Page 47 of A Daring Desire

“I always wondered if you and Gwendoline Lane-Fox—”

“Good God, no!” Ash said in horror, looking genuinely appalled. “We’d murder each other.”

Cat laughed, having to agree with that. “I suppose so.”

“No, no. Gwen is a dear friend, but nothing more,” he said with a sigh. He looked so troubled that Cat could not help but wish she could do something for him.

“Well, I shall keep my eye out for the perfect young lady for you,” she promised, which rather than pleasing Ash, only made him groan. “Ungrateful wretch!”

Before Ash could make any retort, the sudden appearance of Perry took their attention.

“Cat! Thank heavens, I’ve been looking everywhere.”

“Perry!” Cat exclaimed, her heart skipping at the urgency in his eyes. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Nothing’s the matter,” he said, a little breathless, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Only, Kilbane demanded I come in and warn you first, so you weren’t taken by surprise.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Cat asked, hardly daring to hope. “What surprise?”

Perry took her hands, squeezing them tightly. “Your husband, you goose. Lord Kilbane is here.”

Chapter 14

Dearest Mama,

Thank you for your letter and the package that arrived with it. Whatever possessed you to send so much? You might remember your son is full grown and no longer a schoolboy. I do eat, I promise you, and am quite old enough to see to myself. However, the treats from home were very kind and much appreciated, though I beg you will stop fretting over me.

My meeting with the Duke of Beresford went well enough, though he is a cold fish, and I cannot say I liked him above half. Having said that, his son, Richmond, I know from experience, is far worse, and it is a happiness to me to discover him still in town and not expected to return anytime soon. The atmosphere in the great house is one of oppression and I confess I was relieved when his grace did not invite me to stay, though I do not doubt he intended it as a slight. His children – at least those which I have seen, seem to stand very much in awe of their father. I do not believe this to be a happy household and cannot help but pity them.

I have been given the use of a very tidy little cottage upon the estate, which suits me admirably and means I will not be obliged to spend time among them.

As I suspected, the looser, more natural design I had hoped to carry off in the gardens has not found favour, but instead a formal, symmetrical style with lots of carpet bedding and clipped borders. It is not quite what I would have liked, but it should look very well. I confess I do not relish the idea of spending so many months here, but the opportunity to design gardens for a house as important as Beresford is such that I would endure far more discomfort than merely disliking my employer. I send you and father my best love.

Yours affectionately,

Hart.

―Excerpt of a letter to Mrs Minerva De Beauvoir, from her adopted son, Hartley De Beauvoir.

9th January 1850, The Countess St Clair’s New Year’s Ball, St James’s, London.

“Here?” Cat said, suddenly breathless. “Now?”

“Well, any moment,” Perry explained. “He dropped me off before his carriage took him around the block to give me time to find you. Lord, he’s so nervous, Cat. If I wasn’t so anxious he’d bolt, it would be funny.”

Cat’s eyes widened. “Do you think he would?”

Perry shook his head. “No, he’s not so fainthearted. I rather think he wants to impress you by making a grand gesture.”

“Oh, my.” Cat snapped open her fan and applied it vigorously.

“What’s all this?” Ash said, shaking his head. “It’s not like you to get in a fluster.”

“Ash, my estranged husband is about to enter this ballroom. There are over four hundred people here and all of them will be watching us to see what happens. I think I might be excused a little hysteria,” she said with some asperity.

“Well, when you put it like that,” Ash replied, much struck by this point of view. “Oh damnation. Viv is hailing me to come over and rescue her from that prosy fellow. Shall I put her off? If you want me to stay, I will.”

“No, no, it’s quite all right,” she assured him. “Perry will stay with me. Do go and rescue poor Viv.”