Regency Debutantes (58 page)

‘I…I…’ Mr Silverton’s name was indeed written upon her
card against the quadrille. Kathryn shot a glance at Ravensmede. The expression on his face was unreadable.

‘Don’t dally, Kathryn,’ urged the dowager.

She had little option but to place her hand in Mr Silverton’s and allow him to lead her out on to the dance floor…again. ‘Thank you, sir.’ Kathryn’s impression of Harry Silverton from their waltz was confirmed during the quadrille. He seemed a pleasant enough young man, even if he was prone to a rather overly dramatic turn of speech. It was all Kathryn could do to keep a straight face when he waxed lyrical on the extent of her beauty. She was sure that he lavished the gush of compliments upon every woman with whom he danced. She endured a eulogy on her fine eyes, but when he started to compare her hair to a cascade of rich autumn leaves she laughed and begged him to tell her something of the town of Brighthelmstone instead. When at last the dance was over Mr Silverton returned her, breathless and smiling, to Lady Maybury.

Mr Silverton bowed low to both the dowager and Kathryn. ‘May I have your permission to call upon your companion, my lady?’

‘I
have no objection to your calling, sir,’ said Lady Maybury, ‘but you have yet to ask Miss Marchant her opinion on the matter.’

Three faces turned to Kathryn, who was looking both surprised and a little awkward.

‘I…I think perhaps…’

‘Thank you, my dear Miss Marchant, I shall count the minutes until we meet again,’ said Mr Silverton.

It was then that Kathryn noticed the dangerous darkening of Lord Ravensmede’s eyes and the glacial stare that he drew Mr Silverton. Harry Silverton saw it too. With a speedily executed bow the young gentleman was gone, leaving Kathryn to face Lord Ravensmede.

T
he journey home was rather stilted. Lady Maybury seemed drained of energy, and lay back against the seat with her eyes closed. Lord Ravensmede’s ill humour did not recede. His manner was distant and he seemed loath to converse. Only Kathryn, balanced precariously next to the dowager, was desperate for a chance to clear the air. She looked hopefully at Lady Maybury, but the old lady’s eyes remained shut. And the Viscount had not yet glanced in her direction. Silence reined supreme. She cleared her throat in an attempt to draw his attention.

The dark profile did not turn from the window.

‘Nicholas,’ she said softly.

He looked at her then, but she could scarcely see his face through the darkness.

Where to begin? ‘I…’ It was clear that Mr Silverton’s presumption had annoyed him. She was being paid as Lady Maybury’s companion, not to court a suitor while the dowager sat alone and fatigued. She tried again. ‘I did not encourage Mr Silverton’s attentions.’

‘Didn’t you?’ He sounded quite unlike his usual self. There was a distance in his voice, so different from anything that she had heard previously. And exactly what did he seem to be implying?

A gentle snoring sounded from the dowager.

‘Of course not! We came to Brighthelmstone for the sake of Lady Maybury’s health.’

Ravensmede did not correct her misconception.

‘I’m her companion. It isn’t right that gentlemen should call upon me here.’

‘Then why did you not refuse your permission?’

She faltered. Why indeed? Shock, disbelief. She had fully intended to do so, but Mr Silverton had been too quick in his assumption. ‘I didn’t grant him my permission,’ she insisted with a degree of stubbornness.

‘I don’t think that Mr Silverton understood that to be the case.’

He was taunting her! How could he change from the caring, passionate man she knew to the arrogant goading creature that sat before her now? Kathryn felt her temper rising. Not only had she to somehow contrive to get rid of Mr Silverton, but she now also had to explain herself to the Viscount. ‘Then he’s a fool,’ she snapped.

‘Kathryn, you must have given him some sign to encourage his attentions. Believe me, I know when a gentleman is intent upon securing a lady’s interest. And you appeared to be enjoying his company immensely,’ he said meaningfully.

‘Indeed I did, sir, but with the exception of being civil, I assure you that I have given that gentleman no indication that his attentions would be welcomed.’

Silence.

She could just imagine the arrogant arch of his eyebrow at her reply, and it irked her, as did his ridiculous assumptions. ‘How could you even think that I would encourage him?’

‘How indeed?’ Irony laid heavy on his words.

An exasperated sigh escaped her. ‘You’re being unfair, my lord.’

‘And you’re being completely fair, are you, Kathryn?’

A blush rose in her cheeks. ‘I know my place,’ she said quietly. ‘Be assured that I have no intention of receiving Mr Silverton as a visitor.’

‘Really? I think that my grandmother may have other ideas on that matter.’

‘Then think what you will, Lord Ravensmede,’ she said, ‘your mind is clearly made up, far be it for me to try to change it.’

‘Kathryn Marchant, you are the most infuriating of women.’

‘Of that I’m most heartily glad!’ she retorted.

The volume of Ravensmede’s voice increased. ‘God help me, you drive me to—’

‘Nicholas?’ Lady Maybury’s croaked through the darkness.

‘Grandmama,’ the Viscount replied with forced serenity. It sounded as if his teeth had ground together.

‘Why are you shouting at my companion?’

‘I beg your pardon, ma’am.’

Kathryn felt the old lady raise herself up on the seat. ‘It isn’t my pardon you should be begging,’ she said quietly. ‘I haven’t a mind to find myself a new companion quite yet.’

A slowing of the carriage. The crunch of footsteps outside the door.

‘Forgive me, Miss Marchant.’ Following his stiff words, the Viscount opened the door and jumped down from the carriage before the steps were in place. He waited until they were fitted before helping first Lady Maybury, and then her companion, out into the gloomily lit darkness. The glow of the street lanterns was not sufficient to safely light their path up the stone stairs to the front door of the house so Ravensmede took both ladies’ arms in his to act as guide.

Kathryn felt the tension in the muscles beneath her fingers, though her touch was light as a dragonfly and knew the man beside her was angry beyond belief. What she did not yet fully understand was why. Assuredly she should not have answered him back, but his accusations were silly in the extreme. As if she would encourage any man’s attentions! Her mind flitted back to the passions she had shared with Nicholas. Oh, heavens! She began to have an appreciation of his point. If she could
respond so readily to him, then he had every reason to believe her a woman of loose moral fibre. Oh Lord, what a web she had spun herself into!

Mr Silverton waited only as long as the following afternoon to call upon Miss Marchant, and had the audacity to bring with him quite the most ridiculously outsized arrangement of flowers that had been seen for a long time.

‘Ah, Mr Silverton.’ Lady Maybury sounded encouraging.

‘Lady Maybury, a pleasure to see you again, ma’am. Is Miss Marchant—’

The dowager smiled a smile of sweetness and light. ‘She is almost ready. A young lady’s
toilette
must never be rushed, sir. The result would be too disastrous to imagine.’

‘Indeed, my lady. I didn’t mean to hurry Miss Marchant. I’m happy to wait upon her leisure.’

‘I’m sure you are.’ The smile deepened.

Mr Silverton smoothed his neckcloth. ‘Is Lord Ravensmede at home?’

‘Why, did you wish for a word?’ her ladyship asked.

‘No, no,’ Mr Silverton said with undue haste. ‘I was merely being polite. No need to disturb his lordship.’

‘Quite,’ agreed Lady Maybury, and then confided, ‘It is for the best. He can be prone to a cantankerous disposition when disturbed by unannounced visitors, although I’m sure that would not be the case with you.’

Mr Silverton appeared to have developed an irritation in his throat. He coughed loudly and shifted from one foot to the other.

The awkwardness of the moment was alleviated by the appearance of a maid who quietly informed her ladyship that Miss Marchant was feeling unwell and would not be able to receive Mr Silverton.

The dowager’s brows knitted. ‘What nonsense is this?’ She peered at the unfortunate maid. ‘She was as fit as a fiddle not
half an hour ago. Tell Kathryn to come down this instant or I shall be forced to fetch her myself.’

Five minutes later Kathryn entered the drawing room to have the huge mass of flowers suddenly thrust upon her.

‘How kind, Mr Silverton. Perhaps if I were to just put them down here until—’

The dowager interrupted. ‘Of course, my dear. The maid shall see to them. What’s all this about feeling unwell? Perhaps it would be better to postpone the drive until another day.’

A look of hope entered Kathryn’s eyes.

‘I shall ring for tea and cakes and leave you young things together.’ She smiled again at Harry Silverton. ‘And ensure that Lord Ravensmede knows not to disturb you.’

The young man coughed and glanced around nervously as if he thought Lord Ravensmede was about to appear..

With Nicholas’s accusations still clear in Kathryn’s mind, Lady Maybury’s suggestion seemed unbearable. ‘Thank you, my lady, but there’s no need. I feel quite recovered.’

‘Well, if you’re sure,’ said the dowager somewhat doubtfully.

‘Absolutely positive,’ said Kathryn.

‘In that case, be sure to have a lovely time on your drive.’

Kathryn eyed Lady Maybury anxiously. ‘I shall not be long, my lady.’

‘Take as long as you like, dear gel.’ The old lady’s hand waved imperiously. ‘No need to hurry back.’

Mr Silverton’s nerves vanished in an instant. He beamed his gratitude at the dowager.

‘Off you go, then,’ said Lady Maybury from the other side of the drawing room.

The couple walked across the brightly decorated rug.

Just as Mr Silverton’s hand touched to the door handle the elderly voice boomed, ‘You will bring m’gel back safely, won’t you, sir? I fear that I have a tendency to overprotectiveness when it comes to m’companion.’

The young man flushed an unbecoming shade of puce, and announced dramatically, ‘Indeed, my lady. I shall guard Miss Marchant with my very life.’

Lord Ravensmede did not enter the drawing room until he had heard the bang of the front door. He strolled nonchalantly to the window and watched while Harry Silverton drove Kathryn away in a hideously over-decorated green-and-black painted phaeton.

‘I fancy Mr Silverton is quite taken with her. If I’m not mistaken, an offer will be forthcoming before we leave for London,’ said his grandmother from behind his shoulder.

‘Unfortunately it appears that you may be right,’ he said.

One white brow lifted. ‘He’s heir to a small fortune, I’ll have you know.’

‘True, though it’s earned through trade.’ Ravensmede’s eyes were still trained upon the diminishing dot in the distance.

‘What’s wrong with that? He may not be an aristocrat, but he’s wealthy enough to provide her with a life of comfort.’

‘Harry Silverton’s father owns a string of coffee houses across the country, as well as a sugar plantation in the West Indies. The family are from Bristol and are here only for a short break.’ Despite the bright sunshine in the room a sombre aura clung to Lord Ravensmede. ‘I’ve a notion that Kathryn wouldn’t approve of the Silverton family’s interest in slavery.’

His grandmother frowned. ‘Good gad!’

‘It’s also rumoured that they have significant investments in the overseas slave trade, although if Lansdowne’s bill goes through that won’t last for much longer.’

‘Blast! That means Silverton won’t do at all. Can’t have her marrying into a family like that.’ She eyed him sharply. ‘I suppose I should be thankful that you’ve been thorough in your enquiries, m’boy.’ The old lady wandered across the room and sat herself neatly upon the sofa. ‘Is there any gentleman either here or in London that you would recommend as a husband for Kathryn?’

‘No.’ The Viscount’s reply was definite.

Lady Maybury’s eyes were focused upon her grandson’s face. ‘But if you were to give the matter some thought, perhaps you would be able to come up with a suitable candidate.’

‘I do not think so, ma’am.’ Ravensmede’s lips compressed into a hard line.

‘It’s unlike you to admit defeat with such ease,’ his grandmother goaded.

An ache was growing in the Viscount’s chest. ‘I’m not normally asked to play matchmaker.’

She sighed. ‘Does not Kathryn deserve this little happiness? A husband, children of her own?’

‘She’s happy as she is. There’s no need for her to marry.’

‘You wish her to stay a companion to me for ever? And what when I’m dead, what will happen to her then? Servant to another old woman? Or, worse still, mistress to some man? Believe me, Nick, when I tell you that it’s no life for a girl like Kathryn. I know this is not easy for you, boy, but it’s for the best. So, please, just give the matter a little thought.’

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. ‘Very well. I promise I’ll give serious consideration to what you’ve asked.’

The faded green eyes held his with a sudden intensity. ‘I sincerely hope so, Nick. I’ve come to care very much for Kathryn, and as an unmarried lady she’s vulnerable…in all sorts of ways. I cannot rest easy until I know the gel is settled in marriage.’

‘Grandmama, you’ve saved Kathryn from a life of misery, and offered her a home with you. What harm can come to her? She’s safer now than she’s ever been.’

‘Is she?’ she asked in a strange tone of voice. The old hand moved to clasp his, and she sighed. ‘Life is never that simple.’

At last Kathryn saw the blessed emergence of the familiar front door. If the phaeton had not stood so high upon the ground, she would have leapt down herself without having to suffer the indignity of Harry Silverton’s hands around her waist.

‘Mr Silverton!’ she chided when he seemed reluctant to relinquish his hold upon her person.

The gentleman’s corn-gold hair glistened in the sunlight. His deep blue eyes held admiration. ‘You’re such a vision of loveliness as to make a gentleman forget himself.’ But he released her nevertheless. ‘Will you be attending Lady Richardson’s ball tonight?’