While they sipped tea and ate sandwiches that had the cheapest fillings, she gave them hope, and in return, her family bestowed on her the brightest smiles she had seen since before her papa had died.
And it was in that moment the last kernel of doubt died.
I’ll not fail you.
…
Two weeks later
Dear God in heaven…. I’ve really done it.
Kitty had remade herself into the fiancée of the reclusive Duke of Thornton, was declared by the scandal sheets as incomparable, and was toasted for snagging the elusive duke. The eager reception in society of the news of her betrothal to a man of rank and fortune had sent her mother into swift recovery, pleasing Kitty, for she had been dreadfully worried she would lose her mamma to melancholia.
Only this morning, her dear friend Maryann had sent a footman to deliver over a dozen invitations to balls, musicales, soirees, and even an invitation to a scandalous house party that had arrived at Maryann’s parents’ elegant town house in Berkeley Square for Kitty. They had thought it wise to drop hints here and there that Kitty resided with the earl and countess of Musgrove for the season. The small house her mother had managed to rent in Cheapside must not be discovered by the ton as her place of dwelling during the season.
Kitty glanced down at the small packet of invitations in her hands. Oh dear.
This one was for the Marchioness of Sanderson’s ball a couple of weeks from now. She had never been invited to that auspicious and most sought-after event before. It was all absurd, of course, as she was the same person who had been among society for the last three seasons. But the almost daily articles published by Lady Gamble had wrought changes Kitty and her family hardly knew what to do with.
The articles had rambled on about the idea of such a match, assessing if it was imprudent or the society pairing of the season. The wave of interest that followed had been more than she had allowed possible. The solicitor who had executed Papa’s will approached her and suggested letting a town house in Mayfair. Kitty had nearly expired from shock and embarrassment, for Mr. Walker had politely suggested he would send the bill to the duke’s lawyers.
At first, she had been confused, and then awareness had dawned. Financial avenues had also been opened to her family because of her fake engagement. She had denied Mr. Walker, of course. That night before bed, she had prayed twice as hard for her eternal soul.
And now one of those startling changes was seated on the sofa by t
he fire, seemingly both nervous and self-assured—Mr. Adolphus Pryce. Kitty was pretending to quickly read the stack of invitations in her hands while they awaited refreshments so that she could take the measure of the man. He was thin and carefully but plainly dressed. Pryce had high coloring on his cheekbones, and his curly hair was trying to escape from his pomade into pretty kiss-curls at his forehead. This was a very curious contradiction, and Kitty wondered how he had found her. The card he had presented said he was a lawyer from a prominent law firm.
The door to the parlor remained ajar to lend the correct air of respectability to their meeting. Anna brought in a tea tray and shot Kitty a questioning look. She lifted her shoulder in an elegant shrug, for she had no idea why a young solicitor from Smith and Fielding’s had called upon her. The painful cramps in her stomach suspected that the duke had seen the article, and perhaps she was being sued for misrepresentation and fraud.
Nevertheless, tea and cakes were served, and her sister departed, leaving her alone with Mr. Pryce.
“How may I be of assistance, Mr. Pryce?”
He hurriedly gulped down his tea and settled the teacup and saucer atop a small scraped walnut tablet. His apparent discomfiture relaxed her.
“Miss Danvers,” he started, tugging at his cravat, which truly seemed as if it were choking the man. “I am a part of the team that handles His Grace the Duke of Thornton’s affairs.” At that pronouncement, his chest puffed with pride, and he sat a bit straighter on the sofa. She dearly hoped it wasn’t the lumpy cushions affecting his posture.
Kitty clasped her cup, the warmth soothing to the chill forming in her heart. She had to cleverly handle him without his awareness. A hysterical laugh bubbled in her throat, and she swallowed it down. How complicated her ruse got day by day. “Yes?”
“Ah…my superior has tasked me to…ah… We recently became aware our client is betrothed to you.”
She pinned him with an unflinching stare. “Yes?”
“The team has tasked me to, ah…” He blushed, and her throat went tight. “I’m to make discreet inquiries… Ah, that is to say we were not aware the duke had intended to take a duchess.”
The team wanted to find out if the engagement was real. Of course.
But why had they approached her and not the duke directly? Could it be that he was reclusive even with the people who managed his estates?
“Has Alexander not informed everyone of the happy news?” she asked with a small smile, desperate to portray a serene countenance, hoping her probing was on point. Kitty was very deliberate with the intimate use of the duke’s name, and Mr. Pryce stiffened. “Why haven’t you written to him? I am sure he will respond. He did promise it.”
“He did?”
She took a sip of her tea and then responded graciously. “Of course.”
Mr. Pryce’s shoulders relaxed. “My superior Mr. Fielding did send an inquiry to the duke, but we’ve received no reply.”
“How odd, and perhaps not so unlike His Grace.” Kitty hoped the duke was an indifferent correspondent and she hadn’t just blundered. Her pause was deliberate. “But how may I help your office?”