Katherine felt a frisson of dislike at the mere mention of her mother-in-law with whom she’d never enjoyed good relations.
“She came here unannounced?” She knew that Freddy’s mother disliked her, though the dowager had been a more regular visitor during the past couple of months, calling on Diana and taking her on outings about which Diana complained endlessly afterwards.
“I didn’t think I needed to announce my intention of seeing my own granddaughter,” came a stentorian voice from just outside the passage before the thin, humpbacked dowager appeared, a gimlet light in the gaze she settled on Katherine.
When she’d been respectfully greeted by the others, and taken to a seat by Katherine, the old lady commandeered the conversation as was her wont.
“That child is running wild. Why, I found her hiding under a chair when I was in the very same room, calling three times for her!” She gla
red at Katherine as if she thought it her fault. Which she clearly did as her next sentence was, “Diana needs discipline. She needs a father. Yes, I know my son has been dead less than a year, but the rumours flying about suggest you have a replacement already lined up. No need to blush, my girl. I’ve known you seven years, so I know what I’m talking about. You’re a girl who needs a husband with a firm hand.”
“Lady Hale!” It was Katherine’s mother who leaned forward to object. This was going too far, clearly. But superior age and the pretence of deafness in this instance had the dowager ignoring Fanny to continue, pointing her gnarled forefinger at Katherine. “You and Lord Derry. Yes, it’s a scandal, but it’ll be more of a scandal if you don’t enter into an honest union with him the moment you’re free to do so.”
Katherine, whose growing horror could no longer be curtailed, said sharply, “I will not be dictated to!” She stood and pointed at the door. “You have no right to come here and tell me what to do, Lady Hale. You spent seven years doing that when Freddy and I were married, but now I’m my own mistress, and I like it!”
It gave her great pleasure to see the old woman’s demeanour slip, if only for a minute. Then the trembling mouth was replaced by a sneer as she sat hunched on her chair like an old toad in purple, the two grey ringlets that hung on each side of her lined, pinched face quivering with indignation.
Katherine stabbed her finger at the door once more. “Please leave if you can only carp and criticise.”
“Katherine!” Fanny’s mother looked mortified. Aunt Antoinette looked rather excited by the exchange, but clearly, Mrs Patmore was deeply shocked. Katherine didn’t care. Lady Hale had been a poisonous influence on her marriage with Freddy. If she didn’t think Katherine good enough, it was time for the old lady to go.
“Your house?” Lady Hale transferred her scornful look from Katherine to the rest of the company. “I’m not sure what Lady Quamby thinks of such a grasping statement.”
But darling Antoinette simply said mildly, “Katherine’s grown up in this house, so I’m happy for her to refer to it as her house.” She patted a golden twist of hair then waved a languid gloved hand in the direction of the door. “Good afternoon, Lady Hale. Is your carriage waiting? If not, I’ll order mine round to convey you wherever you might wish to go.”
Fanny turned on her sister when Lady Hale had made her furious exit. “Antoinette, what were you thinking? You went too far—like Katherine!”
Katherine was shaking. She sat down, but a terrible pounding in her head made her feel ill and tearful. First, she’d learned that Jack’s wedding might be brought forward for the legitimate reason of Miss Worthington’s father’s illness, and then Lady Hale had aired those terrible, untrue rumours about having an improper liaison with Lord Derry.
She raised her head just as Diana put her head around the door, her lips pressed together before the little girl exhaled. “Is it safe? Has she gone?”
“That’s no way to speak of your grandmother,” Katherine said tiredly. No one would believe her if she even tried to voice her innocence over the old woman’s unfounded allegations.
Mrs Patmore, who was glancing between the women and young Diana, patted the arm of her chair. “Yes, she’s gone. Why don’t you come and sit by me so I can tidy your hair, Diana.” She seemed to realise the tumultuous emotions the rest of them were going through. Katherine had always liked Jack’s adoptive mother. She thought the story of how she had been united with her charming husband, Rufus Patmore, a lovely one.
Diana, who fortunately had taken a shine to Mrs Patmore, trailed across the room and sat beside her while Katherine glanced between her mother and aunt. Both seemed to have plenty they wanted to say but felt they could not. Katherine opened her mouth to speak but was cut short by their visitor’s stifled gasp, before Mrs Patmore shook her head to allay their concerns.
“Such a terrible knot in Diana’s beautiful hair,” she murmured. “Perhaps I should take her for a walk and leave the rest of you to talk.”
“Well, Katherine, that was quite a show you put on,” Fanny’s mother remarked as the door closed behind the pair and she picked up the cold tea she’d been drinking. She didn’t sound too chastening, Katherine thought, surprised. When she looked up, her mother’s eyes were twinkling at her over the teacup. “You did well to put that old termagant in her place.”
“You certainly weren’t going to do it,” Aunt Antoinette said with patent disgust. “Really, Fanny, I was disappointed. Have you lost all your spirit?”
“Certainly not. You just forget I have more tact than you, Antoinette, and that sometimes caution and tact go further than blurting out your outrage and indignation or playing up to something as thoughtlessly as you do.”
“Well, of all the insults to throw in my face,” Antoinette bridled before conceding, “Though there is a little truth in what you say. But when one is a duchess, one can rather do as one pleases. And it has pleased me to do a great many things that others—including you, Fanny, and certainly you, Katherine—could not get away with.” She reached for a piece of caraway seed cake and fixed Katherine with a beady stare. “What is this business over you and Lord Derry? I fear there is something in what that sour old crab apple of a mother-in-law has to say about giving the world the impression you’re a bit flirty if you don’t marry Lord Derry. I rather thought you liked him.”
“I’ve always liked him well enough—in fact, a great deal more than Freddy—but not enough to make him my husband!” Katherine sucked in a breath and clenched her fists. “If I’ve been on terms that appear too friendly, that’s only because he’s helped me at my lowest ebb when I’ve needed it such as…” Her voice shook. “When Freddy locked the doors upon me after a night of gambling, and I had nowhere to go, and Derry happened to be passing and came to my rescue. I never meant to give him ideas about marriage!”
Antoinette sighed. “About Freddy, he deserves to be writhing in the flames of Hell right now. But about your feeling, or lack of, for Derry, it’s a pity. He’s pleasant enough and he’s a handsome man, and he has money—which you need, badly, my dear. And he has no son to inherit, so you really would be making a fine match.”
“Not if my heart were engaged elsewhere!” Katherine cried.
“Oh Katherine, you never said!” Her mother looked both concerned and hopeful. “Are you saying your heart is engaged?”
Katherine stood abruptly and turned to look out of the window. “I’ve loved him for so long but…marriage between us is not possible.” She couldn’t risk their questions. It was a relief to unburden herself, but she dare not be drawn on the truth. Jack’s love was forbidden. They all knew how committed he was to marrying Miss Worthington; that the wedding was barely five weeks away. She’d only be an object of pity if she blurted that out.
Her mother put her hand on her wrist, and her eyes were so kind as she drew back her daughter’s attention that Katherine nearly gave in on the spot. But no, she wasn’t ready. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I think I’ll go for a walk,” she said. “Thank you for understanding. And for understanding that I’m not yet ready to talk about it.”