I have it on good authority that your mother will be leaving your townhouse sometime before a quarter to three. Once she is away, please come visit me at your earliest convenience.
Lady Sampson.
Before Kitty could make any sense of the words, Mrs. Childs barged into the room. “I have been invited to a small gathering hosted by the Dowager Marchioness of Boxwood.” Her mother sounded breathless, as if she’d run up the stairs and down the corridor to share the news. Perhaps she had. For Priscilla Childs, an invitation from a dowager marchioness would be the highlight of her time in London. In truth, even Kitty was surprised. While hermother was determined to improve her social connections, she’d not realized they had reached such lofty heights. When her mother continued, the pieces fell into place. “You must dress quickly. If we are to arrive on time, we must leave by a quarter to three.”
Lady Sampson. The baroness had somehow arranged for her mother to receive the invitation. But her efforts would be for naught if Kitty was dragged along. “Was I expressly invited, Mother?”
“Well, no,” Mrs. Childs admitted.
That simplified matters. “I cannot impose on a dowager marchioness.”
Her mother let out a huff, but Kitty knew she had won. Such behaviour would be beyond the pale, and could paint them both in a poor light.
At precisely a quarter to three, Kitty watched her mother’s carriage disappear out the window. She then crossed to the bellpull and called for Polly. When her maid entered the room, her eyes went wide at the sight of Kitty’s favorite green afternoon dress already laid out on the bed. “Are you going somewhere, miss?”
“We are going to visit Lady Sampson.”
Chapter Eight
Ahalfhourlater,Kitty alighted from a hackney, handed her card to a footman, and was immediately ushered into the drawing room. Lady Sampson stood at her arrival, but it was her two guests that drew Kitty’s attention. What were Lady Diana and Arabella doing in London? Both were still dressed in traveling clothes, as if they had only just arrived.
Kitty had expected her conversation with Lady Sampson to focus on the Linfields—one in particular. But she would never have come if she’d known she had to face them. For now, it was just the women, but she had no doubt that Arabella’s husband and brother-in-law had traveled with them.
“We were about to have tea; please join us.” Lady Sampson’s voice sounded both genuine and welcoming, giving Kitty the courage to cross the carpet and take a seat.
Just as Kitty suspected, there were six teacups on the tray in front of Lady Sampson. Before she could ask any questions, the rest of the party stepped into the room. Though the Linfield twins were wearing very similar traveling clothes, she felt confident she could tell them apart. After all, Mr. Timothy smiled at his wife, while Oliver Linfield appeared as if he were about to cast up his accounts. Kitty could relate.
After everyone had exchanged polite greetings, their hostess began preparing tea and handing out plates of scones. She went along as if this were a perfectly ordinary gathering. Mr. Timothy commented on the state of the road, while his mother complimented the baroness on her tea presentation. Kitty did her best to play along with the facade of normalcy, but inside she wished to lash out and demand to know why she’d been summoned.
After a painfully long time, which was likely only a handful of minutes, Lady Sampson began the discussion in earnest. “Miss Childs, why don’t you tell us why your mother believes you have an understanding with Oliver?”
Kitty let out a slow breath in a vain attempt to calm her nerves. Now that the question had been posed, she almost wished to go back to discussing the roads. As she set her cup on the table, she considered her words. Kitty did not believe for a moment that the baroness would allow anyone to treat a guest unkindly in her drawing room. But the situation could hardly be more tense. “Mrs. Brewton, a guest at the picnic at Aston Lodge, is an acquaintance of my mother.” The rest of the party sat in rapt attention as she spoke. “She witnessed the disagreement between myself and Mr. Linfield and misinterpreted the event as romantic.” Kitty forced herself to continue. “She then wrote to my mother to inform her.”
Everyone merely nodded, as though not surprised by her explanation. It was Arabella who asked the next question, her voice kind. “When did you first learn of the misunderstanding?”
“When I arrived home on Saturday last, my mother immediately asked when Mr. Linfield would be arriving.” Kitty glanced at the stoicgentleman before continuing. “I’ve never been so confused in my life. Once I’d sorted out her meaning, I corrected her at once.”
Lady Diana set her own cup on her saucer. “And yet she still spread the story?”
“From what I’ve gathered,” Lady Sampson addressed her friend, “Mrs. Childs began telling people of the understanding before her daughter arrived in London.”
Kitty looked down at her hands, unable to meet the eyes of anyone in the room. “I’m afraid Lady Sampson is correct.”
“At which point did I become a cad who used you ill?” Oliver Linfield spoke for the first time since their stilted greeting. Clearly, the Linfields had been brought up to date on the most recent gossip.
“Around Tuesday?” Kitty admitted, still focused on her clenched hands. “My mother refuses to believe me that nothing of note occurred, and has since determined to disparage you.” She lifted her chin just enough to meet his eyes. “I am so sorry. I never intended anything like this to happen.”
He held her gaze for a long moment before turning towards the women and nodding. What was that about?
“Now that we have established the source of the rumors, it is time to discuss what we are going to do about them,” Lady Sampson addressed the room.
“Is there anything we can do?” Kitty asked in confusion. She’d assumed she would just have to ride them out. Possibly until she came into her inheritance in five years. Then a horrible thought struck, and she turned to face Oliver Linfield, whose face had somehow taken on an even more serious quality. “I will not marry you just tosave our reputations.”
“I would never suggest it,” Oliver replied in a frank manner. Though there was something about his eyes that suggested hurt. Interesting.
Lady Diana cleared her throat. “Marriage is not currently under discussion, but would you consider a courtship?”
“Why?” was all Kitty could think to ask.
