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Not that she’d mind escaping London, but she’d probably end up with one of Helen’s dreadful relatives. They all seemed to live in damp manor houses in Yorkshire, with bad chimneys and worse plumbing.
“Oh, you’ll certainly have to leave,” Gillian said. “Can’t have the perpetrator hanging about as a reminder of the original crime.”
“No one will suspect a thing, I promise,” Kathleen replied. “I will fade into the woodwork like the biggest wallflower you’ve ever seen.”
“On the contrary, people will absolutely suspect a thing. Besides, you’re impossiblenotto notice.” Gillian flashed a smile. “It’s one of the reasons I like you.”
“I’m glad someone does,” Kathleen muttered.
“Chin up, old girl.” Gillian turned to Helen. “I’m assuming you have somewhere specific in mind?”
“I do. She should spend the winter in Scotland, with her cousin Sabrina.”
Kathleen practically fell out of her chair. The Scottish Highlands, in winter? That was worse than Yorkshire. Even with Sabrina there.
Gillian nodded. “Excellent.”
Kathleen gasped. “It’s not excellent, it’shorrifying. I’d rather go to Newgate than to the Highlands for the entire blasted winter. It’s the bloody back of beyond.”
“Kathleen, such language!” Papa exclaimed. “Besides, you love your cousin Sabrina.”
“Yes, but—”
“Since Sabrina had a baby only a few months ago,” Helen interjected, “she’ll be delighted to have Kathleen’s company. How she bears the isolation of Lochnagar Manor is beyond comprehension. But it is, thankfully, well suited to our needs.”
The middle of nowhere, withbabies.
Babies terrified Kathleen. She was always afraid she’d do something horrible, like drop them on their soft little heads.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “I’m not going there.”
Helen ignored her. “Because Sabrina’s character is beyond reproach, she can help Kathleen recover what little reputation she’ll have left after this incident. And a long stay is certainly preferable, given the extent of the damage.”
When she was ten, Kathleen had once coaxed her brother into a pretend boxing match. It had been great fun until Richard accidentally punched her in the stomach. She’d collapsed to the ground, wheezing, and felt the very same sensation now. The fact that neither Gillian nor Papa refuted Helen’s harsh assessment of her reputation made the impact that much worse.
“I understand I must go somewhere,” she blurted out. “But Sabrina has enough to manage without me hanging about like a noxious smell.”
Sabrina’s letters clearly illustrated that she was happy but also had her hands full with the duties of wife, mother, and mistress of a busy estate.
Gillian darted a sideways glance at Kathleen before smiling at her parents. “Lord and Lady Gorey, I’d like to speak with Kathleen alone now.”
Helen went from bristly to imperious. “The decision has been made, Your Grace, so I see nothing left to say.”
“Really? Because I have several things I still wish to say,” Gillian said just as imperiously.
“Of course, Your Grace,” Papa hastily said, jumping up and all but hauling his wife to her feet. “Just ring the bell when you wish us to return.”
He ushered Helen—who objected the whole way—out of the room.
Kathleen wilted against the sofa cushions. Her head throbbing, she was in dire need of coffee.
Or brandy. But she’d have to hide the glass, or Helen would have a fit.
“Howdoyou put up with her?” asked Gillian. “I’d stab her after a day.”
If even half the stories about Gillian were true, that was not an idle threat.
“You certainly put Helen in her place, so fortunately no stabbing necessary.”
