He’d slid away from her request, but there was time. A lifetime. Kitty beamed at him. “I can’t wait!”
And barring any new emergency, he would returnwith her. They’d have a month or so before a new separation. Anything could happen in a month.
***
Kitty knew they must return to Beauchamp Abbey, and so she set Thursday as the day.
Wednesday morning was taken up with interviewing six potential lady’s maids. Kitty could be overwhelmed, not least by the need for employment she saw in some. The poor economy meant that even some fashionable people had had to cut expenses or go abroad, as the Duke of Kent had, to find cheaper places to live.
She had to be practical, however, and choose one who would suit. She knew she didn’t want a maid who was younger than herself, even though one was lively and charming. She certainly didn’t want a sour one, which crossed another off the list.
In the end she chose Miss Sarah Land, a woman of forty-two who seemed to have a calm, competent way about her. She’d been employed for fourteen years by a Mrs. Compton-Huffington, until that lady’s sad death from an infected cut. Mr. Compton-Huffington gave her an excellent reference, and Kitty noted the fact that Miss Land had been allowed to live on in the family home until she found a new position. That spoke well of her and the family.
Henry asked some challenging questions about procedures and skills but was satisfied with the answers. Terms were agreed, and Sarah Land was to travel with Kitty back to Beauchamp Abbey, whereupon Henry would go north, back home.
Kitty could turn tearful over that, but she’d allow no such nonsense, and plunged into a last-minute flurry of shopping for perishable delicacies such as fruits and cheeses. She also purchased a large amount of candied fruits, in hopes of sweetening the dowager.
As she paused outside a greengrocer’s, Edward was suddenly relieved of some of his teetering pile of packages by an officer.
Edison.
Kitty suffered a flutter of panic, but she was on a busy street in daylight.
“Thank you, Captain. I’m in a mania of shopping, for we leave for Beauchamp tomorrow.”
“Dauntry goes with you?”
“Of course.” She couldn’t dismiss him when he held some of her purchases hostage. She could only pray he wouldn’t enact a scene on Oxford Street.
“I, too, leave Town,” he said.
“To spend Christmas with your family?” With relief, she saw their hired carriage ahead.
“Yes, but then to go abroad.”
Kitty tried not to look too delighted. “A new posting. Congratulations.”
“There isn’t great competition to go to Van Diemen’s Land.”
They’d arrived at the carriage, and Edward was putting packages into the boot. The footman had to extract the ones Edison was carrying, as he seemed fixated on Kitty, as if expecting something.
“Where is that?” she asked.
“South of Australia. It’s a penal colony.”
Kitty could see it now. She was supposed to protest at such an exile, which he would take as a sign of love. “I’m sure that’s very important work,” she said, “and it is greatly to your credit that you’re willing to undertake it.”
“You don’t care.”
“About what?”
“That I’ll be on the far side of the world.”
She hoped she was a picture of blank incomprehension. “You’ll be serving your country, Edison, and I expectyou’ll find it a grand adventure. Australia is an astonishing place, I understand. Perhaps you’ll see kangaroos.”
“Perhaps I will.” His tense jaw had relaxed a little, and now he simply looked miserable. She longed to comfort him, but knew any hint of fondness would undo all her work.
“I wish you a very happy Christmas with your family, Edison, and a smooth journey to the antipodes. You must tell your mother how well Sillikin goes. And now I must plunge back into the shops, for I’ve completely neglected to buy a Christmas gift for my husband!”
