rather thought they were not brown, I instantly sent to Celine and ordered
a great many gowns in pink, and blue — but not green or yellow, for, as you know,
such colours cannot flatter a blue eye. When I saw her, I knew instantly that she
would appear divine in white, so I commissioned Anthony to send us some pretty
petticoats.
“You can imagine how my curiosity was
whetted. I could scarce contain myself until I reached Debenham, although that
could not be for another week, for I had dearest Louisa Malpert's Drum to
attend. However I did at last arrive — and what a surprise was in store! I was
greeted, my dear, by the most beautiful young man you can conceive of. Indeed, I
was in a fair way to being in love with him 'til I discovered that 'twas my
dearest Kitty, and no man at all. However, she greeted me with greatest
politeness and said that she was truly grateful to me for helping her.
Well, the very first thing was to get her
out of those dreadful clothes, though, to be sure, they became her
prodigiously. I had had two of the loveliest gowns made up, one in a pretty pink
damask, and an entrancing chintz saque in blue and white, which I had a mind to
keep for myself until I saw how well it would become Kitty. We retired to her
chamber, and then and there I divested her of those outrageous garments and,
with the help of my faithful Sarah, arrayed her in the blue. My dear, I could
have wept.
She put me much in mind of yourself, Marguerite,
at the same age. Such black hair, and the whitest skin! Her figure is perhaps a
shade too muscular but, with tight lacing, nothing is left to be desired. She
will make a prodigious sensation when she appears. I wish I had the power to
describe to you that child's face when she saw herself thus. She was radiant, I
give you my word. Even I was surprised. As a boy, she had been handsome; but,
if you will not think me extravagant, I must say that I consider Kitty to be
the loveliest girl I have ever beheld. There, from another woman you cannot
doubt that it is so.
And so, my sweet, for these three months past,
I have been teaching Kitty everything I know, which is not inconsiderable, of
the art of being a female. We began with such basics as deportment, curtsies,
holding the fan, etc., and have progressed apace, to dancing and dalliance. Even
after all my work, I cannot say that my sweet charge is truly womanly yet, for
she has no notion of flirtation, nor of the vapours, and is painfully outspoken,
which I cannot persuade her is a fault; but, even so, I predict that when we
appear in Bath, which is to be next month, she will achieve a remarkable
success.
My dearest Anthony has not been near us all
this time. But we expect him today, and I am consumed with curiosity about
them, for, between us two, I think 'twould be the prettiest thing imaginable if
they were to wed. Yet there is the Henshawe girl in the way.
Touching the matter of the M. Clareville, of
whom you requested news, I regret that I must inform you that the gentleman
died in Newgate some time ago. I hope that he was not a close acquaintance, for
he was dangerous to know. Oh, by the by, I have not told you my Kitty's name,
have I? Well, if you should read in your journal of a Mistress Katherine
Brabington, then you will know to whom they refer.
Yr. loving friend, etc., etc.
Lady Horatia laid
down her pen with a sigh of satisfaction. She was a kind-hearted and generous
soul, and she had great pleasure in communicating to her friend all the delight
she herself felt in this intriguing romance into which she had been drawn. In
her youth, Lady Horatia had been a great beauty and had married for love the
man of her father's choice, now unfortunately deceased. She therefore felt no
envy of the young or the lovely, merely hoping that they would achieve
happiness as perfect as her own had been. She was sincerely attached to her
nephew and, although she made light of the matter to Marguerite, she had been
distressed beyond
a great many gowns in pink, and blue — but not green or yellow, for, as you know,
such colours cannot flatter a blue eye. When I saw her, I knew instantly that she
would appear divine in white, so I commissioned Anthony to send us some pretty
petticoats.
“You can imagine how my curiosity was
whetted. I could scarce contain myself until I reached Debenham, although that
could not be for another week, for I had dearest Louisa Malpert's Drum to
attend. However I did at last arrive — and what a surprise was in store! I was
greeted, my dear, by the most beautiful young man you can conceive of. Indeed, I
was in a fair way to being in love with him 'til I discovered that 'twas my
dearest Kitty, and no man at all. However, she greeted me with greatest
politeness and said that she was truly grateful to me for helping her.
Well, the very first thing was to get her
out of those dreadful clothes, though, to be sure, they became her
prodigiously. I had had two of the loveliest gowns made up, one in a pretty pink
damask, and an entrancing chintz saque in blue and white, which I had a mind to
keep for myself until I saw how well it would become Kitty. We retired to her
chamber, and then and there I divested her of those outrageous garments and,
with the help of my faithful Sarah, arrayed her in the blue. My dear, I could
have wept.
She put me much in mind of yourself, Marguerite,
at the same age. Such black hair, and the whitest skin! Her figure is perhaps a
shade too muscular but, with tight lacing, nothing is left to be desired. She
will make a prodigious sensation when she appears. I wish I had the power to
describe to you that child's face when she saw herself thus. She was radiant, I
give you my word. Even I was surprised. As a boy, she had been handsome; but,
if you will not think me extravagant, I must say that I consider Kitty to be
the loveliest girl I have ever beheld. There, from another woman you cannot
doubt that it is so.
And so, my sweet, for these three months past,
I have been teaching Kitty everything I know, which is not inconsiderable, of
the art of being a female. We began with such basics as deportment, curtsies,
holding the fan, etc., and have progressed apace, to dancing and dalliance. Even
after all my work, I cannot say that my sweet charge is truly womanly yet, for
she has no notion of flirtation, nor of the vapours, and is painfully outspoken,
which I cannot persuade her is a fault; but, even so, I predict that when we
appear in Bath, which is to be next month, she will achieve a remarkable
success.
My dearest Anthony has not been near us all
this time. But we expect him today, and I am consumed with curiosity about
them, for, between us two, I think 'twould be the prettiest thing imaginable if
they were to wed. Yet there is the Henshawe girl in the way.
Touching the matter of the M. Clareville, of
whom you requested news, I regret that I must inform you that the gentleman
died in Newgate some time ago. I hope that he was not a close acquaintance, for
he was dangerous to know. Oh, by the by, I have not told you my Kitty's name,
have I? Well, if you should read in your journal of a Mistress Katherine
Brabington, then you will know to whom they refer.
Yr. loving friend, etc., etc.
Lady Horatia laid
down her pen with a sigh of satisfaction. She was a kind-hearted and generous
soul, and she had great pleasure in communicating to her friend all the delight
she herself felt in this intriguing romance into which she had been drawn. In
her youth, Lady Horatia had been a great beauty and had married for love the
man of her father's choice, now unfortunately deceased. She therefore felt no
envy of the young or the lovely, merely hoping that they would achieve
happiness as perfect as her own had been. She was sincerely attached to her
nephew and, although she made light of the matter to Marguerite, she had been
distressed beyond
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