19. Chapter 19 #3
“Oh, but she’s not alone,” said Charlotte, coming up to join them with her maid and a footman in tow. Typical! He should have guessed his twin would be close behind.
He heaved a sigh. There was no avoiding it. “Charlotte, may I present Miss Lacey?”
He turned to Kitty with a wry expression on his face, realising the ruse was over. “My twin sister, Lady Charlotte Merry.”
Kitty dropped into another curtsey. “I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Charlotte.”
“So, why was Will marching you along the street in that manner?” asked Hetta. “He looked just like Father does when he’s trying to steer me away from something unpleasant.”
Three pairs of female eyes fixed on him.
“Yes, why were you walking me down the road as if I were an errant schoolgirl?” Kitty asked, as if daring him to tell his sisters.
He ran a hand through his hair. Should he reveal the truth? That way, he might be able to enlist Charlotte and Hetta’s help. No, it wasn’t his place to share Kitty’s circumstances.
“I was not—well—I suppose I was steering Miss Lacey away from something unpleasant.”
“William won’t betray your secret, you know,” said Hetta. “He’s very loyal in that regard, but I can see he wishes he could. It seems you’ve aroused his chivalrous instincts—and I’m glad of it. Though we’ve only just met, I’m a pretty shrewd judge of character, and I like you.”
Kitty gave a nervous laugh. “I’m afraid it’s not what you think, Lady Henrietta—”
“Oh, please call me Hetta. I put no store by this ‘Lady’ business, and I’m always just Hetta to my friends.”
“And you may call me Charlotte,” said his twin. “Any friend of Will’s is a friend of mine.”
Miss Lacey’s cheeks glowed pink. “Thank you. Please call me Kitty.”
Why did it feel as if it was three against one? He’d only been trying to help her.
“Now, do tell us why Will was marching you down the road like that?” asked Hetta.
“Your brother took it upon himself to interfere in my affairs—”
“Oh dear,” said Charlotte, interrupting her. “I’m sorry if he upset you by overstepping the mark, but I am certain he meant well.”
What a relief! His twin had not turned against him and assumed he had benevolent motives.
“I have to agree,” said Hetta. “He’s rather lazy, and that being the case, he would not have made the effort to interfere if he didn’t care about you. What did he do?”
Kitty hesitated. Would she tell them? If she did, he could persuade his sisters to help her where he could not. There would be no considerations of propriety to contend with if one lady gave a gift to another.
“He prevented me from obtaining the funds I needed.”
“By pawning her mother’s pearls,” William said. “Did you expect me to stand by and let her?”
Two spots of colour appeared in Kitty’s cheeks at his words.
“You must have been quite desperate to attempt such a thing,” said Hetta. There was no disapproval in her voice—just sympathy.
Kitty gave a single nod.
“I’m sorry,” said Charlotte. “I imagine it has left you in some difficulty, or you would not have tried to pawn the pearls in the first place.” She shot him a pained look. “Let me guess—he volunteered to lend you the money, and was surprised when you refused.”
The corners of Kitty’s mouth curled up in response. “To begin with, he suggested paying for the things—and when I declined, he proposed to loan me the money, as if that would be more acceptable.”
Hetta rolled her eyes at William. “Most improper!” She exchanged glances with Charlotte, who nodded. “Would you let us help you instead?”
The tension melted from William’s body as his sisters offered what propriety prevented him from doing. She wouldn’t refuse their aid, would she?
“I couldn’t possibly—”
“Why not?” asked Hetta. “I have more than enough pin money, and I like you. Come on, Charlotte, we need to take our new friend shopping.”
William leaned across and gave each sister a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“We’ll meet you at—?” Hetta raised her brow at him.
“Mrs Fisher’s.”
She turned back to Kitty. “Excellent. I might purchase a bonnet whilst I’m there. Now, would you like me to keep an account of what we spend, or will you let us treat you?”
“I would much prefer you to tot up my expenditure, but as I have no way of ever repaying you—”
Hetta grinned. “How wise. I knew I liked you. That means we may be as extravagant as we wish, and you cannot complain.”
“But I can’t allow you—”
“No arguments,” said Charlotte. “It is more blessed to give than to receive. Please do not deprive us of the chance to be blessed by giving you what we can easily afford.”
William grinned. His twin’s argument was unanswerable, and Kitty knew it.
“When you put it like that, you make it sound as though I am the one doing you a favour.”
“Which you are,” said Hetta.
“Then I submit. I would hate to withhold any blessing which I, with my non-existent resources, can give.”
He let out a satisfied sigh as his sisters walked away with their new friend between them. Everything would be fine. Knowing Hetta, Kitty would return with a great number of items she had not intended to buy—as well as her mother’s pearls.