The Daughter of Highland Hall (2 page)

“Mr. Rounpear, please!” Aunt Louisa rose from her chair. “There’s no need to cut the lesson short.”

“It appears your niece is tired, and that has made her irritable.”

“But Katherine’s presentation is Friday.”

“Yes, the time is short.” The dancing instructor lowered his eyebrows and studied Kate. “I suppose I could come again on Wednesday at three o’clock.”

“Yes. Thank you. We’ll look forward to it.” Aunt Louisa sent Kate a pointed glance and waited for her response.

Kate thanked Mr. Rounpear for the lesson, though it nearly killed her.

Louisa crossed the room and pulled the cord to summon the footman. He arrived and escorted the dancing instructor out. When the door closed, she swung around and glared at Kate. “There is no excuse for your rude behavior toward Mr. Rounpear.”

Kate lifted her chin. “I don’t see why he has to come back. I know how to curtsy.”

“There is more to court presentation than learning how to curtsy.”

“Of course, but he’s so superior and demanding.”

Louisa’s nostrils flared, sending a warning. “You will have one more lesson with Mr. Rounpear, and I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

Kate’s face burned. She clenched her hands, barely able to keep herself under control. But her aunt was her presentation sponsor, and if Kate didn’t hold her tongue, she might lose her opportunity to be presented.

Louisa didn’t seem to notice Kate’s response, or perhaps she didn’t care. She turned to Penny. “Have you tried on those two new dresses?”

“Yes, but the hem of the green silk is terribly uneven. Should we send it back to the dressmaker, or should I ask Lydia to fix it?”

“Goodness, you would think with the price I’m paying that dressmaker, she could at least hem a dress properly.” Louisa motioned toward the open doorway. “I’m going to the Tremblys’ for tea at four, and I need to change, but I suppose I have time to look at it.”

“Splendid.” Penny turned and dashed out of the drawing room.

“Penelope, slow down!” Louisa raised her hand to her chest and hurried after her. “This is not a racetrack!”

Kate shook her head as she watched them go, then turned toward the window. Sunlight poured through the tall panes, drawing her gaze up to the blue sky.

It would be a perfect afternoon for a ride. Of course, a tame promenade down Rotten Row in Hyde Park wouldn’t be nearly as exciting as a high-speed race across the beautiful rolling hills at Highland Hall, her country estate in Berkshire.

That thought stopped her cold, and pain pierced her heart.

It wasn’t
her
estate anymore.

It had been almost a year since her father’s death, and when she lost him, she lost control of Highland as well. It wasn’t right, but it was the law.

She had no brothers, and daughters could not inherit their father’s title or the estate that was tied to it. So even though they barely knew him, William Ramsey—her second cousin once removed—had taken her father’s title as baronet and become master of Highland Hall. Even worse, her father had named Cousin William to be her guardian until she married, and that had made her life very difficult these last few months.

Of course, her father had not left her penniless. Money had been put aside for her marriage settlement. But if she wanted freedom from her cousin’s control and a home of her own, she would have to find a husband this season.

Which was exactly what she intended to do.

She crossed to the center of the room to practice her curtsy a few more times before tea. Perhaps without everyone hovering over her and criticizing her every move, she could relax and master the graceful movements she needed to impress the king and queen. And everyone else who would be watching.

Closing her eyes, she pictured the motions. Then she lifted her hand, stepped to the left, and sank down once more. Lowering her head, she counted to three, then slowly rose. There, that was better. She smiled at the imaginary queen. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

A giggle drifted in through the open doorway.

Kate glanced to the right, following the sound.

Six-year-old Millie, Cousin William’s daughter, peeked around the edge of the doorway. Her ginger curls spilled over her shoulder as she leaned in.

A smile broke across Kate’s face. “Millie, are you spying on me?”

“No, I’m just watching. What are you doing?”

“I’m practicing for my presentation to the king and queen.”

Millie’s blue-green eyes glowed. “You’re going to the palace to see the king and queen?”

“Yes, I am. There will be two hundred other young women presented that day, but I’ll have my turn to meet them, and you’ll do the same when you’re my age.”

Millie’s impish smile spread wider. “Really?”

“Of course.” Kate’s spirit lifted. Millie was right. Presentation at court was an exciting opportunity that would open the door to Kate’s future. She shouldn’t let her overbearing aunt or her gloomy dancing instructor squelch her happiness.

It was time to make the most of the day. She focused on her young cousin again. “Would you like to learn how to curtsy?”

“Yes!” Millie hurried across the room toward Kate.

“All right. Stand like this.” Kate showed her young cousin the first position.

The little girl watched Kate with eager expectation, then lifted her skirt and followed along.

Jonathan Foster hopped down from the London omnibus and set off across Hathaway Court, a broad, tree-lined street in the heart of Kensington. The late April sunshine warmed his shoulders, and the fresh spring breeze carried a faint floral scent. What a perfect day.

The pleasant spring weather wasn’t the only reason for his cheerful mood. In less than two weeks, he would finish his fifth term at medical school, and he could enjoy a bit more freedom and a lot more sleep for the next few months.

Jon glanced at his watch. He didn’t need to be back at St. George’s Hospital until seven this evening. That gave him plenty of time to call on his sister, Julia, and her future husband, Sir William Ramsey, and welcome them to London.

Although their parents were in favor of his sister’s upcoming marriage, Jon wanted to become better acquainted with William and be sure he was the right man for Julia. Ramsey might be a baronet and master of a large country estate, but it was Julia’s recent inheritance from their grandfather that had saved Highland Hall from financial ruin just two months earlier.

Did William truly love Julia, or had he pursued her for the inheritance? With their father still recovering from a prolonged illness and living miles away in Fulton, Jon wanted to make sure his sister was protected and her future secure.

He rounded the corner, and Ramsey House came into view. He studied the impressive three-story Queen Anne–style home built of red brick. It had white trim, an intricate dutch gable with a scrolled roofline on the left, and a large round turret at the corner on the right. Another arched gable sheltered the front entrance.

He stopped at the wrought-iron gate and surveyed the property. Two well-kept flower gardens and neat boxwood hedges lined the walkway leading to the front door. They added a warm welcome and softened the formal appearance of the house. He was sure his sister appreciated that.

William Ramsey’s London home was certainly different from Jon and Julia’s simple childhood home at the mission station in India—and the thatched cottage where their parents now stayed in Fulton. His sister would lead a very different life here. But he imagined she would accept those changes with the same grace and goodwill she had always shown.

Still … was this marriage what was best for her? Would she be happy here? That’s what he needed to discover.

He pushed open the gate, mounted the steps, and rang the bell.

A few moments later, a stout butler in a neatly pressed black suit answered the door and ushered him in. “Please wait here, sir.” The butler motioned toward a chair in the entrance hall.

“Thank you.” Jon removed his hat and glanced around as the butler passed through a doorway at the end of the hall.

The interior of the house was even more impressive than the facade, with beautiful hardwood floors, thick carpets, and an elaborately carved wooden staircase leading up to the next floor. A large mirror in a gilded frame hung on the wall to his right between two large family portraits. He stepped closer and examined one of the paintings.

Could that be William Ramsey when he was a boy? The young lad had the same features as the man he’d met at his sister’s engagement dinner at Highland Hall in February. Two boys stood with him. Jon guessed they were his brothers. A younger sister and their parents sat in front of them in a garden setting. If that boy in the middle was William, he looked rather somber, even as a child.

A soft female voice followed by a little girl’s giggle drifted from the partially open doorway down the hall.

Jonathan tipped his head and listened. Was that Julia with Sir William’s daughter, Millie? Julia had grown very fond of Sir William’s two young children since she’d become their governess at Highland Hall six months ago. And in a few months she would become their stepmother.

“Very nice, Millie. Let’s try it again.”

No, that wasn’t Julia’s voice. Perhaps it was Katherine Ramsey or her
sister, Penelope. Jon had met William’s cousins at Julia’s engagement dinner at Highland, and he had seen them again at William’s sister’s wedding earlier this month.

“Show me again.” Millie’s young voice carried a smile.

“All right. Follow me.”

Jonathan moved closer and looked into the drawing room. The plush furniture had been pushed back. Katherine Ramsey stood in the center of the room wearing a sky-blue dress, with Millie standing beside her. Katherine’s back was to the entrance hall, so she didn’t see him step into the doorway.

Katherine lifted her skirt a few inches and exposed a bit of ruffle around her slim ankles. “Step to the left and place your right foot behind. Then slowly sink down until your knee almost touches the floor, but not quite.”

Millie copied each movement, though hers were not as smooth as Katherine’s.

“Now, lower your head.” Katherine demonstrated and Millie followed. “Hold perfectly still while you slowly count to three before you rise.”

Millie wavered, then gasped and tipped to the side.

Katherine lunged to catch her, but Millie crashed onto the carpet, and Katherine landed in a heap beside her.

Jonathan dashed across the room. “Miss Ramsey, are you all right?”

She looked up at him, and her cheeks flushed bright pink. “Mr. Foster … Yes, of course, I’m fine.”

Millie giggled as she pushed herself to her hands and knees and then stood. “I guess I need more practice.”

“I suppose I do as well.” Katherine started to rise.

Jon extended his hand to her. “Please, allow me.”

She glanced up at him, her eyebrows slightly arched. “I promise you I’ve curtsied dozens of times today, and this is the only time I’ve fallen.”

“Of course. I’m sure it was only because you were trying to help Millie. Now, please, let me be a gentleman and help you.” He smiled and continued to hold out his hand.

She hesitated a moment, then reached out and clasped his fingers. He helped her to her feet, then she slipped her hand from his.

“Thank you.” As she looked down and brushed off her skirt, Jon had a moment to observe her more carefully. Her long, golden-brown hair was tied back with a blue ribbon that matched the color of her eyes. One wavy strand of hair had come loose when she fell. She reached up and tucked it behind her ear, her hand grazing her flushed cheek.

His gaze drifted from her cheek to her full, pink lips.

She looked up. “Mr. Foster?”

He swallowed and looked into her eyes. “Yes?”

“Have you come to see your sister?”

“Yes.”

She glanced over her shoulder and then back at him. “Does she know you’ve arrived?”

He blinked, struggling to find an answer. “Yes.”

She searched his face with a slight frown. “Mr. Foster, are you quite all right?”

“Yes.” He shook his head and looked away. What was the matter with him? “The butler asked me to wait in the entrance hall, but I heard your voice and thought you were Julia, so I looked in. Of course then I realized you weren’t Julia … You were you.” His neck warmed. He was rambling on like an idiot.

A hint of amusement lit her eyes. “Well, we’re very grateful you came to our aid, aren’t we, Millie?”

The little girl nodded, her curls bobbing on her shoulders. “Are you staying for tea?” Millie looked up at him with a friendly smile and wide, innocent eyes.

He glanced at Katherine.

“Yes, of course. You’re welcome to join us for tea. I’m sure Cousin William and Julia will be down soon.” She placed her hand on Millie’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go tell them Mr. Foster is here?”

Millie nodded and turned to go just as William and Julia walked into the drawing room with Andrew, William’s eleven-year-old son.

“Jonathan, what a wonderful surprise.” Julia crossed the room and greeted him with a kiss on his cheek. “I’m so happy to see you.”