Kitty Read online

  “I should have liked to have gone too,” Clara complained.

  “But Miss Clara, you and I must inspect Miss Katherine’s work of art,” Captain Northwood told her and they both went and sat beside Kitty.

  Though Mr and Mrs Lewis were engaged in conversation with Mrs Hempleduke, this did not prevent Mrs Lewis from looking regularly down the hill to the brook and across to Kitty’s easel, with a disapproving expression reserved for the groupings of people she encountered in both locations.

  “Miss Katherine, you sketch very well,” Captain Northwood announced upon studying the landscape Kitty was producing. “Do you intend to add colour?”

  “If there is time – I have brought my paints.”

  “You certainly have an eye for the picturesque. The way you have captured the beauty of the scene is quite uncanny–”

  “It is a fair attempt,” Clara mused critically, “but it would be so much better if you put in some animals and birds, Kitt.”

  “I paint what I see, Clara,” Kitty replied, “and there are no animals, nor any birds, in view.”

  “Stick a cow there and a flock of seagulls there and, I’ll wager, the whole composition will be far more successful – altogether less dull,” Clara persisted.

  “So, Miss Clara,” Mrs Grimes interjected helpfully, “we see that your sister is a talented artist but what distinctions do you yourself hold?”

  “None, Mrs Grimes, absolutely none.”

  “Ah, you have not yet found your forte–”

  “In truth, Mrs Grimes, I find most things quite boring after a while,” Clara continued in her matter-of-fact manner. “Kitty likes books and music and art and Lulu likes sewing and dresses and cooking but I can find nothing to occupy my mind for above of five minutes,” she concluded bluntly.

  “Fear not, Miss Clara, you are young. I am sure something will come along to pique your interest in due course. But tell me, your eldest sister likes to cook, you say?” Mrs Grimes pursued.

  “Oh yes, and Mama says it is a most redundant skill as Cinders is sure to marry a man whose fortune will render her at complete leisure. She says Lucinda should not lower herself to the execution of menial tasks–”

  “Clara!” Kitty scolded, disturbed to hear her sister divulge so much information.

  “But she does say that, Kitty. You’ve heard her say it many a time. She does say that, Mrs Grimes. But Lucie says she likes to cook and bake and Papa says Lulu may marry a man of more modest means and may need to be able to shift for herself and we all do so like her cakes, don’t we Kitt?”

  “Lucinda does make very good cakes,” Kitty conceded.

  “And you, Miss Katherine,” Mrs Grimes continued, “are you, like your accomplished elder sister, looking ahead to marriage?”

  Kitty was taken aback by the question – it was one she had never before been asked.

  “I am quite contented as I am, thank you, Mrs Grimes.”

  “But surely, young lady, you have considered what kind of a gentleman you would like for a husband,” Mrs Grimes suggested.

  How Clara admired her perseverance! She decided that Elizabeth Grimes –Lady or no Lady– was quite one of her favourite people.

  Kitty had been pondering the question and now stared at the canvas in front of her self-consciously, unused to having so much interest taken in her.

  “Mrs Grimes asked you a question, Kitt,” Clara urged.

  “Well,” Kitty began tentatively, “since it is important to me to pursue the interests I have, I should like a husband who shared those interests and who cared about the things I care for.”

  “A man who loved you for what you were,” Mrs Grimes interpreted more gushingly.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” Kitty agreed.

  “A very intelligent response,” Captain Northwood observed, and Kitty smiled upon catching his approving eye.

  “Kitty!” Mrs Lewis called over, “Go and fetch your sister and Captain Clayton back. We are to eat soon and they have been gone far too long. It is nothing short of rudeness that they have abandoned the rest of the party.”

  “But Miss Katherine is sketching. I shall go and recall them,” Captain Northwood replied.

  “And I shall accompany you,” Clara was eager to add.

  The Captain detected a hint of disappointment in Kitty’s expression. “What say we three go along together?” he suggested, offering one arm to Clara and the other to her sister.

  Walking arm-in-arm down the hill, Clara having run on ahead to seek out her eldest sibling, Kitty asked, “If you don’t mind my asking, Captain Northwood, what exactly is your relation to Mrs Grimes? You two seem very fond of one another.”

  “Indeed, Miss Katherine, she has been like a mother to me. My own mother died when I was very young. Mrs Grimes was in my father’s service and became my nursery-maid. She was present in our household throughout my childhood. She left us only to marry Mr Grimes, a good friend of my uncle’s.” He sensed that Katherine was curious about the old lady but was too delicate to enquire further. “Mr Grimes was a wealthy, widowed industrialist – a good deal older than Lizzie. It was a most fortunate match for her.”

  “Indeed,” Katherine said plainly.

  “Do you disapprove of those who marry above their station, Katherine?” he asked.

  “Why should I?” Kitty replied. “If two people love and make one another happy, why should they not be united?”

  “My opinion exactly,” he said.

  “Here they are,” Clara shouted up the slope to them as she emerged from a coppice, with Captain Clayton and Lucinda following reluctantly behind.

  “Your regard for Captain Clayton is also high,” Kitty said to Captain Northwood.

  “He is my most trusted friend. There is no better man in all England. And your sister, Miss Katherine, is quite one of the loveliest young ladies I have ever had the pleasure to meet.”

  “Lucie is wonderful,” Kitty agreed. “As beautiful a person on the inside as she is without – that is no exaggeration, Captain.”

  “I’m sure it is not and I am quite determined to taste her cakes!” he concluded in a whisper as Lucinda drew near.

  * * *

  “Lady Elizabeth Grimes indeed!” Mrs Lewis pronounced scathingly. “The woman nothing more than a mere fortune-seeker, Mr Lewis. I ask you!”

  “I like her,” Clara said boldly. “She was a lot more fun than anybody else there today.”

  Mrs Lewis’s verdict on the day’s outing was not entirely favourable. In particular, she was annoyed with Lucinda’s blatant neglect of Captain Northwood and the captain’s wholly misplaced interest in Kitty’s dreadful sketches. Furthermore, the event had been curtailed quite chaotically with the unforeseen outbreak of a rather heavy burst of rain.

  “Clara, did you deceive us intentionally in saying that Elizabeth Grimes was a Lady?” Mrs Lewis asked, unable to let the matter go.

  “I believe she deceived me, Mother. She quite clearly told me she’d inherited a title. Didn’t she Kitt?”

  “I can’t recall,” Katherine said, engrossed, as usual, in a book.

  “Anyway, I don’t care whether she’s ‘Lady’ Elizabeth or not–”

  “She clearly isn’t Clara!”

  “I like her because she’s funny. And Captain Northwood adores her so you’ll just have to get used to her, Mama.”

  Mrs Lewis shuddered at the thought and then said, “Well I hope, at least, she is not present at the Assembly Rooms when we are there tomorrow evening–”

  “We are going to the Assembly Rooms!” Clara exclaimed excitedly.

  “You are not going, Clara!” her mother replied dispassionately. She was in such a thoroughly rotten mood with all her daughters, she made no effort to protect the child’s feelings.

  “But why not?” Clara protested.

  “For one, you are too young and for two, Mrs Hempleduke has room for only three more in her party.”

  “So Kitty is going?” Clara surmised, increasingly
outraged by all she heard. “Mama, Kitty hates dancing. She hates balls. You do, don’t you, Kitt? Tell her!”

  “Clara, your disputes are futile,” Mr Lewis interposed, considering it high time to nip Clara’s ranting in the bud. “The reasons your mother has stated are quite true and valid and, furthermore, Captain Northwood specifically requested your sister’s attendance at the ball to swell the number of young ladies available to dance with the naval officers. Kitty has already accepted Mrs Hempleduke’s offer. So that’s that.”

  “Ooohhh!” Clara exclaimed, throwing herself frustrated into a cushion and beating her hands on the arm of the sofa.

  “You behave like a baby, Clara, and you wonder we don’t take you to the ball. Dear, dear.” Mr Lewis shook his head in conclusion and returned his attention to the day’s news.

  * * *

  The following morning Mrs Lewis awoke stricken with one of her headaches. As the day wore on it became apparent that she was in no fit state to attend the dance at the Assembly Rooms and at five o’clock she finally declared this fact to Mr Lewis.

  “Well, Kitty, it would appear that you shall have the pleasure of myself as your dancing partner all evening, since your mother is indisposed,” Mr Lewis said.

  “But, Papa,” Clara retorted, “if Mama cannot go to the ball, then, surely, I can!”

  Mr Lewis stood firm. “As we’ve said before, Clara, you are too young.”

  “But I shall die to think there was a place for me but I wasn’t allowed to take it,” Clara persisted.

  “If anybody is likely to die, Clara, it is I!” Mrs Lewis declared from her suitably listless position on the couch.

  Clara’s protestations ceased but it was noted by all that she cried silently to herself for the next fifteen minutes.

  At last Mr Lewis could withstand no more. “Mrs Lewis, I fear there is nothing for it but to permit our youngest daughter to experience the disappointment that inevitably comes of attendance at one’s first dance. Though you will find it hard to believe, Clara, I too was once fired with enthusiasm at the notion of the glittering chandeliers, the elegant orchestra, refined society… I’m afraid you will discover the reality to be –as I did– far from equal to the glamour of the dream.”

  Clara stared blankly at her father.

  “My dear, silly girl, if you care so much for it, you shall go to the ball!” Mr Lewis was forced to clarify in the end.

  “Oh, Papa!” Clara cried, leaping from her seat, and flying across the room and into the arms of her father. “I cannot tell you how happy you have made me!”

  “You just have, Clara,” Mr Lewis pointed out.

  “I am going to get ready straight away!” Clara announced excitedly.

  * * *

  “Would you care to dance, Miss Katherine?” Captain Clayton asked.

  “Captain, nothing would give me greater pleasure but I feel compelled to warn you that I am commonly held to have two left feet.”

  Captain Clayton laughed and whisked Kitty onto the dance floor, undeterred.

  “My sister, Lucie, is the dancer of the family, Captain,” Kitty informed him. “You must dance with her in order to enjoy a truly elegant experience.”

  “That I hope to do later. But for now, Miss Katherine, I find your performance quite acceptable. Whatever makes you think yourself unable to dance?”

  “I suppose it is in comparison with Lucinda’s talents, Captain Clayton. For one thing, she has the advantage of being so tall and slender. She cannot but be graceful in her movements.”

  Captain Clayton looked across to Lucinda, who was currently dancing in the arms of Captain Northwood. Kitty thought she heard him sigh before remarking, “And this evening she looks particularly ravishing, does she not, Miss Katherine?”

  “Quite beautiful, Captain,” Kitty replied.

  “Most ladies could not carry off a muslin of yellow hue but, set against Lucie’s golden hair, the dress looks heavenly, don’t you agree?”

  Before Katherine had time to comment, the dance was over. Captain Northwood appeared and said to his friend, “What say we change partners, Clayton? Ladies, I take it you would have no objection to such a scheme?”

  Kitty found Captain Northwood a far less elegant dancer than his fellow officer but, despite his lack of grace, she felt strangely unnerved when he took her in his arms.

  “Your father is present tonight, Miss Katherine?” Captain Northwood asked.

  “Yes, he is in the card room, I believe. Did you wish to see him?”

  “There is a matter I need to discuss but there is no hurry,” Captain Northwood assured Kitty.

  Feeling slightly wary that conversation was not now so easily found as in partnership with Captain Clayton, Kitty said, “My sister looks beautiful tonight, does she not?”

  “Your sister’s appearance is always exquisite, Katherine. She is, indeed, a rare beauty. But I declare, Kitty, you yourself are quite the prettiest girl in the Rooms this evening, and no doubt about it!”

  Later in the evening Katherine found herself in the peculiar position of being alone with Lucinda. “How marvellous that Mama is not here, Lucie!” she announced involuntarily.

  “Kitt!”

  “I mean, how wonderful that we’re all having such a nice time! Father enjoying the rare indulgence of gaming, Clara practically adopted by Mrs Grimes and you, Lucie, dancing with Captain Clayton most all of the night!”

  “Truly, he is the most beautiful dance partner,” Lucinda observed.

  “Tell me, Lucie, are you happy?” Katherine asked confidentially.

  “Yes, thank you, Sister, I am quite happy.”

  “I know you are happy to be married but are you quite happy with whom you are to marry?” Kitty ventured.

  Suddenly Captain Northwood was there beside them. “Never have I seen a more pleasing composition than the sight of you two sisters standing and conversing together,” he observed.

  “It would appear Captain Northwood has been drinking, Kitty,” Lucinda rejoined.

  “I cannot deny that I have wine to account for my good spirits. But what, might I ask, brings the rosy tint to your cheeks, Miss Lucie?” he asked jovially.

  “James,” she scolded affectionately.

  “Have you spoken with my father, Captain?” Kitty asked.

  “Not yet,” Captain Northwood replied.

  * * *

  The morning after the ball, Mr Lewis took his wife and two younger daughters out for a brisk walk up to the Royal Crescent. He felt some fresh air was in order after an evening cooped up in the Assembly Rooms and, furthermore, he had discovered that Clara had not yet viewed the architectural phenomenon – he decreed that she must see it.

  “Mr Lewis, have you no regard for my poor ankles?” Mrs Lewis complained.

  “Is it all uphill?” Clara seconded.

  “On the way there, yes, but on the way back, Clara, it will be all downhill,” Mr Lewis advised her.

  “I never told you, Mama, how last night, when we said our farewells, Mrs Grimes declared that Cinders and Captain Clayton were the most handsome young couple in all Bath–”

  “Captain Clayton and Lucinda are not a couple, Clara!”

  “And honestly, Mama, the way Kitty looked at Captain Northwood, when he kissed her hand at the end of the evening, was positively sinful.”

  “Clara!” Mrs Lewis exclaimed.

  “But it was!”

  “Clara, Kitty is no more capable of looking at a man sinfully than are you of detecting a sinful look,” Mr Lewis scolded. “Good heavens,” he continued, addressing his wife, “how are these girls become so wild and fanciful?”

  She didn’t reply.

  “I can only think they have inherited it from your side of the family as the Lewis name has ever been a bastion of propriety.” Turning back to Clara, he announced, “That’s the first and last time you attend a dance at the Assembly Rooms.”

  “Oh Papa!” she cried, aggrieved.

  “Did you speak with
Captain Northwood last night, Father?” Kitty asked.

  “I must admit, I barely saw the fellow all evening.”

  “No doubt your father, left to his own devices, spoke only to those with whom he held a wager–”

  “Mrs Grimes said that, had she been blessed with a daughter (which she was not – she was never blessed with any children), she could not have been blessed with a daughter more agreeably verbal than I!” Clara pronounced proudly.

  “Ah, here we are,” Mr Lewis said as they rounded a corner. “There Clara; that is the Royal Crescent.”

  “Which is?” Clara responded, unimpressed.

  “A rather fine row of houses in a semi-circular formation, my dear,” Mr Lewis explained.

  “Um,” was Clara’s only praise for it as she scanned her eye around its perimeter. “Look!” she announced animatedly, “Captains Clayton and Northwood, I do declare, and how wonderful they appear in full naval uniform!”

  And, before her parents had the opportunity to remind her of propriety, Clara had set off running around the Crescent to greet them.

  Eventually, Kitty and her parents met with the officers themselves, Mr Lewis wary what discussion had already taken place between Clara and the captains, in particular because the officers looked so amused.

  After pleasantries had been exchanged, Captain Northwood apologised for the fact that he and Captain Clayton could not linger. They had been given word that they were soon to mobilise for their next operation at sea and had a number of errands to fulfil in town in readiness for their imminent departure from Bath. But might he ask that they visit Mr Lewis after lunch as there was a matter they wished to discuss with him? The officers bade the Lewises good day and the Lewises, to Clara and her mother’s relief, turned to go home on the downhill stretch of their walk.

  “Oh Mr Lewis,” Mrs Lewis began, “I cannot but think that the captain wishes to make a proposal.”

  “To whom, Mrs Lewis?”

  “Oh, Mr Lewis!”

  “Granted, he seems uncommonly fond of Katherine these days–”

  “Captain Northwood shall ask for the hand of Lucinda, our darling eldest girl,” Mrs Lewis prophesied confidently.