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are going to be married, Miss Katherine,’ John said bluntly.

      ‘Congratulations! I am so happy for you.’ Katherine embraced Jenny, then threw John into considerable confusion by kissing him on the cheek. ‘I am so sorry that our ways are going to have to part soon. But perhaps you have plans?’

      ‘We have that.’ John pulled out chairs and they found themselves grouped round the small table that served as John’s dressing table and desk. ‘My father owns a carter’s business down in Devon. He’s in a small way of trade and things are getting a bit much for him now. He’s been on at me to take over for a few years now and I reckon this is the time.’

      ‘And we also reckon,’ Jenny put in, ‘that we can make it more than just a small, local concern. We reckon that with a bit of hard work and some ambition we could have a network of haulage all over the West Country. And that’s not all.’

      John picked up the tale with the ease that told Katherine this was a well-rehearsed discussion between them. How long had this romance been going on under her unsuspecting nose?

      ‘My mother has been running a shop. A haberdashery shop mainly; again, nothing flash, just a little business. But if we have a distribution network we could supply several shops, bring in good London wares to stock them—’

      ‘Serve the fashionable trade, or at least the merchant class,’ Jenny chimed in.

      ‘But that is a wonderful plan. You will go far, I can see it now.’

      ‘The thing is, Miss Katherine …’ Jenny met John’s eye, he nodded and she said tentatively, ‘If things really don’t work out for you here, Miss Katherine, we wondered if you’d like to come and stay with us while you work out what to do.’ She hurried on, almost gabbling before Katherine could speak. ‘I know it’d be a come-down, but—’

      ‘It would be anything but,’ Katherine said warmly. ‘I am touched that you should ask me. I hope I would not have to impose upon you, but if I did I insist on working for my bread and butter. Perhaps your new business would need a bookkeeper? It is about my only skill.’ It was a tempting vision of life with friends, an honest job of work to do, the challenge of building a business. If she could not be with Nick, then this was the next best thing. But however generous the offer, she knew it would have to be the last resort; she could not risk being a burden on the two people who had shown her unswerving loyalty.

      ‘That’s a good idea,’ John said with enthusiasm. ‘I reckon we could make a go of that. Now, you think on it, Miss Katherine. If it don’t suit—and heaven knows we hope it doesn’t come to it for your sake—you just say so, and no bones broken.’

      ‘John, you have to think about this …’

      ‘We have been,’ Jenny said. ‘And we’ve talked and talked. We wouldn’t say anything unless we were sure.’

      ‘Then thank you, both of you, I accept, but I promise I will not impose upon you unless I have absolutely no choice.’ The relief was almost overwhelming, and with it came the desolation—now, with a safety net below her, she had to accept that she was leaving Nick, there was no possible excuse not to. ‘When will you be married?’

      ‘When we get down to Devon,’ John said with a fond look at Jenny. ‘Jenny’s got no folks living, so that’ll be best.’

      ‘I’ll leave you in peace, then,’ Katherine said, getting to her feet and wondering if she was going to make it out of the door before she gave way to tears. What am I crying about? she wondered as she stumbled down the stairs. Happiness for John and Jenny, of course. A pang of jealousy? Yes, that too. Relief? Definitely relief. And heartache …

      ‘There you are.’ It was Nick. She could not retreat and it was too late to hide the tear tracks on her cheeks. ‘Kat? What is wrong?’

      ‘Nothing.’ She forced a smile on to her lips; it was not so very hard after all. ‘I am simply being foolish and sentimental.’ She tucked a hand under his elbow and walked away from the stairs. ‘You’ll not say anything yet, please, but John and Jenny are getting married.’ She chattered on, telling him all about their plans and omitting anything of her proposed part in them.

      ‘That is good news indeed.’ He stopped just before the arch into the main yard and took her by the hands. ‘I would have offered them places here, however things turned out, but this is best for them.’ He released one hand and fished in his pocket, producing a large white handkerchief. ‘Do not cry, Kat.’

      The gentle pressure of the linen under each eye as he dabbed made her want to weep more, throw herself into his arms, confess her new plan to escape him, be comforted and persuaded that she was wrong, she could stay and that was the right thing to do.

      ‘Stop it,’ she ordered lightly, conjuring up a watery smile. ‘I am being foolishly sentimental and you are encouraging me in it. Now, were you looking for me?’

      ‘I have ordered the carriage to be brought round to the front in half an hour—we cannot waste any time in ordering clothes for Father’s confounded ball. In any case, I have to visit a tailor soon or all Robert’s coats will be out at the seams.’

      ‘But I need to find a Newcastle Directory, otherwise how am I going to find a modiste?’

      ‘I know just the one for you, and I have checked that she is still in business. Madame LeBlanc will be able to recommend a milliner and so forth.’

      ‘French?’ Katherine enquired, interested despite her worries about paying for all this. ‘I have never been able to afford a French dressmaker, even when things were much better at home.’

      ‘She is probably from Wallsend,’ Nick said cynically, ‘but she knows her business. Where are you going?’

      ‘To fetch Jenny. I cannot possibly go shopping in town without a maid, think what an appearance that would present! ‘

      ‘I was rather hoping I would be adequate company,’ Nick said with a grin.

      ‘And you know perfectly well what that would look like,’ she scolded, walking back towards John’s room. ‘We will be in the hall in half an hour.’

      It did not occur to her to wonder exactly how her husband had acquired such a knowledge of Newcastle modistes until the three of them were standing outside Madame LeBlanc’s chic establishment.

      ‘Very smart,’ Jenny approved, eying the green paint picked out in gold and the tasteful window display.

      The lady herself swept forward to greet the new arrivals, a smile on her lips. ‘Good day, madam, sir. How may I be of assistance?’ Then the smile changed to one of warm recognition and she cried, ‘Lord Seaton! Why, it must be five years at least since you have visited us.’

      ‘More like seven. Your memory is excellent, Madame. This lady is Miss Cunningham, who is a guest at Seaton Mandeville. Unexpectedly the Duke has decided to throw a ball and Miss Cunningham has no suitable wardrobe for such an occasion.’

      ‘But of course, I perceive this is a matter of the utmost urgency, my lord. When is the ball?’

      ‘In nine days’ time. Are we setting you an impossible task, Madame?’

      ‘For you my lord …’ she cast him a look which could only be described as coquettish ‘… for you we will contrive. Please, be seated while I fetch some pattern books and samples.’

      ‘Nicholas,’ Katherine said with a deceptively sweet smile, ‘how, exactly, does Madame know you so well?’

      ‘Not because we have had a liaison, which is what I suspect you are most improperly assuming. In my younger, wilder days I paid for a number of charming barques of frailty to be dressed by Madame.’

      ‘Really, Nicholas, I wonder that you tell me such a shocking thing.’ Katherine tried to sound outraged and failed.

      ‘I did tell you I had been a rake, Kat.

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