‘I beg you – do not,’ Radcliffe snapped. ‘There is nothing to find out. Archie is not in trouble, and I would thank everyone to stop giving me unasked for advice.’
‘What if he is, though?’ Hinsley asked, not seeming to take offence at his friend’s tone. ‘Both she and I think something smoky is afoot – worth looking into, I say.’
‘My father dealt in “what ifs”，’ Radcliffe said. ‘I will not do the same kind of interfering for Archie. It does not make you a bad person to want to have a little fun, for God’s sake. Archie should be able to live and make mistakes and grow up unfettered by worries of duty and gossip.’
Hinsley held up his hands in surrender. ‘All right, all right,’ he said, looking at his friend closely. ‘What else did you and Miss Talbot argue about?’ he asked shrewdly.
‘It matters nought,’ Radcliffe said shortly. ‘I have tarried in London too long. Far too long – I shall leave for Radcliffe Hall tomorrow.’ They drew up upon St James’s Place and Radcliffe opened the carriage door immediately, without waiting for a footman. ‘This is goodbye, Hinsley. I shall write.’
And with that he walked into his house, slamming the door shut behind him.
Kitty held her emotions in all the way through the ball, through dancing a quadrille, three country dances and a cotillion; through two glasses of champagne; through the carriage ride home; through getting into bed. It was only when Cecily had begun softly snoring beside her that she let the sob that had been lodged in her throat for several hours spill quietly out into the night, like a secret.
It was so unfair, so very unfair. What an awful man. What a prejudiced, privileged, awful man. She hated him – she wished never to set eyes upon him or another de Lacy in her life.
She tossed and turned through the night, unable to cool her temper enough to sleep, but by morning, the dawn had brought her a little calm. She rose before Cecily, and busied herself about their room, opening the trunk that had lain unused underneath the window since their arrival, and folding some of their belongings inside it. There was a groan and rustle behind her as Cecily began to wake.
‘What are you doing?’ she said blearily, as Kitty packed up her least favourite evening dress – there would surely be no need for it after tonight.
‘Just a little packing,’ she murmured absently. ‘I hate leaving things to the last minute.’
‘Packing?’ Cecily sat up straight. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Home, of course,’ Kitty said. ‘After tonight, it should not be more than a week or so before we can leave. It is my intention to persuade Mr Pemberton to wed quickly – it should not be so hard, he has so little family, and will likely think it romantic. We can honeymoon in Biddington.’
‘Next week?’ Cecily repeated faintly.
‘I’m shocked this should surprise you, Cecily,’ Kitty said, exasperated. ‘Surely you knew this. I do keep telling you to pay more attention when other people are speaking – then you would not be so surprised all the time.’
Cecy looked distressed. ‘I did not know,’ she said. ‘I wish you would have told me sooner. Can we not stay longer?’
‘Why should you want to stay? I thought you hated London – you have certainly spent enough time complaining about it.’
There was silence behind her for a few beats, and then all at once: ‘I am in love!’ Cecily said, so loudly that Kitty jumped half out of her skin.
‘Gracious, Cecy, no need to shout – what do you mean, you’re in love? You can’t be.’
‘I am!’ Cecy insisted. ‘With Lord Montagu – and he is in love with me, too.’
Kitty put a hand to her forehead.
‘Oh Lord,’ she groaned. ‘Cecy – I’m sorry – but we don’t have time for this.’
‘No time – Kitty, I have told you I am in love!’
‘And I heard you.’ Kitty tried desperately to hold onto her patience. ‘But the fact of the matter is, we simply cannot afford to remain any longer – we have quite run out of money.’
‘There are some things more important than money!’ Cecy said passionately. ‘Look at Mama and Papa.’
‘And where did that leave us?’ Kitty demanded. ‘Papa chose love over money, and it had consequences, Cecy! It left me— it left us, in a very difficult position.’
‘But—’ Cecily tried to interject, but Kitty overruled her with a flash of temper.