‘Truth to tell, I do my best to oblige them whenever I can,’ Randal protested. His grin faded. ‘However, you are correct in thinking that I draw the line at letting them dictate my conduct.’
He paused and Kate allowed her curiosity to appear on her face.
‘Milly is always on at me to marry. She says it is time I settled down.’ Randal gave a short laugh. ‘Mind you, she usually adds the rider that I am getting long in the tooth to find a girl who will put up with my odd ways!’
Kate stared at him in frank astonishment. Even shorn of wealth and title, Randal Crawford would still attract women in droves! He was a virile man in the prime of life, not some silly fop or useless weakling. His sister might not be able to see it, but to every other red-blooded female of his acquaintance Lord Redesmere’s self-possession and innate air of command were incredibly seductive.
Only a nun could resist the potent appeal of a man whose cool smile acted like a magnet on the senses!
Randal noted her disbelief and, secretly jubilant, explained that in Milly’s opinion he had been a bachelor too long. ‘She blames my solitary state on my lack of regard for the conventions and informs me that a properly-brought up young lady desires more refinement in a husband.’ Randal shrugged his broad shoulders, his expression wry. ‘Oh and my antiquarian interests are another handicap since they must bore all but the most dedicated bluestocking!’
Kate gave vent to a throaty chuckle of amusement. What an idiot his elder sister must be! ‘Does Emma agree with this assessment?’
‘Not entirely, although she agrees it is time I found myself a bride.’
Randal knew what his sisters would say if he told them that he was contemplating matrimony. The resulting hullabaloo was yet another reason for being absolutely certain of his feelings before he took any action whatsoever!
‘I must take my leave of you, cousins.’
Their attention captured by his announcement, Sean Sullivan rose to his feet. ‘Are you sure now that you won’t have a bite of supper with me, Kitty?’ he asked, employing one of his charming smiles.
Kate shook her head. ‘I fear I cannot, sir.’
‘Then come for a ride with me tomorrow. I’ll hire a hack and you can show me Chester.’
Unlike the real Kitty, who was in practice, Kate hadn’t ridden on any regular basis since she was sixteen. Her skills were sadly rusty and, although she wasn’t afraid of falling off, any clumsiness on her part might appear odd. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t have a riding habit available.’
‘Couldn’t you borrow one?’ Sean pleaded. When the glossy sable curls shook denial once more he frowned. ‘Then why don’t I hire a carriage?’ he suggested, his voice hardening. ‘Surely you can have no objections to taking a short drive with me?’
Kate hesitated. She had no intention of going anywhere with him, but she didn’t want to provoke an argument.
‘Actually, Sullivan, our cousin has already agreed to come out with me tomorrow,’ Randal intervened calmly. ‘I am taking her to see the Nixon mansion in Vicar’s Lane.’
For an instant anger flared in the grey eyes. ‘I see,’ said Sean coldly. ‘In that case, Kitty, I’ll not be troubling you.’
He turned to bid farewell to lady Edgeworth and then swung round to face Kate once more, a new smile pinned firmly to his lips. ‘We still have lots to talk about,
mavournin.
Maybe we can arrange the outing for another day.’
‘Of course,’ she replied with what she hoped was convincing sincerity.
‘I’ll count the minutes,’ Sean bowed to her with an extravagant flourish.
‘Let me escort you to the door, Mr Sullivan,’ Lady Edgeworth offered, rising to her feet.
‘Much obliged, ma’am!’ Sean held out his arm to her with flamboyant gallantry.
She gave Kate a reproving look in passing and Kate had to stifle a sigh. The situation was bad enough without Alicia flying into a pet with her!
‘Don’t worry.’ Lord Redesmere proffered this advice with an encouraging smile. ‘Alicia is no fool. She’ll soon see that Sullivan is merely turning her up sweet.’
‘Do
you
think I should forgive him?’ Kate demanded boldly.
‘I would never presume to dictate your conduct, cousin,’ he replied wickedly.
Hearing the echo of her own words, Kate laughed. ‘I suppose I deserved that! Seriously though, do you think my refusal to accept his friendship will occasion talk? I don’t want to embarrass Alicia.’
‘I shouldn’t let the thought of gossip deter you if you have decided against the fellow. You are under no obligation to him or his family, although it is clear that he is hoping that you are going to agree to hand over a share of the Nabob’s money—’
‘I most certainly will not do so!’ Kate interrupted indignantly.
Randal hid a smile. He couldn’t blame her for feeling angry. Sullivan had himself confirmed her oft repeated claim that they had treated her with deliberate discourtesy and she had too much spirit to find forgiveness easy, especially when Sean’s repentance was so patently insincere.
Lord Redesmere owned himself puzzled by Mr Sullivan. In spite of his flowery compliments, a furious resentment smouldered in those grey eyes whenever they rested on Katharine. Only someone like Alicia who saw good in everyone could fail to spot it. Given the nature of the old Nabob’s will, it was understandable that the fellow was bitter, but, somehow, Randal felt there was more to his dislike than a simple grudge.
Maybe his instincts were at fault again, but, all the same, he decided that he would keep an eye on the Irishman.
‘Your best course is simply to ignore his blandishments. Once he realises you aren’t going to succumb to his charm, he will likely leave Chester,’ Randal said with confident assurance that belied his inner uneasiness. ‘After all, he cannot force you to change your mind.’
‘I have no intention of allowing him to do so,’ Kate affirmed and thanked him for his advice.
‘Now, assuming you do want to view your grandfather’s property, what time shall I call for you tomorrow?’ Randal continued briskly.
Glad to leave the subject of Sean Sullivan, Kate discussed the details of their visit, but after Randal had departed she couldn’t help wondering if he was right about the Irishman.
His interpretation of Sean’s motive for pursuing her made sense. She just hoped his conclusion that Sean would soon give up the pursuit was equally correct!
* * * *
The Nixon mansion in Vicar’s Lane was a handsome brick-built property. Set well back from the road, it possessed a large cobbled courtyard enclosed by iron railings. On each side of the ornate gates were stone faced carriage houses constructed to resemble lodges.
‘Good heavens, it looks like a public hospital!’ Kate exclaimed as Lord Redesmere’s curricle drew to a halt.
Randal laughed. ‘The style is somewhat heavy and severe, I’ll grant you, but it was all the crack some fifty years ago.’
Kate, who rather regretted her impulsive frankness, was reassured by the twinkle in his bright gaze. ‘Did my grandfather have it built?’ she asked, trying to do the necessary sums in her head as a servant came running to open the gates and admit them.
Randal shook his fair head. ‘He purchased it from the original owner on his return from India in 1770. I remember him saying once that his future in-laws were very impressed when he showed them where he and his bride would be living.’
Kate knew that John Nixon had made his fortune with the East India Company before retiring at the age of forty with the aim of marrying well and launching himself into society. Alicia’s fondness for gossip had also inadvertently revealed that while he had acquired a well-bred wife, he had failed to gain the acceptance he craved.
‘Naturally, his fabulous wealth opened many doors, but he was a very opinionated man,’ Alicia had remarked. ‘I don’t think it was his connection with trade that was held against him so much as the fact that he was too clever and outspoken.’ She had sighed heavily. ‘It was such a pity your papa did not share his dreams of shining in society for he pinned all his disappointed hopes upon Charles. Indeed, after your parents emigrated he sold off all his other property and became a positive recluse.’
Kate felt rather sorry for the Nabob. By all accounts he had been a miserable old curmudgeon, but thwarted ambition was a good recipe for bitterness. No wonder he had been so angry with his son when Charles had defied him to marry Lydia!
‘Did Hilton explain to you that the bulk of the fortune is tied up in investments and shares?’ Randal enquired as he assisted Kate to alight.
She nodded, shaking out the skirts of her amber carriage dress. ‘He told me that there were several fine paintings and some excellent jewellery, but no property other than this house. Apparently, my grandfather didn’t care for country life.’
A grin flitted over Randal’s handsome features. The old man’s strictures on that head were quite unfit for feminine ears! ‘No, he didn’t. His first wife, your grandmother, persuaded him to buy a very handsome estate out near Llangollen, but he rarely set foot in the place.’
Randal gave instructions to the servant about the care of his horses and then offered Kate his arm.
‘Shipping was the Nabob’s preferred investment,’ he informed her as they began to walk towards the main entrance. ‘He was very good at picking lucky captains. In his later years he liked talking to them far more than anyone else. He even left generous bequests to several of them.’ Randal shrugged. ‘He could be a difficult man, as I’m sure your mother must have mentioned, but he wasn’t the ogre some people make out.’
‘I’m sure he wasn’t,’ Kate said warmly, realising that Randal had been quite fond of his great-uncle.
They reached the flight of steps which led up to the front door and Kate stared at the house wondering what Kitty would make of it. Three stories high with rusticated stone at ground level and pedimented gables at either end it was very grand and impressive, but Kate couldn’t like it.
Once inside, her first impression of gloomy grandeur was modified a little by the elegant proportions and beautiful rococo plaster ceilings which graced the principle rooms. The furnishings were magnificent too, with exquisite crystal chandeliers and fine paintings everywhere.
‘In his will your grandfather instructed that the house be kept in perfect readiness for your return,’ Randal remarked, running a finger along the shelf of the ornate rose-coloured marble mantelpiece which graced the drawing room.
He held his finger up and Kate saw that it was free from dust.
‘I believe he hoped you would make your home here.’
Kate recoiled. ‘I should hate to do so!’ she exclaimed, shaking her head so vigorously that one of her glossy sable curls became unpinned. ‘All this cold stiff formality would give me the vapours!’
Randal chuckled. ‘I must confess it isn’t to my taste either. However, you could always throw everything out and start again if you wished to live here.’
‘It isn’t a condition I have to fulfil in order to receive my inheritance, is it?’
A prickle of anxiety raised a cold sweat along Kate’s spine. Had she misunderstood the terms of the will?
‘Don’t look so alarmed, Katharine. You are free to do whatever you wish with this house. There is nothing to stop you selling it the minute the ink is dry on Hilton’s papers.’
Lord Redesmere’s faintly amused expression faded. ‘Or you could keep it while you make up your mind what you are going to do next.’
Kate barely managed to restrain a guilty shudder. She was beginning to wish she had never come to view this…this mausoleum! The very act of doing so brought home to her the enormity of what she was doing.
Stop it, Kate Devlin! What does it matter how much money this house is worth! Your deception isn’t hurting anyone. The Nabob
wanted
his fortune to go to Kitty. Randal doesn’t need it and the Sullivans certainly don’t deserve a penny.
A tense little silence fell while Kate struggled with her guilty conscience.
Randal took a step towards her. ‘
Have
you decided your next move?’
Kate swallowed hard. ‘Not…not really,’ she faltered, unwilling to admit how desperately she needed the money.
The original plan concocted between Ned, Kitty and herself was to demand that all the money which could be quickly realised be handed over to her. Once they had it in their possession, she and Mary would immediately rejoin the company. Kitty would then have the necessary funds to pay Kate for her efforts and buy herself a passage home.
When she was safely back in Amherst, Kitty intended to send further instructions to the lawyers.
‘But that can wait,’ Ned had asserted. ‘Your first priority, Kate, is to squeeze as much rhino as you can out of them once you’ve signed those papers.’
Kate had blithely agreed, never realising how embarrassing the task would turn out to be. Randal, Alicia, Mr Hilton, they had all been mere names to her then. Now they were real people and she knew that her behaviour would disappoint and hurt them. They would think her a grasping harpy, but time was running out…
Randal moved closer. His eyes glittered. ‘Have you ever thought of staying in England?’ he demanded abruptly.
Kate gasped. ‘I…I cannot. I must return to America very soon.’ She dropped her gaze to avoid meeting his eyes and began to pleat the edge of her silk shawl with nervous fingers. ‘My mother expects me home once the business of my legacy is concluded.’
‘I’m sure she would understand if you told her you wished to stay in Chester while you considered your options.’ Randal halted in front of her. ‘Postpone your departure! Please!’
Kate shook her head and the lock of hair that had been loosened earlier tumbled down her neck. ‘I don’t think that would be sensible,’ she whispered, refusing to look up.
Randal took her chin his long fingers and gently tilted her head up so that she was forced to meet his gaze. ‘Shall I let you into a secret?’ he said softly.
Kate’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected question and he smiled down at her with a tenderness that made her heart start thumping wildly.
‘I’m nervous too, sweetheart.’ Randal’s hand moved to caress the pure line of her jaw. ‘I feel as if I were standing at the edge of a precipice not knowing whether to jump or not. Down below is a sea of dreams holding all that I ever wanted from life, but the idea of stepping out into the unknown makes me hesitate and cling on to what I’ve already got, even though it no longer satisfies me.’