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“But your dress.”
“It’s in need of a launder, and it’s an old one. I’m sorry; I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Miss Bijou.”
“And I’m Miss— Oh!” Her cry of dismay was occasioned by the fact that the wriggling bundle had slipped out of her hands and was now completely immersed in the water. “What am I going to do?” she wailed. “Aunt Bertha will never forgive me!”
Kitty wrinkled her nose. She wasn’t too enamored of the idea of picking up a sopping wet puppy and taking it anywhere, so she was relieved when the young lady scooped up her beloved with no similar qualms. Kitty turned and beckoned over her shoulder. “There’s nothing for it. We’ll see the publican who’s en route to Mrs. Lynn’s Tea Rooms. That’s where I can get the tarts I promised your aunt.”
Of course, Mrs. Lynn’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head when she recognized Kitty. “Lordy, yer’ve come back ‘ome!” she cried. “Run away ter London, I ‘eard, ‘n makin’ yer ma cry like that. ‘Ow could yer, Kitty love?”
The young lady whose name Kitty still hadn’t ascertained, looked at her wide-eyed when they came out into the sunshine on their next mission, which was to rub the dog dry.
Kitty shrugged, feeling embarrassed for the first time. “I suppose I should explain. I’ve shamed my family. Actually, you probably should not be seen with me for I’m not respectable at all anymore. Well, that’s if I ever was.”
“Not respectable?” If possible, even more color leached from the young lady’s pale face, and she looked for a moment as if she might faint clean away from shock. So Kitty added hastily, in case she might think Kitty worse than she was, “I’ve become an actress, you see.”
“An actress!”
“And I’ve never been happier.” Kitty squared her shoulders. “I was a prisoner here in this town where I grew up, but now I can do what I want to. I love what I do, and no one can tell me I ought to do this, and I can’t do that. I’m just back for a short visit, though.” As her companion continued to stare, goggle-eyed at her, Kitty quickly changed the subject. “And what brings you to these parts?”
“I’m coming to stay with some people my aunt knows. And…and to meet the man I’m to marry.”
“Goodness! How exciting!”
Kitty was determined that this is how she would feel—glad for anyone venturing upon the path she’d have loved more than any other. Though not if that meant she couldn’t be with Lord Silverton. No, having love was definitely more important than having a ring on her finger and the respectability she craved.
“Yes.”
She was surprised by the young lady’s lackluster response and determined to bolster her, though perhaps her real motive was curiosity. “Is your young man dashing and handsome and worthy of you?” Kitty loved that having declared herself an actress, and therefore on a far inferior social footing, she could ask the kind of questions no proper young lady would dream of asking.
They were in possession of some linen now for which Kitty had offered the innkeeper’s daughter some coins and were drying the puppy on the back step in the gentle midday sun.
“He’s very handsome and dashing, and we’ve been friends forever. He’s the most noble gentleman I’ve ever known. He’s kind and ever thoughtful of me, which of course makes me the luckiest young lady in the world. We’re getting married in a few weeks.”
“Goodness! And do you have all your wedding things…your dress? Or is that the reason you’re traveling with your aunt? To make arrangements?” Kitty could have kept asking wedding-related questions forever. She remembered the excitement of finding just the right ensemble for her intended nuptials to Lord Nash. Her failure to believe he hadn’t tricked her was a lucky accident which had saved her from a life of being with the wrong man.
“I’m on my way to London, but I’ll be meeting my intended tonight. I haven’t seen him for a few months.”
“How exciting! I’m sure he can’t wait to see you again.”
The young lady nodded, again without a great deal of enthusiasm. The sun on her sandy eyelashes emphasized the pink rims of her eyes. She seemed suddenly close to tears, perhaps overwhelmingly affected by emotion. She certainly wasn’t a pretty girl, but there was a softness and sincerity about her that appealed to Kitty’s protective instincts. The girl bit her lip. “I don’t know where I’d be if he hadn’t offered for me like he did.”
“Really?” This sounded intriguing. Kitty put her head closer, inviting greater disclosure which the young lady seemed ready to give, perhaps as much for the reason that Kitty was a complete stranger as much as anything else.
“When my father died last year he left the family in a rather…difficult situation with creditors who—” She broke off, coloring as if she realized she might be divulging too much. “Fortunately, my Aunt Bertha agreed to provide me with a dowry if I made a good marriage.” She shrugged, “Though that really meant provided she was satisfied with the match.”
“I’d have thought it would be as important that you were satisfied,” Kitty clarified.
At this, the young lady brightened. “Oh yes! He is the most wonderful of men. I’ve grown up in the village near his family home and known him my whole life. His mother has taken me under her wing and is delighted. Indeed, no bride-to-be could be more fortunate than I.”
Yet, to Kitty’s concern, she still looked as if she were trying to convince herself of the fact, and as Kitty could hear her Aunt Bertha’s shouts for her niece from where they were, she decided it would be best if she shepherded her rather indecisive companion back toward where she must continue her journey.
Though if Aunt Bertha were her aunt, and Kitty was utterly dependent on doing what she wanted, she supposed she’d not want to hurry back to be cocooned for another eternity.
Which only went to show what a good decision Kitty had made to be mistress of her own destiny.
And mistress to the most wonderfully noble and dashing man on the planet, she decided with a surge of love.
Chapter 6
