Chapter 15

Kitty

A month later and June was just around the corner. Dante was still nowhere to be found. All letters to him had gone unanswered and I had to admit I was growing concerned.

Angelica: Any news?

Kitty: None. Not even a small note.

Angelica: I'm starting to actually get worried. What if he's dead, kitty?

I swallowed at that. What if…..?

Kitty: Nonsense! He's probably perfectly fine!

Angelica: So what do we do?

Kitty: We? Since when do we have to do anything?

Angelica: Kitty, it would look poorly for you to not care. You need to think of your reputation. People already think you're rather…

Kitty: Rather what, Angie?

Angelica: Well, rather odd…

Kitty: I can't argue with you there. So what's the plan?

Angelica: I think you need a nice visit to London.

Kitty: Angie, no.

Angelica: Angie, yes. Someone has to find him. And who better than you?

Kitty: Fine. When do we go?

Angelica: I think, if we can get your mother and father talked to, in a few days. After all it'll take us a few days to get there.

Kitty: Fine…

An hour later and I had gathered my parents in the library to try my luck.

Anne: So what did you want to talk to us about?

Kitty: Well…

I shifted on my feet a bit, trying to decide how honest I should be. I had to go about this carefully or I knew they would lose their minds.

Kitty: I want to go to London.

Anne: London? It's rather early for that, Kitty. We usually don't go until later in the summer.

John: Yes, July is when we usually go. Sometimes August. June is an awful time for London.

Kitty: Well… Lord Radcliffe is there now and…

Anne: Oh, I see what this is.

Kitty: You do?

Anne: Of course! Why didn't we think of this before? You haven't seen him in a month. Of course you must be missing him!

John: It's only natural, Katherine. Especially since he seems to be too busy to write to you.

I froze as I stared at them both remembering that I hadn't told them about Dante not being in touch with anyone.

Kitty: Natural? Are you certain?

Anne: Yes! I remember when your father and I were separated for the summer. All the letters couldn't help the passion between us.

Kitty: Noted. So can I go? I promise I'll be responsible and careful.

John: You would need a chaperone. You can't just run off to London on your own. It would be unsafe and careless.

Kitty: Angie will accompany me.

Anne: Someone who isn't your lady's maid, Katherine.

Kitty: Fine. If I can find someone to chaperone me, can I go?

John: If you can, then yes.

Kitty: Thank you, Papa. Thank you, Mama.

A few hours later, I found myself on a stroll in the garden.

Delilah: Good day, Miss Hawthorne.

Kitty: Lady Delilah? Good day.

Delilah: I'm sorry for intruding on your solitude, but they said you were out here.

Kitty: Don't worry about it. How can I help you?

Delilah: I was wondering if you'd heard from Dante? He hasn't replied to any of my letters. And he's always the most dutiful correspondent with me!

Kitty: You have not heard from him either?

Delilah: If I had I wouldn't be so concerned, Miss Hawthorne. I have not heard from Dante in over a month now.

Kitty: What do you want to do then?

Delilah: I want to locate my brother. He's all I have. I know he's an ass but I need him.

I crossed my arms over my chest awkwardly as I listened to her. Who was I to deny a younger sister help in finding her brother? I knew what I needed to do.

Kitty: I'll help you find him.

Delilah: What? Really?!

Kitty: Yes. I actually talked to my parents earlier today about going to London. And I am in need of a companion.

Delilah: Then, Miss Hawthorne, I'd say we're going to London.

Kitty: When would you like to go?

Delilah: The sooner the better. I can be ready to go by tomorrow. Yourself?

Kitty: I think I can be ready by then too.

Delilah: Then start packing. I'll leave you to it.

After that very interesting conversation with Delilah, I walked back into the foyer of our house.

Emilia: Goodness, Kitty! You had me frightened.

Kitty: Sorry.

Emilia: It's alright. Did you need something?

Kitty: No, I just wanted to talk.

Emilia: OH? What about?

Kitty: I'm going to London, and I wondered if you wanted to come?

Emilia: London? But we usually…

Kitty: Don't go until July, yeah I know. There's been a change of plans.

Emilia: Why are you going to London?

Kitty: I need to find Dante.

Emilia: But shouldn't he be arriving back soon? He's already been gone over a month now.

Kitty: That's the thing, no one has heard from him.

Emilia: No one?

Kitty: No one. Not Delilah, Not Gerard, not me…

Emilia: Do mother and father know?

Kitty: No, and as long as I can help it they won't. The last thing I need is this getting all over the county. Apparently people already think I'm odd.

Emilia: Smart. When do we leave?

Kitty: So you'll come?

Emilia: Of course! I'm not missing a trip to London!

Kitty: great! And we're hoping for tomorrow if all goes well.

Emilia: It's a bit quick, but I think I can make it work.

Kitty: Perfect. I'll talk to Mama and Papa tonight again to make sure it's still alright.

Emilia: I'm sorry Dante is missing, Kitty.

Kitty: We don't know that!

Emilia: It's alright to be worried.

Kitty: Maybe I am a bit worried.

Emilia: Which is only natural. Well, apparently I need to go pack.

Kitty: Me too.

TIME SKIP

Kitty

A month later and June was just around the corner. Dante was still nowhere to be found. All letters to him had gone unanswered and I had to admit I was growing concerned.

Angelica: Any news?

Kitty: None. Not even a small note.

Angelica: I'm starting to actually get worried. What if he's dead, kitty?

I swallowed at that. What if…..?

Kitty: Nonsense! He's probably perfectly fine!

Angelica: So what do we do?

Kitty: We? Since when do we have to do anything?

Angelica: Kitty, it would look poorly for you to not care. You need to think of your reputation. People already think you're rather…

Kitty: Rather what, Angie?

Angelica: Well, rather odd…

Kitty: I can't argue with you there. So what's the plan?

Angelica: I think you need a nice visit to London.

Kitty: Angie, no.

Angelica: Angie, yes. Someone has to find him. And who better than you?

Kitty: Fine. When do we go?

Angelica: I think, if we can get your mother and father talked to, in a fews days. After all it'll take us a few days to get there.

Kitty: Fine…

An hour later and I had gathered my parents in the library to try my luck.

Anne: So what did you want to talk to us about?

Kitty: Well…

I shifted on my feet a bit, trying to decide how honest I should be. I had to go about this carefully or I knew they would lose their minds.

Kitty: I want to go to London.

Anne: London? It's rather early for that, Kitty. We usually don't go until later in the summer.

John: Yes, July is when we usually go. Sometimes August. June is an awful time for London.

Kitty: Well… Lord Radcliffe is there now and…

Anne: Oh, I see what this is.

Kitty: You do?

Anne: Of course! Why didn't we think of this before? You haven't seen him in a month. Of course you must be missing him!

John: It's only natural, Katherine. Especially since he seems to be too busy to write to you.

I froze as I stared at them both remembering that I hadn't told them about Dante not being in touch with anyone.

Kitty: Natural? Are you certain?

Anne: Yes! I remember when your father and I were separated for the summer. All the letters couldn't help the passion between us.

Kitty: Noted. So can I go? I promise I'll be responsible and careful.

John: You would need a chaperone. You can't just run off to London on your own. It would be unsafe and careless.

Kitty: Angie will accompany me.

Anne: Someone who isn't your lady's maid, Katherine.

Kitty: Fine. If I can find someone to chaperone me, can I go?

John: If you can, then yes.

Kitty: Thank you, Papa. Thank you, Mama.

A few hours later, I found myself on a stroll in the garden.

Delilah: Good day, Miss Hawthorne.

Kitty: Lady Delilah? Good day.

Delilah: I'm sorry for intruding on your solitude, but they said you were out here.

Kitty: Don't worry about it. How can I help you?

Delilah: I was wondering if you'd heard from Dante? He hasn't replied to any of my letters. And he's always the most dutiful correspondent with me!

Kitty: You have not heard from him either?

Delilah: If I had I wouldn't be so concerned, Miss Hawthorne. I have not heard from Dante in over a month now.

Kitty: What do you want to do then?

Delilah: I want to locate my brother. He's all I have. I know he's an ass but I need him.

I crossed my arms over my chest awkwardly as I listened to her. Who was I to deny a younger sister help in finding her brother? I knew what I needed to do.

Kitty: I'll help you find him.

Delilah: What? Really?!

Kitty: Yes. I actually talked to my parents earlier today about going to London. And I am in need of a companion.

Delilah: Then, Miss Hawthorne, I'd say we're going to London.

Kitty: When would you like to go?

Delilah: The sooner the better. I can be ready to go by tomorrow. Yourself?

Kitty: I think I can be ready by then too.

Delilah: Then start packing. I'll leave you to it.

After that very interesting conversation with Delilah, I walked back into the foyer of our house.

Emilia: Goodness, Kitty! You had me frightened.

Kitty: Sorry.

Emilia: It's alright. Did you need something?

Kitty: No, I just wanted to talk.

Emilia: OH? What about?

Kitty: I'm going to London, and I wondered if you wanted to come?

Emilia: London? But we usually…

Kitty: Don't go until July, yeah I know. There's been a change of plans.

Emilia: Why are you going to London?

Kitty: I need to find Dante.

Emilia: But shouldn't he be arriving back soon? He's already been gone over a month now.

Kitty: That's the thing, no one has heard from him.

Emilia: No one?

Kitty: No one. Not Delilah, Not Gerard, not me…

Emilia: Do mother and father know?

Kitty: No, and as long as I can help it they won't. The last thing I need is this getting all over the county. Apparently people already think I'm odd.

Emilia: Smart. When do we leave?

Kitty: So you'll come?

Emilia: Of course! I'm not missing a trip to London!

Kitty: Great! And we're hoping for tomorrow if all goes well.

Emilia: It's a bit quick, but I think I can make it work.

Kitty: Perfect. I'll talk to Mama and Papa tonight again to make sure it's still alright.

Emilia: I'm sorry Dante is missing, Kitty.

Kitty: We don't know that!

Emilia: It's alright to be worried.

Kitty: Maybe I am a bit worried.

Emilia: Which is only natural. Well, apparently I need to go pack.

Kitty: Me too.

TIME SKIP

Kitty: Good evening, Angelica.

Angelica: Ready for bed, Miss Katherine?

Kitty: Yes! After all we have a big trip to London ahead of us.

Angelica: You got your parents to agree?

Kitty: I just talked to them before I came here. You'll come with me, right?

Angelica: Of course, I will! I wouldn't miss a trip to London for the world!

Kitty: Then help me get ready for bed so we'll both be rested.