Beyond Rubies (Daughters of Sin 4)

“You let him wait downstairs?” Kitty knew Nash wouldn’t like an admirer gaining entry to the house, but the maid disabused her of this with a quick, “It’s a young female person wot says she’s a friend o’ yers.”

“A friend? Goodness!” Kitty couldn’t imagine who would fit into that category, and excitedly she wondered if it could be her sister. But Lissa wouldn’t call herself a friend.

“Says ‘er name is Dorcas, an’ she’d wait as long as needed ‘til yer was woken, miss.”

“Dorcas!” Kitty leaped out of bed and threw her shawl about her shoulders. “Tell her to come straight up. And bring another cup and saucer, Minnie. Dorcas!” she cried, even more excitedly when her old friend appeared in the doorway. “What are you doing here? Do tell me you’re here to stay!”

Dorcas lowered her eyes, obviously nervous at the enthusiasm of her greeting. “I wills if yer’ll ‘ave me,” she said softly. “Me bein’ wot I am.”

“What are you talking about?” Kitty put her arm about her friend’s shoulders and led her to a chair. “You’re a far purer soul than I am. You were tricked into a life of sin. I chose it willingly.”

Dorcas gave a little sob. “Yer look so pure an’ beautiful wiv that golden ’air. People don’t see yer as a sinner like they do me. It’s true, though. I don’t reckon I coulda come if yer’d been a proper married lady. Yer could no’ be thinkin’ o’ ‘irin’ me if yer were that.”

“But I am to be, Dorcas!” Kitty clapped her hands together and did a twirl. “Lord Nash asked me a week ago to be his wife. Can you believe it? I certainly couldn’t, but it’s true.”

“Lawks, miss, yer don’t mean it! An’ there was I thinkin’ yer was in love with Lord Silverton.”

“Lord Silverton?” Kitty frowned, while an uncomfortable lurch of her heart belied her response at Kitty’s surprise. “Why would you imagine that?”

“Cos he’s the one wot always ‘elps yer an’ tried ter ‘elp me. Yer talk ‘bout ‘im with a special kind o’ voice wot made me think yer were in love wiv ’im.”

“He’s my friend, Dorcas.” Kitty forced a laugh as she poured the hot chocolate. “I’m certainly not in love with him.”

“But yer like ‘im well enough that yer’ll come wiv me to ís ‘ouse to say thank yer ter ‘im fer tryin’ all them times ter get me away from Mrs. Montgomery’s?”

Kitty raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I will if you want me to.”

Dorcas nodded. “I want ter say thank yer, Miss Kitty. I do, that.”

“Then we shall call on him sometime in the coming week, and I can tell him also about my wedding.”

“Won’t ‘e already ‘ave heard? Ain’t ‘e invited?”

“It’s just a quiet wedding. Just Lord Nash, me and a couple of witnesses.”

Dorcas narrowed her eyes. “Reckon that don’t sound right fer a viscount ter be marryin’ in such a fashion. Mighty havey-cavey ter me, Miss, if yer don’t mind me sayin’ so.”

“It’s not a pretend wedding if that’s what you think,” Kitty said sharply, handing her a cup. “In fact, his sister will be one of the witnesses, and Nash said to me quite plainly that he hoped I wouldn’t think it a sham, either. You see, his parents will not be happy, and his grandfather’s ailing and he doesn’t want to distress the old man and hasten him to his grave. So the idea is that we’ll get married, and as soon as the right time comes, we’ll announce it to the world.”

“I don’t want yer ter be tricked

like I were, miss.”

“I don’t either, Kitty. But I have made inquiries.” Kitty sat down in a chair opposite Dorcas. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be properly married. I’m madly in love with Lord Nash, and now my dreams are about to come true.”

“Wot if Lord Silverton asked yer ter be ‘is wife.”

“He’s already said that could never be possible.”

Dorcas gaped. “But if ‘e did ask, would yer rather marry Lord Silverton?”

“Dorcas, is this the Inquisition? I love Lord Nash. He’s the man I am destined to wed.”

“Destined? I reckon yer told me that afore yer even met ‘im. That yer were destined ter marry a ‘andsome lord wiv a scar below ‘is right eye. But I don’t believe in ‘em fortune-tellers. I reckon it’s Lord Silverton yer wanna marry.”

“Well, Lord Silverton isn’t asking and Lord Nash is, and I’ve been sinning with Lord Nash for all the time I’ve been in London, so there’s really no choice for me, Dorcas. Now stop all this silly talk and... ” Kitty leaped up, determined to be happy, for Dorcas had dented her pleasure somewhat. “...come with me to see how my wedding dress is progressing. Oh, but I’m so delighted you’re here to stay! You shall be my lady’s maid, but we’ll be the best of friends, and you’ll come and live with me when Lord Nash can acknowledge our wedding, won’t you?”

Dorcas smiled. “Course I will, miss. I’ll go with yer whereva yer want me ter. I shan’t forget what I owes yer.”