The Seventh Suitor (23 page)

These activities were not sufficient to keep Kate’s mind from wandering to her main preoccupation, however. She refused to give in to thoughts of Winterton and her refusal of his suit. He had not offered her what she wanted, and she came to fear that he would not, as the days passed without word from him. So she also spent many hours organizing her travel memorabilia, and playing the pianoforte and dulcimer for her father in the evenings.

When Mr. Single’s note arrived she quietly withdrew to her bedroom to read it. “Dear Miss Montgomery:

Knowing of your concern for Lord Winterton’s distress, I pen this note to advise you that he has confided to me your revelation of Carl’s behavior toward yourself. We had a long discussion of the matter, and I think his mind is much more at ease. There appears to be some other problem troubling him which he has not deemed it advisable to confide to me, and which is causing some distress and withdrawal on his part. I persist in believing that it is something which can be worked out. Where I have failed, perhaps you can succeed. Your most obedient servant, Thomas Single.”

Kate was pleased with this message. She continued her activities and welcomed her brother home the next day with enthusiasm. Before he had time to reach his room, she and her father had made him aware of the various activities going forth on his behalf. He was caught up in their enthusiasm and suggested that he and Kate ride over to the farm first thing next morning.

“Benjamin didn’t mind selling out?” he wondered.

“No,” his father replied. “He’s eager to try his own hand on the Yeovil property.”

“And you think the farmhouse can be remodeled to suit us, Kate?” Ralph asked eagerly.

“I believe so. You’ll have to decide. Papa and I have thought of some possibilities. The sooner you decide what is to be done, the sooner the work can be started. Some things can go forward now, and when Charity comes you can complete the arrangements. The project will provide some much needed work in the neighborhood, too.”

“Yes,” her father agreed. “It will serve a dual purpose. I’ve found another farm for your tenant, and we’ll generously reimburse him for the change. Things are in a way to being settled, if they meet with your approval.”

“Can’t thank you enough,” Ralph said, as he shook his father’s hand heartily and then hugged his sister.

Ralph and Kate started for the farm directly after breakfast the next day. Kate spent the ride telling Ralph of her projects and soliciting information on Charity and Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Hall. When they arrived, the tenant’s youngest son burst into a gleeful smile on sight of Ralph and took to his heels.

“I say,” Ralph laughed. “What did I do to cause that?”

But they were far too busy with a survey of the stables and the fields to conjecture on the lad’s strange behavior. On completion of this, the tenant’s wife graciously allowed them a tour through the farmhouse and Kate indicated the possible changes which could be made to expand and improve the residence.

“I think it can be done,” Ralph announced, after they had thanked Mrs. Jollet and descended the front stairs. “Doesn’t need to be too fancy or too big. Charity will love choosing the draperies and carpets and such. Have you . . .” Ralph was interrupted by the clatter of hooves in the drive. The brother and sister looked up to find Winterton approaching. He was leading the chestnut stallion.

“Good morning, Miss Montgomery, Ralph.” He made a bow from the saddle and then dismounted. “I understand congratulations are in order, Ralph.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ralph murmured, his eyes on the chestnut.

“I have brought your wedding present. Can’t have him eating his head off in my stables forever,” Winterton said with a grin.

“M’ father said you’d offered to see to the buying of the horse but that he’d refused. I had forgotten to tell him I wanted to purchase it,” Ralph said, bemused.

Winterton kept his eyes on Ralph, unable to meet Kate’s steady, fascinated gaze. “But I knew of your intention. I couldn’t very well let Darfort have him.”

Ralph was running his hands down the horse’s legs. “You didn’t have to go too high for him, did you?”

“You don’t ask that of a wedding present,” Winterton reminded him.

“No, no, of course not. Sorry,” Ralph fumbled. “Must thank you. Very kind of you. Charity will be pleased.”

Winterton laughed. “I doubt she will consider it the ideal present.”

“Well, ordinarily that might be so,” Ralph admitted. “But she knew I regretted not arranging for it.” He shook Winterton’s hand. “Very good of you. Much obliged.”

“My pleasure,” Winterton responded, and there followed an awkward moment before Ralph said, “I’ll take him to the stables.” He grasped the animal’s bridle and left Kate and Winterton together.

“That was extremely thoughtful of you, my lord,” Kate said softly. “Did the little Jollet boy come to tell you that Ralph was here?”

“I promised him half a crown,” Winterton confessed, with a self-conscious look. To avoid another clumsy silence he continued, “Walk with me a bit, please, and tell me of the plans for the farm now that Ralph is marrying.”

Kate took his arm and they strolled off aimlessly as she spoke of the arrangements which were being made. In her preoccupation she did not consider their direction until she found herself at the stream. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and looked up at him inquiringly. “Did you do that on purpose?”

He met her eyes steadily. “Yes. I would have you overcome any embarrassment you feel about the incident.”

“I did not know, at the time . . . When I got home and saw myself in the mirror . . .” Kate’s voice drifted off in confusion, and her hand dropped from his arm.

“Sit here on the bank with me,” Winterton urged gently, and Kate hesitantly obeyed. “When I watched you . . . swimming, you made an enchanting picture. No, do not blush. You were so determined and so free, I could not take my eyes from you. But when I came to your assistance and saw how revealing your . . . garment was, I spoke hastily from my own shock. Had I said nothing, you might never have discovered and been so mortified. I was very clumsy, as I often am with you.”

“Why?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Why are you often clumsy with me?” she asked frankly.

Winterton pulled a blade of grass and regarded it for a moment. Then he met her questioning eyes and answered honestly, “Because I am fond of you.”

Kate nodded encouragingly. “I thought so, but why should that make you clumsy?”

A puzzled frown drew Winterton’s dark brows together. When he did not speak Kate proceeded, “You are fond of Ralph and of Mr. Single, and you are not clumsy with them.”

“How do you know?” he asked with ascerbity.

“Well, are you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Perhaps you are clumsy with
women
you are fond of,” Kate suggested mischievously.

“I am not fond of very many women,” Winterton retorted, “and with those I am fond of, I am not clumsy.”

“I see,” Kate sighed. “It is only me, then?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“That’s interesting.” Kate smoothed out the folds in her riding habit and gazed down to the stream. “Have I done something to make you wary of me?”

Winterton tapped his riding crop against his booted foot and replied exasperatedly, “You are mocking me, Miss Montgomery.”

“You called me Kate the other day.”

“Did I?”

“Yes, you said ‘For God’s sake, Kate, put some clothes on!’” Kate mimicked his horrified accents in the deepest voice she could manage, her eyes twinkling even as the blush again stained her face.

“You are provoking me, Kate,” he said deliberately.

“I know, Lord Winterton.” She kept her eyes firmly on her hands folded in her lap.

“Andrew. I should like to hear you call me Andrew.”

“Very well, Andrew.”

“Would you look at me, Kate?”

“Certainly, Andrew.” She raised her eyes to his.

“The other day you started to describe your ideas on marriage. One ingredient was mutual respect. Are there others?”

“There must be a mutual . . . fondness. An attraction between the man and woman.’’

“Is there anything else?”

“I think it is easier if they are from approximately the same class. Do you not have ideas on marriage, L . . . Andrew?”

“I had not thought of it much until recently,” he replied, his gaze on a tree across the stream.

“And what had you thought recently?”

“That I should like to marry you.”

“This thought,” Kate asked, “did you have it only after you saw me . . . swimming?”

Andrew swung around to face her, gripping her shoulders firmly. “Good God, no! How could you think so?”

 “I merely wished to be sure,” she replied in a small voice. “You have believed me capable of dishonor until quite recently, you see.”

Andrew seemed to recollect himself. He dropped his hands from her shoulders and said slowly, “Even then I wanted to marry you, though I struggled with myself. I admit I used the swimming incident the other day as the easy way of inducing you to marry me.”

“Yes,” Kate retorted, “I thought that rather clumsy of you.”

“We have already established that I am clumsy with you, Miss Montgomery,” he said stiffly.

“Do you suppose that is because you wish to marry me but cannot bring yourself to do so, Lord Winterton?” she asked sadly.

“I have asked you and you told me we should talk no more of it,” Winterton pointed out, once again tapping his riding crop against his boot.

“It was unnecessary, given the circumstance.”

“I have no wish to cause you further distress by pressing my suit.”

“I should not feel the least bit distressed.”

Andrew took her hands, his eyes locked with hers, and said carefully, “I have the greatest respect for you and I am fond of you. No, that is not altogether accurate. I . . . love you, Kate. And I dare say I shall become far less clumsy if you say you can return my regard.”

“What you mean is that you will become quite dictatorial again if I do so,” she speculated, a whimsical smile twitching her lips. “But there is nothing for it,” she sighed. “I love you, Andrew.”

“And you will marry me?” he asked, his pressure on her hands increasing.

“Yes, Andrew. I have developed a most unaccountable desire to see you in that incredible bed again.”

“And I to teach you to swim, my love,” he said. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly at first, and then in earnest. When at last they drew apart he said, “I had a letter from Charles today. He has requested my permission to wed your sister. I hope you will not allow that to prolong our engagement unduly.”

“I should not dream of it,” she responded breathlessly, a blush staining her cheeks.

Copyright © 1979 by Elizabeth Rotter

Originally published by Warner Books

Electronically published in 2004 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.