“Will Lady Katherine be in mourning?” Beatrice asked. “Even though her mother was a—”
“Speak no ill of the dead, Beatrice,” Unity interrupted her daughter kindly but firmly. “I do not know what Kitty will do in this regard, or even what she should do. Still, she has been so reclusive this season that perhaps it will not be commented on either way.”
“Diana and Lady Templeton have been worried about her, but I think that Lady Katherine’s social absence and shyness of company have worked in her favour in some respects,” Edmund mused.
“Yes, poor girl. I suppose she is acting as society believes a young woman should act when their family has been so disgraced and this is endearing her to those who might otherwise judge her ill.”
“I overheard them talking about Kitty last night,” Sophia said. “All the elderly matrons in Marchioness Hadlow’s set.”
“Speaking unkindly?” Unity asked quickly, her expression indicating that she might have words to say to the Marchioness and her friends if so.
“No, not at all. They’re very sorry for her as you’ve said. They were only saying how lucky Kitty was to have been taken in by the Fernside Arnolds, otherwise, she would have been facing disaster and perhaps would even have been forced out of England along with her bankrupt brother.”
“Not to be repeated, Beatrice,” Unity directed the oft-repeated stricture at her youngest and most garrulous child. “They’re right though, Sophia. Well, if these ladies are taking pity on her, perhaps that is the best Kitty can hope for, I’m afraid. It’s sad, but it is what it is.”
“Will she be an old maid now?” Beatrice asked cautiously.
“Maybe. There are worse things than that,” Edmund said, and his mother nodded in agreement. “At least she’s not a social outcast.”
* * *
Edmund thought about the breakfast conversation as he walked towards Belgravia, which was a good forty-five minutes from his family’s house. With her good manners, petite form and air of gentle reassurance, Diana was certainly being very much fêted around the Ton. He had already seen how society mothers were fussing over her, competing for her presence, and seeking her interest for their single sons.
Edmund had already known that Diana was lovable and now saw it confirmed at every turn by those around them. Elderly ladies pronounced her as charming and elegant as any young woman ever presented. The fathers of eligible sons took care to call on Lord Templeton on the slightest pretexts, slipping the excellent prospects of their offspring into casual conversation.
Young men looked at her with longing eyes while mothers and sisters jostled to introduce her to their bachelor menfolk. Still, Edmund felt no jealousy at seeing her spin by at a dance in the arms of others, her eyes ever catching his and sharing that secret smile that promised him they would soon be alone together once more.
As for Kitty, while she was obviously no longer considered a suitable match for the sons of the elite, as a charity case, an object of pity and an undemanding addition to make up numbers at afternoon tea parties, she was certainly welcomed.
It was indeed as though inevitable spinsterhood had descended on Lady Katherine Arnold overnight despite her years, her beauty and the kind, vivacious personality she had once possessed. Although Jacob might happily marry her regardless of fortune and reputation, he had no confidence that Kitty would accept his hand, or that hi0073D` family would accept the match. It was better that no one had false hopes about Kitty’s future.
* * *
“Have you read the gossip rags this week, Ed?” Jacob asked as they sat in a park café drinking lemonade and wolfing down cake one sunny afternoon as they recovered after a dance that had continued until 4 am the previous night.
“I never look at them, Jacob,” Edmund answered. “Sophia reads them aloud to me at breakfast sometimes, but I think she’s been too busy this week with preparations for Beatrice’s coming out ball.”
“You should read this one.” Jacob smiled mysteriously and pushed a paper across the table to him.
“Rumor has it that one of the Arnold girls has already found a permanent dance partner, with the young huntress making the same choice at the end of every ball this month. Could this be the first engagement of the Season? And how will Lady Alton and the Duchess of Stratton decide who should get the credit for bringing together such a well-matched pair?”
Edmund raised an eyebrow and shot a smile at his friend with a shrug.
“It’s certainly not Lady Katherine they’re referring to, is it?” Jacob said regretfully. “I go to every ball on the chance that she will be there, but she never is… No, it’s obviously you and Diana who are being noticed.”
“Well, it’s all perfectly true apart from the bit about Lady Alton and the Duchess of Stratton. We’ll give them what they want at the end of the Season anyway.”
“I understand. But be careful with Diana’s reputation for now, and especially where you put your hands. I know you’re betrothed but others don’t, and these rags can turn nasty quickly. I’ve seen it happen before. You should show her this and have a little chat, I think.”
With their secret engagement and the family’s regard for Edmund, no one pressed to chaperone their daytime meetings at the Arnolds’ London house, although he often did bring his mother or sisters with him. Today, he was there alone to relay his conversation with Jacob, although he did not feel the same level of concern as his friend.
Diana thought the gossip column very funny and laughed as she dropped it back on a table in the family drawing room.
“They’ve got to talk about something.” Edmund smiled. “This week it’s us. Next week it will be some other couple. It’s all just part and parcel of the Season’s fun for some.”
Diana looked at him speculatively and then stepped forward to place her arms around his neck.
“Well, I wonder what they would all say,” she said softly into his ear as he bent towards her face for a kiss, “if they knew that I was already carrying your child…”