A Regency Baron's Bride. Sarah Mallory

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 like to buy that mare.’

      Daniel’s dark brows rose.

      ‘What, when you haven’t seen her put through her paces?’

      ‘No need, Blackwood. I can tell just by looking that she is a good all-round mount, certainly at home here in Town, but I have no doubt she comes into her own in the hunting field. Well, Blackwood, what d’you say? Name your price, sir!’

      ‘Thank you, my lord, but no. Marnie has been with me for so long I believe she will see her days out in my company.’

      ‘As you wish,’ replied Garston, shrugging. ‘But I’m not beat yet. Mayhap you will give me a chance to win her from you one night, when we’ve had a few glasses of wine together. Now what d’ye say to that, sir, eh?’

      Kitty saw the faint hint of contempt creep into Daniel’s dark eyes.

      ‘I never gamble—’

      ‘Never gamble?’ cried Garston, ‘why, man, you will be telling me you don’t like cock-fighting next!’

      ‘As a matter of fact, I don’t,’ Daniel replied curtly. ‘But I was going to say that I never gamble with what is important to me.’

      ‘Ha, very wise,’ agreed Lord Harworth. ‘That’s a lesson we could all learn, eh, Leaconham? But we are holding you up, sir, and we should not keep the horses standing. Nor should we keep a lady here in this heat. You will want to get on, Miss Wythenshawe.’ He smiled at Kitty. ‘Has that madcap sister of mine acquainted you with her latest scheme?’ Kitty’s eyes widened. Had Ann told her brother of their visit to Lombard Street that evening? She was about to speak when Lord Harworth continued, saying jovially, ‘A picnic! My mother has a small property a little way out of town, on the Cambridge road. She rarely uses it but the grounds are very pretty and Ann has decided we should dine there, al fresco’

      ‘Miss Harworth has said nothing to me, my lord,’ replied Kitty, thanking Providence she had not mentioned the Abolition meeting.

      ‘Well, depend upon it she will. I have no doubt that she is even now plaguing my mother to write the invitations.’ He touched his hat. ‘Good day to you, Miss Wythenshawe. Leaconham.’

      As the gentlemen moved off, Garston turned in his seat to watch them.

      ‘Do you know, I was not that enamoured of Blackwood when I first met him. Far too serious for me, and he drinks hardly anything—Bertram tells me he never goes beyond the third bottle. Not the sort to go out on a spree! But having seen his horse, damn me, I think he can’t be such a bad fellow after all! I can even forgive him for not liking to gamble! Seems to be great friends with Harworth.’

      ‘I believe Mr Blackwood is a manufacturer,’ said Kitty carefully.

      ‘Ah, that might explain his gloomy looks,’ nodded Garston, setting his team in motion. ‘Not brought up to enjoy himself, or to appreciate the finer things in life.’

      ‘He is a very good dancer,’ she responded, determined to be fair.

      ‘Ah, well, that might give him an advantage with the ladies, but a man without a taste for gambling, or cock-fighting, well—’

      He broke off as he negotiated the busy road leading out of the park and Kitty was pleased to let the subject drop. She had come perilously close to defending Daniel Blackwood, and that would never do!

      There was little time for conversation when she returned to Portman Square. By the time she had changed her gown and tidied her hair, Lord Harworth’s carriage was at the door. She had told her godmother that Ann had invited her to dine since her mother and brother were to be out that evening. This was perfectly true, but what she did not explain was that they would be having a very hurried dinner before setting out for Lombard Street.

      During her short time in London Kitty had never been further east than St Paul’s, but now they were venturing deep into the City and she felt a little apprehensive as their hired cab trundled over the cobbles in the narrow streets.

      ‘Is this not exciting?’ exclaimed Ann, her eyes shining. ‘I have never been to a public meeting before!’

      ‘I am not sure that your mama or your brother would approve,’ murmured Kitty, regarding the garishly painted inn where the carriage had drawn up.

      ‘No, that is why I suggested we should be veiled,’ Ann replied, unabashed. ‘And why I did not want to use one of our own carriages with the crest upon the door.’ She laughed. ‘Do not look so anxious, dear Kitty. We shall be perfectly safe for we have Norris with us, do we not?’

      Kitty nodded, trying to look more cheerful, but a quick glance at Ann’s maid sitting silent and tight-lipped in the corner was far from reassuring. However, when they had pulled their veils down over their faces and descended from the cab Kitty was heartened to see that the people making their way up the stairs to the meeting room looked most respectable. It was, after all, early evening, she told herself. They would be safely back in Cavendish Square before the long summer’s day had drawn to a close.

      ***

      Kitty would have preferred to slip on to one of the benches at the back of the room but Ann had spotted empty chairs much nearer to the dais where the speaker would be standing and was already making her way towards them, so Kitty had no alternative but to follow. At the front of the room a tall gentleman with a shock of red hair was opening up a large trunk in the centre