Suddenly Kate went to stand at Harriet’s side and took her hand. ‘Harriet,’ she said, ‘you don’t need a reference because I shall employ you.’ She looked at Monica and Edward. ‘You see? Ishan’t be alone. I would like Harriet to come with me when I go to live in Brighton.’
Harriet looked at her, wide-eyed. ‘Do you mean it, miss? Really? You’re going toBrighton?’
‘I mean it. You will join me, won’t you?’
‘Of course, miss!’
Monica was speechless. Edward’s eyes were on Kate, forcing her to remember how only the other night he’d tried to catch her by the waist until she had pushed him away as hard as she could.
‘Well, Kate,’ said Edward now, ‘I think we had better consult your father on this, because your sister is right. This will not do.’
Kate met his gaze firmly. ‘Our father won’t mind what I do because he’s happily settled in Norfolk. Of course I will let him know of my decision, but at my age, Edward, I don’t need his approval any more than yours. If what this letter says is correct, I shall gladly accept the legacy, and I shall go to live in Clematis Villa as soon as I can—with Harriet, of course.’
Harriet still looked stunned. Monica was stony-faced. ‘So you are resigning yourself to life as a spinster?’
Kate looked first at her, then at Edward. ‘I believe,’ she said, ‘that there are worse fates.’
The very next morning, she took a cab to the office of Lloyd and Freeman in Chancery Lane, where Mr Freeman greeted her warmly.
‘Miss Summerby,’ he said, ‘let me begin by offering my condolences on the loss of your aunt. But on a cheerier note, I’m pleased to tell you that, as well as the house, there is enough money for you to live there in reasonable comfort. I trust the news of the legacy is a welcome surprise?’
‘It is a shock,’ she told him. ‘And Mr Freeman, it almost feels like a mistake. I visited my aunt often as a girl, but I haven’t seen or heard from her, for many years.’
‘Then this must be quite a surprise. How do your family feel about your inheritance?’
‘My sister warns me that I will be condemning myself to a lonely life, but I don’t agree. I have no objection to peace and quiet, and I will have the comfort of living in a beautiful house.’
He beamed. ‘Exactly! Clematis Villa is delightful, as you know. I can see you are an intelligent and capable young lady, and if you feel it is time for a change in your life, then my advice is to grasp this opportunity. You’ll find the house in good order, because your aunt’s handyman, Joseph, has always looked after it well. Do you remember him?’
‘Joseph! Of course I do! He lives nearby with his wife, Tilly…’ A sudden doubt struck her. ‘I hope Joseph will stay on and work for me?’
‘I’m quite sure he will. You see, I asked him.’
Kate gave a sigh of relief.Perfect.
Just then there was a knock on the door and a clerk entered. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but you have a client waiting.’
The lawyer rose. ‘I’ll be back in a few moments, Miss Summerby. Meanwhile, here are the documents relating to your inheritance. You might like to study the details while I’m seeing my client.’
Kate accepted the documents and she rose too. ‘It’s all right, Mr Freeman,’ she said. ‘I shall take these with me, but I’m sure everything is in order. I shall go and live at Clematis Villa as soon as possible.’
She wanted to dance for joy as she headed down Chancery Lane to the nearest cab stand, but she couldn’t dance, as everyone knew, so she hummed a tune to herself instead. Unfortunately though, she almost collided with a group ofextravagantly dressed young men swaggering towards her. They made no effort to give way, forcing her to press herself against the wall as they went past.
It was as if they hadn’tseenher. She stood there, trembling a little, because they reminded her of the way she’d been treated during her Season. They reminded her of the Viscount’s son, for though she had kept the hurt of his betrayal to herself, it was always a little too near the surface.
She began to walk on again, but she was limping slightly now and her ankle was painful by the time she arrived at the cab stand. When she finally reached Kensington, her sister was waiting for her.
‘Well?’ said Monica. She looked tense.
Kate removed her old grey cloak. ‘It is all settled,’ she answered calmly. ‘Clematis Villa is indeed mine. I shall start making immediate arrangements to go there.’
‘I have never understood you, Kate! No one has. Why you abandoned your Season so abruptly is beyond belief, and if you leave here, the twins will miss you dreadfully. We all shall!’
‘I am sure,’ Kate said, ‘that you’ll be able to hire someone who is perfectly satisfactory, except that you’ll have to pay them a salary, of course. Excuse me, Monica. I must go to my room and start making plans.’
Kate reminded herself as she climbed the stairs that soon, she would be living in her aunt’s lovely old house, not far from the sea. She would be safe at Clematis Villa. Safe from men like her brother-in-law, safe from the callous young noblemen of London. Free to live her life as she wished, with all her childish fantasies of romance and balls cast aside for good.
What could possibly go wrong?
