Sally James by At the Earls Command Read Free Book Online

all speculation about the promise Adam had given her grandfather. She could not for the life of her imagine what it might have been, and after a while chided herself about such fruitless questioning, determined to try and forget it.
    Kate was introduced to so many people she soon became bewildered trying to remember all their names, and the complicated relationships they all seemed to share. She lost count of the second cousins twice removed she was told about, and whose sister was married to which of the sons of somebody else's cousin by marriage.
    One person only made an impression. 'This is my dear Chloe Shore,' Mrs Rhydd said as she introduced a small, red-haired girl with mischievous eyes and a pert, unfashionable nose positively smothered in freckles. 'Why don't you two girls walk on ahead while we talk to your dear Mama?'
    Chloe immediately took Kate's arm and drew her out of earshot. 'Oh, how thankful I am to meet someone my own age,' she said, giggling. 'Mama seems to think I can exist on a diet of her friends. Tell me about yourself.'
    'There's little to say,' Kate replied, but explained how they came to be in London. 'Now it's your turn.'
    Chloe grinned. 'Mama hopes I'll find myself a husband, so that I'll have to forget Luke,' she said, giggling again.
    'Luke?'
    'He lives near us in Lincolnshire, and we've been friends for years, and we want to marry. Papa doesn't care who I marry so long as he's respectable and has sufficient income to keep me, but Mama would prefer me to marry someone fashionable. But she has promised that if we are of the same mind after I've done the Season next year, she will agree.'
    'And does your father agree to this?' Kate asked, amused.
    'He'd let us marry tomorrow, it would save him the expense of a come-out! Once Adam and I made it perfectly plain we had no intention of getting married, he'd be happy to give me his blessing for any presentable man.'
    'You and Adam Rhydd?' Kate demanded.
    'Our mamas were bosom bows when they were at school, and they married neighbouring landowners, and they always planned their children should marry. It was a great disappointment, I believe, when my brother Martin was born a few years after Adam, when they'd hoped for a girl to marry him. Then they had to wait ages for me. It's antiquated! Do you ride? We could ride here in the mornings if you like.'
    'I'm not very experienced,' Kate replied. 'I only ever rode the Rector's son's pony at home.'
    'We'll find a quiet hack for you. Martin's a good horseman and he'd jump at the opportunity to teach a pretty girl to ride.'
    'I'm not pretty!' Kate said, startled.
    Chloe giggled again. 'Just look at those antidotes walking towards us. They are sisters, and they've been on the town at least ten years. Don't you think, honestly, that you are prettier than they are?'
    'It wouldn’t be difficult,' Kate agreed, infected by Chloe's high spirits.
    'Of course not. Now we'll move up a step. Let me see. Yes, that dreadfully sallow girl in the putrid yellow dress.'
    'The colour is reflected up into her face,' Kate objected.
    'That's her natural complexion. You are prettier than she is. Who next?'
    By the time they parted Kate felt she had known Chloe all her life, and they had made many plans for future meetings, including riding the following morning.
    As she alighted from the barouche outside Malvern House Kate looked across to the gardens where two boys were crouched down over something, laughing loudly. Then she heard a piteous cry and looked more closely. She saw they had a small tabby kitten and were tying something to its tail, and exclaimed in fury as she ran across to them.
    'Let it go, you odious creatures!' she commanded, and snatched one boy by the collar of his jacket to throw him out of her way. The other, startled, looked up at her.
    'It's only a mangy stray,' he said dismissively.
    'And you're a mangy bully!' Kate retorted, snatching the terrified kitten and easing the string they'd used from its tail,