“He’s going to be jealous. Already is, because of Kit Kat. Why does that upset him? I never did anything wrong. A good thing that he’ll be away most of the time. Though I might be tempted to go up to London and catch him with his mistress. Sauce for the goose... You don’t approve?” she asked the dog with a smile. “You’re right, of course. It would achieve nothing but to make me a figure of fun. Women, especially ladies, are supposed to never talk of their husband’s unkindnesses, and to pretend ignorance of his infidelities. At least Marcus never strained my discretion in that department.”
She cleaned the comb of hair for the last time and put it aside. “Perhaps I’ll take a lover,” she said, but Sillikin was asleep.
Kitty didn’t need a reaction from her dog to know she’dnever do that. It would be dishonorable, and a husband being equally dishonorable wouldn’t absolve her. But that meant that when Braydon left for London, she’d be returned to celibacy. For the past few years, she’d felt the lack of a man, but dully amid the darkening days of her marriage and then the enclosing atmosphere of Cateril Manor. Now she was alive again, but he would soon leave.
Perhaps not till after Christmas.
Whatever happened, what she must do was keep her side of the bargain—and her temper—and become a perfect Viscountess Dauntry in all regards.
As a first step, Kitty put the sleeping Sillikin down near the fire, summoned the cook, and discussed menus for the coming week. At the end, she asked, “Is there anything you need in order to do your work to the best, Mrs. Northbrook?”
“Not unless there’s stuff needed for new dishes, milady. Turkish-like.”
“Turkish? Ah, you mean like Lord Dauntry’s coffee and cakes.”
“Nasty, thick stuff.” The woman went red. “Begging your pardon, milady!”
“That’s quite all right, Mrs. Northbrook. The coffee is very strong, but delicious if one has a taste for it. You don’t make it?”
“I do not, milady. His lordship’s gentleman does that, though I understand that in London his lordship’s cook prepares it.”
So he had a cook in his Town rooms. That implied considerable space. “I’m sure he’s not concerned that you have no experience of it.”
“I certainly hope so, milady. I’d be willing to learn, of course, but...”
But he won’t be here much?Kitty was surprised theservants knew that. No wonder they seemed uncertain about which side to support.
“But it would be difficult,” Kitty supplied. “As long as Johns is here to prepare it, that will do, but have one of the kitchen servants learn from him in case. As you know, Lord Dauntry has many duties in Town, and in the New Year there’ll be Parliament, but he will be here as much as he can be, and I will be here most of the time.”
“You won’t be going to London with him, milady?”
Kitty wondered if people hearing that war is to be fought on their doorstep had the same frightened look. She was sorry for it, but the servants were going to have to choose their sides.
“Only occasionally,” she said. “There’s so much to do here. What will we need to provide for the tenants’ and servants’ ball?”
Mrs. Northbrook still looked anxious, but she had some good ideas. In the end, Kitty could thank her warmly and hope they parted on reasonably good terms.
So far, so good. What next?
It was approaching noon and she was hungry, but it was time to deal with Isabella.Two birds with one stone?She braced herself and then went down to Braydon’s study, annoyed to feel nervous about being with him again.
Her tone was probably too brisk as she asked, “Do you see any reason not to invite Isabella to eat lunch with us?”
“No, but what if she refuses?”
“It won’t be a command. If she chooses to stay cloistered, so be it.”
“Forever?”
“I feel sure I can outwait her.”
“So do I.”
That sounded approving, and Kitty relaxed a little. “I wonder...” she said.
“What?”
“Perhaps she’s caught in a trap similar to mine at Cateril Manor, tangled in the dowager’s mourning like a fly in a spider’s web. I’m sure she feels her losses as I felt mine, but is she mostly acting out of fear of upsetting her grandmother?”
