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A PERFECT GENTLEMAN- iv

the truth was that kitty was more unsettled by simon's arrival than she cared to admit to herself and had done her very best to keep busy that morning.

waking at dawn for a walk in the gardens along with a visit to the stables. musing over an embroidery of tulips and playing a melodic tune or two on her pianoforte. doing everything a lady should yet she was still left reeling from the previous night. it was not yet twelve in the afternoon.

while kitty did all that she should she also did things that a lady perhaps should not. her aunt's husband was well versed in philosophy, latin, writing and art. and politics. a scholar of some sort. kitty had sat through rants and discussions of the french revolution, the precarious mental state of the dear king george and very brief updates on international relations.

she had sneakily read her father's newspaper before he had woken to update herself on 'current affairs' although she did wonder when the next publication of whistledown would arrive. that affected her more than any of the events in her father's paper.

she dreaded to think that there would be speculation about her leaving the first ball so early and being alone with simon on the terrace. no one saw but even if they did she was sure that her father would dismiss any notions of impropriety with the duke which was a small comfort. he seemed to be kinder to simon than kitty herself.

"not one dance katherine?" robert quizzed at the head of the table, holding a cigar that billowed thick smoke.

"no, papa. if i were to engage in the waltz a single spin would've sent me tumbling to the depths of embarrassment." 

"you must've truly exerted yourself on your travels. but i am satisfied you made your appearance before the ton, albeit brief." her father said while his face disappeared behind his paper at the dining table, stirring more honey into his tea.

kitty wanted to thank her father for stating the obvious. was he mocking her or being genuine? kitty could never tell. almost a day of sailing, seasickness, hours spent in a carriage to be squeezed into a dress without so much as a nap. she was bound to be exhausted! although it was not the true reason she had fled from the ball with such urgency.

"yes- the debut in front of the most important members of the ton. i suppose we are to be inundated with suitors." alexander expressed a slight disdain for having his house full of his peers, ogling at his younger his sister, placing his knife and fork down.

"i'm quite positive they didn't catch a glimpse of me. i left so early." kitty stated, showing that slight naivety often found in debutantes and alexander was more than willing to disabuse the notion.

"you are a marquess' daughter kitty whether they caught a glimpse of your face yesterday or not they certainly would be enticed by the prospect of your dowry alone."

"ah yes, my value is my dowry," kitty quipped sarcastically, even though it was true in the economic nature of marriage. "pray tell, what would that be again? a mansion or two in the country and a £25,000 sum?"

"£30,000." robert corrected. he'd managed to increase his daughter's dowry to.. pay a little extra for those transgressions, not that anyone knew. but he knew.

as much as kitty sometimes felt the marriage mart to resemble a glorified livestock auction, she certainly would be of the prime category which worked to her advantage if she wished.

"thinking they shall love you for your personal qualities is a falsehood indeed." alexander shrugged, throwing himself down in a nearby armchair. he was skeptical on the notions of love.

surely he appreciated women and appreciated them even more late at night in the comfort of his chambers but love? a transactional marriage was the standard and love was the hope, not the guarantee. even if he wed and got along with his bride he couldn't help but question whether she would love him for him. if he was a poor man covered in soot he believed that she would not look twice in his direction.