“I only wish that there was something more I could do for Kitty,” Diana added quietly.
“Well, I’m glad that the hostesses and all of you young people are including Kitty so much. Even if she declines to join, I think it matters for her to know that she’s wanted.”
“Kitty has only been to a handful of social events so far,” Diana observed. “Lord Wycliff is very disappointed, poor man. He looks for her everywhere but must make do with me and Edmund’s sisters. Kitty just pleads her duty to keep company at home with Father after all the kindness you have shown her.”
“We must give Kitty time,” her mother stated. “She’s too sad to enjoy anything and more worried about her mother than she dares to tell us. I don’t like to think about it, but if Henrietta has been out in the countryside for so long with no food or shelter, perhaps she is no more. I’m sure this is on Kitty’s mind too.”
Diana kissed her mother’s cheek, seeing the glint of a tear in her eye.
“That would be a terrible end to all this, Mother,” she said, keeping to herself the rather un-Christian thought that it actually might be the best outcome for everyone.
In sympathy, Diana insisted on Kitty at least accompanying her on her regular walks in Regents Park with Edmund where they would often be joined by Jacob. Despite Lord Wycliff’s kindness and thoughtful attention to her, Kitty remained despondent and took little notice of anything happening around her.
Edmund was of the same opinion as Lady Templeton, arguing that she needed time, but Diana remained sad for her cousin. Her own life was blossoming in every direction while Kitty’s had been struck and blighted by a storm.
After her mother’s words in the coach, Diana felt that they were waiting every day for news of Lady Birks’s demise. Hope and guilt swirled in her chest every time she looked at Kitty.
When Mr. Langford’s next express letter arrived at breakfast time two days later, the Arnolds all froze and looked at Esther as she opened it. Everyone seemed to be waiting for the ax to fall.
Lady Templeton read the short message quickly and then looked at her white-faced niece with great compassion.
“Kitty, I’m so sorry. It’s news of your mother from Mr. Langford. He writes only briefly, but I’m afraid they’ve found a body…”
ChapterTwenty-Three
“The Duchess of Granby cornered me last night, Edmund,” Sophia told Edmund at breakfast.
“Did she indeed?” he murmured, not having any interest in the Granbys, and having paid little attention to anyone but Diana at last night’s ball.
“Oh yes. She wanted to know all about Diana, actually. I think she has her in mind for one of her sons, maybe even the eldest.”
Edmund laughed out loud.
“Is that so? Well, I hope you didn’t give the Duchess any false hopes.”
Unity looked on with silent interest to see how Edmund would play this conversation with his sister without revealing his engagement to Diana.
“The second son is nice,” Beatrice commented. “Alfred brought me sherbet when I was exhausted by all the dancing.”
“That’s nice, Beatrice. No, Edmund, but I did tell her how admired Diana was everywhere she goes, and how all the best families want to know her.”
Edmund could only shake his head in both amusement and bemusement at the turnaround in opinion wrought over only a few weeks. London society was even more hypocritical than he had thought.
“That much is certainly true, and I am definitely amongst her most ardent admirers, as you know.”
“Don’t tease, Ed!” Sophia said severely. “I just wanted to warn you that you have competitors out there, and if you are thinking of making an offer, I wouldn’t want you to miss your chance. None of us would.”
“What makes you think that I’m considering an offer to Lady Diana?” he asked innocently. Sophia and Beatrice looked at one another and burst into laughter as their mother shook her head and drank her tea.
“Because it’s entirely obvious,” Beatrice said. “You get dreamy eyes when you look at her.”
“In that case, there’s nothing more to be said on the matter.” Edmund smiled gently and rose from the table. “You must be right. Speaking of Diana, I do want to call on the Arnolds this morning after yesterday’s news.”
“What news?” Beatrice asked, and Sophia quickly whispered in her ear.
Unity nodded compassionately.
“Do tell them that I will call this afternoon too if that is convenient for the ladies.”