A Rational Proposal (Furze House Irregulars Book 1)(23)
“I... yes, I remember, and now I remember your tumble of words which I had forgotten. It is as if you have grown up - and not grown at all. Verity, I hardly know what I am saying in the astonishment of seeing you again, but I cannot come. She will not welcome me. She never answered any of my letters. I do not blame her, for I behaved very wrong, but I was dazzled and wilful and I could not have married Mr Prout. Or so I thought then. Now, I... No matter, we will not talk of it. I made my own bed and cannot go back. Is she well? I wish she would at least see Ann.”
Verity stared at Kitty in consternation. “She will see you both. Of course she will. Kitty, we never received any letters. How could you think for a single moment that we would not have answered, had we known where you were?”
The heartbreak in her sister’s eyes at this statement was almost more than she could bear. “My father must have suppressed them,” said Kitty bleakly. “He killed the contact as he killed everything else. I was a fool to think I could cross him without retribution.”
“He need not concern you any more. He died this spring. Did you not realise when you saw us at John’s wedding? We were hardly in festive garb. That was you outside St George’s, was it not?”
Kitty ducked her head. “Yes, I saw the notice and went out of curiosity, telling myself all the time it must be some other John Bowman. I looked, saw you all, then lost my nerve and hurried away.”
“It matters not.” Verity hugged her sister again, hiding her dismay at how thin and brittle Kitty felt. “You are here and I have found you and I have a new niece whom I love already and you will both come to see Mama with me.”
“Yes. Yes, but...” Kitty broke off as rapid footsteps were heard outside the door. Her animation drained away. Once again, Verity saw hard-won maturity in her expression, together with rapid, wary calculation. “It is Simon,” said Kitty. “I did not expect him yet. Something must have happened. You must go, Verity. I cannot explain now. Follow my lead.”
The door burst open without ceremony and Captain Eastwick hurried in.
Verity was instantly engulfed in memory. He filled the room, as he always had. His was a personality that would always take centre stage and make it his own. She remembered all over again why she hadn’t felt the least surprise when Kitty had eloped.
Right now Simon Eastwick emanated urgency. “Devil take it, there was a fire in Hart Street last night and now the fog is thickening. Did you not hear of it when you went out? Why did you not tell me? It is too late by far to do anything at this distance. All are long scattered and there is little hope of finding...” He broke off, his eyes going to Verity. “Well, Kit, who have we here? Who is the fair visitor?”
Follow my lead, Kitty had said, but Verity also saw the suspicious flash of almost-recognition in Kitty’s husband’s gaze and she felt Kitty herself begin to frame a lie.
Instinct took her. She put out a hand and said with the utmost friendliness, “Captain Eastwick. I daresay you won’t remember me, but I remember you very well. I am Verity Bowman. I was Kitty’s schoolgirl sister when you were courting her. Oh, the number of times I hung out of the window and sighed over your red coat and elegant address.”
Yes, he was as handsome and mesmerising as ever, but Verity was seven years more discerning now and she could see in his bearing how he traded on his looks.
Conceit puffed out his chest at her words. An expression of good humour replaced the speculation. He shook her hand a little too heartily. “Well, well, little Verity. And grown up just as comely as your sister. As you see, Kit and I rub along pretty well. How did you find us, eh? Last I heard, your father was ready to take a horsewhip to me for stealing away the prettiest girl in Newmarket.”
“Oh, it was the most absurd thing. I had been in Bedford House and was on my way back when I saw a little girl the image of my lost sister trip by the side of the road. I naturally put out a hand to save her and found she was a niece I did not know I possessed! Such a happy chance, was it not?”
“Indeed.”
Verity could not quite like the conjecture working in the back of his gaze, but she pretended to notice nothing amiss and stood in a flurry of cloak and gloves and parcels as unlike herself as she could manage. “And now I must be leaving, for I am later than I said I would be. It was so nice to find you, Kitty. I hope we may meet again.”
“Certainly,” said Captain Eastwick. “Certainly you should meet with your sister. Family are always welcome provided there are no horsewhips present, eh Kit?”
Kitty smiled and laughed, but she was evidently hiding her unease. She embraced Verity, murmuring, “Newton’s in Coventry Street, ten o’clock tomorrow.”
Verity managed to give the tiniest nod before she was ushered out of the door.
CHAPTER NINE
Outside, Verity found with no little dismay that the fog had indeed thickened and the sky had grown even darker. The door had already shut behind her. “Well, what of it?” she said to herself. “I am not so poor a creature as needs a footman or maid to hail a hackney cab. If I turn towards Southampton Street where the road is wider, and then go on to the Strand, it will be easier to see, I am sure.”
Which she did, but then caught sight of a bonnet shop on the corner of an alley and just stepped down that way for a moment to look at the window. She was sure, quite sure, that she turned in the correct direction when she’d regretfully decided against an Angouleme at this delicate stage in her mourning, but soon found herself bewildered by the streets and turned first one way, then the other until her sense of direction was quite confounded.