LITMIR.BIZ

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not be far behind.

      Chapter 4

      KAT WAS AWARE OF DISCOMFORT and did not know why. As she opened her eyes, blinking from sleep, the room was first a blur. It came into focus and then she knew why the discomfort.

      Isabella, Lady Daws, was staring down at her.

      “You are an incredibly cruel and uncaring young woman, Katherine Adair!” Lady Daws stated, her voice low and ever cultured, but carrying with it such malice that Kat was chilled. She was shamed, thinking that she had so worried her father. But it was not this woman’s concern.

      “Why, good morning, Lady Daws.” She sat up, keeping the coverlet hugged close to her bosom. She looked around. “How strange, dear lady, for this does appear to be my bedroom. My private quarters within our home, however humble.”

      “Get up, Kat!” There was now a snap to her voice.

      “I’ve discussed my actions yesterday with my father, Lady Daws. And I expressed my sorrow for the anxiety I caused him. I owe you no explanations.”

      The woman smiled. “Of course not, dear.” Her smile was icy. “Not yet,” she added sweetly. Then she lowered her face close to Kat’s. “But I do find your behavior totally reprehensible. In my opinion, you should be sent far away, to a school where they teach girls like you how to obey and to be grateful—and to learn your place in life.”

      “My place is in this house,” Kat returned lightly.

      Lady Daws straightened and crossed her arms. Kat was certain that, beneath her skirts, her foot was tapping furiously.

      “Ah, but you were rather anxious to leave it yesterday, weren’t you?”

      Kat stared at her. To be quite honest, the woman was attractive. Her face was narrow and fine-featured, and her eyes were large and deep brown, a color that matched the thick waves of her hair. Her bearing was so upright and regal that Kat liked to imagine she wore a broomstick beneath her petticoats.

      “Dear Lady Daws, please, say whatever it is you wish to say. And then, if you’d be so kind to allow me the privacy of my own room, I will be happy to rise.”

      “Yes, you’ll rise, and you’ll rise quickly. We’ve company.”

      “We’ve company?”

      Either Isabella Daws ignored the bite in Kat’s query or simply couldn’t even entertain the notion that Kat didn’t consider the place also her home.

      “Your mad dash into the sea has made the papers. Apparently, Sir Hunter extolled your…brave deed to a reporter and now your poor dear papa is both proud and concerned.”

      “I made the papers?” Kat repeated, and mentally she realized that she had to thank Sir Hunter once again, no matter how difficult and condescending the man might be. “And Papa is…pleased? Who is it that is here?”

      She started to rise. To her amazement, Isabella pushed her back.

      “Not so fast.”

      Kat let out a sound of irritation. “You were just telling me to get up!”

      “Careful, girl. I may hold your future in my hands.”

      Kat stared at her warily, eyes narrowing. Perhaps the woman truly was evil. Regardless, it was certainly true that she held great sway with her father.

      “Really?” she queried carefully.

      Isabella gave her a tight smile. “I personally think that you should be sent to a strict school, a very strict school—”

      “Yes, Lady Daws, I know all about it. Eliza told me of your concern for us both last night.”

      “Further education in such a place would do you very well. There’s no place for a young woman such as yourself other than in gainful employment or as the wife of a working man. But to be quite honest, you are a terrible drain on your poor father. You exhaust him, drain his talent.”

      “I beg your pardon—”

      “I am not finished.”

      “I am!” Kat started to rise.

      But this time, Lady Daws stopped her with words.

      “Then you’ll never properly meet Lord Avery—or young David Turnberry.”

      Startled, Kat went still.

      Again, Isabella Daws lowered her face to Kat’s. “Sir Hunter MacDonald has come to your father with an offer from Lord Avery. The man will fund and provide a chaperone for you if you accompany his group as an art student and assistant to Sir Hunter on his expedition to Egypt next week. Apparently, you doodled some of your silly sketches when you were at Sir Hunter’s house. After Sir Hunter convinced the man that your father would not allow you to accept a monetary reward, Lord Avery was anxious that at least something be done. And he agreed that your sketch showed promise. There is no accounting for taste.”

      Kat controlled her temper and said nothing.

      “Your father is against the idea. One word from me, and he will refuse, no matter how eloquent Sir Hunter may be. And yet, one word from me, and…well, you just may be allowed to go.”

      Kat stared at her then, chagrined, and in silence.

      “And there we have it. Plain and simple. Let’s see. I do believe the ‘cat’ has now got your tongue.”

      She thought she was so clever! Still, Kat did hold her tongue.

      “Well, my dear?” Lady Daws demanded.

      “Why would you help me?” Kat asked.

      “Because you’ll have just so long on that excursion, Kat. And perhaps, just perhaps, you will gain something of what you’re seeking—though I doubt it. You see, I know that crowd. My stepson is one of those foolish youths, and they are so arrogant that they believe that those not within their elite circles exist merely for their amusement. I believe that you will no longer see them through such rose-tinted spectacles once you know them. And so, you will discover the truth of who and what you are.”

      “I’ve nothing against either who or what I am, Lady Daws,” Kat said tautly.

      “Really?” Lady Daws hiked an elegant brow. “Then it’s quite amazing how you disappeared…and then reappeared. Sir Hunter surely would have seen you home immediately, had he known where your home was. But the truth is you didn’t want to show him.”

      “I had a nasty blow to the head—”

      “Oh, Kat, lie to others. I know what you are.”

      “How dare—”

      “Spare me the indignity. You didn’t want your background known. As it has happened, your father’s talent is an unexpected asset in this little farce of yours. But here it is, on the line. You will go. You will have just the months while you are gone…and then, when you return, you will not stay. You’ll go away to school. The school of my choice. You will be sent away. And you will agree to this.”

      Kat gritted her teeth. She’d had no idea just how much Lady Daws wanted her gone. Eliza was right.

      “You’re not afraid for me?” Kat asked sweetly.

      “Well, you are going into the desert, aren’t you? And there’s always a measure of danger on an expedition. Gold and riches tend to make men covetous. Are you afraid for yourself?”

      Kat felt the slightest chill. She remembered David’s disjointed words when he had come to consciousness on the embankment. He thought he had been pushed into the river….

      But if he had been in danger, that danger had been here, right here, in London. And afraid or not, she could not miss this incredible opportunity.

      “I am not afraid at all,” she said coolly.

      “If you get

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