Page 119 of A Misguided Devotion

“Yes. I’m on my own.” But she wished William were with her.

“Is all well? Where’s Mr Barrington?”

Kitty deemed it best to ignore his question. “Is your mistress at home?”

“She’s not come down yet. The new maid is not adept at doing her hair. Doubt she’ll last another week. Mrs Jarvis will be glad to see you. Daresay you can wait with her until Mrs Barrington is ready to receive you.”

Descending the stairs to the housekeeper’s room was like taking a step into her past, and Kitty couldn’t repress a shudder. Would this be the life she was reduced to if William was not free to marry her for another six months?

Mrs Jarvis welcomed her as if she were a long-lost friend.

“Miss Lacey—what a pleasure. We were so sorry to see you go. Everyone was, though we were pleased for your rise in fortunes, becoming a companion to the mistress’s granddaughter. Mrs Barrington said you were going to marry her son.”

The old woman knew of Hugh’s plans? “I will not be marrying Mr Barrington.”

“Oh dear, the mistress won’t like that.”

Kitty sighed to herself. If only those were the worst tidings she had to share.

The housekeeper made a pot of tea and poured two cups, whilst keeping up a constant flow of chatter, bringing her up to date with the servants’ gossip. Kitty’s thoughts returned to William, wondering what his father had told him about her absence.

“Was it good news from France?”

The words pulled Kitty back to the present with a jolt. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“In the letter that came soon after you left. Was it good news about your brother?”

“There was a letter?”

“Didn’t you receive it?”

“No, I didn’t. Mrs Barrington must have neglected to forward it to me.” More likely, she withheld it out of spite.

“There’s the bell now,” Mrs Jarvis said, shooting her a commiserating look as the familiar sound tinkled in the corridor. “You must hurry, if you’re not going to put yourself at a disadvantage. You know how tickly her temper is.”

Kitty was unlikely ever to forget.

Upstairs in the drawing room, the butler announced her. “Miss Lacey to see you, madam.”

“Lacey? What are you doing here? Where is my son? Have you come to tell me you’ve accepted his offer?”

“I have not. Such a marriage is impossible.”

“What? You imagine yourself above him? Bah! Useless girl. Get out.”

The old woman was making this even harder than Kitty had envisaged. She would need to fight to stay long enough to deliver Laura’s message—and to retrieve the letter she’d just learned about.

Mrs Barrington reached for the bell rope and yanked hard. The butler appeared at once. “I’m glad to know you do something for the money I pay you. Show this hussy out.”

“I beg your pardon, madam, but I didn’t come in answer to your summons. You have a visitor.”

“You’ve shown up one too many visitors already. Deny them and make sure this—”

“He was most insistent.”

“I am not at home.”

William strolled into the room, as confident as if he were the Prince Regent. “How very inconvenient.”