Sophie felt her face heat, flashed a look at Mrs. Overtree and faltered, “I’m afraid I may have...”
Mrs. Overtree said, “We eat well here at Overtree Hall. Don’t we, Sophie?”
“Yes,” Sophie agreed. “I confess I am not accustomed to sweets and puddings with every meal. I shall be plump in no time at this rate.”
“Yes, a young lady must take care with her figure. Even when newly married. Unless...” Mrs. Overtree let the phrase dangle, unfinished. Her eyes surveyed Sophie head to toe and lingered on her middle.
“I shall have to alter this,” the dressmaker said, long-suffering and officious. “But I will have it finished in time for the big day—never fear.”
The dressmaker and her assistant gathered their things and took their leave, while the Overtree ladies remained on the comfortable sofa and armchair in Mrs. Overtree’s boudoir. Libby brought the ladies tea, and they sat sipping and talking.
Mrs. Overtree said, “Only a few days from now and still so much to do.”
“Mamma, you did invite Mr. Harrison, did you not?” Kate asked.
“No, I did not. Not specifically. Though of course I had to invite Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and they will probably bring him along.”
Kate nodded. “He is their son, after all.”
“No, he is not. They have only raised him out of the goodness of their hearts. Which I do admire—don’t mistake me. But why must they try to pass him off as a gentleman? I know they are fond of him, but really. It isn’t fair to put the rest of us in such an awkward position socially.”
Sophie recalled what Angela Blake had told her in confidence about the circumstances of the young man’s birth. She asked tentatively. “Is his background so bad?”
“Yes. His mother was unmarried. His father, we know not who. Our vicar and his wife, never having children of their own, took the boy in as a lad and raised him after the poor girl died. Very Christian of them, I am sure. And were he to come here seeking a post or collecting donations for the poor fund, I would look on him kindly enough. But to come here as our equal? To dress and act the gentleman and turn our Katherine’s head with his good looks and toothy grins? I think not.”
“Mamma!” Kate protested. “You are unfair. He is educated and gentlemanlike in his manner and, yes, extremely good-looking.” Kate’s dimples appeared as she said the final phrase.
“You may train and dress a man to play the part, but a gentleman is born and bred.”
Kate pouted. “Mamma, I like Mr. Harrison. And he, I think, admires me. I—”
“Of course he does, Katherine. I give him credit for taste at least. But you are above his station. He ought to know his place and keep it.”
“Mamma. You sound the shrew.”
“And you the impractical romantic. This is the real world, Katherine. You may think me shrewish all you like, but that does not change the facts. If you married him, many doors would be closed to you. Your father and I could not approve of a match between you. Not to be cruel, but because we want what is best for you. So you would do well to put it from your mind.”
She began to pass Sophie the plate of biscuits, thought the better of it, and handed the plate to Kate instead. “You should be pleased to know we have invited Sefton Darby-Wells. A very handsome man, you cannot deny.”
“I don’t deny it, but he has never shown a whit of interest in me.”
“He is well connected and from a good family. And his Mamma wrote to me to hint that he would welcome an invitation to Overtree Hall.”
“Really? I am surprised to hear it. I thought he seemed interested in Miss Parkland.”
“Apparently not. Just promise me you will give him a chance, Katherine. Don’t let your fancy for young Mr. Harrison cause you to overlook a man ten times his consequence.”
“Very well, Mamma. At least Miss Blake and I shall have another partner. I do recall Mr. Darby-Wells being an excellent dancer.” She sniffed and murmured into her teacup. “But I still hope Mr. Harrison comes as well.”
chapter 17
That evening, dinner was quieter than usual. Kate was uncharacteristically subdued, probably thinking of Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Keith was not there to add his droll quips and amusing stories. He had been invited to Windmere for the evening by Angela Blake’s brother, who was at home for a few days.
Later, when Sophie and Captain Overtree walked upstairs together, she asked, “What do you think, Captain? Are the circumstances surrounding young Mr. Harrison’s birth insurmountable? Do they truly render him unsuitable for your sister or any other young lady?”
“In the eyes of my parents? Yes. They do.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. He cannot help that thegentlemanwho fathered him refused to marry his poor mother. He is innocent of wrongdoing.”
