The Bishop's Daughter by Susan Carroll

Author:Susan Carroll [Carroll, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The shadows had lengthened across the parlor by the time Miss Thorpe took her leave of Kate. Mrs. Towers was glad to see the cottage door close behind that icily bred young woman. She did not know what the vicar's sister had been whispering to Kate, only that Kate listened with little pleasure.

In point of fact, Mrs. Towers could hardly recall having seen Kate look more dejected and miserable, not even in those days following the bishop's death. She had appeared serene enough when setting out for her walk earlier. Mrs. Towers strongly suspected that something had gone awry during that little expedition to the village, and that something most likely had to do with Lord Harry.

But when she ventured to ask Kate if anything troubled her, Mrs. Towers received the usual reply.

"You must not worry about me, Mama," Kate was quick to answer, following it up with a brisk hug. The affection was there, Mrs. Towers thought sadly, but so were the protective walls forever closing her out.

Supper proved a dismal affair with Kate saying too little and Lady Dane saying too much. Her ladyship appeared in none the best of humors either, scolding Kate for getting too much sun ‘traipsing about all afternoon with that Thorpe chit.’

By the time the meal had ended, Kate pleaded a headache and tried to escape to her room, but Lady Dane insisted they all retire to the parlor. Mrs. Towers tried to intervene on her daughter's behalf, but as usual her gentle objections were swept aside.

"I have a gift I wish to present to Kate," her ladyship insisted.

Kate had no choice but to precede Lady Dane into the parlor. She sat stiffly upon the settee regarding with lackluster eyes the elegantly trimmed bandbox that her ladyship presented to her.

"I did not have that sent all the way from London merely for you to stare at it," Lady Dane said, nudging the box closer to Kate with the tip of her cane. "Open it."

Kate slipped off the ribbon and removed the lid to reveal a ball gown cut on the latest and most fashionable lines. As she shook out the folds of white India gauze shot through with silver and delicate pink silk applique, Mrs. Towers exclaimed with delight, but Kate regarded the gift with no more than dutiful politeness.

"Thank you, Grandmama," she said in wooden accents.

"I ordered that frock for you from my own modiste," Lady Dane said with great satisfaction, oblivious to Kate's lack of enthusiasm. "I daresay it will require a few alterations, but my maid Hortense can see to that. She is clever with a needle as all these Frenchwomen are. I am sure she can have it finished in time for the assembly tomorrow night."

"I never attend the local assembly, Grandmama." Kate folded the gown carefully and returned it to the box.

"Then it is high time that you did."

"My papa would never have approved. He did not think it seemly for the bishop's daughter to be seen at a public dance.

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