Page 35 of To Follow her Heart

Lady Frances looked cool and beautiful today in a soft green muslin gown. Her companion, Mrs Drake, stood a little behind her, her expression unreadable. Lady Frances gave Kitty a dismissive glance before turning back to Luke.

“Luke, dearest, I appreciate men like to behave badly with women of a… certain class, but do try to stop short of making a fool of yourself. Papa won’t like it.”

Luke stiffened and Kitty moved closer, sliding her hand into his. She’d known they ought not be alone together, but only now did she realise how foolish she’d been. No doubt Lady Frances would delight in tattling about this to everyone, and Kitty’s reputation would be shredded. Not that there was much doubt of that happening, after her revelations the night Luke had arrived, but she was going to hell at quite a rate now.

“Lady Frances?”

Both Luke and Kitty turned as Matilda’s voice sounded behind them.

“I hope you are not implying that Mr Baxter would be so lost to propriety as to seek Kitty’s company alone?” she said, an edge to her voice not entirely directed at Lady Frances. “I assure you, myself and Miss Stanhope have been here the whole time, so everything is quite as it ought to be.” Kitty could have hugged Matilda. She must have followed them in for this express purpose and was staring at Lady Frances, her gaze icy. Harriet stood beside her, avoiding everyone’s eye. No doubt she was furious at being involved in such a scene.

Kitty resigned herself to the inevitable scolding.

“I’m not sure that you are an appropriate companion, Miss Hunt,” Lady Frances returned, and Kitty winced.

“You take that back—” she began, furious on Matilda’s behalf, but Tilda shot her such a fierce look that she clamped her mouth shut.

“Quite so, Lady Frances,” Matilda said, with a placid smile. “But Miss Stanhope here is above reproach as is Lord St Clair, who has not yet descended the tower. Shall I fetch him for you, and you can interrogate him too?”

Lady Frances stared back at Matilda with obvious hostility. “That will not be necessary. Come, Mrs Drake, let us continue our walk.”

“Wait.”

The two women paused as Luke addressed them and he hesitated before looking to Matilda and Harriet. Understanding, they withdrew a little. He glanced at Kitty too, but she wasn’t going anywhere, and he sighed as he understood it was hopeless to remonstrate.

“Lady Frances,” Luke said. “I must apologise for any difficulty that has arisen over these past days, but you know as well as I do that Trevick and your father alone have pushed for our marriage. I have made no formal offer and I do not intend to. This is no reflection on you, I assure you. We have met only three times, spent little more than an hour in each other’s company, and I do not believe you have formed any strong attachment, any more than I have.”

Lady Frances wore a less than encouraging expression, but Luke ploughed on.

“I love Miss Connolly,” he said, and Kitty heard the defiance in the statement, knew just how much trouble she would cause him, and her heart clenched. “I have loved her for many years, and whilst I would have done my duty when I believed her lost to me, I cannot marry another when my heart is engaged. Surely you can understand—”

“You’re a fool, Mr Baxter,” Lady Frances said with obvious impatience. “This is about power and money, Trevick and Lymington, two ancient houses that will only grow stronger by alliance. There is a great deal at stake here. What has love to do with it?”

Luke said nothing and Kitty knew he understood what she meant all too well, that this idea had been drummed into him since Mr Derby had taken him away. She could see the guilt in his eyes, but she also knew such an idea would repulse him. There wasn’t an avaricious bone in Luke’s body.

“Do you not care to fall in love, Lady Frances?” Kitty asked, unable to stop herself though she knew she ought to keep quiet. Keeping quiet when appropriate was not her forte.

Lady Frances didn’t even look at her, but kept her attention on Luke. “I don’t care whether or not you love her. I am a sensible woman, one raised to wed a powerful man. I am not some silly child with romantic notions. I have no desire to interfere with your life or your mistresses. I believe Mr Derby has suggested as much.”

Kitty felt Luke stiffen, tension singing through him.

“That is quite enough, Lady Frances,” he said, and Kitty heard again the rigid, haughty man she’d glimpsed for a moment earlier, the man whose hand she held. “I’ll not have you insult the woman I intend to wed. She is a lady, her family likely older and more distinguished than either Trevick or Lymington, despite their change in circumstances, and she has done nothing but remain steadfast in her affection for me. I don’t believe there is anything more to say, so I will bid you a good afternoon.”

Lady Frances stared at him for a moment longer, before turning and sweeping from the room with all the majesty of a queen.

There was a tense silence.

“Kitty Connolly, I could wring your neck.”

Kitty turned and gave Matilda a sheepish smile, at which Tilda looked singularly unimpressed.

“You’d best hope St Clair is still outside the castle walking with his mother,” Harriet added, exasperated. “And well out of sight, or we’re all in the basket.”

“Sorry, Tilda,” she said, avoiding Harriet’s incredulous gaze, and steeling herself for a lecture.

Chapter 10

Dear Lucia,