‘Indeed.’ She turned to her companion. ‘May I introduce Captain Charles Fenshaw? Apparently he is one of the youngest post captains in the Navy. A protégé of my uncle, Captain Pakenham. Although that was some years back, before he retired and became Surveryor General of the Ordnance, whatever that means.’
Captain Fenshaw smiled modestly. ‘Captain Pakenham was kind enough to offer me a berth on his ship when I was a midshipman. Since then I have done my best to be worthy of his patronage.’ He raised his hand and offered it to Arthur.
‘Glad to make your acquaintance,’ Arthur responded.‘Colonel Wesley, at your service.’
‘Arthur has been away from Dublin fighting the French in the Low Countries,’ Kitty explained. ‘He returned some weeks ago, as I discovered from his brother William. It seems that he is such a good friend of mine that he neglected to let me know that he had returned from the war safe and well.’
The words were barbed, but the tone was light hearted and Arthur made a rueful face. ‘My duties have kept me busy, Kitty. What else could prevent me from attending on you? Apart from your dear brother.’
Kitty laughed. ‘Touché, Arthur.’
Captain Fenshaw ignored the jibing between the two of them and concentrated on Arthur. ‘My brother was in the same campaign.’>
‘Indeed?’ Arthur turned his gaze away from Kitty.
‘He was injured and sent home back in January,’ said Fenshaw. ‘He wrote to tell me of the conditions there. It seems he was lucky to have survived most of the winter, when many others did not.’
‘You have a funny notion of luck to think that any man who experienced that winter was in any way fortunate.’
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Fenshaw replied quietly.‘Especially since he succumbed to his wounds only a week after writing to me.’
‘Ah . . .’ Arthur bowed his head. ‘Forgive me, Captain. I did not mean to seem flippant.’
‘I am sure of it, sir.You know well enough what my brother endured.’ Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘Allow me to fetch some drinks while you and the colonel exchange your news.’
Kitty nodded gracefully and the naval officer turned away, gliding through the crowd with a surprising grace given his imposing physique. Kitty stared after him with a calculating expression.
‘What do you think of him, Arthur?’
For a moment Arthur said nothing. He hardly knew the man, but Fenshaw seemed decent enough at first glance. It would be a great shame if he should prove to be a rival for Kitty’s affection. ‘I’ve only just met him, Kitty. What can I say?’
‘That he has a handsome appearance.’
‘I suppose so. Any other qualities that I should be aware of ?’
‘Oh yes!’ She turned towards Arthur with a glint in her eyes. ‘He is the nephew of a rear admiral, and is in line to inherit a sizeable estate in Somerset, as well as a large holding of six per cents. He studied classics at Oxford and writes poetry.’
‘Poetry?’ Arthur glanced across the room to where Fenshaw had turned to make his way back to them, with three glasses between his hands. ‘Really?’
‘Oh, yes! Quite the romantic.’
The enthusiasm in her voice cut into Arthur’s heart like a knife and he took her hand in his.
‘What is it, Arthur?’ Kitty frowned.
‘Tell me, Kitty. What is this man to you?’
‘A friend, for now. His family have some land to sell near Castlepollard and Charles has come to Dublin to arrange the sale. My uncle provided him with an introduction to my brother.Tom thought that I might show him the sights in Dublin. Since then, we’ve become quite attached. Tom likes him too.’
‘I bet he does,’ Arthur muttered. ‘He would be quite a catch for you.’
‘Yes he would,’ Kitty replied, and then squeezed Arthur’s hand lightly. ‘But he is not you. Did you think I would abandon you so readily,Arthur? I had hoped you would have more faith in me.’
‘Oh, Kitty . . .’ Arthur’s despair was swept away and he made to move closer to her, but she backed away and slipped her hand free of his.
‘All the same, he is a good catch. Good enough to please Tom.’
Arthur shook his head. ‘Don’t do this, Kitty.’
‘Do what? I’m not doing anything. That’s the trouble. But there will come a time when I must find a husband if I am not to be an old maid. Unless you can make something of yourself, Tom will not consent to your marrying me. It’s up to you, Arthur, but I don’t think I can wait for ever.’
Arthur spared the naval officer a quick glance. He would be rejoining them in a moment, and Arthur spoke quickly. ‘Say you won’t marry him, Kitty. Promise me.’
‘I shall do no such thing. Besides, I like him.’
‘But you love me.’
‘For now.’ Kitty smiled sweetly and turned towards the looming hulk of Fenshaw as he eased past a small group of young ladies, who glanced at him sidelong and then whispered amongst themselves.
‘Here you are, Kitty!’ Fenshaw handed her a glass of punch, then gave one to Arthur and raised the last glass. ‘A toast. To the meeting of old friends.’
‘Old friends,’ Arthur and Kitty chorused. Arthur sensed that the other man was watching him closely, as if he were trying to discern the true nature of the friendship between them.
The orchestra struck up the first dance of the night and at once Captain Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘My dance, I believe. Here, Wesley, take the drinks.’
Arthur reached out and awkwardly clutched the three glasses as the others moved out into the centre of the ballroom and took up their positions with the other couples. Glancing round,Arthur caught the eye of a servant and nodded to the glasses. Once he had been relieved of them he turned round to see Kitty and Fenshaw join in the first movements of a reel, smiling at each other as they linked arms and swirled round. Arthur felt sick. And angry. That Kitty should be so mercenary . . .Then again, what right had he to insist on her affection when he had no hope of marrying her for some years yet, the way his life was heading? For now, it all depended on Lord Camden. If only he could find a profitable position for Arthur, then there was hope.
For the rest of the evening, Kitty danced with each of them in turn. In between dances she was unscrupulously flirtatious with both men. Try as he might, Arthur found it hard to dislike Fenshaw, who seemed to be as professional as himself, and in the few snatches of more serious conversation that Kitty permitted them it was clear that he was a thoughtful man with considerable charm, much intelligence and a ready wit. In short, the sort of man who would make an admirable brother-in-law for Tom Pakenham. At the end of the evening, after the orchestra had finished playing and the guests made to leave in order of their social standing, Kitty turned to them.
‘Well! I’ve had a fine evening. To be the object of the undivided attention of two such fine beaux has made me the envy of almost every unmarried woman at the ball. What more could a girl ask for?’ She laughed, and the others joined in politely.‘We should do more of this. I think the three of us could become fast friends.’
Arthur nodded faintly, hiding his disappointment.
‘Yes,’ Fenshaw agreed.‘It would be a pleasure to see you again, Colonel.’
When the carriage which was to take himself and Kitty home had been called, Captain Fenshaw insisted on giving Arthur a lift back to his lodgings in Fostertown.Arthur had been on the verge of politely declining the offer, in order to deny his rival the chance to see the unfashionable neighbourhood where he had his lodgings, but that would mean denying himself the chance of spending a little longer in Kitty’s company, and he reluctantly accepted.
As he descended from the carriage Arthur kissed her hand and bid Captain Fenshaw good night. He stood and watched as the carriage rattled down the street, turned the corner and disappeared. He heard Kitty laugh one last time, a light joyful sound that had once been as music to him, but now felt like an open taunt.