The Daughter of Highland Hall (5 page)

“Good morning, gentlemen.” Dr. Pittsford’s close-clipped red beard and moustache partially hid his smile.

“Morning, sir,” they both replied.

“Mr. Anderson, it was good to have you at the Daystar Clinic last Saturday. Will you be joining us again this week?”

“Yes sir. I have a commitment in the morning, but I plan to come for the afternoon.”

“Very good. We’ll be open until seven. With the warmer weather there has been a rise in the number of patients. We’ll be glad to have your help.” Dr. Pittsford shifted his gaze to Jon. “And what about you, Mr. Foster? Have you made a decision about volunteering at Daystar?”

Jon looked up and met the doctor’s gaze. “I’m still considering it, sir.”

“Why not come along with Mr. Anderson on Saturday and see the work for yourself? It would be a great opportunity to gain more practical experience. And I think you’ll find it very gratifying to help those in the East End who have no other access to medical care.”

“I’d like to, but I have an engagement on Saturday.”

A shadow of disappointment crossed the doctor’s features, then disappeared. He gave a slight smile. “Well then, maybe next week.” Dr. Pittsford bid them good day and continued down the hallway.

Theo watched him go, then turned to Jon. “Are you sure you can’t come on Saturday?”

“Positive.” Jon started down the hall toward their next class.

“I thought you’d be one of the first to sign up to help at Daystar. The work sounds very similar to what you did in India.”

“Our focus there was rescuing young girls from a terrible life in the temples and caring for children who were abandoned.”

“But you provided medical care for the poor, didn’t you?”

“Yes, my father and I worked side by side at our clinic in Kanakapura.”

“That’s what we’re doing in the East End, and every patient who comes through is offered prayer and spiritual counsel as well as a physician’s care.”

“I have no doubt it’s worthy work. But I can’t come this week. Dr. Gleason and his wife invited me to a garden party at their home. And you can’t very well say no to the president of the hospital.”

A smile formed on Theo’s lips. “Ah, now I see what’s happening.”

“What?”

“Dr. Gleason has three unmarried daughters, and he’d like nothing
better than to marry one of them off to a promising young medical student like you.”

Jon shook his head. “I’m sure that’s not why he invited me.”

“Sorry, Jon, but that’s the most likely reason. That, and he’s probably a good friend of your aunt’s.”

“Now I wish I’d sent my regrets.”

“Don’t worry. I hear the older two daughters are a bit long in the face, but the youngest is quite pretty. She’s just coming out this season.”

Jon stifled a groan as he pulled open the door to the lecture hall. “Wonderful.”

“I expect a full report on Monday.” Theo chuckled and followed Jon through the doorway.

Kate stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror and pulled in a slow, deep breath. She hardly recognized the woman looking back at her. Dressed in her white satin presentation gown, with an abundance of petticoats, lace, and beading, she looked like a princess. In three hours she would face the king and queen and step into her future as a debutante.

Her hand trembled as she reached up and adjusted one of her pearl earrings.

“Oh, Kate, you look so beautiful. I can’t imagine a lovelier dress.” Penny gazed at her with a dreamy smile. “I’m going to wear one exactly like it for my debut.”

Julia stood behind Kate, affection shining in her eyes. “You do look lovely, Kate.”

“Thank you,” Kate murmured. She glanced over her shoulder at the yards of white fabric, edged with lace, swirled on the floor behind her. “I hope I can manage this long train.”

Her aunt’s brow creased as she stepped closer to examine the train. “Mr. Rounpear should’ve had you wear it for your final practice session.”

Kate wished he had, but there was nothing to be done about it now. She glanced at her aunt’s stern expression and decided it was best not to reply.

Louisa would accompany Kate to the palace as her sponsor, and she was dressed for the occasion in an elegant dark-green brocade gown. A diamond tiara had been tucked into her upswept hairstyle, and around her neck she wore an elaborate emerald-and-diamond necklace.

“I’m sure Kate will do well.” Julia reached out and gently ran her hand over the satin-covered buttons that attached Kate’s train to the back of her dress at her shoulders. “She has natural grace and poise.” She caught Kate’s gaze in the mirror once more and sent her a reassuring smile.

But Louisa’s lips tightened to a firm line. “When you enter the palace, you’ll carry the train over your left arm until you reach the throne room, then you gently ease it down to the floor. The pages will spread it out behind you before you approach the king and queen.”

Kate nodded, though it seemed her mind was swimming through a thick fog.

“Remember to carry your bouquet in your right hand, and your presentation card in your left. You won’t be allowed to take anything else into the palace with you.”

Kate nodded again. She had gone over each step in her mind countless times. But what if she dropped her bouquet or her mind went blank and she forgot how to curtsy? There was so much to remember, and she had only one opportunity to do it well.

Louisa narrowed her eyes as she looked into the mirror. “Her hair is fuller on the left than it is on the right. That will never do.” She turned toward Lydia with an impatient huff. “Chambers, fix her hair.”

“Yes, m’lady.” Lydia picked up the comb, stepped around to the right, and carefully fluffed out Kate’s hair a bit, checking her handiwork in the mirror.

“That looks perfect,” Julia said. “Thank you, Lydia.”

Louisa motioned toward the gauzy veil on the bed. “Attach the headpiece, and we’ll see if her hair still looks balanced.”

Lydia placed the comb on the dressing table and carefully lifted the veil with the two white ostrich plumes attached at the top. The feathers
trembled slightly as she placed them at the back of Kate’s head, poking the comb and hard tip of the feathers into Kate’s hair.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, girl, that is not the right angle!” Louisa slapped Lydia’s hands away. “Do you want her to look like a peacock?”

The maid gasped. “No, m’lady. I’m sorry. I’ve never seen one of these before.”

“Don’t make excuses. You are a lady’s maid. You should know how to arrange hair and attach a headpiece.”

“Yes, m’lady.” Lydia blinked several times as she stepped back.

“It’s all right, Lydia.” Julia laid her hand on the maid’s arm. “This is new to all of us.”

“Except Aunt Louisa,” Penny added. “She was presented to Queen Victoria.”

“That’s right.” Louisa’s frown faded and a faint smile lifted her lips. “I was only seventeen, and I kissed her hand.”

Kate shuddered at the thought. “I’m glad they’ve dropped that part of the presentation.”

Louisa turned her attention back to attaching Kate’s headpiece. “It must be lower, so the plumes rise just a few inches above her head.” Her aunt jammed the feathers in deeper.

“Ouch!” Kate winced and pulled away. “That’s my scalp!”

Her aunt ignored her cry and wiggled the feathers into place. “We don’t want them to come loose or flop about.”

Penny laughed and shook her head. “No, we wouldn’t want that.”

Louisa glared at Penny. “This is not a laughing matter, Penelope. Katherine’s every move will be judged and reported in the newspaper tomorrow. And all the society matrons who have eligible sons will be reading the article and taking notes.”

Julia glanced at Louisa. “Surely with so many young women being presented, they won’t all be mentioned in the paper, will they?”

“No, they won’t, but Katherine will. I’ve made sure of it.”

Kate swung around and faced her aunt. “What do you mean?”

“My brother-in-law is acquainted with the owner of the
Daily Sketch
. And your uncle Albert paid a generous sum to assure that you will be one of the debutantes who is mentioned.”

A bolt of panic shot through Kate. “Oh, Aunt Louisa! Now I’m going to be even more nervous.”

Her aunt’s cheeks flushed, but she waved away Kate’s words. “You should be grateful. Only six girls will be featured in the article.”

Kate stood and tried to take a deep breath, but it was impossible. “Can we please loosen this corset? I can hardly breathe.”

“We don’t have time for that now.” Louisa fussed with Kate’s train.

“I have to catch my breath, or I’m sure I’ll faint dead away before I even reach the throne room!”

Louisa gripped Kate’s shoulder. “Look at me, Katherine.”

Kate stilled and focused on her aunt.

“Your uncle and I have invested a great deal of money in your gowns and lessons, and you’ve spent months preparing for today. Now you must pull yourself together and act like the gracious and confident young woman you’ve been trained to be. Do you understand?”

Making a good impression at her presentation would help her be accepted in London society, and that was her key to freedom … the only way she could have a life of her own. She swallowed and nodded.

Louisa stepped closer, and her heavy perfume enveloped Kate like a noxious cloud. “Promise me you’ll do your best.”

Kate straightened, holding her breath. “I will.”

“All right.” Her aunt’s stern expression eased. “I need to collect a few things from my room before we go. I’ll meet you downstairs in five minutes.” She turned to Lydia. “Help Katherine manage the train.”

“Yes, m’lady.” Lydia bobbed a quick curtsy.

Louisa turned and sailed out the door with a swish of her emerald gown.

“I wish I was going.” Penny released a wistful sigh.

Julia placed her hand on Penny’s back as she guided her toward the door. “I’m sure you’ll do just as well as Kate when it’s your turn. Let’s go find
Millie. She wants to help see Kate off.” Julia turned to Kate with a smile. “We’ll see you downstairs.”

“All right.” Kate turned and stared toward the mirror once more. She might not appreciate her aunt’s tone, but what she said was true. Kate had dreamed about her presentation for months, and she must make the most of this opportunity, especially now that a reporter would be watching.

Being featured in the newspaper would practically guarantee that she would receive invitations right away—if everything went well.

She turned to Lydia. The maid stood by the bed, slump-shouldered, staring at the carpet. “I’m sorry my aunt was so harsh. I’m afraid she’s not known for her patience, especially with the staff.”

Lydia looked up. “It’s all right, miss. I’m used to it.” Her expression remained pained and somber.

“Is there something else?”

Lydia bit her lip, and her eyes filled. “I was thinking of my sister Helen.”

“Your sister? What’s wrong? Is she ill?”

“No, miss, she’s run away from home, and we don’t know where she is.”

Kate pulled in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, miss.”

Kate’s mind spun. How could the girl just disappear? That didn’t make sense. “Surely someone knows what’s happened to her.”

“My father has been searching for her and talking to the folks in the village. He’s even offered a reward.”

“That should prompt someone to come forward.”

“I hope so, miss.” Lydia sighed and shook her head. “Helen’s a dear girl, but she’s a dreamer.”

“That’s not always a negative quality.”

“No, but it can leave a woman open to temptation, and I’m afraid that’s what’s happened to Helen.” Tears glistened in Lydia’s eyes. She sniffed and looked away. “I’m sorry, miss. I’ve no call to get all teary-eyed and put a damper on your happy day.”

“It’s all right. If anything happened to my sister, I know I’d be upset and want to do whatever I could to help her.”

“That’s just it, miss. There doesn’t seem to be anything I can do.”

If only she could give a practical suggestion to ease Lydia’s distress. Julia would probably offer to pray for Lydia right then and there if she were with them. Kate wished she could do the same, but she wasn’t comfortable praying aloud. She’d only been learning to say private prayers these last few months, since Julia had come to stay at Highland as her governess.

She reached for Lydia’s hand. “I’ll pray for Helen and for you.”

Lydia’s expression eased. “Thank you, miss. That’s very kind.”

Kate shook her head, wishing it were more. “It’s the least I can do.”

Lydia bent down to pick up the end of Kate’s train. “We’d better go downstairs.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. We don’t want to keep my aunt waiting too long.”

A slight smile lifted the maid’s lips. “No, miss. We most definitely do not.”

THREE