Katherine straightened. “Goodness, that’s very…direct, Aunt.”
“Well, there’s no point in fostering your ignorance and then regretting I’d not spoken to you earlier when it’s already too late.”
“What’s too late?” Katherine bent forward in alarm.
“Nothing’s too late. Not now. But that’s only because I’m speaking to you of matters your mama wouldn’t dream of bringing up with you—even though it’s what nearly caused her own downfall. And mine.” Aunt Antoinette raised an eyebrow. “Well, aren’t you going to quiz me?”
Katherine blinked. “Wouldn’t that be impolite? I was going to wait for you to tell me.”
“Oh, but you are a well-brought-up little miss. The trouble is, Katherine, one day you’ll get caught by surprise with those…feelings there…” she said directing a searching look at Katherine’s bosom, “and there…” She dropped her eyes lower. “You probably won’t think to behave in any manner other than what your heart and body and those feelings direct you to. At least, you won’t if you’re anything like your mother and myself. Which means, Katherine dearest, that it is my duty to explain to you the dangers of being under the control of love, passion, and desire. It’s quite likely you’ll entirely lose your head and throw caution to the wind, and then where would we all be if I hadn’t warned you?”
Katherine stared at her, puzzled. “Warned me? But you just did. About these feelings you say I’ll feel when I fall in love. I’ve felt some of them already but they didn’t make me lose my head. I certainly shan’t make foolish decisions when it comes to choosing a husband. It’s my most important consideration now that I’m in London.”
As Miss Fenton, Katherine had a world of limitations placed upon her, but she’d seen how entirely different it was for the young matrons of her acquaintance to order their households and servants, and that’s exactly what she couldn’t wait to do.
Aunt Antoinette let out a tinkling laugh. “Oh, my dear girl. If only it were that easy! Do you really think you’ll just fall in love with the right gentleman and get married?”
“Georgiana Rice did. And so did Miss Marcia Heaslip. And Miss Juliana Macefield and”
“Well, those are the girls you know who did what was expected of them and good for them that it all went so swimmingly—if it did.” Aunt Antoinette shrugged. “But what if you fall in love with someone entirely disreputable?”
“Like Cousin George?”
Antoinette snorted as Katherine clapped her hand to her mouth. “Forgive me, Aunt. It was very rude to speak like that about your son.” When she saw that she’d caused Aunt Antoinette no offence and, in fact, that her aunt appeared to endorse her feelings, she went on hesitantly. “I meant Cousin George cultivates an air about him that is disreputable, but he’s the last man I’d fall in love with.” She thought a moment. “I suppose you might mean someone like Mr Marwick who danced with me twice last night.”
“Exactly!” Aunt Antoinette gave a decisive nod, as if she’d been waiting for Katherine to mention his name. “He is exactly the kind of gentleman I’m here to warn you about, and if you can’t heed anyone’s warnings—because let me assure you, your mama will be on the warpath since Mr Marwick is the nephew of a fellow she was secretly betrothed to—I shall have to advise you how to manage matters so you don’t land up in the kind of trouble I did.”
Katherine glanced at the door and prayed her mother wouldn’t choose this moment to enter. She knew Aunt Antoinette was the wilder of the two sisters, but her mother— clearly reformed if her aunt had been truthful about the early days—seemed determined that her sister not spend too much time alone with her niece.
“What kind of trouble, Aunt?” she whispered. She knew it was death to a young lady’s reputation to be unchaperoned when alone with a young man, though she’d never been entirely sure why if kissing was the worst that could happen. If Aunt Antoinette could elaborate, it would be hugely helpful.
“The kind of trouble I worry about you getting into with a rake like Mr Marwick.”
“But I only danced with him twice, Aunt.”
“And I saw the way his eyes followed you around the room for the entire evening. Believe me, Katherine, he wants to do more than just dance with you.”
Katherine shivered with pleasure. She glanced at the red silk. Perhaps she would wear it, after all. Mr Marwick looked the kind of gentleman who’d appreciate a bolder entrance than she’d make in the more demure pale blue. “You think he might want to marry me?” She was surprised when Aunt Antoinette made a derisive snorting noise that did nothing to detract from her shining beauty and aplomb. There really was something of the ripe peach about her. Katherine had overheard those words used more than one gentleman. And it was true that Aunt Antoinette looked rather exotic with her golden ringlets escaping from the fashionable and elaborate style now in fashion. So, still thinking of this expression, she asked, “Do you mean he regards me like a peach, ready for the plucking?”
“Good Lord, where did you hear that term?” her aunt cried, looking both shocked and delighted. “You overheard Lord Brentwood say that about me, didn’t you?Such a nice gentleman.” ” She sighed fondly before adding briskly, “No, your beauty is different and, as you’re an unknown quantity, you are a source of great fascination to a man like Freddy Marwick as well as to his friend and rival, Lord Derry. So, beware, Katherine. Mr Marwick is the kind who’ll take any opportunity to whisk you into a dark corner, or away from the hubbub, and you might think it a thrilling idea at the time.” Her aunt frowned heavily. “But do not go anywhere alone with Mr Marwick for he is not a reputable gentleman. I’ve made enquiries, and for fear of making you do exactly the opposite of what I tell you, I must warn you about him.”
Katherine opened her mouth to protest that she had no intention of going into any dark corners with any gentleman, though she liked Mr Marwick who was charming and attentive and, indeed, rather intriguing in a dangerous kind of way, but her aunt cut her off. “But, if you do, and if matters proceed in a manner that is…unwise…then know you can always come to me for help.”
Katherine was about to ask her to clarify what she could possibly mean but her aunt rose and said, decisively, “And that is all I have to say on the subject for fear of your mama boxing my ears for putting ideas into that pretty little head of yours.”
“And was that all you came to tell me?”
“Absolutely. You need to beware of Mr Marwick, but if you do something you regret, come to me, rather than your mama.” She put her hand on the doorknob and was about to leave the room when Katherine’s mama swept in, a lovely smile making her even more of a beauty than her sister, Katherine thought in that moment. But then, while she was enormously fond of her aunt, she was devoted to her mother, despite their occasional differences of opinion. And as her mother seemed so very pleased with Katherine’s choice of attire when she asked what Katherine wanted to wear to Lady Maxwell’s that night, and so satisfied with the reports of her daughter’s general conduct the previous evening, Katherine decided that her trip to London was going to be the most marvellous success. She’d make both her parents proud, and be, herself, the happiest bride sometime during the next few months, she supposed. For there really was a vast array of choice, with seemingly every eligible gentleman in the land here in London for her to choose from.
Mr Marwick was dangerous and exciting and clearly mad for her; Lord Derry was courteous and intense and also clearly mad for her. Already she had two potential suitors.
And that was only after her very first ball.
Chapter 5
Katherine only realised what a sedate affair the previous evening had been when she and her parents were announced by Lord and Lady Maxwell’s butler, in stentorian tones, to a vast assembly of guests.
“You look very beautiful, my darling.” Her father leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Now, smile. It’s not often I don’t see that wicked glint in your eye, but I assure you, nobody’s going to bit