Read The Elusive Heiress for Free Online Page A

terraces which made up the rest of the Square were as fine as any she had seen in Bath.
    Lady Edgeworth’s house was in the centre of the west terrace and Kate’s heart was hammering as she ascended the shallow stone steps to the classically modelled front entrance.
    A footman answered her knock and they were swiftly shown into the morning room, a large sunny apartment panelled in cherry-coloured silk and filled with a rather overpowering quantity of expensive Boulle-work furniture.
    ‘Ah Kitty, my dear! How delightful to see you here at last!’
    The middle-aged lady sitting on an inlaid ebony sofa set in the centre of the room rose to her feet at their entrance, a smile of welcome wreathing her plump face.
    Standing, her figure was revealed as a little too buxom to be elegant, but her morning gown of striped gauze was the latest mode and she wore a smart lace cap trimmed with ribbon perched upon her elaborately dressed blonde hair. There was a slight hint of brassiness about the golden curls, indicating that Lady Edgeworth’s hairdresser was helping nature along, but her complexion had retained its girlish bloom.
    Kate decided she looked good-natured; a first impression reinforced by the kindly way in which she instructed the footman to take Mary along to the kitchen, where Kate knew her friend would be regaled with tea and gossip while she waited.
    ‘Come and sit here beside me, Kitty, and let me have a proper look at you.’ Lady Edgeworth patted the cream satin upholstered sofa invitingly.
    Kate obeyed, hiding her nervousness behind a polite murmur of appreciation for her surroundings as she moved across the room.
    Lady Edgeworth beamed. ‘How kind of you to say you like my furniture. It is new, you know. Gillow and Sons, the cabinetmakers, made it for me specially when I asked them for something in the French style.’
    Kate sat down next to her and she paused, peering more closely at her visitor.
    ‘Why, Kitty, you have grown up into a beauty!’ she exclaimed.
    ‘Thank you, Godmother,’ Kate replied demurely.
    ‘Lud, pray call me Alicia, my dear! Godmother makes me feel positively ancient.’ A twinkle appeared in Lady Edgeworth’s somewhat protuberant hazel eyes. ‘And, although it is several years since I was left a widow, I hope I’m not in my dotage yet.’
    Kate smiled, liking her cheerful humour. ‘I’m sure no one would think so, ma’am.’
    ‘Well, my figure is not what it was and my eyesight is getting worse, but at least my health remains robust.’ Alicia gave a little chuckle. ‘To be honest with you, Kitty, I should be very unhappy if I were truly invalidish and could not go about and enjoy all the events society has to offer.’
    She beamed at Kate. ‘I was delighted to receive your dear Mama’s communication. Nothing could please me more than having Charles’ daughter to stay. I love to entertain!’
    Kate’s heartbeat quickened. ‘I am happy to hear Mama’s letter arrived safely,’ she murmured. ‘When we did not receive a reply we were a little worried that my visit might not be welcome.’
    ‘I expect you had set sail before my answer was half way over the ocean, but indeed there was no need for your Mama to ask. I have been longing to see you again!’ Lady Edgeworth reached out and touched Kate’s shoulder in a little gesture of affection. ‘Oh I shall enjoy taking you about with me and introducing you to all my friends! My marriage was not blessed with children, but having you here will almost be like having a daughter of my own.’
    A faint tinge of colour crept into Kate’s cheeks.
    ‘Oh dear, I hope I have not embarrassed you?’ Anxiety shook her hostess’s rather high-pitched voice. ‘I dare say I must seem sentimental talking in such a vein when I scarcely know you, but I was extremely fond of your Papa. Not in any romantic way I hasten to add, but he took the place of the brother I always wished for.’
    Kate hastily reassured her, wishing it was not