A Kiss at Midnight

Kate had never really thought about how Victoria’s education was affected by Mariana’s propensity to dismiss the household servants; her sister didn’t seem someone who greatly missed tutoring. But her cheeks were pink and she was still pleating her gown.

“I’m sorry. I should have fought harder to keep the governess,” Kate said.

“You did all you could. Mother is . . . well, she is . I thought—I’ve thought for years—that it was wonderful how you protected Cherryderry and Mrs. Swallow and most of the people on the farms. You couldn’t keep a governess on top of all that.”

“I could have tried harder,” Kate repeated. She just hadn’t thought much about Victoria, the treasured, coddled daughter. “So what did Algie tell you?” she asked.

“He said that I should come here,” Victoria said, eyes on her lap still. “He said that you were—were falling in love with the prince, and it wouldn’t end well, and that I should come rescue you .” She said the last word defiantly, looking up. “I know you spent years saving all the people on the estate and in the house, and Algie agrees with me, that sometimes people like that need rescuing themselves.”

Kate sat for a second and then she started to laugh. Not a harsh laugh, but the healing kind of laughter, the kind that comes after years of being alone are over, and you discover that you have a family.

It wasn’t a normal family: Henry had no pretensions to being a paragon of virtue. Victoria was illegitimate, if kindhearted, and Algie was genuinely foolish. Yet they cared for her.

Victoria perked up at her laughter. “So you aren’t angry?” she said hopefully. “I was worried that you would be irritated by my arrival, but Algie . . .”

Kate reached over and gave her sister a hug. “I think it was tremendously kind of you. I am happy to be rescued. Although I don’t mean to stay much longer; will that be all right with you?”

“Oh yes, because we have to leave after the ball, this very night,” Victoria said. “We need to marry.”

“Of course.”

“If we leave at midnight tonight, we can be in Algie’s parish by seven in the morning. Would you—would you accompany us?”

“Driving through the night?” Kate exclaimed.

“Well, the prince told Algie that he has to attend the ball. But Algie told his mother, Lady Dimsdale, that he would be home in time to get married in the morning.” Victoria looked at her hopefully. “My mother is already at Dimsdale Manor.”

Algie was not one to disobey a direct command, obviously. “Of course I will come with you. Did he tell you that I have a godmother, Lady Wrothe?”

“Yes . . . she calls herself Henry, doesn’t she? And will she take you to live with her?”

“She will,” Kate said, smiling.

“Because you could always come live with us,” Victoria said anxiously. “Algie’s mother is moving to the dower house and the two of us will be knocking about in that great house by ourselves. We’d love to have you.”

She meant it. “I’m so glad to have discovered that you’re my sister,” Kate said.

Victoria nodded. Her eyes were a little teary.

Kate squeezed her hand.

“I just wish that our father had been more gentlemanly,” Victoria said in a rush. “I wish—I wish that Algie didn’t have to marry me under false pretenses.” A tear slid down her cheek.

“He’s not,” Kate said. “He’s marrying you because he loves you, and because you love him. And that’s all anyone has a right to know about it.”

Victoria sniffed, and somewhat to Kate’s surprise made an obvious effort to stop crying. “I always believed in my father, I mean, in the colonel that I thought was my father. She even has a portrait of him, you know. Except that he never existed.”

“It’s awkward,” Kate said, considering that an understatement.

“I’m illegitimate ,” Victoria said again. “I wake up in the middle of the night and think about that. That word. It’s a horrible word, all those syllables and none of them good.”

“The circumstances of your birth are not your fault.”

Victoria bit her lip. “But when my mother married your father, you lost your inheritance, and she gave it to me . . . it’s not right! I keep thinking about it. It’s as if I’m some sort of parasite. I look like a lady, but I’m really nothing more than an illegitimate, thieving chipper !” And with that she broke into genuine sobs.

“Chipper?” Kate asked, feeling rather dazed. “What on earth is a chipper?”

“A baggage,” Victoria wailed. “A trollop. I’m—I’m carrying a child out of wedlock. I’m just like my mother!”

“No, you’re not,” Kate said firmly, reaching over and pulling a handkerchief from the dressing table and giving it to her. “A wise old man in this very castle told me that kindness is the most important thing, and he was right. You are kind, Victoria, and your mother, unfortunately, is not. You are not a thief. Papa wanted you to have that money.”

“No, he left it to my mother and she—she—”

“He left it directly to Mariana, knowing full well that she would give it to you. My mother left me a dowry, you know that.”

“I’m just so grateful that he married her at all,” Victoria said, with a sob.

Kate had wondered for years why her father married Mariana. But now, looking at her pretty, silly, sweet sister, she knew why. “I want to show you something,” she said, jumping up and running to the little writing desk. “Just let me write a note first.”

“What?” Victoria said, taking another handkerchief out of her reticule. “I know it annoys you when I cry, Kate. I’m sorry. It’s something about being with child. It’s made me worse than ever.”

“It’s all right. I’m used to it.”

“Algie says I’m a watering pot and he’s going to put me out in the garden,” Victoria said dolefully.

Kate composed the note to Gabriel.

Your Highness,

May I show my sister the statue of Merry in the chapel garden? Your uncle thought that you might have the chapel key. I’m sure that Berwick would be able to help us find the door.

Yours & etc.,

Miss Katherine Daltry

“What are you going to wear tonight?” Victoria said, putting away her handkerchief.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” Kate said. “Rosalie has something chosen. I wish she’d bring up something more to eat. I’m positively ravenous.”

“You have to think about it,” Victoria said. “This is your presentation to society, Kate! I’m here, so you can go to the ball as yourself.”

Kate blinked. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I bought a powerful corset,” Victoria said, “so that I will look thinner. And I’ll wear a wig, and take the dogs with me.”

Just then Rosalie entered with luncheon on a tray, so Kate sent her off to deliver the note to the prince.

“It’s so odd to think of you exchanging billets-doux with a prince,” Victoria said, a forkful of chicken halfway to her mouth.