Sally James (27 page)

Nothing had been found near the body, as far as she knew, just the necklace. So Adam might have been disturbed before he could carry out that plan, and had slipped the locket, all he'd recovered, in his pocket. Then he'd forgotten it. It was small, easily overlooked in the deep pocket of his greatcoat, until James, anxious to make a good impression on his new master, had been thorough in putting away his clothes.

Adam had not been able to open it. He had perhaps assumed it was not a proper locket, but a solid ornament not meant to open, and had negligently passed it over to her, pretending it was her grandfather's.

Should she confront him? Then she thought of the long journey they were to make together. Adam planned to travel to London on the following day, spend a night in Grosvenor Square, and take the Bath road early in the morning. There would be many opportunities for accidents. She'd heard that murderers, once they became that, cared little about a second murder. And if Adam disposed of her his own problems would be over. No, she dared not allow him to suspect what she knew.

Could she confide in her aunt?  But if she did Aunt Sophie would be forced to cancel her own plans, and there might never be another opportunity for her to be near Sir Edward. Kate could not do that to her. She owed her aunt too much, and if at last there was a chance of her recapturing the happiness of her youth, finding love, she would do nothing to prevent it.

If she said nothing, gave Adam no cause to think she suspected him, and did not even remind him of it by wearing the locket, she ought to be safe.  It was a paltry trinket, of little intrinsic value. He would almost certainly forget it, and she would be safe. It was only the journey which posed any danger. Once in Bath there would be no opportunity for him to threaten her, everywhere would be too public.

She laughed a little hysterically when she realized she was actually anxious to reach the safety and protection offered by Annabelle. This was something she had certainly not expected to feel.

On the following morning, though, when Adam halted for a change of horses at the very inn where Darcy had died, her longing for Annabelle’s company intensified. 

'I want to know whether they have discovered who killed that wretched fellow,' he explained as he ushered her into a private parlour. 'Wait here while I go and talk to the landlord.'

She waited, unable to swallow a mouthful of the food brought for her, and gulping nervously at the coffee.

'What did he say?' she asked hoarsely when Adam came back into the room.

'Nothing more has been discovered,' Adam said briskly, and Kate thought she detected a note of satisfaction, or was it relief, in his voice.

'It would be difficult, now,' she ventured.

'Yes. Even the Bow Street Runner Mr Shore employed found out no more than we knew. He was here for a couple of days, then went back to London. They must assume it was attempted robbery, and yet - it looked too vicious for that, the way he'd been attacked.'

By the time they reached London Kate had managed to convince herself she had been wrong. There were various ways the locket could have got into Adam's pocket. Someone might have slipped it in. Perhaps the murderer had been there, and wanted to dispose of the evidence in case he was searched. She shivered at the notion. Or perhaps Adam had picked it up with something else. Maybe he'd knelt down to look at Darcy's body, and the locket had somehow been transferred with a handkerchief, perhaps, to his pocket. It didn't seem likely, but it was better than imagining Adam was a cold-blooded murderer.

Chapter Twenty-two

They arrived in the Royal Crescent late the following night. Annabelle welcomed them effusively, and Kate began to revise her opinion of the girl. On the following day, while Adam rode out to Rhydd Manor, where he meant to spend a couple of nights, she insisted on taking Kate to choose new clothes in the half mourning colours of lavender and grey.

'You are so fair, and if we select the shades carefully, they will suit you to perfection,' she declared as they walked slowly along Milsom Street. 'I know there is not such a wide choice of eligible men here, but there are some, and you must make a good impression.'

'Why?' Kate asked bluntly, her warmth somewhat tempered.

'Don't you want to find a husband?' Annabelle demanded, laughing at Kate's shocked expression.

'Not particularly,' Kate said curtly.

'Oh, come, every woman needs a man.' She giggled. 'I suppose I shouldn't talk to you like this, as you are unmarried, and you may wonder what all the fuss is about, but if you choose the right man, one who is tender and experienced in what pleases a woman, there are unimaginable delights in store for you.'

Such as she enjoyed with Adam? Kate's cheeks flamed.

'I would not want a husband who was experienced, as you suggest,' she said disdainfully.

Annabelle shrieked with laughter and held her sides. 'Oh, Kate, dear! You simply cannot prefer the clumsy fumblings of a boy to the sophisticated attentions of a man of the world.'

'If a man is a rake before marriage, what hope is there of his being faithful to his wife?'

Annabelle smiled. 'He doesn't have to have been a rake to be experienced. A few discreet liaisons, perhaps with married women, can teach a man a great deal, and in turn he will teach his wife. If she is wise she will learn quickly and seek to please him, and then there will be no further need for adventures outside the marriage bed.'

'I need some shoes,' Kate replied coldly, stopping to inspect a shop window. The conversation was making her feel very uncomfortable, and the thought of having to endure yet more lessons, even in the privacy of a bedroom with her as yet unknown husband, was unendurable. It was bad enough being instructed in the arts of riding or housewifery, but to have to take lessons in how to please a man in bed was beyond anything.

Then the humour of the situation struck her, and she laughed out loud. 'Are there academies where these skills are taught?' she demanded. If there were, she thought wildly, it was surprising Adam hadn't sent her to one.

Annabelle grinned. 'Not for ladies of quality,' she murmured. 'Kate, I think we are going to be friends. Let us choose some shoes, if you insist, and then I must go and drink my glass of water at the Pump Room.' She grimaced. 'It tastes deplorable, but my darling Frederick insists. And if one wants to keep one's husband happy, obey him in the small things, and he will give way over the larger,' she added, leading the way into the shop and leaving a rather bemused Kate to follow.

Did Annabelle really love her rather stolid, quiet Frederick? Or was it a pretence to distract attention from her friendship, or liaison, with Adam?

Kate was thoughtful, and when Adam came back from Rhydd Manor, she studied him surreptitiously.

For some time he had made no further references to a marriage between them, nor did he show any signs of knowing about Sir Robert's offer. In fact during the next few days he seemed determined to throw as many young men as he could into Kate's path, inviting so many of his unmarried friends and acquaintances to the Crescent whenever he was in Bath that even Annabelle began to exclaim at the lavishness of his hospitality.

'You are still in mourning,' she said one day when he presented her with yet another list of people he had asked to a small reception later in the week.

'They are not large formal parties,' he reassured her. 'We will have those later in London. Besides, I would like to entertain a few friends,' he added. 'It wasn't possible in Grosvenor Square while Great Uncle George was alive, for he detested parties, and my rooms were hardly suitable. But so many of the Regiment seem to be here it would be a pity not to see them while I can.'

Whatever his motives, the result was that Kate soon had a host of masculine acquaintances, several of them paying her marked attentions. She liked most of them in a general way, but none of them appealed to her as possible husbands.

'Am I especially difficult to please?' she demanded one morning as she and Annabelle strolled down to the Pump Room.

'Of course not,' Annabelle reassured her. 'You might meet a hundred men without wishing to marry any of them, and that is not being too particular. When you meet the one you want you will know,' she added with a smile.

Kate had once tried a glass of the water, but after her first taste had resolutely declined to sample it again. She accompanied Annabelle to the Pump Room for the opportunity of meeting her new friends there, as did most of the visitors.

They had barely entered the room before Kate's arm was clasped and an excited voice was addressing her.

'Kate, how delightful to meet you again! I have wondered so often what happened to you. Are you staying in Bath with your cousin?'

'Chloe!' Kate exclaimed. 'How do you come to be here?'

'Mama is still not well, so Papa decided to bring her here,' Chloe explained. 'They are over there and would be delighted to see you again.'

Kate hastened to introduce Annabelle, who surprised her by recalling they had met in London. By now Kate had forgiven Annabelle her mistake on their first meeting, realizing the older girl was genuinely incapable of recalling names immediately.

'How pleasant for you to meet again. Kate, why don't you go and talk to your friends while I drink my glass of this horrid water?'

'Where is Luke?' Kate asked as they made their way through the crowd to where Mrs Shore sat talking to another woman.

Chloe was full of his doings, his letters from France, and the plans he had for the rest of his leave now he was back in England.

'He is coming to Bath next week, and Martin will come too. At the moment he is managing the estate for Papa. I know he will be pleased to see you again.'

Not if I can avoid it, Kate vowed to herself, shuddering at the recollection of Martin's unwelcome embraces at Vauxhall, and their brief encounter when Darcy had died. She had no wish ever to see him again.

But it was pointless to worry. There was so much to do, and so many people to meet that Kate put the problem firmly out of her mind,

Fortunately for Kate's peace of mind Mrs Shore was feeling much too ill for a great deal of social activity. Although Chloe met her the next day and they walked together in Sidney Gardens, Mrs Shore did not intend to entertain. She would not be forced to meet Martin at their lodgings.

Annabelle, to Kate's surprise, had declared she did not have the energy for too much frivolity. Because of their mourning Adam and Kate could not attend large public balls either, although Adam had said that in a short while he thought they would be able to go to the Upper Rooms occasionally without disrespect. Kate hoped she would not encounter Martin at the private events they were invited to.

They had received many invitations to small dinner parties and large receptions, and the occasional ball, and with their own entertaining whenever Adam was in Bath there scarcely ever seemed an evening when they were at home alone.

Kate revelled in it, seeming, unlike Annabelle, who was beginning to look pale and ill despite the water she drank every day, to have endless energy. She soon became very knowledgeable about the latest fashions, studying the fashion plates in the
Lady’s Magazine
and despite being restricted to the colours of half mourning, having endless discussions with the modistes who enjoyed her custom. She also soon showed a natural sense for what suited her, and good taste in rejecting all the more extreme styles, relying on simplicity and excellent workmanship to give her clothes a distinction rare for one of her tender years.

'A delightful gown,' Annabelle complimented her as they were preparing to go to a concert one afternoon.

It was of pale grey muslin, high waisted and with a darker grey sash. Both the darker shade and a deep rich purple outlined the delicate embroidery on the bodice and sleeves, and a ruffle of dark grey lace trimmed the neck and cuffs as well as the edge of the skirt. A velvet pelisse and poke bonnet in matching purple trimmed with pale grey fur, a grey fur muff and grey kid half boots completed the ensemble.

Kate smiled her thanks. Then her attention was distracted by Chloe, who was walking towards them accompanied by Luke. The look of adoration on Chloe's face gave Kate a pang. Would she ever feel like that about a man?

None of the men who were paying court to her, and by now there were several, could hold her attention for long, and she began to think with increasing favour of Sir Robert Kenton. He had written to Adam that he hoped to be in Bath within the next two weeks, and Kate once more began to consider whether she ought to accept his offer. Certainly he was more to her liking than her current suitors, and although she knew she did not and was never likely to love him, she had regretfully begun to believe she would never find a man she could love.

'How do you know you love Luke?' she demanded of Chloe one afternoon, when the spring-like air had tempted them to walk in Sydney Gardens.

‘I just do,' Chloe replied, surprised. 'Why do you ask?'

'Because I do not know how I should feel if I loved a man,' Kate said with a deep sigh.

Chloe wrinkled her brow. 'I want to be with him all the time,' she said slowly. 'I feel there is something important missing when he is not there. And - ' she hesitated and blushed slightly.

'And what?' Kate probed remorselessly.

'Well, when he holds me and kisses me, I feel all shivery, and I just want it to go on and on for ever,' Chloe confessed hastily.

Kate sighed. That was of little help. Sir Robert had always been very correct, and had done no more than hold her in his arms when they danced. She doubted if he would even think of kissing her before they were officially betrothed.

'I can hardly go round kissing all the men who pay attentions to me in order to find out whether it makes me feel shivery and stupid!' she said tartly.

'Has anyone ever kissed you?' Chloe responded in cross tones. 'You asked me, Kate, and all I'm trying to do is help you!'

'Oh, Chloe, I'm sorry! I'm just so confused,' she apologized.