Page 24 of An Offer for a Spinster
Lord Barwood was standing by the window when she entered, turning with a smile. She had to wonder whether he’d chosen the spot deliberately, with the light shining around him like a halo. It was a flattering light, too.
“Ah, Lady Katherine,” he said, smiling. “I was half-expecting to find you still abed, after the chaos of the party, even if two days have already passed.”
She smiled. “No, not at all. Please, take a seat, Lord Barwood.”
He did so, and there was a half-minute of awkward silence before Ruth appeared, bearing the tea-tray. That allowed them to delay conversation for a few minutes more while the tea was taken care of.
“I was wondering,” he said, when tea was poured and biscuits doled out, “what time you would like me to pick you up today?”
She flinched. “I beg your pardon?”
His self-confident smile wavered a little. “To promenade, of course. In the Park? I have a fine new gig I’d like to show off, and it’s a fine opportunity to get some air, eh? It’s been a while since I promenaded during the fashionable hour. It’ll be pleasant, I thought.”
There was a taut silence.
Is this his way of asking my permission? Asking if I’d even like to promenade? He’s simply assuming,Katherine thought, with a flinch of annoyance.
Promenading was, in her opinion, ridiculous. It wasn’t about exercise, taking in the beauty of the Park, or even simply socializing. It was about being seen, about looking good and fashionable, aboutbeing. About showing off a new gown or a new gig without seeming to show off.
“I… I am not fond of promenading,” she said slowly.
He blinked, seeming taken aback. “Oh. Well, the Duke never mentioned that. He said you’d be delighted to come out today.”
For a split second, Katherine imagined her father, the Duke. She stared at him, bewildered, full of questions.
And then she remembered. The Duke was dead, long live the Duke.
“Oh,” she said hesitantly. “You mean William.”
Lord Barwood frowned. “Well, yes, of course I meant William. Who did you think I meant? I asked his permission first, naturally. Promenading is a remarkably public thing, is it not?”
She pressed her lips together.
“And he gave his permission on my behalf, did he?”
“Yes, yes he did.” Lord Barwood seemed relieved now, almost satisfied. He drank his tea in one long gulp. “So, shall I call back after luncheon?”
“Not today, I think,” Katherine said shortly. “I’m sorry, Lord Barwood, would you excuse me for just a moment? I need to speak with my brother about something.”
“Oh,” Lord Barwood blinked. “Is everything alright?”
“Of course. Please, finish your tea and biscuits. I believe there’s cake, too. I do beg your pardon.”
She got up without another word and strode out of the room before he could say anything.
***
“Care to explain why you told Lord Barwood he could take me promenading today?”
William, leaning over more ledgers on his desk, flinched at her voice. He glanced up at her, guilt in his eyes. Katherine folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“Well?”
“Don’t be like that, Kat,” he muttered. “Lord Barwood asked to take you promenading. Look, I have tickets to that play you like,Much Ado About Nothing. It’s playing in the Theatre. I thought you’d enjoy it, and it would make up for promenading with him. Itried,Kat. He asked me directly, put me right on the spot. W hat was I meant to say?”
“You were meant to say that you would ask me first, not make a decision on my behalf without evenconsultingme. Better yet, you should have told him that I’m my own person, living and feeling, with my own thoughts, and he should ask me himself. And then I would have said no, because I hate promenading.”
William sat back in his seat with a sigh. “Can you truly not see why I’m concerned? All of us need to marry, myself included. Father saw to that. For the rest of us, it only concerns ourselves whether we choose to claim our fortune or not, butallof us are reliant on your marriage to even have the opportunity. You can’t pretend that your decision only affects yourself.”
