son of the Earl of
Rutland.’ Kitty said coldly.
‘Oh!’ Louise said dismissively. ‘I thought he
might be someone important.’
‘Sorry, Lulu, but your Daddy’s not going to look
at him twice and you know it. A Lord isn’t good enough
for his little girl.’
‘I think Daddy has his heart set on your brother.’
Louise said softly. ‘Not that I’d mind having you for a
sister, but one doesn’t really know what to expect with
any man. For all we know he could be a brutal lover.’
‘He isn’t. And don’t ever imply that he could be
again.’ Kitty said harshly making Louise look at her
sharply. Kitty sighed deeply and composed her face.
‘Sorry, I’m a little over protective of him at the
moment.’
‘Hardly surprising. He was terribly injured in
Spain, wasn’t he?’ Louise asked compassionately. She
knew just how close Kitty was with her brother and
after the rumours she’d been told about Robin, Charles
was probably just as protective of her.
‘I thought he had his eyes on the young Duke of
Cardigan?’ Kitty asked to steer Louise away from her
brother.
‘Cardigan is rich to be sure, but I don’t think he’s
looking for a wife yet. Hadn’t you noticed he avoids the
debs like the plague?’
‘I had. Daddy’s going to ask soon, but will you be
coming to Durham this summer?’ Kitty asked.
‘Mickleton Hall will be boring without you.’
‘I think you’ll be hard pressed to stop Daddy
from accepting the invite.’ Louise said jovially. ‘Will your
brother Robin be home from abroad by then?’
‘Robin won’t be coming home, ever.’ Kitty said
with a frown. ‘He got himself killed in a duel in Jamaica.’
Silence followed that statement and Louise wasn’t quite
sure how to voice her
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