Page 31 of To Steal a Kiss

Kitty scowled and folded her arms. “Well, that’s torn it. I’m no one. I won’t be invited.”

“Oh,” Harriet said, “I will be. They’re our neighbours you see, and my brother is the earl’s best friend. You can come along, as my guest. That is….” Harriet hesitated.

She was a serious girl and the only one who had yet made no close friendships in the group. Matilda watched with interest. Shy, studious Harriet and brash, energetic Kitty seemed an unlikely pairing, but perhaps one that would do them both good.

“That is, if you would like to,” Harriet added, sounding unsure.

Matilda looked between the two young women.

Harriet seemed diffident now, waiting to be rejected, and Kitty was wary, sensing charity.

“Don’t you need to ask your parents?” Kitty asked, sceptical.

“Oh, no,” Harriet said, sitting up a little straighter. “To be honest, they’ll be so thrilled to see me with a real live friend they’ll probably try to adopt you.”

Kitty snorted and returned a dark look. “Oh, give it a day or two. They’ll have had enough of me by then.”

“You’ll come then?” Harriet said, and Matilda felt a little glow of pleasure at the excitement in Harriet’s eyes.

This was what the group was about: friendship and support. Seeing it in action was rather wonderful.

“Won’t it bother them, though?” Kitty said, folding her arms, her face hard all at once.

“What?” Harriet looked from Kitty to the others in the group, nonplussed.

Kitty rolled her eyes. “That I’m Irish.”

There was defiance in her tone, suggesting she’d flatten anyone who agreed it was a problem. It made Matilda’s heart ache.

“Oh!” Harriet said, as if this hadn’t occurred to her. “No. I shouldn’t think so. Why would it?”

Kitty snorted, as if this ought to be patently obvious, which it perhaps was, to anyone but Harriet who was oblivious to such mores of society. “Because it does.”

Harriet stared at Kitty. “You’re very welcome, Kitty,” she said decisively. “And I know they will say the same.”

Kitty stared at her for a long moment and then gave a nod and held out her hand. “In that case, I will. Thank you, Harriet.”

Chapter 10

I won’t live like this any longer. It’s my life and I must make the best of it. I made a foolish error and I must pay for that, but from now on, all decisions will be mine, whatever the outcome.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Alice Dowding to Prunella Adolphus, Duchess of Bedwin.

25th June 1814. Meeting of The Peculiar Ladies Book Club, Upper Walpole Street, London.

After the meeting, as the ladies went in search of hats and pelisses, Matilda sought out Alice.

Alice had known she would, of course. Indeed, she knew they must speak, but there was someone else she wanted to speak with more. She must see Nate and thank him for his kind offer. It had been churlish of her to refuse him so harshly, especially in front of Bindley of all people. She’d been in such a state in that moment though, she had hardly been able to think at all. The only thing she’d known was that she could not marry a man she was in danger of falling deeply in love with, when he was only offering for her to save her from ruin.

Everyone knew The Hunter had sworn to never marry. She’d not be the woman to catch him. Especially when everyone would know the truth, that he was only doing the honourable thing. He’d be pitied and she’d… well, she’d rather not think on that.

“Hello, Alice. How are you?” Matilda’s voice was gentle as they moved a little away from the other women.

“I’ll live,” Alice said, doing her best to return a bright smile.

“Will you come back with me, then? We can talk.”

Alice bit her lip, considering.