AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Three
“He’ll be back.” Mary, Kitty’s personal maid and confidante strode into the parlor shortly after Ashford’s departure. The woman was more mother than maid, having been with Kitty nearly her entire life after the death of the baroness. Before that, even. She couldn’t remember a time when the servant was not at her side.
“I hope so. Lord only knows how much I need some interesting company to keep me distracted from this mess,” Kitty replied as she picked up her cup again. The tea was beginning to grow cold, and she put it aside with a grimace.
The maid rose an eyebrow. “Are you sure? He seemed to unsettle you quite a bit, what with all that talk of kissing. You never told me about any of that.”
Kitty’s ears burned. “Were you eavesdropping?”
“I was worried about you. It is not every day that the elusive Duke of Ashford calls on anyone, let alone a young miss like yourself.”
“I can’t help but wonder why he was even here,” Kitty mused as she gave up on the cold tea and leaned into the back of the sofa. It obviously had nothing to with threatening her for embarrassing him last night or some other perceived slight, much to her relief, but neither did he seem like the kind of gentleman to call on a lady out of any sort of chivalric concern. He didn’t seem the type to call on a young lady at all. A proper one, at least.
So, what did that make her?
She fidgeted in her seat, eventually deciding to attribute the duke’s bizarre visit to some eccentric whim and nothing more. The man was certainly mysterious enough to warrant such a conclusion. Rumors concerning him ranged from sensuous rakehell to merciless schemer, more often a combination of both. After meeting the enigma herself, she couldn’t quite pin him down enough to tell if such talk was based in fact, though it was immediately obvious that Ashford was rather two-faced, or at the very least preferred to hide his emotions from scrutiny. He was quite good at it, too. Had she been anyone else, Kitty might have fallen for his attempts to distance himself using his callous air and vicious tongue.
“Perhaps His Grace is interested in a courtship?” Mary replied hopefully, moving to gather the abandoned service.
“I never knew you were one for wishful thinking.” The thought of such a wild fox being interested in her was laughable at best, and that was after one disregarded their gulf in rank and her destroyed reputation.
“I only wish for the best for you, my dear. He seemed an intriguing gentleman.”
That was a word for it.
Kitty groaned. “Don’t become all matronly on me now. I get enough of it from Sophie.” The memory of her errant friend and the current dismal state of their relationship sent a pang through her. She could only hope Sophie was safe during her journey and was able to stop James in time. Despite her initial shock, Kitty held no ill will towards Lady Francesca and certainly didn’t want the girl trapped in a loveless marriage as she herself had apparently almost been. Kitty shuddered at the thought of what might have happened had her dowry actually existed and James’s true intentions not become clear until it was too late. At least the current situation allowed her to move on with a clean slate, even if the thought of doing so still pained her. Not that there would even be anyone for her to have a fresh start with after the scandal.
Mary paused from her task, as if sensing Kitty’s tumultuous thoughts. “Miss Berrington will return safe and sound. I am sure she has long forgiven you.”
Kitty nodded, unconvinced but thankful for the reassurance. “I hope so.”
“It makes you feel any better, I am acquainted with a few members of Lord Amberwood’s staff. They had nothing but good things to say about him as an employer and claim he is a man of impeccable integrity despite what his carousing ways might suggest. I am sure Miss Berrington is in good hands.”
“That is a comforting prospect.” Another, more frivolous, thought struck her. “You wouldn’t also happen to have any friends working in Ashford’s household, would you?”
Mary laughed. “Oh, so youareinterested in His Grace, then?”
Kitty flushed. “Not in that way. I was just curious.”
“That ever-dangerous curiosity of yours,” Mary replied dryly, looking doubtful.
“Yes,” Kitty insisted before lowering her voice. “I have…I had James, after all.” He wasn’t worth continuing to pine over, but her heart was still freshly wounded.
“It’s alright to move on from that brat, you know. I think you might find it easier than you think.”
“That was far too forward of you, Mary,” Kitty snapped back, more from the words jarring her mind than any irritation at their utterance. She immediately regretted the outburst when the maid paled and dipped into a quick curtsy,
“Apologies, Miss,” Mary said, turning around to hastily grab the tea tray once more and move to the door.
“Wait, I’m sorry. That was harsh of me.”
She made to move from the sofa, but Mary shook her head without turning around. “No, you are correct to scold me. I forgot my place for a moment. I tend to do that often when it concerns you, I’m afraid.”
“Mary?” Kitty asked fretfully, noting with concern that the woman held the tray with a white knuckled grip.
“Please, try to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon,” she replied before leaving the room.
Kitty slouched back onto the sofa with a guilty sigh. Now, there was a second person she had hurt with her temper. She would have to find a way to make it up to Mary later. The maid’s words were not wrong, and that was what bothered Kitty more than anything. She’d fancied herself in love with James, but the man’s betrayal didn’t cut as deep as she thought it should have. Yet, if she hadn’t truly loved him, then that would make all of this hardship for naught, would mean she’d accidently thrown away her reputation for nothing. Kitty sunk deeper into the sofa, eyeing the copy of the scandal sheet she had brought with her into the room and the old headline condemning her fate written on the front. If only there was something she could do to distract her from her melancholy, just for a little while. Sadly, all the proper entertainments were likely now closed to her, the only things left in the city to do being activities that proper ladies generally wouldn’t allow themselves to be caught dead doing unless they were ruined or a widow.
