Kitty Read online

Kitty looked upon the plate of fish with a heavy heart. He would be at sea now.

  “Are you sure I cannot tempt you, Katherine?” her father asked, taking up the plate of kippers and holding it before her.

  “No, really, Sir,” she replied, fearing she might be sick.

  Mr Lewis helped himself to more kippers and then undertook to open his letter. His initially dismissive approach to reading it was soon surpassed by close attention to its contents.

  “What is it, Mr Lewis?” his wife asked, observing her husband’s rapt expression.

  “Two birds with one stone, I suspect, Mrs Lewis,” was all he replied as he read on.

  “Oh, you are so infuriating, Mr Lewis! Do tell us what it says!”

  “Well, if you insist, Mrs Lewis. Here you are: My Dear Mr Lewis, I must first apologise for expressing on paper thoughts best communicated in person but I am currently bound for the coast and soon to set sail and I am eager that my request should be sent to you before I embark with my fleet. I must also apologise for my poor hand but I am writing this in a coach–”

  “Get to the point, Mr Lewis!” Mrs Lewis insisted.

  “But you said read all!”

  “Only the good bits, dear!”

  “Oh, I assure you, Mrs Lewis, they are all good bits!” He continued: “And as time is of the essence, I must speak plainly. I write to request the hand of your daughter in marriage–”

  “A counter-offer!” Mrs Lewis declared elatedly. “Hoorah, Mr Lewis, I’ll wager that Cinders shall, after all, go to the ball!”

  “Not so fast, Mrs Lewis,” he cautioned. He looked to his middle daughter, whose gaze was directed at the tablecloth. “Though Miss Katherine and I have been acquainted for only a short time, I hope you do not consider it impertinent of me to inform you that she has won my heart–”

  “Kitty!” Mrs Lewis exclaimed incredulously. “Whatever can Captain Northwood want with Kitty?”

  “How, my dear, can you be certain that I speak the words of Captain Northwood? We have not yet reached the end,” Mr Lewis said, beginning to enjoy the whole charade.

  “Oh, you do vex me so, husband! Who else would be making a proposal to Lucinda?”

  “But the writer does not name Lucinda, Mrs Lewis – and anyway, she already has a husband. The author of this letter refers to Katherine, your second daughter.”

  “But what does Captain Northwood want with Kitty?” she repeated despondently, looking as though she would start to cry.

  “Well, Mrs Lewis, it would appear he wants to marry her.”

  At that, Katherine felt the room spin so violently that she fell faint, her fall broken only by Clara’s dependably sturdy little form.

  “Get her off me, Papa; I’m being squashed!” Clara protested as her mother burst into tears.

  * * *

  Later, with Kitty somewhat revived and reclining on a chaise longue and Mr Lewis seated beside her, the father asked, “I take it that proposal came as a shock to you, Katherine?”

  “It did Sir, quite a shock.”

  “The question remains, was it a pleasant shock, Kitty?”

  “I had not been seeking a proposal of marriage, Father,” Katherine said.

  “And so I will quite understand if you want me to reply to Captain Northwood declining his offer–”

  “Decline his offer! Decline his offer!” Mrs Lewis protested from across the room. “Beggars cannot be choosers, Mr Lewis. Kitty shall marry Captain Northwood and consider herself unaccountably and undeservedly fortunate to do so.”

  “She shall marry Captain Northwood if she chooses, Mrs Lewis,” Mr Lewis said firmly.

  “Oh you are so weak, Mr Lewis,” she scolded.

  “Weak I may be but I have the final say upon this matter and my wish is for Katherine’s happiness. So, Kitty, what is to be the answer?” Mr Lewis looked intently into his daughter’s eyes.

  “The answer shall be yes, Sir,” she replied.

  “Do not be rash, child. You need not be influenced by your mother’s desires–”

  “I assure you, I am not, Papa. I answer only out of regard and affection for Captain Northwood. I had not intended to marry but, if I am to have a husband, I can think of none better than him.”

  “Very well, Kitty,” Mr Lewis concluded and his expression softened from one of stern concern into a smile of approving happiness. “And now,” he said, “I feel it my responsibility to urge you to eat something, Katherine. You shall not recover fully from your surprise until you take some food. What can we get you?”

  “Are there any kippers left?” the girl asked.

  “There are indeed,” her father responded and he rose and went over to the table to fetch her some.

  Kitty produced, from her sleeve, the cloth she had kept close to her skin since the previous morning. She unfolded it and spread it out on her lap.

  Mr Lewis returned to her side and gave her a plate of kippers and a set of cutlery, saying, “Ah good, I see you already have a napkin.”

  * * * * *

  Thank you for reading this story.

  If you have enjoyed Kitty, please visit Catherine E. Chapman’s Amazon profile page for details of her other publications:

  http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-E.-Chapman/e/B005LG8HVM

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catherine-E.-Chapman/e/B005LG8HVM

  Also by the author:

  Brizecombe Hall - a Regency romance – novelette available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/Brizecombe-Hall-ebook/dp/B008GSXHFS

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brizecombe-Hall-ebook/dp/B008GSXHFS

  The Hangar Dance - a WWII romance – novelette available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Hangar-Dance-ebook/dp/B009K2P3V0

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hangar-Dance-ebook/dp/B009K2P3V0

  Kitty, Brizecombe Hall and The Hangar Dance are now also available in print as a collection of Three Romances:

  http://www.amazon.com/Three-Romances-Brizecombe-Kitty-Hangar/dp/1482064308

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Romances-Brizecombe-Kitty-Hangar/dp/1482064308

  Elizabeth Clansham - a contemporary novella set in the Scottish Highlands – available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Clansham-ebook/dp/B005LFNWDG

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Clansham-ebook/dp/B005LFNWDG

  And also available in print:

  http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Clansham-Catherine-E-Chapman/dp/1481927299/

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Clansham-Catherine-E-Chapman/dp/1481927299/

  Danburgh Castle and Rhiannon - Medieval romances – novelettes available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/Danburgh-Castle-ebook/dp/B007R48V8U

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Danburgh-Castle-ebook/dp/B007R48V8U

  http://www.amazon.com/Rhiannon-ebook/dp/B007WEYYSQ

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhiannon-ebook/dp/B007WEYYSQ

  The Beacon Singer - a contemporary novel set in the English Lake District – available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Beacon-Singer-ebook/dp/B006BYDHQS

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beacon-Singer-ebook/dp/B006BYDHQS

  For further information about Catherine E. Chapman’s publications and current news, see Catherine’s blog:

  http://www.romanceornotromance.wordpress.com

  Catherine is also on Facebook:

  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-E-Chapman/434999469868920

  and Twitter: http://twitter.com/CathEChapman