To Catch a Husband.... Sarah Mallory

my friends before.’ She added, when Lady Leaconham had left the two young ladies alone, ‘Was it not the most wonderful ball? I was engaged for every dance, and whenever I looked across you were always dancing, too!’

      ‘Yes, I was very fortunate. I had not looked for such attention.’

      ‘And you even persuaded dour Mr Blackwood to stand up with you.’

      ‘Why do you call him dour?’ asked Kitty, intrigued in spite of herself.

      Ann wrinkled her nose. ‘Well, he is perfectly polite,’ she said slowly, ‘but he is so very quiet, and only seems to want to talk business with Bertram.’ Her eyes twinkled and she added ruefully, ‘He makes no attempt to flirt with me. In fact, he makes no attempt to engage my attention at all! I am most impressed that he danced with you.’

      ‘That was your brother’s doing.’ Kitty felt the colour rising to her cheeks. ‘I think, since he is staying in your house, he could hardly refuse to dance with me when Lord Harworth suggested it.’

      ‘Yes, that will be it.’ Ann nodded. ‘They have become wondrous great friends. My brother wrote to old Mr Blackwood when he first conceived the idea of building a mill and they were corresponding for several months before Mr Daniel Blackwood came to London. Bertram says that with the exception of Mr Arkwright, no one knows more about mills and manufacturing than the Blackwoods. But this is very boring talk! Let us discuss instead the Abolition meeting tomorrow evening. Have you given any thought to how we shall get there?’

      ‘I confess I have not,’ admitted Kitty. ‘Perhaps we should not go, if your mama disapproves …’

      ‘Mama disapproves of everything except achieving a great match for Bertram and the same for me,’ declared Ann. ‘I am determined to go. It is quite the fashion now, you know, to support the abolition of the slave trade.’

      ‘My family have been fighting against slavery since before I was born,’ replied Kitty. ‘My father was vehemently opposed to it, and my mother still does what she can—we do not buy sugar from the West Indian plantations, you know.’ She wanted to add that Mama could not afford to buy very much sugar at all, but remembered her godmother’s warning that she should not chatter on about her family. Ann was regarding her with admiration.

      ‘How good you are! I have no idea whether Bertram has any slaves, but I am even more determined that we shall go to the meeting tomorrow. Now all you need do is to tell Aunt Leaconham that I am taking you to join us for dinner tomorrow and that we will not be returning until late. What time shall I call for you?’

      ‘It cannot be too early,’ replied Kitty. ‘I have an engagement tomorrow. With Lord Leaconham. He is going to take me driving in the park.’

      She ended a little hesitantly. Garston had issued the invitation and Kitty had accepted quite happily without reference to her godmother, but when Lady Leaconham heard of her plans she had looked a little shocked.

      ‘I am sorry, Godmama,’ Kitty had said, anxious and bemused. ‘I thought there could be no harm in going out with Lord Leaconham in an open carriage.’

      ‘No, of course not. It is just that …’ Lady Leaconham bit her lip and gazed at Kitty, a shadow of unease in her eyes. ‘It is just … I do not want you to develop a tendre for Garston, my dear. I had planned on finding him, um.’

      ‘You want him to take a rich wife,’ Kitty finished for her. She had been in Town long enough to know that every man and woman of marriageable age was intent upon making a brilliant match. ‘Yes, I quite see that, Godmama, and you need have no fear: I am sure Lord Leaconham only offered to take me out in order to please you.’

      ‘I expect you are right,’ said Lady Leaconham, much relieved, ‘and it will give you the opportunity to be seen in the park at the fashionable hour.’

      So Lady Leaconham gave the outing her blessing.

      Kitty set off with Lord Leaconham, knowing that her godmother would be far more disapproving of her engagement with Ann Harworth, if ever she learned the truth of it.

      It was a beautiful summer’s day and much as Kitty wanted to turn her face up to the skies and feel the sun’s warmth on her skin, she knew that this would be frowned upon. Instead she unfurled her parasol, looking around her with interest as Lord Leaconham drove his phaeton through the busy London streets. Her initial apprehension at riding so high above the ground soon disappeared and she relaxed, looking forward to her excursion.

      ‘Heavens, how crowded it is,’ she remarked, as they turned in through the park gates. ‘I thought it busy enough when Miss Harworth and I brought Titan here for a walk one morning.’

      ‘Oh, I have seen it ten times worse than this,’ cried Garston, gaily flourishing his whip. ‘I have been here when we have been forced to crawl along at a snail’s pace because there is so much traffic. But it is not yet five o’clock. We are early. I have no doubt it will fill up later.’

      Kitty heard this with dismay. She had been expecting the great park to offer some peace and solitude after the hustle and bustle of the busy streets but all she could see was a host of fashionably dressed people riding, driving or walking, everyone intent on seeing and being seen.

      Their own progress was slow for the park was full of Garston’s friends, some of whom she knew, but many she did not, so that each stop necessitated explanations and a few moments’ conversation.

      ‘Well, Miss Wythenshawe, are you enjoying yourself?’ Lord Leaconham enquired as they moved off from yet another introduction.

      ‘Why, yes, my lord. Very much. Although I am afraid that with so many of your acquaintances here today we shall not complete even one circuit of the park.’

      He laughed. ‘What a jokesmith you are, Miss Wythenshawe! One does not come to Hyde Park for the drive! No, no: when I go to White’s this evening I shall be complimented on the fine new rig I was driving this afternoon, and of course upon my charming companion. To be seen here will bring you to the attention of a great number of useful people, I assure you.’

      She did not know what to reply; she was not at all sure she wanted to be brought to anyone’s attention.

      Kitty was beginning to wonder if she would be back in Portman Square before Ann called for her when she suddenly heard her escort give a low whistle.

      ‘By heaven, that is a most beautiful piece of horseflesh.’

      Kitty looked up to see two riders approaching and had no difficulty in recognising the creature that had drawn Garston’s admiration—a sleek black horse with a deep chest, refined head and a bold eye. The animal seemed well aware that it was a handsome beast for it carried itself proudly, almost as proudly as the straight-backed gentleman in the saddle: Daniel Blackwood. He was accompanied by Lord Harworth but to Kitty’s mind neither the older man’s bearing nor his glossy bay hack could compare with the dark grandeur of Daniel and his mare. But Kitty remembered seeing the very same horse and rider when they had looked much less grand, covered in mud in a lane above Halifax. Once again the mortification of that encounter overwhelmed her and she hoped fervently that the two riders might not see them in the crowd, but Lord Leaconham pulled up the team, waving his whip to attract their attention. She smothered her dismay as the gentlemen drew rein and turned their mounts towards the phaeton.

      Lord Harworth greeted Kitty in his usual friendly way but his companion gave only a slight nod of recognition.

      ‘Blackwood, ain’t it? We met at the ball the other night. By Jove, that’s a fine horse you have there, sir,’ declared Garston. ‘Broad chest, good sloping shoulders, intelligent eye—magnificent!’

      Daniel acknowledged the compliment with a nod.

      ‘Thank you. She’s Yorkshire bred, of course.’

      ‘Of course.’ Garston laughed. ‘We’ve a few good hunters at Leaconham but nothing as fine as that.’ He cocked an eyebrow at Daniel. ‘How much d’you want for her? She looks up to my weight. Yes, I’d