“And there are gentlemen who behave in very ungentlemanlike ways, too,” he said.
“Oh yes,” she said, suddenly serious. “I have heard of some cases— But it is not a matter of behaviour, or appearance, either, for I certainlylooklike a lady, I will concede that much. My aunt has ensured that. It is a matter of birth, Mr Atherton. One cannot leave behind the circumstances of one’s birth. Your father was born noble, my uncle was born a gentleman and that will never change. And I was born a mill-owner’s daughter, and that can never change, either.”
He halted his horse, so that Katherine was obliged to stop too. “Your logic is faulty,” he said with a frown. “I was born noble, too — the Honourable Kent Atherton. Walter was Viscount Birtwell. Olivia was the Lady Olivia Atherton and is now plain Miss Atherton, although it pleases me that most people still address her by her former title. And now we are nothing… fatherless, in the eyes of the law. I am not even a gentleman any longer, if one wishes to be pedantic about it. Whereas you, Miss Parish, could marry a duke and hold higher rank than any of us.”
That made Katherine laugh. “Yet I would still be a mill-owner’s daughter, would I not? And everyone would know that. They might bow deeply and call me‘Your Grace’, but they would know who I really am. Marry a duke! How absurd you are, Mr Atherton.”
“And why should you not marry as high as you please?” he cried with such vehemence that his horse started into sudden motion. “You must marrysomeone, so why not a duke?”
“I doubt I shall ever marry,” she said, rather breathlessly, for she had had to scramble to catch him up.
“But you would like to, one day, I am sure,” he said. “Is that not what all women want, a husband?”
“Most of them need one,” she said sharply. “The life of a spinster is not easy, and being a wife, particularly to a wealthy man—”
“Or a duke!”
“To a wealthy man, titled or not, is a more attractive prospect. What every woman wants, in fact, is financial security, which is what a husband provides.”
“It is not all he provides, surely? What about affection? Respect? Kindness? Generosity? Like-minded companionship? A comfortable home?”
“Certainly, but mostly a good character. That is vital, to my mind. A good husband is a man who has absolute integrity. He must be both honest and trustworthy, for there should be no secrets between husband and wife, and no shady corners of his public life, either. And more than that, he must be a good Christian, and accord God His proper place.”
He was silent for a moment, his face unusually serious. “Prayer… there must be prayer. That is what you mean, is it not?”
“Prayers, yes, on a daily basis, but also regular attendance at church, not merely the great festivals, and reading suitable works to improve one’s understanding of the church’s teachings. One should always strive to improve oneself, Mr Atherton. Do you not agree?”
“Yes. Yes, I do, Miss Parish. Heavens, Emily and Lucas are entirely out of sight. Shall we see if we can coax your mount to a little more speed?”
“We can try,” she said.
9: An Invitation
ThisconversationpowerfullyaffectedKent. If he were to have any chance of marrying Katherine, then he needed to be the kind of man she wanted… the kind she deserved, and honesty compelled him to admit that he fell short in several aspects. Praying… he did not pray nearly enough, or go to church very often. In fact, since Nicholson had died and his little services in the castle chapel had ceased, Kent had rarely attended church at all. In that, he was no different from many others of his class, and no one thought any the worse of him for it. Except Katherine, of course. Perhaps her religious bent was a little too zealous, but it would do him no harm to improve his own observances.
As for honesty and integrity… he thought he was as honest as most people. He did not lie or cheat, he was respectful towards women, and he treated servants and tradesmen fairly. At this point the smuggling enterprise rose unbidden in his mind, and how easy it was to justify in his own mind! Yes, it was not strictly legal, but, as Eustace tirelessly pointed out, everyone benefited by it. The gentry and local inns were supplied with good, cheap brandy, the smugglers themselves made a little money from it and only the Excise men lost out by way of collecting a little less duty than they should have done. So he reasoned with himself, and ruthlessly suppressed the twinges of conscience that assailed him now and then.
And it was fun, he had to admit that. There was little enough for an active young man to do, so remote as Corland was situated, so how could he resist the chance for a little excitement now and then, with the added amusement of putting one over on the Excise men. If he could not go to Birmingham and learn about engines, then he would just have to find entertainment nearer to home.
Besides, just now he had no inclination to leave home at all. His rides with Katherine, and the delicate business of drawing her out of her shell and wondering whether he should marry her, kept any regrets for Birmingham at bay. And since Olivia had taken up the idea of a dinner with dancing afterwards, Kent was determined to show Katherine off to advantage in front of his father.
“I shall see you on Friday night, of course,” he said casually one day as they drew near to Birchall again after a ride.
“Friday night?”
“This dinner that Olivia is organising. The Cathcarts are invited… everyone for miles around is invited.”
“Oh, that. I was invited, but I have declined.”
“Declined? But why? There will be no one sensible to talk to if you are not there.”
The colour bloomed in her cheeks but she answered composedly. “You are very kind to say so, sir, but you know I am not comfortable in such company.”
“Does your aunt wish you not to go? Or your cousin? Miss Cathcart can be… capricious, sometimes.”
“Oh, no, no! It is my own wish! I told my aunt when I first came here that I did not wish to move in the grand society that prevails here, and although at first she insisted, she has come to see that I was right and no longer presses me.”
“Then it falls to me to press you instead. Miss Parish, you will not overcome your shyness in society if you never leave your own hearth. May I entreat you to be of the company on Friday? I shall undertake to sit beside you at table and carry the conversation single-handed if you prefer not to speak.”
