“More likely out of fear of angering her.”
“You can’t be sure of that. The dowager has been mother to her for ten years.”
“And a dominant figure in this house all her life. You might be right, but how to break such chains?”
“We can offer escapes.”
“By all means, but open doors don’t always tempt a caged bird.”
“Because it’s afraid. We’ll have to overcome her fears.”
As I’ll have to overcome mine.
Kitty left, considering whether her experiences with Marcus had caged her in some way. Was she afraid of breaking free of watchfulness and readiness for war?
She was who she was, however, and she couldn’t bear to start bending and pretending in an attempt to placate an angry man.
She stuck to the matter in hand and sent Henry with a verbal invitation to Isabella. She was surprised, but pleased, when the girl accepted. Isabella would doubtless come with cannons at the ready, but Kitty hoped she’d soon have a better idea of how to sweeten the girl’s mood.
Chapter 23
Kitty made sure she was tidy and went down to the small dining room. She found Isabella already there, no longer wearing the ring. The girl was in the deepest mourning but also in the latest style.So she is interested in fashion. That is a beginning.
Sillikin hurried to make friends.
Isabella stepped back, snapping, “Go away!”
Kitty picked up the dog. “She’s not at all dangerous, I assure you.”
“But not suitable for a dining room.”
There was some justice in that. “If her presence upsets you...” Kitty summoned the footman from the hall and told him to take Sillikin to Henry.
When she turned back, Isabella said, “I understand you were raised in a shop, my lady. That must have been interesting.” Clearly “interesting” was not desirable. The girl had been sent here with prepared lines.
“It was,” Kitty said cheerfully. “There’s always something to read in a bookshop, and when I was older, I acted as shop assistant at times, which was fun.”
“Fun?”
“I enjoyed helping people find the books they wanted, and writing the bill and taking the money. Of course, I didn’t have to work long hours, as a real shop clerk might. And then I went to school. Have you attended school?”
“Ihad a governess.”
“I sometimes thought I would like that,” Kitty said, “and not have to go away, but I enjoyed being with other girls and the variety of subjects and activities. I assume you’ve learned music and dance?”
“I have been well educated in all regards, ma’am. I would have attended a ball this year if not for our tragic changes.”
Tragic changes; not losses.Before Kitty could react to that, Braydon arrived, followed closely by servants bearing food.
“Do let’s sit,” Kitty said. “I confess to being hungry.” Once they were settled and the servants had left, Kitty said, “We’ve been speaking of dances and balls, Dauntry. When Isabella’s mourning is over we must arrange some—here or perhaps in London.” She dangled that as bait, but Isabella didn’t twitch.
“Of course,” Braydon said. “And presentation at court.”
Isabella stayed silent, eating tiny morsels perhaps as a reproach to hearty appetites. Kitty reminded herself that the girl’s father and brother had died. Her mourning wasn’t false.
“We can do nothing as long as you’re in your blacks,” she said to the girl. “But when you’re in half mourning, we could host a small social gathering here. Don’t you think, Dauntry? Perhaps a musical evening.”
“I don’t see why not.”
