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necessary to deceive such a transparently nice woman.
    ‘It was a great shock when he quarrelled with your grandfather and, although I suppose I ought not to speak ill of the dead, I believe their rift was entirely old Mr Nixon’s fault. Your Mama was a charming girl.’
    Lady Edgeworth stared hard at Kate. ‘Strange, when you were a baby I thought you resembled her, but now…’
    ‘Memory can play some odd tricks, can it not?’ Kate said quickly.
    ‘Indeed. I could have sworn your hair and eyes were a much lighter brown.’
    ‘I believe my hair was,’ Kate responded airily. ‘Mama says it became darker with every year I grew older.’
    Lady Edgeworth nodded, her faint frown fading as she mentally dismissed the subject. ‘Now, am I right in thinking that you are presently at the Hop-Pole?’
    Kate confirmed it.
    ‘A very good sort of place, but, and you may call me old-fashioned and you will, my love, I cannot altogether approve of your staying there. In fact, I wonder at those friends of your Mama’s! Why did they not escort you to me immediately?’
    Kate hesitated. She had made the mistake of assuming Lord Redesmere would not get to hear of Kitty’s Irish sojourn. Her carelessness had rebounded on her head with a vengeance!
    ‘Actually, ma’am, you must not blame Mr and Mrs Hogan. They did as Mama asked and gave me their escort to my Uncle Sullivan’s.’
    ‘You went to Ireland ?’
    Kate launched into explanation and, without appearing vulgar, managed to thoroughly condemn Kitty’s Irish relatives before concluding with a rueful, ‘So you see, ma’am, I thought it best to leave. Naturally, I should have preferred to travel with an escort. However, since my presence was so plainly unwelcome, I didn’t care to linger until a suitable person could be found but departed with great haste.’
    A vigorous nod of approval greeted this statement, emboldening Kate to continue. ‘Frankly, ma’am, their lack of courtesy angered me and I fear I spoke my mind a little too freely.’ She sighed softly. ‘I am sorry for it now. I did not wish to be on bad terms with my uncle.’
    ‘You must not blame yourself, my dear. I have heard it rumoured Gerald was furious over the terms of your grandfather’s will. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that he behaved uncivilly towards you. He was always a hot-head and I dare say he is eaten up with jealousy.’
    There was warm sympathy in Alicia’s tone and for an instant Kate was tempted to confess the whole, but caution held her back. Even if Alicia disapproved of the Sullivans, it didn’t mean she would be willing to lend her support to Kate’s daring plan to save Kitty’s inheritance.
    All I can do for now is play the situation by ear , she thought. And pray that oaf Crawford doesn’t interfere!
    Remembering the steely glint in those vivid eyes this seemed extremely unlikely!
    Kate squashed the panicky flare of apprehension suddenly curdling her stomach. She was behaving like a ninny to let that man impress her so!
    All you have to do, she told herself sternly, is drop a few hints about his atrocious behaviour. Alicia knows he stands to lose a fortune. Let seeds of doubt grow in her mind and his claim that you are an adventuress will lose its credibility!
    ‘I applaud your action, but how did you manage to find a ship on your own?’ Unable to curb her curiosity, Lady Edgeworth broke into Kate’s silent meditation. ‘Docks are no place for a young lady!’
    Kate answered that her maid had undertaken this task. ‘She managed everything wonderfully.’
    ‘How fortunate she accompanied you from America! I suppose she has been with you for many years?’
    Kate nodded, glad that Alicia had made this assumption. Pretending that Mary was an old family retainer was a little risky, but it was the best way to explain her presence and it seemed unlikely that any one would bother to check the credentials of a mere servant.
    ‘I’ve always been very glad of Mary’s