They moved on into the dining room, where Katherine found herself seated between Sidney and Philip. His lordship was being his usual self-confident, yet easygoing self. She marveled that he could at once be modest, well-mannered, and considerate, while at the same time managing to make Sidney look the veriest dullard. She suspected Cousin Sidney was a bit of a snob.
How fortunate that she had worn heir nicest Sunday gown of soft lilac satin with long sleeves that gathered at the armholes and tied into divisions with pretty ribands. It made her feel graceful. She also knew the rows and rows of tucks above the hem to be the very latest thing from the fashion journals she had seen in Gisela’s room when they had searched for a style best suited to Katherine’s short hair. There was nothing like looking one’s finest to aid in coping with a pair of males who seemed about to—politely—clash.
During the soup course she listened to the men debate the merits of Oxford versus Cambridge in the most partisan of terms. While she nibbled on oyster patties and brill with delicate lobster sauce she heard the virtues of country life as opposed to London delights debated with languid but deceptive thrust and counter. His lordship was a trifle condescending, she thought. Yet Sidney tried. And failed, she admitted as she heard him flounder in his arguments.
Sidney’s manners might be gentlemanlike, but they were by no means winning, she decided. However, she was not about to let Philip know that she felt thus. He might be of the first consequence, but that was no reason to dally with Sidney as though he were a mere nobody. Which he was, she reflected with rueful honesty.
Why had Aunt Harriette never mentioned him in her many letters? That was a question that plagued Katherine in the back of her mind throughout the remainder of the dinner even as she listened to the conversation. With no effort upon her part it went on beneath her nose like a game of battledore and shuttlecock.
“You are coming out tomorrow, are you not?” inquired Philip as they sampled the partridge and salad, mutton, beetroot, and potatoes placed before them.
Knowing he wanted to discuss the allocation of costumes and meet the other characters, Katherine nodded, her mouth being partially full of salad at the moment.
“What is it you do here, cousin?” inserted Sidney, his voice striking Katherine as a trifle suspicious.
“We are planning a school,” Katherine said, just as Lord Ramsey declared, “Assisting me with my family history.”
“Actually, I do a bit of both,” Katherine amended after glaring at Lord Ramsey.
“Both?” It was plain that Mr. Exton was now more than a bit suspicious. He turned his head to study Katherine as the plates were removed and the next course brought on.
Katherine stared at the pears and whipped cream with an absorbed gaze. “My, does this not look utterly delicious.” Her enthusiasm sounded a bit strained, but she could only pray that Sidney dropped the subject like he ought, given his attempt to act the London gentleman.
“I am pleased you are enjoying your meal, Miss Penn,” Lord Ramsey said with that deceptive smoothness Katherine had learned to accept with prudent caution. Turning his attention back to Sidney, he added, “It is gratifying to see a young woman who enjoys her food rather than nibbles.”
Her spoon clattered on her dish after the last bite of pear had been popped into her mouth. The morsel sank to her stomach like a stone as she fastened a politely frigid gaze on Lord Ramsey. How she longed to poke him in the ribs.
“My father,” she replied with a show of genteel good manners, “has taught me to appreciate excellent food and not waste a thing.”
“Action is definitely the clue, I believe,” murmured Lord Ramsey by way of reply. This non sequitur totally puzzled Katherine, but this was hardly surprising. His lordship continually did that. It was his form of wit, she supposed. She simply was not accustomed to it. When a small voice told her it would be delightful to adjust to such, she ordered it be gone.
The men spent no time at port as was customary in the evening, although Katherine suspected her father missed it. She edged her way so that she stood next to his lordship and hissed, “Are you trying to get us into a pickle? Helping with a history, indeed.”
“Would pond water have been better? I thought you had quite enough of pond weed.”
“I believe I have had more than enough of a good many things,” Katherine murmured, beginning to wonder if she was losing touch with reality.
“Well,” Philip offered in a consoling manner, “I intend to stand by my original plan. I did tell you that all strays on my land are mine, did I not?” With that remark, he smiled from those gorgeous gray eyes and strolled off to where Julian Penn stood admiring the portrait on the far wall.
Katherine shut her mouth with a snap, deciding that there was something more than a little smoky about the viscount. If only he weren’t so attractive. He was also, she sighed wistfully, a touch beyond her. She had best figure out a way to persuade him to provide Mr. Weekes with a living. It would be lovely to have children, at least four, she considered. Only when she thought about them, somehow they appeared to have gray eyes and dark hair, and not one had eyes set too close together.
The remainder of the time at the hall went quickly and before long Katherine breathed a sigh of relief once she was safely on her way back to town, Sidney in tow. There had been no further dangerous conversation between Lord Ramsey and her new cousin, most fortunately.
Unfortunately, Amelia Bonner was tittupping along the path close to the Penn house when the driver stopped to permit the family to step out of the carriage.
“Katherine, my dear! I daresay you are returned from the hall. Have you had a lovely visit? Of course you have. How could you not? Dinner, too, I gather. It must have been excessively elegant. Such a lovely house. I simply long to see it again.” That she also hoped to quiz Katherine about the visit, not to mention the divine service, was nicely but imperfectly concealed.
This fond declamation was met with a wry acknowledgment from Katherine.
Sidney advanced to offer his hand, ostensibly to assist Melly around a spot of mud on the path.
“La, sir, what lovely manners you have,” Miss Bonner gushed. “I can see our Cambridge gentlemen shall have to look to their laurels.”
How clever of Melly, to be able to bat her eyelashes while clinging to Sidney’s arm and babbling inanities about gallant gentlemen, thought Katherine while exchanging guarded looks with Cousin Sophia.
“Will you not join us for a dish of tea?” Cousin Sophia offered in spite of a dark look from Katherine.
“I ought not, but then, you are all graciousness,” Melly replied in her most bubbling voice.
Having a fair idea of what was to be in store for them all the next half-hour or so, Katherine assisted Cousin Sophia into the house, then sought the housekeeper to give her instructions for a goodly tea. Katherine might not be hungry, but it would never do to present a less-than-bountiful spread when Miss Amelia Bonner came to tea. Word would be all over town in a trice that the regius professor was in dire straits and forced to economize.
When Katherine entered the drawing room, she made the unpleasant discovery that Melly was seated close to Cousin Sidney and in deep conversation. It was a moot point as to which of the two attempted to pry information from the other. Their guilty expressions told all.
Katherine hoped she might conceal her worries from them. It would not do to hand more power to Melly. What had Melly said to her cousin?
Sidney jumped up to wall across the room to take Katherine’s hand. He turned to face Amelia, a rather fatuous smile on his face. “I am quite enjoying my stay here, Miss Bonner. In my enchanting cousin, I feel I find the ideal of all womanhood.”
Melly clearly did not appreciate Sidney’s declaration. “La, sir, you are a very elegant spinner of words, are you not? I doubt if Katherine hears such from her other gentleman callers. Who is it now, Katherine, dear? Last I knew Mr. Weekes claimed your interest.”
“It is difficult to recall. Cambridge is overflowing with males, as you well know, Melly.” Katherine gracefully extricated herself from Sidney’s clasp, turning to welcome Cousin Sophia and the tea tray at the same time.
Since she was not attending, she missed the annoyed look that settled upon Sidney’s face and the calculating expression that flitted across the pretty Miss Bonner’s countenance.
What had Sidney and Amelia Bonner been discussing when Katherine entered the room? She wondered at the guilty expression on Melly’s devious little face. As Cousin Sophia had said, the girl was as subtle as a dead pig. So what was she up to now? Surely she was not piqued because Sidney seemed to exhibit a preference for Katherine rather than the darling of Cambridge?
“Miss Bonner told me all about your project, dear Katherine,” chided Cousin Sidney in injured tones once the housekeeper had departed the room. “I am wounded that you felt you could not confide in me.”
A very pregnant silence followed the casual dropping of the explosive remark. Katherine studied her hands a moment before darting a glance at Cousin Sophia. Then she gave Melly a meaningful look that Katherine hoped conveyed her barely leashed anger.
She could cheerfully have slapped that silly Amelia Bonner clear into next Tuesday. “Perhaps that is because I felt that the fewer who know of the plan, the better it would be. You had no right, Melly,” she gently scolded her old friend, congratulating herself on her heroic forbearance.
“It was not well done, Amelia,” Cousin Sophia added in a stem voice.
“Well,” Melly answered in a challenging tone, “I thought your very own cousin would surely be informed.” A malicious smile hovered about her dainty lips, her eyes sparkling with what Katherine would have sworn was spite. What she had done to deserve such treatment from a girl who had heretofore pretty much ignored any attention paid her was beyond Katherine.
“However, Mr. Exton is to stroll through the various colleges with me tomorrow,” Melly continued. “Or at least King’s College and perhaps others if we get that far.” She giggled in a delightful way, tilting her head to gaze flirtatiously at Sidney.
Katherine exchanged resigned looks with Cousin Sophia. Tea was consumed in silence for a few moments.
What would Sidney Exton make of the plan to put on Katherine’s play? She had no doubt that Melly had withheld not one word that she knew about the project. Katherine placed her teacup on the small Sheraton table at her side, then clasped her hands tightly lest she give vent to her desire to action. She would have to appease Sidney, but how?
While seated on the sofa, Sidney studied his cousin with astute eyes. He had flirted, hinted, in short, done everything short of offering for the chit since he arrived, and to no avail. While Miss Bonner might be charming in small doses, she was not his target during this stay in Cambridge. He wanted to marry his cousin, dear Katherine. He could, too, with a bit of guile. Either he achieved his purpose one way or another, but get her he would. He had observed a decidedly predatory look in Lord Ramsey’s eyes. His attitude was that of one who guards what he considers to be his own as well. Sidney felt he dare not take chances, but he intended Katherine as his.
It was a relief for Katherine to realize the difficult hour was over. Melly would surely depart soon. Of course Katherine would have to deal with Sidney once she left, but perhaps that would not be too bad?
“I suppose Mr. Exton will be sworn to secrecy as well,” Melly said as she gathered her skirts to rise from the sofa where she had cast sheep’s eyes at Sidney at every opportunity.
“If he would be so kind, yes.” Katherine turned a beseeching gaze on her newly acquired cousin. For someone who had been in the house such a short time, he had become an integral part of the household. Yet she felt reluctant to include him in the venture. Yet what else might she do?
“I am honored that I am to be included in what I gather is a somewhat daring escapade.” Sidney inclined his head toward Katherine, leaving her to wonder if that meant he would hold his tongue between his teeth or not.
“You do understand? Repeating this story could have dire consequences for us all, not just for me.” Katherine fixed a firm look on Melly as she uttered these carefully chosen words. If only she could convince that widgeon to keep her mouth shut. So far, Melly’s record had not been impressive. Apparently she had not told her mother, or the tale would be heard from one end of Cambridge to the other. But for reasons Katherine could not explain, she had rather that Cousin Sidney had not been told. Nervous and apprehensive, Katherine watched the two on the sofa.
“I hold myself a member of the family and would never breach your trust in me,” Sidney said before Melly could say a word of reassurance.
“You see, Katherine? Mr. Exton is your family.” Melly rose from the sofa, then after many words of parting and reminders to Mr. Exton as to when he might fetch her the following day, she finally departed.
Katherine could not refrain from the merest sigh of relief. Cousin Sophia had left the room to walk with Melly to the door, rightly guessing that Katherine little felt like performing the courtesy. Katherine faced Sidney with a sense of wary expectation.
“I am sorry we excluded you from our secret. What I told Miss Bonner was the truth, however. I thought the fewer who know of the scheme, the better.”
“You actually wrote this play?” At Katherine’s answering nod he strode about the room, one hand stroking his chin until Katherine wondered if he had seen this done upon the stage. It seemed excessively affected.
“I shall endeavor to assist you. I trust you need to keep Miss Bonner silenced?” He fixed Katherine with a penetrating stare.
“Mercy, yes,” Katherine replied with heartfelt fervor.
“I shall do this for you . . . on one condition.”
Katherine braced herself. Why she had the feeling she might not like his terms, she couldn’t say.
“I am quite smitten with you, my dear,” said Sidney, bowing most properly in Katherine’s direction. “Permit me to pay my addresses to you? Allow me to speak to your father? You are such an enchanting, not to mention talented, young woman. I meant it when I said you are the ideal I have been seeking. To think I have looked in vain in London when my very own cousin is the answer to my wants and needs right here in Cambridge.”