"don't walk away from me kitty... this is your home-"
"you took my home away from me and threw me to the wolves for five years, your grace."
returning to the ton after being sent away to live in france for five years is lady katherine 'kitty' chatha...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
the drawing room remained quiet which is where kitty found herself waiting to leave for the ball. a portrait that her father commissioned for her eighteenth birthday and had shipped over hung on the walls, scarily accurate. kitty soured at the sight of her portrait. there she was silent and obedient, exactly where her father had placed her. the perfect replacement daughter.
kitty had been with eliza in her bedchamber preparing for the ball before awaiting her departure. the room remained unchanged from how she had left it, full of memories. she wore a silk white gown, embroidered with a floral gold pattern and hand sewn gems on the bust and champagne coloured detailing along the bottom of the skirt. her mother's diamond necklace finished the look with gold-trimmed elbow length gloves and her curls had been adorned with jewels and white flowers.
"so they finally returned my daughter across sea to me. you should've made your debut in front of queen charlotte but a supposed storm held you en francais. i suspect it was simply some pitiful wind."
that voice. a criticism already before a hello. the voice that had the potential to cause chaos and destruction sounded clear and almost inviting. kitty spun around from observing the portrait to her look at her father who stood across the drawing room.
"katherine. i hope you did not find your return too taxing."
"father." kitty lowered her head and her knee. the formalities and pleasantries. oh what kitty would give for a hug from her papa, for him to tell her that he missed her and regretted his decision. but kitty knew he didn't.
"i trust you find your dress suitable. i was informed by the modiste that it would be most fashionable amongst the ladies for tonight's occasion."
"the dress is beautiful father, i must thank you for your efforts." kitty replied in a reserved tone.
danbury house was the most sought after invitation. kitty had not debuted in front of the queen like the two hundred other debutantes. she somewhat preferred it this way, entering at a ball, less formal but still being watched by anyone in the ton that mattered.
while many were intimidated by lady danbury, kitty was not. she saw lady danbury as a maternal figure having taken katherine, alexander and simon under her wing, all three children motherless at a young age. lady danbury had a special sympathy towards simon as the chatham children had a father that did care for them amongst his coldness and acted in what he thought was their best interest.
alexander rushed in which kitty was grateful for, saving her from more small talk with their father, his top hat swinging in his hand.
"i'm trusting your care to alexander this evening, he is to keep a very close eye on you." robert instructed while nodding at his son, before looking back at his daughter. he was happy at seeing both of his children, accomplished and attractive. in that sense, he was very thankful.
