She could still feel Mrs. Fairleigh's gaze and wondered why the?—
Through the open doorway came Marmalade, Biscuit, Minuet, and Snowdrop, in various states of velocity and intent. Hannah appeared a moment behind the four kittens, slightly breathless and clearly in pursuit.
Marmalade went immediately under the settee.
Biscuit went directly for the curtains, which she appeared to have identified as a personal challenge.
Minuet stopped in the center of the Aubusson rug, sat down, and began washing her face as though she could not be bothered to worry about the ladies occupying the room.
Snowdrop disappeared behind the writing table.
"Lady Hannah!" said the duchess in mild surprise.
"They escaped," Hannah announced to the room at large. "From the kitchens. Mrs. Bream left the door open."
"Did she?" the duchess asked, in the tone she used when she did not believe something but was not going to say as much out loud.
"She did," Hannah confirmed with an exaggerated nod of her little blonde head.
Miss Roseberry appeared in the doorway ten seconds behind her charge, in a state that suggested the journey from the kitchens had involved more than one staircase and several unforeseen developments. Her dark hair had come slightly loose and there was something on her left sleeve. "Lady Hannah," the governess said, trying to catch her breath while attempting to maintain a professional dignity. "We are not to bring the kittens into the sitting room."
"I didn’t bring them," Hannah protested. “I’m trying to catch them.”
Lady Upwell made a sound in her throat. Cori pressed her lips together very hard to keep from laughing.
Across the room, she was keenly aware of Mrs. Fairleigh watching her, not the room in general, but her specifically. So, Cori managed to keep her expression composed and her attention on Hannah.
"Biscuit," Cait said from the window seat, "come down from there at once."
Biscuit did not come down. In fact, Biscuit had made considerable progress toward the ceiling and appeared to have no intention of reconsidering her course.
"I’ll get her," Hannah said, already moving toward the curtains.
"You will not," said Miss Roseberry and Cori at the same moment.
Hannah stopped and looked at Cori with the expression that meant she was reconsidering her options.
"If you go up after her—" Cori met the child in the middle of the rug "—she’ll go even higher. She needs to come down on her own terms." She held out her hand. "Come and help me with Marmalade instead."
Hannah’s brow furrowed, just slightly. But she took Cori's hand anyway.
They retrieved Marmalade from under the settee together, which required patience on Cori's part and cost her one hairpin in the process. Minuet was quickly collected by Emma in the middle of the rug. And Snowdrop cautiously emerged from behind the writing table of his own accord.
Once everyone stopped looking at Biscuit, the little buff colored kitten came down from the curtain of her own accord.
Miss Roseberry gathered up all four kittens with the efficiency of long practice, accepted Hannah's hand, and steered the child back toward the door. "Thank you, Miss Corinna," she said at the threshold, with a feeling that went considerably beyond the words.
"Of course," Cori replied.
The door closed and the sitting room was quiet for a moment.
"Well," said Lady Upwell.
"Indeed," agreed the duchess.
Then Cait laughed, and Cara laughed, and Emma pressed her hand over her mouth and laughed, and Mrs. Fairleigh laughed the real laugh, warm and unguarded, and the whole room laughed together with the relief of having survived something absolutely absurd.
Cori laughed too.
