‘Surely doing nothing would send you out of your mind,’ Edward argued. ‘Mr Hornel could be gone for a year.’
Of course she would be dreadfully bored if she spent more than an hour sitting around doing nothing, but she did not want to be thought of as a burden. She was more than that. She had fought hard and lost a lot to be more than that. ‘Unless you have a small child in need of a governess, then I am not sure what it is I will do.’
Edward’s look sharpened. ‘We do have a niece, who lives with us. Did your brother not tell you of our situation?’
She folded the material of her dress over her knee. Of course there was a child. It made sense for this family to put her to work. She would prefer it to sitting around for months on end, but somehow the thought of it stung. ‘When will I meet her?’
Edward jerked his head impatiently. ‘You are not to be her governess. I just meant…’ He sighed, looking at his brother and sister-in-law, neither of whom made any attempt to talk. ‘I meant that I expected your brother to explain our situation.’
‘Oh. No. He did not say anything. He never does when he has a case, because he believes in the privacy of his clients.’
‘An admirable trait but unnecessary in this instance as you are to live with us. We have…’ He scrubbed a hand down hisface. ‘We had another brother. Sebastian. He moved to America, married, had a daughter and made a fortune.’ Kate could not resist a look around the room; if these people thought Sebastian had made a lot of money, his wealth must have been truly spectacular. ‘We had news of his death over a year ago, and his daughter, Charlotte, came to live with us earlier this year. We did not know of her existence until she turned up on our doorstep and we are hoping that, as well as finding out about Sebastian’s death, your brother will uncover more details about her early life.’
‘Can you not ask her?’
‘She is only three and did not talk for the first few months after she moved here. She talks a little better now, but it is not about her life before.’
‘Have…?’ She stopped herself. It was not her concern. She did not want to ruffle feathers by questioning their methods with their niece.
He paused for a beat, but when she did not continue, he did not ask for further clarification. Instead, he said, ‘We agreed with your brother that we would introduce you into Society.’
‘You did what?’ She hadn’t meant to speak so sharply, but why had Simon not said as much to her before he left? There had been time during their last evening together and yet he had only talked about practical matters, like how they would communicate over the next year and what he planned to do with the fee he received for his services.
‘Mr Hornel was most concerned about your future. We agreed we would introduce you into Society so you may find…’ Edward suddenly became very interested in the material of his pantaloons, brushing his hand over the fabric. ‘Your brother hoped you would find a suitable match.’
Her breath caught in her throat, making it impossible for her to question this absurd statement. Edward Dashworth seemed to take her silence as agreement with this plan to find her a husband amongst the peerage. The plan was utterly, unfathomably absurd. The sheer foolishness of it left her breathless.
‘Our oldest brother, the Duke of Glanmore, has arranged for you to have monthly pin money as well as an allowance for outfits suitable for balls and the like.’ Thelike. She had no idea what he could possibly mean, but she was still too astounded to ask him to clarify. ‘He’s also agreed to provide a dowry, should the need arise.’
‘A dowry,’ she croaked. ‘What will I do with one of those?’
‘It’s for women when they…’
‘I know what a dowry is,’ she half laughed. ‘I am not a complete peasant.’ His lips pursed but she carried on. ‘It is the finding a husband from amongst the higher echelons of Society about which I am incredulous. What man would want to marry an impoverished governess?’
‘No one will know that about you.’
Did the man have no brains behind his handsome features? Of course a husband would need to know her background. She could not get married on a lie. Hell, she did not know if she even wanted togetmarried. She had assumed she wouldn’t; she’d made peace with it long ago. At six and twenty, she was far too old to be thinking along those lines.
‘There are several problems with this plan,’ she told him. He raised an imperious eyebrow but she had regained her voice and was not going to lose it, even in the face of his disapproval. ‘I have been a governess. I will surely meet the families I have worked for and they will recognise me.’ She did not mention herlast employer, but the idea of meeting him in a ballroom made her blood run cold. ‘Also, if I meet a man, am I to lie to him about my background?’
‘I am sure we can come up with a believable past for you.’
It was ludicrous he thought this acceptable. ‘I do not want to start any relationship on a mistruth. In fact, I do not want a husband.’
‘Well said!’
Kate jumped; she had forgotten Emily and her husband were still in the room. It was Emily who had spoken.
‘I see,’ her husband responded.
‘Oh, darling, you know I love you.’ Edward pretended to gag and Kate let out a surprised laugh. He grinned at her, looking years younger and a good deal more approachable. Emily ignored them both. ‘But you remember, my dear Freddie, how much pressure my mother put on me. If a woman does not wish to marry, then she should not be made to.’ She turned her attention away from her husband and back to Kate. ‘No one is going to force you into anything, but please do say you will take up the allowance for new dresses. I would love to come shopping with you.’
Faced with Emily’s sweetness, Kate could not disagree. When her life returned to normal, she would be able to sell any clothes bought. ‘Of course. I would like that.’ She wasn’t sure yet whether she was speaking the truth. She had never been to a modiste, not even with any of her previous employers, but it would be good to have a wardrobe containing new clothes and not ones badly mended.
‘Would you be happy with a story resembling the truth?’ Edward asked. ‘We could say that your brother is a friend of Tobias. That they studied together or met somewhere manyyears ago and lost contact for a while, but now, since your brother has travelled to America, Tobias has agreed to sponsor you. It is close to reality but it protects our privacy.’
She could not find fault with his suggestion, understanding why the family would not want to draw attention to what Simon was doing. There was still no need for a husband. ‘I still do not think the dowry is necessary. I have never thought of marrying.’ Not since she’d been a young, naïve girl at least.
