“I say the same to myself,” Katherine touched his arm, “when I think of my parents.”
Katherine and Farring shared a momentary, companionable silence as Julia’s melancholy notes drifted through the room.
“Do tell me more about your family, would you, Lord Farring?”
“If you insist,” Farring replied with a lopsided grin. “My twin, Lady Darlington—Lady Philippa at the time—would have been out. She is tall, like me. And, like me, she is as blind as a bat without her glasses. Dashing as they come, however.”
“Oh yes,” Katherine brightened, “I remember Lady Philippa!”
“She is,” he chuckled, “difficult to forget.”
“I remember her as kind,” Katherine countered.
“Kind.” Farring snorted. “If she was kind to you, she likely thought she could rope you into one of her nefarious schemes.”
Katherine demurred. She hadn’t spent long enough in London to have made any true friends. “Lady Philippa—Lady Darlington, I mean—is married, then?”
“Yes, and happily, I believe.” Farring slanted her a smile. “Her husband carries quite a bit of political sway, and, somehow,” Farring winked, “all the best scandals originate at her soirees.”
Odd to hear someone talk so jovially about scandals. Although, the son of a duke could survive more than most, she supposed.
“Would you like to know about the rest?” Farring asked.
“Certainly.” Anything to keep her mind off Julia.
“Lady Margaretta and Lady Florentina came out two years past; they are a mere eleven months apart, you see. And Lady Horatia will make her curtsy next year; she and Lady Julia are of similar age.” His gaze moved to Julia. “In fact, I am sure they would be fast friends.”
Katherine blinked with surprise. “Would you introduce them?”
Farring pressed his hand to his chest. “Of course! My mother wouldn’t have it any other way! Imagine, the daughter of the Duke of Shepthorpe, shunning the sister of the new Marchioness of Bromton.” He shook his head. “’Twould not be allowed, I tell you!”
Katherine chuckled, though she could not conceive of wielding such power. All she knew for certain was that Farring was making a valiant attempt to distract her from her worry. She liked him all the better for his efforts.
“I look forward to meeting Lady Horatia,” she said. “But, if I am not mistaken, that makes only five.”
“So, it does.” Farring smiled fondly. “The last is still in leading strings and showing all the promise, beauty, wit, and wisdom,” he grinned with characteristic self-depreciation, “befitting the daughter of a duke.”
“What is the little one’s name?”
“She prefers Ana. And she is much more an Ana than a Lady Uriana, if you ask me.” He leaned in. “Just don’t allow the duchess to hear you say so.”
“Uriana, Horatia, Florentina, Margaretta….” Katherine laughed aloud. “One wonders at your given name, Lord Farring.”
“Alas,” Farring said with mock sadness, “the duchess failed to provide me with an illustrious name. Why should she, when it would remain forever hidden beneath a title?” He inclined his head. “Charles, Lord Farring, at your service.”
“Ah, but Charles is the name of kings!”
“Yes,” he sighed, “but next to my sisters, it does lack a certain flair, does it not?”
Katherine’s lips quirked. “One might say you make up for it in charm.”
“You may pay me all the compliments you wish,” Farring flashed a glance toward Giles. “But do keep your voice to a whisper. I’ve a mind to keep my ears from being boxed.”
“Julia,” Katherine called, “did you know Lord Farring hasfiveyounger sisters?”
Julia stopped playing. “And I thoughtMarkhamparticularly unlucky.”
“Ah,” Farring replied, “but the responsibility for you lovely ladies falls solely on his shoulders.” Farring waved his hand. “I leave my sisters to the domain of the duke and duchess. And for their part, my sisters would fall into weeping despair if they thought they need depend on me.”
