An Artful Deception (9 page)

Mr. Adkins skimmed the document, and then looked up. “You have no property to inherit. But your father has left you a nice yearly pension to be paid monthly for your upkeep.”

When he told her the amount, Katharine breathed a sigh of relief. Though it would not allow her to be extravagant, it was a generous amount and she would be able to live on her own. She would set about looking for a house as soon as she began to receive the funds that were due her.

Mr. Adkins closed the document and studied Katharine. “Give me a few days to make some legal inquiries. Then I will draw up the papers allowing me to dispense your pension.”

Katharine nodded. “Thank you. You have been very kind.”

“
Where may I reach you should I need to send a message?”

Katharine bit her lip. She disliked the idea of having a message arrive at the Charlesworth residence. Yet she had no choice.

“
I am staying with Lady Charlesworth on Park Street.”

His eyebrows rose. “I am glad you have found a champion at such a difficult time. I am sure she will take good care of you and make sure you are introduced into society.”

Katharine rose, not wanting to prolong the conversation. “Very true. May I call on you in a week to see if my pension has been arranged?”

“
Better make it two. These things take time to get in order.”

“
Very well. I shall come back in two weeks.”

She curtseyed briefly. “Thank you for your concern.”

She felt vastly relieved as she smiled at the clerk, noting that his face turned red as he held the door for her to leave. He helped her down the step and secured a coach.

“
It was a pleasure meeting you, miss.”

She thanked him as he assisted her into the coach.

The ride back was as damp as chilly as before. Yet, she did not feel it as keenly. She did, however, hope that Lady Charlesworth was still at her rest and had not missed her. It would be awkward to explain her disappearance and she did not like to lie. Yet, Lady Charlesworth would be sure to demand an explanation should she spy Katharine returning in a hired coach.

Fortunately, she was able to slip into the house without notice. Lizzy was busy with Cook and the butler was off for the afternoon. She hung her bonnet and shawl on the rack beside the door and slipped up the stairs to find Lady Charlesworth just awaking.

“
Ah…Ginny. I was just going to ring for you. Fetch my tea and then my dark green day dress. Then I shall go down to lunch.”

Katharine saw to her duties, which seemed less burdensome now that she knew she would not be continuing them for much longer. She wondered what inquiries Mr. Adkins would make. She remembered his kind words about Papá and they warmed her heart.

That afternoon, Lady Charlesworth required her company for several more calls. At their last call, she sat inconspicuously near the parlor door at Lady Weatherton’s house while the matrons discussed the upcoming social events. She had found the other conversations dull. This one, however, captured her attention.

“
There is a ball next week. I know it is not yet the season, but I always enjoy a ball. It is delightful to see all the young people. It makes me feel young again myself,” Lady Weatherton asserted.

“
Indeed,” agreed Lady Charlesworth. “I should enjoy it also, except that I have a previous engagement that evening, one that I convinced Lord Charlesworth and my son to attend. You must remember everything at the ball and tell me who has already come back this year.”

Katharine lost track of their conversation as her thoughts took another direction. If Lady Charlesworth would not be attending the ball, what was to keep Katharine from slipping out and attending? Lady Charlesworth had already said that she had another engagement, so Katharine need not fear that they would meet. All she need do was to intercept the invitation.

The more she considered the idea, the better she liked it. It would be wonderful to cast aside her role as a maid for an evening, dress in one of her ball gowns, and be a butterfly set free from her cocoon. She imagined the attention she might capture, the young men who might vie for her card. Perhaps she would meet someone tall and handsome, a marquess or perhaps a duke. She tried to envision her fine gentleman and found, to her dismay, that all she could imagine was looking up into Philip’s face as he partnered her across the dance floor.

She frowned and tried to free herself from the picture stuck fast in her mind. She must stop the taunting images that tantalized her senses. She could not hope for a future with Philip. She had not been honest and, if he should learn the truth, he would surely despise her. Had he not said as much to her when they met in the library?

Lady Charlesworth spoke to her sharply and she realized that her daydream had enveloped her so completely that she had been unaware that the matrons had concluded their visit. She glanced up into two pair of disapproving eyes as she arose. She felt sure that her mistress was thinking that her dear married Bertha would never have been so inattentive.

Lady Charlesworth heaved a long-suffering sigh and repeated, “I am ready to leave. Go and tell the maid that I would like my wrap.”

Katharine hurried to comply.

She returned with the maid and the wraps while the footman brought Tom Coachman round with the coach. As they were escorted into the misty afternoon, Lady Charlesworth exhibited her usual flighty inability to stay irritated by saying, “It is nice to have more social engagements than one can attend. How I love the gaiety of London, even though it is so gray and dismal outdoors. In fact, I hardly notice. The year Philip was born I was obliged to remain in the country all winter, and it was the most intolerable time of my life. The days were simply interminable. I should never like to do that again.”

“
I have been much in the country all of my life. I find London more stimulating than I ever imagined,” Katharine admitted.

Katharine thought back to the simple balls she had attended in Brentwood when she had come of age. She had been encouraged to practice her social skill on all of the young men present. Yet, she had been strictly instructed by Papá that he would allow no attachments until she considered young Lord Charlesworth for her hand. Her governess had kept a watchful eye, and truthfully, Katharine had not met anyone who tempted her fancy.

They clattered along the rainy street. Street lamps had already been lit against the evening fog. The streets were noisy with costermongers selling their wares.

Her conscience pricked her a bit at her plans for stealing the invitation to the ball. She eased it by reminding herself that she would have been extended one had the ton known she was alive. She was really only taking what was rightfully hers.

They arrived home in time for Lady Charlesworth to take her rest before Lord Charlesworth arrived home for his dinner break from the twice weekly meetings of Parliament. She did not see Philip and wondered what engagement he would be attending with his parents the following week.

She sought out Lizzy and gave her an account of the afternoon before settling down in the parlor with some mending for Lady Charlesworth. After awhile she heard the door open. Philip greeted the butler, and then resumed a conversation with a man whose voice Katharine did not recognize.

They turned into the parlor, and then stopped short at the sight of Katharine sitting on the settee with her mending. Her eyes moved from Philip to the fair haired young man who was short and squarely built. Then a flush of color stained her cheeks at becoming the object of their attention.

She rose and said, “If you wish to entertain, I can take this mending to my chamber, my lord.”

Philip waved her back to her seat. “You may as well stay. We are only here for a moment. I came to leave word with Mother that I will be going out to dinner with my friend, Mr. Trevor. Would you be so kind as to tell her?”

Katharine sank back upon the settee. “I would be pleased to do so.”

Philip hesitated a moment, as though reluctant to leave. “I shall not be late. I plan to go for an early ride tomorrow in Hyde Park.”

Katharine nodded, wondering why he sounded as though he wanted her approval.

She smiled. “That sounds lovely. I shall relay the message.”

He looked uncertainly from Katharine to his companion. “I shall just run upstairs and change. There is a nice fire in the library. I could have our butler bring you a drink,” Philip offered his friend.

The shorter man shook his head. “No thank you. I shall be perfectly content to wait right here.”

Looking less than pleased, Philip nodded and strode away.

Mr. Trevor appraised Katharine in a somewhat forthright manner and then said, “Have you been in London long?”

She glanced up. “No. I arrived with the Charlesworth family.”

She went back to her mending and hoped that he would amuse himself with the contents of the room. Unfortunately, he seemed a young man of single mind and right now his mind was upon Katharine. He stepped closer and said, “I met Lord Charlesworth at the club. I am in London on business. My family is very old gentry. I own an estate in Sussex.”
She looked up, meeting his hopeful gaze. She had learned long ago how to tell when a young man was trying to impress her. He probably imagined that a maid with no connections would be eager to make his acquaintance.

How she could discourage him without offending him eluded her at the moment. So she merely said, “I am sure you have a lovely home.”

The simple comment started him on a detailed description of his holdings that continued until Philip entered the room, looking dashing in a black waistcoat and spotless white cravat. He had brushed his dark hair back from his brow, making his high cheekbones look chiseled and tantalizingly masculine.

He took in the scene and frowned. “Let us be off, Mr. Trevor. Ginny, be so kind as to remember my message.”

As they entered the waiting coach, Mr. Trevor turned to Philip. “What a winsome creature. Wherever did you find her?”

Philip briefly explained the circumstances of Katharine’s arrival.

Mr. Trevor rubbed his chin. “Though she is currently in service, I should like to know her background. Should it prove unblemished or perhaps even distinguished in some way, I should like to know her better. She is an intriguing creature with that burnished hair.”

Philip felt vaguely disturbed by Trevor’s interest. “All I know is that her parents were in service to Lord and Lady Kirby.”

“
Humm... Well, I should like to know her better.”

So should I, Philip thought, admitting to himself that he had the distinct impression that she was guarding a secret. And he would give a good part of his estate to find out if he was right.

The next morning, Katharine came downstairs from tending Lady Charlesworth to find Philip pacing the portico in his fanciest double-breasted riding coat. He looked so disgruntled that she wondered if he had not enjoyed his ride.

Their eyes met and she dared to ask, “Was your ride not pleasant?”

He scowled. “My ride was fine. It is sitting still for days that I do not relish.”

Katharine cocked her head, feeling puzzled. “Sitting still for days?”

“
Yes. Mother has decided that while I am in London, I am to have my likeness painted. She hired an artist who came highly recommended by her friend.”

Katharine could not stifle a laugh as she pictured Philip forced to endure hours of confinement. “I remember sitting for an artist when I was a little girl. I thought I would expire before I was allowed to be free each day.”

Philip tilted a dark brow. “You had your likeness taken?”

Katharine sucked in her breath, aghast at what she had disclosed. She hurried to explain, “My young mistress did not like to sit still, so I sat for the figure, leaving her to sit only for the face. Fortunately we were nearly the same age and size at the time.”

“
That must have been very tedious for you.”

“
Indeed. Her Mamá had hired a French artist from London, perhaps the same man who will paint you. He was very exacting, insisting upon getting every detail correct.”

“
Her mother must have been pleased with the result.”