‘It would be strange for us not to provide you with one.’
She locked eyes with Edward. ‘Would it?’ She did not understand their world well, but she did not imagine members of the Ton went about offering dowries to women who were of no relation to them. They stared at each other. She refused to be the first one to turn away. She had no idea why they were at odds once again, but it seemed important not to back down to him. If she gave in without protest, this large man would walk all over her, dominating her with his will.
‘Do you play the pianoforte, Kate?’
Damn it. Why did she keep forgetting about Emily being in the room with them?
‘I do not, I am afraid.’ She did not understand the soft smile on Emily’s face.
‘Any other instrument?’
‘No, I…’
‘What about dancing?’
The muscles in her back were tightening, making her want to curl in on herself. She held herself upright by pure strength of will. ‘When I was younger, I attended a few dances at our local town hall, but I have not had the pleasure in years.’ Not that she had danced much and she had never had a lesson. If required todance in a ballroom, she would fail. She did not want to answer, not when she was locked in a battle of wills with Edward.
‘We have plenty of time. It is not the Season and most families are out of town. There are currently no balls on the horizon and so there is lots of time for you to practise. Now, I hope you do not mind, everyone, but I must have a lie-down.’ Freddie’s eyes glinted and Kate had the uncomfortable feeling she’d witnessed something private.
Opposite her, Edward rolled his eyes and she couldn’t stop the heat from spreading across her face as she guessed at what a lie-down might entail.
‘We have dinner with the duke later,’ said Edward. ‘Emily has invited a few friends. It will be a small gathering and an ideal time to introduce you to a few of our acquaintances. Have you sat at a formal meal before?’
She bit her lip to stop herself from informing him that she didn’t eat like a pig at a trough, but although he might be stiff and pompous, he appeared to be trying to help her. ‘I have never dined with a duke before, no.’
‘Very well. I will request that a table be set up this afternoon so that we can practise.’ He made to push himself from the chair before pausing. ‘If it is acceptable to you, of course.’
‘It is acceptable.’ She had no idea what she was going to do for the next few hours, but she had promised herself she would not be a bother to anyone and so she merely smiled politely.
Chapter Seven
Once again, Jane led her through the long corridors of the house. As she’d feared, the hours spent in her bedroom alone had been impossibly dull; her only entertainment had been to stare out of the window onto the wide avenue below. It was fascinating to watch all the grand carriages coming and going and the staff who maintained the fronts of these grand houses, but even so, the time had dragged.
‘Do you think you could show me to the library later?’ she asked Jane as they turned around another bend. ‘I should like something to read.’
‘I have heard the duke is very protective of his books. I am not sure if I will be allowed.’
‘Oh, that is…’ Disappointing, depressing, soul-destroying? Any one of those adjectives really. She was likely to die of boredom at some point in the coming months. At least she would get to eat a lot of delicious cake in the meantime.
‘I am to show you to the family dining room,’ Jane told her, whipping around another corner. ‘Tonight dinner will be in the larger one, which is used only when guests are in attendance.’
‘Right.’ Kate’s stomach felt hollow and she did not think it was solely because she had hardly had anything to eat since she arrived at the grand house earlier. Boring though sitting alone in her room was, at least she was not making a fool of herself in front of nobility. Her mouth went dry as they made their way down another long corridor; she wanted to tell Jane to stop, that she needed to return to her room… but to do what? This house was too big, the people too different from her. As a governess, she’d lived in grand houses, but she’d been confined to only some of the rooms and the reality of their opulence had previously passed her by. Even then, the places had been nothing like this. The soft rugs they walked upon probably cost more than she earned or would ever earn. Learning how to dine with dukes in one afternoon was not something she could do. Her breathing came quicker as Jane began to slow. She was out of her depth; she should not be here. Perhaps she should ask these people to help her find a governess position far from London, somewhere she would not meet her previous employer. If they were prepared to provide her with a dowry, surely they would not mind writing a reference for her, and with a reference from a duke she could go far. They would probably be relieved to be released from the burden of looking after her.
‘Here we are, Miss.’
‘Where?’
Jane gave her a look that suggested she thought her new mistress was not in possession of all her wits. ‘At the dining room, Miss.’
‘Ah yes.’ Pausing on the threshold, she glanced back at Jane, who smiled indulgently.
‘I promise you, Miss, this is the right place.’
‘Right, of course.’ Wiping her hands on her dress, Kate stepped into the room, unsurprised to find it was only the broad-shouldered Edward who was waiting for her. It seemed fate, or perhaps something less whimsical, was throwing them together. Two people who really didn’t want that.
He turned at her approach and she was once again struck by how tall he was. If she had a mind to lean against him, the curve of her cheek would rest against his heart. She frowned to herself; whyever was she thinking of leaning against him? She would never get closer to him than five or so paces.
‘Emily and Freddie are not able to join us,’ said Edward, looking past her to Jane. ‘Perhaps your maid… Jane, is it?’ His brow crinkled as her eyebrows rose. She nodded, surprised he knew the name of a servant with whom he would have nothing to do. ‘Perhaps Jane should remain.’
