The idea had clearly been discussed before her arrival, because it was Arabella who explained, “With your mother as the source of the rumors, no one will believe they were made up out of whole cloth.”
Kitty nodded in agreement. She had the same fear. Lady Sampson spoke next. “But if you and Oliver are seen courting in a completely unremarkable manner, we may be able to convince society that your mother was simply being optimistic.”
There was logic to their scheme, odd as it sounded. “And then? Most people assume courtship leads to marriage.” She knew it was not always the case, but an expectation would be set.
“When our courtship inevitably fails, our reputations will be bruised, but not destroyed,” Oliver provided.
“Courtship,” Kitty mumbled half to herself as she looked around the room. Was that really their best option? She knew Lady Sampson had her best interests at heart, and she suspected Arabella did as well. Lady Diana was likely trying to save her son’s skin, but it did not automatically follow that she wanted to hurt Kitty in the process. There was only one person whose motives were truly in question. She turned to Oliver Linfield. “And what do you think of this plan?”
“I trust that Lady Sampson and my mother know what they are about,” he replied. “I am willing if you are. But I do not wish you to feel forced.”
Kitty picked up her teacup and took a long sip as she considered her options. Going back into hiding would be the most logical. But there was no hope for an ending with such a plan. There was always the chance Oliver Linfield was manipulating her for a chance at her dowry. But even if he was, he could not force her to the altar. As ridiculous as it sounded, a public courtship was likely her best option. Even if it failed spectacularly, which it might, they would not be much worse off for it. “If everyone is in agreement, we should begin planning this ‘courtship.’”
They spent the next half hour discussing all of their options for public outings. Every plan was carefully designed to paint a picture of a perfectly unremarkable courtship. The Linfields were even staying with Lady Fulbourn, a fact none of them appeared delighted with, because staying with family would be less cause for whispers than staying anywhere else.
“We should get Miss Childs home before her mother arrives to find her missing,” Lady Sampson suggested after the plans were settled. “And the rest of you had best get to Fulbourn House before the countess takes umbrage at how long you were in London before gracing her doorstep.”
The mention of her mother brought to mind a question Kitty hadn’t considered since arriving to find the Linfields. “Where exactly is my mother?”
Lady Sampson chuckled softly. “At a charity meeting hosted by my dear friend Elizabeth, the Dowager Marchioness of Boxwood. I believe they are discussing the needs of war widowsand orphans.”
Oliver drummed his fingers on his knee as he sat in his aunt’s garden, waiting for the arrival of the final two guests. Lady Fulbourn had invited Mrs. and Miss Childs for an afternoon tea. This would be his fourth time seeing the pair in five days. He’d arrived Sunday morning to escort them to church, much to Mrs. Childs’ delight. The woman was almost giddy as she declared that she knew he would come up to scratch.
The next day they’d driven through Hyde Park, where Mrs. Childs prattled the entire time, not allowing anyone else a word. The woman seemed determined to keep Oliver and Miss Childs in her sight. Not out of motherly concern for her daughter, but because she wished always to be the center of attention.
The only highlight of their outings had been when Tim and Arabella joined them to go shopping on Bond Street. Apparently, no one had thought to warn Mrs. Childs that the brothers were twins. The look on the woman’s face when Tim arrived arm-in-arm with his wife had been priceless.
With each day socializing with Miss Childs and her mother, Oliver became more tempted to retrieve his horse from his uncle’s mews and ride straight back to Hampshire. They might succeed at quieting the whispers, but at the cost of his sanity. Not only was Mrs. Childs’ company difficult to bear, her daughter had yet to let her flawless society mask slip. Much to his disappointment.
Oliver had agreed to Lady Sampson’s ridiculous scheme of a feigned courtship in part to save both their reputations. But also because he wished to spend more time getting to know Kitty. Not Miss Childs, the perfect society miss. Kitty, the young woman who hid behind pots, rode in the back of farm carts to deliver lemonade, anddiscussed literature. But Kitty had yet to make an appearance. And he suspected that she never would, as long as her mother acted as her shadow.
As he looked over the wide grassy area on the far side of his uncle’s garden, an idea struck. “Aunt, do you happen to have any battledores?” Lady Fulbourn confirmed she did and then sent a footman to retrieve the small paddles as Tim raised a brow in question.
Moments after the liveried servant disappeared into the house, Mrs. Childs and her daughter arrived. The elder woman apologized in a most dramatic fashion before taking her seat at the table. As she had all week, Miss Childs followed behind her mother with a perfectly polite mask hiding her real thoughts.
After a quarter hour of listening to Mrs. Childs and Lady Fulbourn drone on about the latest styles in women’s ball gowns, Oliver stood. “I need to stretch my legs. Would anyone care to join me for a game?” Tim and Arabella jumped up so fast it was almost comical, but everyone else remained seated. Hoping for the best, Oliver turned towards the object of his scheming. “Miss Childs, can I beg you to be our fourth?”
Miss Childs looked at her mother for a moment before standing. Something passed between the women, but Oliver was at a loss to guess what. Playing lawn games in full view of chaperones was an acceptable activity for a couple that was supposedly courting.
The four players stood in a square about ten feet apart and sedately hit the shuttlecock from one player to the next, successfully keeping the projectile in the air. After the third round without letting the feathered cone drop to the ground, Oliver intentionally hit it over Tim’s head. His twin jumped and extended hisarm, barely making enough contact to send it toppling towards his wife. Arabella swung her paddle hard and sent the projectile directly at Oliver’s face.
Oliver used his paddle to block the shot, as much as hit it, and the force sent the shuttlecock straight up into the air. Much to his surprise, it was Miss Childs who took several quick steps and kept it from hitting the ground. “Well played, Miss Childs.” Kitty turned towards him with a bright smile, and Oliver’s heart clenched.
After a dozen rounds of more energetic hits, and only two drops, Arabella sent the shuttlecock flying between Oliver and Kitty.
“I’ve got it,” Oliver called out as he ran towards the flying projectile.
“I’m closer,” Kitty yelled back as she did the same.
Though Oliver attempted to pull up the instant he registered her words, his momentum was too great. Unable to avoid the collision, he wrapped his arms around her and twisted so that she landed on top of him. Within moments of hitting the ground, she rolled off him and sat up in the grass with wide eyes.
“Are you hurt?” Tim asked as he skidded to a stop in front of them.
Kitty looked between the twins and then burst into peals of laughter. Oliver felt his shoulders relax before he scrambled to his feet and held out his hand to help her up. “My apologies.”
She grasped his hand and allowed him to pull her up. “No need. I’ve often been accused of being too competitive.”
“Catherine,” Mrs. Childs appeared at the edge of the lawn. “Are you quite all right?”
