A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting(21)

Though the dense urban forest of London seemed to Kitty never-ending, they quickly left it behind, cobbled streets giving way to dusty track, busy pavements graduating smoothly to grassy verge. To relax would be dangerous – this day was as essential as any so far at securing her future – but Kitty felt, nonetheless, some of the tension leave her as the land opened up before her. The tension was renewed immediately, of course, when Radcliffe situated his mount to the left of hers early on in the journey. The path only allowing for two horses to ride alongside this left Mr de Lacy jostling along behind them looking a little put out and craning his neck to be able to hear them.

Miss Talbot knew an interrogation of sorts was to be expected after her appearance at Grosvenor Square the day before – but even so, she could not have predicted how direct an approach Lord Radcliffe felt able to take, once finally relieved from the constraints of his mother’s presence.

‘Devonshire, you said your family hails from?’ he asked, apropos of nothing.

‘Dorsetshire, my lord,’ she corrected. ‘Though originally from London. I was born here in the city.’

‘Hmm, and you left for?’

‘The fresh air,’ she said promptly.

‘And yet you returned for?’

‘The company.’

‘Other siblings?’

‘Four younger sisters.’

‘No brother?’

‘None.’

‘Parents?’

‘Dead.’

‘Disease?’

‘James, I say!’ Mr de Lacy exclaimed in some indignation, only to be roundly ignored both by his brother and his beloved.

‘Typhoid,’ Kitty answered. ‘My mother first, my father following a year later.’

It shocked her a little, to hear this said out loud so baldly. To have it surmised in just one sentence, as if any explanation could encompass what they had been through – but she would not give Radcliffe the satisfaction of seeing this upon her face. He was clearly trying to catch her in a lie. As if she would be so foolish as to keep the truth of her family’s financial situation from Mr de Lacy. What on earth would be accomplished by his discovering only on their wedding night that she had a collection of unmarried sisters and her father’s encumbered estate as her dowry?

‘And do you plan to return to Dorsetshire once you have secured a match?’ Kitty was not expecting so direct a hit, and Mr de Lacy gave a squawk of surprise too, the thought not having occurred to him.

‘We plan to remain in London for only the Season,’ Kitty admitted slowly. ‘I wanted to introduce Cecily into London society. She is far too young to be considering marriage, of course, but I felt it prudent to allow her to experience something of the world in preparation. I feel it my duty, with our mother gone.’

Kitty did not have to see Mr de Lacy to know he had melted at this – she could tell by the shape of Radcliffe’s frown.

‘I must say,’ she said, taking control of the conversation, ‘you both ride very well! In fact, far better than I would have expected from city persons!’

‘Oh, a hit!’ Mr de Lacy said gleefully. ‘Not going to let that stand are you, James?’

Radcliffe ignored him. ‘You are too kind, Miss Talbot, though you forget, perhaps, that I make my home in the country – and so I cannot accept the compliment.’

‘Oh, yes, I do forget,’ she lied. ‘Silly of me – Lady Radcliffe had told me that it has been almost two years since you were last in London. Radcliffe Hall must be beautiful indeed, to have kept you away from your family so long.’

He did not react – he was the more experienced fencer – but Kitty fancied she saw a tightness around his eyes. ‘Business keeps me in the country.’

‘You must have a lot of business to see to, my lord,’ she returned, keeping her voice light and playful. ‘It is a wonder that you do not have a man to help manage the estates, if there is such a lot of work to be doing – another pair of safe hands would surely allow you to visit more.’

‘Oh, we do!’ Mr de Lacy was eager to defend his brother. ‘A brilliant chap, Mr Perkins – he’s been around ever since our father …’ He trailed off, realising that this was proof of his brother’s neglect, rather than the contrary. Turning her head slightly, she could see that he looked rather uncertain – his idol tarnished for the very first time. Kitty smiled.

‘I’m sure you’ll forgive me, Miss Talbot,’ Radcliffe said sharply, ‘if I trust my expertise over yours. It does not behove a lord to leave the running of land to another. It is the duty that comes with the title.’

‘You must think very little of your fellow lords, then,’ she said, with an ambitious stab at innocence, ‘for they spend each spring in London, do they not?’

‘And what of your aunt, Mrs Kendall – is she your mother’s sister or your father’s?’ Radcliffe said sharply, quite as if she had not spoken at all.

‘My mother’s,’ was her prompt response. Her third lie of the day, now – but one that had felt necessary from the very beginning, to keep their history as pristine as possible.

‘I am sorry not to have met her yet,’ Mr de Lacy said with real regret.

Radcliffe looked over at Miss Talbot, his eyes shrewd. She kept her expression even – but it was no use.