Kitty's proposal (Geogette Heyer)
The eyes peering piercingly out from the darkness were directed on the magnificent figure who’d just thrown open the door; The Earl of Stafford was still in his evening dress with the main feature being the stunning light blue coat that set off his raven locks and sparkling blue eyes, giving him a singularly icy look and although certainly no longer in his youth, he lived up to his name as a “handsome devil”. His cool gaze met the challenging ones staring back at him.
“My dear Kitty.” He purred while coming towards her with a candle and clothes in his hand. “You can give me that devilish look all you like but such a frown doesn’t look at all becoming on such a lovely face.”
He placed the clothes on a table nearby and proceeded to light a few more candles.
The lady to whom his Lordship’s comment was directed was none other than the famous beauty Lady Katherine Merrivale who chose to ignore him completely and focus on trying to take in her surroundings now that there was enough light to see properly. There really wasn’t much to see, but from what she could gather she must in the cellar of some large house.
“Oh I know.” She thought to herself. “We must have come to his Lordship’s country estate. Good Lord! That means I’m in Staffordshire! But the last I remember I was at Lady Cavendish’s Ball.. oh! And then I was lured quite forcibly by my Lord Nettlecombe to take a walk around the gardens – Lud, I almost thought he was going to propose to me again! – then something happened...” her ruminations stopped abruptly and she coloured as she realised she was being scrutinised .
"I suppose you’ve figured out where you are then my dear Angel?” He drawled.
She just sat there, as she was tied to the chair, and stuck her chin in the air, returning no answer. She hated it when he called her that.
He smirked and carried on, “Well that is what Nettlecombe insists you are. By gad, I haven’t the slightest idea how he can still say so after you refused his offer, and so publicly that he was incredibly embarrassed on top of being broken hearted! Poor chap. But alas! I won’t bore you with anymore talk. You wish me to go to the devil no doubt.”
This was enough to set her off - “Yes, to hell with you Stafford!” Then she struggled against the rope binding her hands together. “For goodness sakes take these ridiculous things off me!” She cried. Then in a more sarcastic tone said, “ You’re not scared of a little woman now, are you my Lord?”
He couldn’t help smiling sardonically at this, but refrained from answering her and instead said rather apologetically, “I am sorry you were tied up. A precaution my lord Nettlecombe must have thought necessary. But before I can free you I’ll have you promise to change into these clothes I brought for you.” Her eyes laid on the items he was pointing to. “Pray, they are men’s clothes!” She snorted.
“Yes good observation my dear. You see, it would be most indecent to bring you along with no chaperon or maid and I don’t wish my servants to get wind of it, so there’s no other option than having you disguised as my valet.”
Her eyes almost popped out of her head at that. She managed to stammer, “y-you’re va-valet?” “Yes, well you do insist on crossing swords with me little angel. So it is quite what you deserve.” He pinched her flaming cheeks and carried on mockingly, “it will be positively amusing for me and you can’t tell me you're not up for a little adventure. Can you?”
She just pouted, her eyes seething and replied curtly, “Very well. I gather you’re not going to stand there while I dress!” Taking the hint his lordship untied the rope, took a candle and with one last look at her, shut the huge creaking door behind him.
His lordship’s servants were used to his eccentric ways and were somewhat in awe of him, so not one battered an eyelid when he asked for his greys to be put-to so close to midnight and only a few noticed that there was something odd about his valet.
Inside the carriage no one spoke for what seemed to be an age. Lord Nettlecombe kept looking anxiously at Kitty, an idol to be worshipped in his eyes and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt that he had even agreed upon such a venture and that, as heartbroken as he was when she refused him for the second time, he would rather die than see her unhappy. He leaned over and whispered with a concerned face to Kitty, “Are you sure you are comfortable my Lady? I’m positive there’s no need to ride at this hell-for- leather pace.” Kitty just eyed him disgustedly, and when he glanced at Stafford, to his surprised that gentleman seemed to be half asleep. So he gave in and tried to get some rest himself.
When the jolting finally came to an end Kitty woke up rather startled, her mind still whirling with the whole adventure and not quite sure what her part was to be. She did have a suspicion that maybe Lord Nettlecombe wanted to teach her a lesson and that Stafford must have come up with the idea of kidnapping her – but what for? Where were they heading to? Surely not Gretna Green!
With this shocked expression she blindly starred after Stafford and woodenly followed him into the Inn. The Innkeeper new a member of the Quality when he saw one and didn’t give the least hint that he thought it a little odd to be travelling so late. He procured two of his best rooms and a private parlour at the Earl of Stafford’s request.
Stafford straight away took Kitty up to bed. When there, she pounced on the opportunity to ask him all the questions that were running wildly through her brain, “Oh Stafford, pray tell me where we are? Where are we going? Good Lord, what can my aunt possibly be thinking? Dear me, she’s most likely suffering from a fit of the vapours by now.” She gave a little chuckle. “Poor woman having to deal with such a charge as me! They must all be wondering where I am though. I have to write back home this instant!”
Stafford cleared his throat deprecatingly, “ I’m sorry to interrupt my dear, but I do think I have a couple of answers for you. To begin with you are now in Rochdale, and yes we were going to be on the way to Gretna Green ,though as I thought, that ninny-hammer Lord Nettlecombe hasn’t got the guts to go through with it. As for you so lovely family, I’ve already sent them a letter, quite a while ago in fact.”
He stopped to look her full in the eyes, with a kind of tenderness in his. “I told them you were safe and in good care, and also I asked if I could offer for you.” He brought her hand to his lips to kiss. Kitty felt a blush creeping up. “Oh Francis, how could you? I’d make a terrible wife! And we are forever coming to cuffs about one thing or another!” He replied quite matter of fact, “ Well in all honesty I don’t know what I’d if I didn’t have you challenge me all the time.” Then added with a huge grin on his face, “My dear Angel!” She let out a laugh and jumped into his outspread arms.
With this shocked expression she blindly starred after Stafford and woodenly followed him into the Inn. The Innkeeper new a member of the Quality when he saw one and didn’t give the least hint that he thought it a little odd to be travelling so late. He procured two of his best rooms and a private parlour at the Earl of Stafford’s request.
Stafford straight away took Kitty up to bed. When there, she pounced on the opportunity to ask him all the questions that were running wildly through her brain, “Oh Stafford, pray tell me where we are? Where are we going? Good Lord, what can my aunt possibly be thinking? Dear me, she’s most likely suffering from a fit of the vapours by now.” She gave a little chuckle. “Poor woman having to deal with such a charge as me! They must all be wondering where I am though. I have to write back home this instant!”
Stafford cleared his throat deprecatingly, “ I’m sorry to interrupt my dear, but I do think I have a couple of answers for you. To begin with you are now in Rochdale, and yes we were going to be on the way to Gretna Green ,though as I thought, that ninny-hammer Lord Nettlecombe hasn’t got the guts to go through with it. As for you so lovely family, I’ve already sent them a letter, quite a while ago in fact.”
He stopped to look her full in the eyes, with a kind of tenderness in his. “I told them you were safe and in good care, and also I asked if I could offer for you.” He brought her hand to his lips to kiss. Kitty felt a blush creeping up. “Oh Francis, how could you? I’d make a terrible wife! And we are forever coming to cuffs about one thing or another!” He replied quite matter of fact, “ Well in all honesty I don’t know what I’d if I didn’t have you challenge me all the time.” Then added with a huge grin on his face, “My dear Angel!” She let out a laugh and jumped into his outspread arms.
Fin
