CATHERINE by Sue Barr

Author:Sue Barr [Barr, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan L Barr
Published: 2018-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“A message has arrived, ma’am.”

“Did the messenger request a reply?” Aunt Gardiner asked as she accepted the sealed missive from their footman.

“No, ma’am.” He bowed politely and left the room.

Kitty, Mary and Aunt Gardiner had just gathered together to break their fast in the room overlooking their Aunt’s sumptuous flower garden. Uncle Gardiner, who’d eaten earlier, was already at his place of business. Both girls watched Aunt Gardiner break the seal and read the missive before placing the folded document beside her plate.

“Lord George Kerr is a most amiable man, would you not agree, Kitty?”

Caught unaware by the random question, Kitty almost spluttered out her tea.

“Yes... Yes, he is,” she replied and quickly wiped her mouth with a linen handkerchief.

“And feels a great amount of guilt over your injuries, I would imagine,” her aunt continued.

“I would not know, Aunt Gardiner. We have not spoken of it. In fact, we hardly have any sort of conversation. Ever.”

“I find that interesting. He has requested to escort you and Mary to a few shops where you might buy gifts for your family and if there is time, show you Hyde Park. He will be here by one o’clock.” Aunt Gardiner tapped the folded letter by her plate. “He is either a first-class gentleman, or a notorious rake, although he promised you will be suitably chaperoned. I am of a mind to consult your Uncle before making my decision.”

“Whatever you think is best.” Mary finally broke her silence, although her hand touched Kitty’s leg under the table. A sign of silent support.

“I shall be but a few moments and I know your Uncle will respond quickly, as time is of the essence.” Aunt Gardiner rose from the table and made her way to their Uncle’s study.

“What do you make of that?” Mary asked Kitty once their aunt had quit the room.

“I hardly know. Why would he want to escort us shopping?”

Mary looked at her as though she suddenly had two heads instead of one.

“If you cannot comprehend the reason, then you are a dunderhead.”

“Mary!” Kitty couldn’t help herself, she laughed out loud. “You have become positively heathen in your language these past few days. I think I have become a bad influence on you.”

“You would only be a bad influence if I spoke untruths, but in this - you are a dunderhead. You should have seen how crestfallen he was when you did not come downstairs after our arrival.”

“I find that hard to believe. I think you are looking for roses where only bright weeds grow.”

She wouldn’t allow Mary’s verbal musings to turn her head, she performed that task all on her own. During their uneventful trip to London she’d caught glimpses of him riding beside the carriage. He seemed as one with his horse, muscular thighs hugging the saddle, hands loose on the reins. He’d been so incredibly male, so masculine that she couldn’t help but stare until she realized Mary watched her almost as close as she watched him. After that she’d kept her attention firmly inside the carriage.

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