Kitty McKenzie by Annemarie Brear

Author:Annemarie Brear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: family saga, historical, historical romance, victorian england, england 1800s, romance 1860s, victorian historical
Publisher: Annemarie Brear

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Kitty caught her breath at the magnificence of Kingsley Manor. In comparison, her old home, although large, looked like a poor cousin. When they arrived, Benjamin’s parents were out visiting after Sunday morning church service. Alone, Benjamin gave her a private tour of the house. In each superbly decorated room, he stopped and kissed both her hands until it became a game and their laughter echoed throughout the house.

However, Kitty’s first impression of the beautiful Georgina Kingsley chilled her. The woman wore a frozen expression of horror on her face the moment she looked at Kitty. Distressed, Kitty lowered her gaze and fumbled with her black skirts. She wore the best clothes she owned, her black skirts and cream blouse, but her crinoline was bought from the market and her black lace gloves possessed the glassy shine of frequently washed clothing.

After introductions, Benjamin’s father, John, took Kitty’s hand and led her into the conservatory. A maid waited by a table laden with a silver tea service and silver stands filled with dainty little cakes and sandwiches.

“So, Miss McKenzie, Ben informs us you have started a business?”

“Indeed I have, Mr Kingsley, tearooms.” Her lips thinned into a tight smile.

They were all aware of Georgina’s intake of breath.

“It is a rare thing, a young woman going into business by herself. It must have been quite a decision to make.” John Kingsley’s gaze didn’t waver as he looked at her.

“Upon my parents’ deaths we were left with vast debts that took everything we owned to pay off. For my siblings and myself to survive, I needed to acquire a living for us all.”

Georgina put down her teacup and saucer. Her cold, blue eyes narrowed. “Surely there are relatives who could have helped…your…er…situation?”

“I’m afraid we don’t have a large quantity of relatives. No one offered to help us. There was very little we could do, but sell everything.” Such intimate talk of her family unnerved her. She wished the conversation would turn to a much lighter subject.

“Did you not find that odd, your relatives turning away from you?”

“I hardly think that distant relatives, whom we rarely saw, should have to alter their lives to suit us.” Kitty hated the woman for making her defend the people who ignored her pleas for help.

“And how many are there of you, Miss McKenzie?” Georgina raised an eyebrow. She wore her disgust like a cloak.

“I’m the eldest of seven, Mrs Kingsley.”

“My, my, so many of you. So, where do you live now?” Georgina flicked an imaginary speck of dust from her beautiful, grey, raw silk dress with its crinoline so wide they had to move the chairs to accommodate it.

“We are to live above the tearooms, Mrs Kingsley.” She felt like a noose hung around her neck and with each look and question from Georgina Kingsley the knot tightened.

“How extraordinary. To live above one’s own shop.” Georgina didn’t hide the foul look she directed at her son.

He turned away to smile at Kitty. “Of course, it will only be temporary, until I return from the colony.

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