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that night, Catherine sought the
solace of her own bedroom, having claimed a headache, glad to be away from the
party downstairs.  She’d been lying in bed for about half an hour when Alyssa
came into the room, dressed in her nightgown, and climbed in beside her. It was
something she often did last thing at night, so they could chat about the day.
     
    “Wasn’t it a wonderful party, Cat?”
Alyssa snuggled down next to her.
     
    “Yes, it was, darling. You had lots of
admirers.”
     
    “Mrs. Somerson didn’t like that one bit.
I think she and Mr. Oakley have had a row.”
     
    “Really?”
     
    “Yes. He barely spoke to her after you
left, and then he and Mr. Harrington went off somewhere on their horses.”
     
    “I wonder why, when he has guests in the
house.”
     
    “I don’t know. He received a note or
something. But Mrs. Somerson is not happy about it. Have you seen her maid?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “Our maid Jenny says Mrs. Somerson’s
maid is half-French, her name is Celine, and that she’s stuck up and always
listening at doors.”
     
    “Darling you shouldn’t listen to
servant’s gossip.”
     
    “Why not, it’s the best sort there is.
But what if Mrs. Somerson’s maid is a spy?”
     
    “I hardly think so. What would she learn
here? There are no battles being planned in this house.”
     
    “Well, no, but what about around the
king and The Prince of Wales?”
     
    “I gather from what I hear that he
doesn’t much bother himself with the war. He only cares about his parties and
lady friends.”
     
    “Mr. Harrington said that it’s not quite
true. The Prince of Wales is far more intelligent than people give him credit
for, but His Majesty doesn’t trust the prince enough to share affairs of state
with him. Mr. Harrington said…” Alyssa went on in that vein for quite some
time, and Catherine couldn’t fail to notice quite how much ‘Mr. Harrington said’.
    “You like him, don’t you?” she asked
eventually, when Alyssa had stopped to draw breath.
     
    “Mr. Harrington, I mean.”
     
    “He’s been very kind to me, and helped
me to learn how I should behave in society.  And it doesn’t hurt to have one
handsome man admiring me, does it? It’ll give all the others something to think
about.” Alyssa was silent for a while. “It’s not as if I’m falling in love with
him, Cat. I know what I have to do to help the family.”
     
    “Oh darling…” Catherine felt the tears
she’d been fighting back all day start to fall. Despite Alyssa’s protestations,
it was clear that she was falling very much in love with Mr. Harrington. It was
what she’d feared would happen. Alyssa was so young and impressionable, and had
been shut away with her dreams at Willoughby Manor for so long, it was obvious
that the first handsome man who told her she was beautiful would become her
first great love.
     
    “And poor people aren’t happy. Mr.
Harrington told me that. He said there’s a lot of poverty in London and that he
and Mr. Oakley try to help as best they can but he says it’s a bottomless pit.
No matter how much money Mr. Oakley gives, it’s never enough. So when I marry a
rich man and become a great lady, I shall be able to help people. It will make
me feel better about having things and not so bad about not being with someone
I love.” Alyssa’s voice trembled a little. “See, I’m not such a selfish person,
am I?”
     
    “No, you’re not. You’re an angel. I
think perhaps I have been mistaken in bringing us here.”
     
    “You? How can you say that, Catherine?
If not for you we’d have starved. If you hadn’t…”
     
    Catherine put her hand out and covered
Alyssa’s mouth. “Careful, dearest, there may be a French maid listening.”
     
    Although Catherine said it as a joke,
she was sure she heard someone moving outside the bedroom door. Telling herself
she was only imagining things, she nevertheless started to talk in a
deliberately loud voice about the party