‘You seem to be a trifle weary this afternoon.’ Lady Picton surveyed Kitty critically. ‘Did you find the masquerade ball tiring, my dear?’
‘Oh, not at all, ma’am.’ Kitty set another stitch in her work and examined the effect. She looked up. ‘It was a fairly small gathering, but most amusing. Many of the guests had dressed in historical costume.’ Kitty thought of one particular costume and smiled to herself. She rubbed a finger across her lips. How vexatious of Freddy to arrive just at that moment.
‘It is very fortunate that you are acquainted with Lady Caroline. It has meant that you are included in so many invitations. Really, things have worked out far better than I had hoped.’
‘Indeed, ma’am, most fortunate,’ answered Kitty, almost at random. She was trying to recapture the sensation of Theo’s strong arms around her.
‘Did you get many invitations to dance?’
Kitty laid aside her embroidery and concentrated on answering. Her aunt was always anxious to know which young men were showing an interest in her great-niece. It amused Kitty that she seemed to know all the families and could assess at once whether the young man was a good prospect as a husband.
Not that it mattered, thought Kitty again. She was not intending to get married. What she had seen in the Rookery had shown her that there was far too much work to do in such places; it would be quite impossible to be trying to run a household in addition to that.
Great-aunt Picton finished her commentary on the young men named by Kitty. She shook her head. ‘No new faces at that ball then.’
‘Well, none that I could see, dear ma’am. They kept their masks on—’
‘Hah! I am sure you know who is who by now. Well, let us have some music, child, if you please. It will not do to be neglecting your pianoforte practice.’
Obediently, Kitty went to the instrument and opened it. She played a selection of the old tunes that pleased Lady Picton. Eventually she sang a ballad and looked up at the end to see that her aunt was smiling – but not at her. The door of the sitting-room was open. In the doorway was Broome, beaming proudly in Kitty’s direction. Just inside the room, his eyes fixed on her, was Etienne.
Kitty was embarrassed at so much attention. She rose abruptly, putting out a hand to close the music. To her annoyance the sheets fell to the ground. At once Etienne sprang forward to retrieve them. The door closed discreetly behind the butler.
‘Please do not stop,’ begged Etienne. ‘it was so delightful. I would very much enjoy to hear a little more.’
Lady Picton smiled and nodded. Reluctantly, Kitty sat down at the pianoforte once more. She played several airs and sang one more song. Then she rose again. Etienne also rose to his feet.
‘Thank you,’ he said simply, ‘I cannot say how much I enjoyed your performance.’ His face showed his pleasure.
Kitty could not doubt his sincerity. ‘Why, thank you, sir, but my skill is not so great. Just enough to entertain my family.’
‘It was charming,’ he replied, his brown eyes glowing. ‘Believe me, I do appreciate good music. Do you know that Signor Alberti is in London? He will give a recital at the beginning of next week.’
She inclined her head. ‘Indeed, I will be there with Lady Caroline.’
Kitty was amazed to see him looking as smart and unruffled as if his beating of the previous day had never happened. Surely he must be sore and bruised? But there was no visible sign of it. She watched as he turned his attention to Lady Picton, enquiring after her rheumatism. He exerted himself to entertain her with his usual mixture of gossip and funny stories.
Kitty picked up her embroidery again. She took little part in the conversation, content to see her aunt so well entertained. Then she realized that Etienne was on his feet once more and coming towards her.
‘May I see?’ He levelled his quizzing glass at the delicate flowers she had worked on the gauzy material. ‘Ah,’ he exclaimed, ‘this is for an evening gown. How exquisitely you sew.’
‘You are very complimentary today. But do not tell me you are an expert?’
He raised his shoulders with a mocking smile. ‘I cannot make the stitches, but I can appreciate the result. Your sewing is so even.’ He looked at Lady Picton. ‘It reminds me of my mother. She was a fine needlewoman. My sister also—’ He broke off and went back to his seat. There was a silence.
Eventually, Lady Picton said, ‘Have you had any news of your sister recently?’
There was a distinct slump to Etienne’s shoulders. ‘Not for a long time, madame. In fact, she has only sent one letter since she went to Moscow.’
‘We have to hope that all is well,’ said the old lady bracingly. She looked at him with sympathy. ‘At least, by marrying Prince Yevgeny, she is far away from that monster Bonaparte and his armies.’
He inclined his head. ‘As you say. And she is no doubt used to that dreadful climate by now.’ He made a determined effort to brighten up and announced, ‘Maybe, one day, I shall go and visit her.’
Kitty raised her head at this. ‘It must be a long journey to Moscow and quite adventurous. I am always fascinated by distant lands.’ She smiled at their visitor. ‘Have you travelled much?’
He gave a dry little laugh. ‘You see before you a person who has spent his life wandering from one country to another. It becomes a little monotonous.’
‘Oh. I suppose so.’ Kitty thought about it. ‘But I should find the variety in the scenery and customs so interesting.’
He shook his head. ‘You can always find that information in books and pictures. Travelling is not really suitable for a woman, in my opinion.’
‘Why ever not?’ she asked indignantly.
He shrugged. ‘Women are better off in their own homes. They are too delicate for the hurly-burly of long journeys and there are many dangers involved in travel.’
‘But what about your sister? She has made a long journey, surely?’
Etienne nodded. ‘In our circumstances, I had to agree to her marriage to a Russian prince. We have no estates any more, you understand. In short, it was the lesser of two evils.’
‘But it means you have to live far apart.’
He opened his hands in one of his expressive gestures. ‘She is well established with her husband. And there are plenty of servants to ensure her life is comfortable.’
Kitty considered the matter. ‘She will have a great deal of responsibility then for the welfare of her household.’
Etienne gave a short laugh. ‘You speak as if the welfare of the lower classes was of importance. They are there to save my sister any exertion. That is all I care about.’
Lady Picton intervened before Kitty could make a sharp retort. ‘Kitty, my love, would you ring for Broome to bring the sherry. I declare, he was so entranced by your performance on the pianoforte that he has quite forgotten us.’
Kitty rose to pull the bell rope. By the time she sat down again, she had overcome the desire to argue with Etienne. She wondered if his experience of the day before had some bearing on his contemptuous attitude to the working classes. She examined him again and this time, noticed dark shadows under his eyes. He was suffering. She could only admire his efforts to appear as smart and as bright as usual. His visits to her aunt were an act of kindness, whatever his opinions.