Free The Prince in the Tower by Lydia M Sheridan Page A

let Auntie Alice come down the stairs.  If anyone does anything untoward, who knows what the Major might do.  And I depend upon you all to look after the children.”
    Th e Major was taking impatient steps to the stairs.  Kate hurried on.  “There is money under the loose floorboard in the tack room.  Contact Uncle Richard immediately, if you can find him.  Try not to let him break the family up.”  She took one last glimpse of her sisters.  “I love you both very much.  Don’t tell Meg and Simon--just say that I went away on a visit or something.”
    “Katie, what--”
    “ Promise me .”
    The girls looked at each other.  By silent communication, they reached an agreement.  Nodding to Kate, they stepped back.  Kate saw Lady Alice hurry down the hall.  Before her iron self-control had a chance to break, she smiled brightly at her aunt and headed down the stairs.  For once, she did not rush.  Her head was held at precisely the correct angle, her skirts at exactly the ladylike height so as not to show too much ankle.
    She heard Aunt Alice call her name, but the girls were good as their word and held her back.  Kate relaxed somewhat.  By keeping them away from the downstairs, it was as if she were keeping them safe from what lay before her.
    At the bottom of the stairs, Kate paused for a moment before advancing partway across the endless black and white marble hall.  Then she paused, eyebrows lifted in hauteur.
    It was a child’s game of chicken, all the more tense now that so much was at stake.  The major walked toward her.  They met in the center of the foyer.  High above soared the ceiling where cheerful cherubs danced on a cloud-filled sky.  The dance taking place between Kate and the Major was a great deal less cheerful, and a great deal more deadly than the innocent bows and arrows wielded by the mischievous winged urchins.  Kate had never been a good card player, but tonight she dared anyone to match her bravado.
    Major Goodwillie bowed.  He creaked.  Kate’s eyes widened as she realized the pudgy major wore a corset.  But for once she didn’t have to stifle her laughter. This popinjay was wearing a corset while trying to ru in her.  Instead she nodded coldly, extending her hand.  The major took it in his, bowing slightly once more.  The merest incline of his head, a studied insolence matched by the sneer on his full red lips.
          “Major Goodwillie, your ladyship,” announced Curtis.  “And his men.”  The butler stalked majestically across the floor to the salon.  It was shabby and worn, but by God, this was the house of generations of earls, and no pipsqueak, corset-squeaking trumped up soldier in fancy dress could make him forget his family's station in life.
    Mindful of the three silent witnesses on the landing, Kate led the way into the salon.  Under no circumstances did she want them to know what was going on until it was too late for Caro, es pecially, to run off and do something mad.
    In the salon, she turned, her back to the fireplace in an unconscious stance of power.  She’d often seen her papa stand so when being called on the carpet by Mama for one of his escapades.  He’d never failed to bring her around his thumb.  Kate hoped the magic would rub off on her.
    The men stood awkwar dly, especially the two youngest.  They were obviously uncomfortable intruding on a member of the quality’s home.  Major Goodwillie even looked a trifle out of his element.  He made as if to sit, but caught himself abruptly when Kate did not.  Instead, she fixed her eyes on him and waited.
    “A nd how may I be of service to you gentlemen?” she inquired calmly.
    The two young officers actually blushed red about the ears.  They had the unmistakable look of men whose collars where suddenly much too tight.
    “It is my painful duty to report to you the death of one Adam Weilmunster,” the Major intoned.  “I understand he was engaged to the Lady Lucy.”
    Kate