But the feeling did not long endure, for a renewed groaning from the sofa drew the attention of both cousins. Kitty was forcibly dragged towards the matron, who had sunk a little where she sat. For all she could sink, with the rolls of extra flesh that made the spotted muslin gown, with its fashionably high waist, appear grossly inadequate for its purpose.
‘Mama, who is she?’
Kitty found Claud at her other elbow. ‘Good question. Only you’d best refer it to the lady herself!’ He gave her a smile that was curiously engaging. ‘I know you told me your name, but I wasn’t taking notice and I’ve forgot it.’
The blunt honesty could not but appeal, and Kitty returned his smile. ‘It’s Kitty.’
‘Heavens, you can’t be called Katherine!’
This from the girl Kate, who was also possessed of that name. To her chagrin, Kitty heard a note of apology in her own voice. ‘But I am called Katherine. My name is Katherine Merrick.’
This information acted powerfully upon the aunt. She closed her eyes in a look of anguish. ‘I knew it!’
To Claud’s intense annoyance, Lady Rothley addressed him once more in that imploring tone. ‘Devenick, you must take the girl away—back to where she came from. And say nothing of this to a soul, I charge you!’
‘Yes, you said so before, Aunt Silvia. Only you won’t say why.’
‘I cannot. You must understand that it is a matter of the utmost secrecy. I am sworn to silence!’ She turned to her daughter. ‘Kate, you must put forth your best efforts to persuade him. I tell you, it will kill me, if Lydia gets to hear of this! To have it all dragged up again—no, a thousand times! I tell you I could not bear it!’
This was more than Kitty could endure. Shaking Kate off, she retreated a few steps, turning in desperation to Claud.
‘Pray, sir, will you take me away from here?’
He was frowning. ‘Yes, but not until I’ve got to the bottom of this!’
To his surprise, his cousin balked. ‘No, Claud! I cannot ask Mama to betray her promise.’ She turned from him to Kitty. ‘I am so sorry, Miss—Merrick, wasn’t it?—but I think it is best if Claud takes you back.’
‘Yes, but wait a bit—’
‘Pray, Claud, don’t say any more! You can see that poor Mama is upset.’
‘That’s all very well—’
Kitty cut in swiftly. ‘Sir, I have no wish to remain here! It was all a mistake, and there’s an end. If you don’t wish to embarrass me further, pray take me home.’
It was not an appeal he could refuse. With a sigh, Claud abandoned his attempt to extract the secret. Though he was by no means reconciled. The intelligence that it would upset the Countess had set him on fire to find it out. But his cousin again intervened, moving to the other girl again and taking her hand.
‘Poor thing, I am so sorry. We have been dreadfully rude—the shock, you know. I dare say you must be feeling excessively uncomfortable.’
To Claud’s intense annoyance, his cousin next turned on him.
‘I do think you might have listened when she told you she wasn’t me, Claud. Poor Miss Merrick has been disgracefully inconvenienced, and Mama distressed—and it is all your fault!’
‘I am well aware of that. Haven’t I said so?’ He took the girl’s arm and pulled her away from Kate. ‘Besides, I’m going to make her reparation.’
‘How?’
‘I don’t know yet, but I shall think of something.’
Kitty warmed to him. Indeed, his presence close beside her gave her courage. If his fat aunt Silvia had repudiated her—indeed, her gaze continued to veer towards Kitty at intervals, brimful of revulsion!—at least Claud had the decency to stand by his mistake.
‘All I want is to be returned to the Seminary,’ she urged, adding bitterly, ‘I only wish I had taken one of the posts offered to me weeks ago, and then this would never have happened.’
‘Post?’ repeated Claud.
‘What sort of post?’ asked Kate.
Kitty lifted her chin. ‘I am meant for a governess. We are all raised for it at the Seminary.’
‘Oh, poor thing!’ uttered Kate, distressfully. Then her face brightened. ‘I know! If you have not yet found a post, perhaps we could help you. Claud, you might recommend her to someone of our acquaintance.’
Claud snorted. ‘Don’t be so feather-brained, Kate! Present for a governess to some matron I know a girl who looks exactly like you?’
A shriek from the sofa brought his head round, and he winced. His aunt had once again bounced up.
‘Upon no account! Dear heaven, only think of the scandal if the girl appeared in town in such a guise! Devenick, I forbid you to help her. Or, stay! You had best see the woman at the Seminary and tell her that the girl must be given a post in a country establishment, among people who will never show their faces in town. Perhaps a well-to-do tradesman, who could never find a place among the ton. Yes, that will be the best plan. You will see to it, Devenick. I rely upon you.’
‘Lord, ma’am, I can’t do that! Who am I to dictate the girl’s future? Or you, come to that.’
To his dismay, Lady Rothley surged out of the sofa and came to him, throwing out imploring arms. ‘My dear, dear boy, if you knew the agony of mind into which I must fall if this dreadful business should be dragged up all over again, you would not hesitate. Believe me, if anyone has reason to beg your aid in this, it is I. As for authority, your mother took that upon herself long years ago. I tell you, if you do not do as I ask, you risk the worst of Lydia’s displeasure!’
Claud evaded her, shifting away to the other end of the mantelpiece, and pulling the girl with him. ‘Yes, that’s all very well, ma’am, but there’s something devilish havey-cavey about all this, and I am not at all sure—’
‘For heaven’s sake, Devenick, do you wish to drive me demented?’
In a good deal of dudgeon, he watched his aunt totter back to the sofa, Kate fussing about her. He glanced at the girl, whose wrist he had hold of, and realised she was trembling. There was strain in her white face, and the brown eyes looked enormous. A guilty pang smote him, and without thinking, he let go her wrist and put his arm about her, giving her a hug.
‘Don’t look so worn, young Kate—I mean, Kitty!’ he corrected himself, remembering. ‘Haven’t I said I won’t let it harm you?’
Kitty looked up into the even features, and a tired sigh escaped her. ‘She is right, sir. If I were seen in town, the resemblance would be remarked. I shall speak to Mrs Duxford myself.’ She looked across at the afflicted matron. ‘I have no wish to embarrass you, ma’am.’
Kate answered, for the aunt was engaged in moaning softly and rubbing at her temples. ‘You are very good, Miss Merrick. I only wish there was something we might do for you.’
Kitty moved out of Claud’s protective arm, and took a pace towards the sofa. ‘There is one thing. If—if your mother will only tell me that I am indeed a member of this family?’
Claud was beside her. ‘That much is abundantly plain!’
‘Claud!’
‘Well, it’s true, Kate. And you needn’t look censorious, for I know very well you want to know how it comes about just as much as I.’
Kitty put out a hand. ‘Pray don’t! I do not care if she does not wish to explain the exact relationship, for I have long suspected there had been a scandal. Only—’
She got no further.