Free The Christmas Kittens by Lynn Collum Page B

in the child. “You forget yourself, Anthea. We have much to be grateful to Aunt Flora for. Please apologize.”
    The child's shoulder trembled beneath Karis's hand, but she wasn't certain if it was from rage or remorse. The silence lengthened but at last Anthea calmly spoke.
    “Aunt Flora, I am sorry . . . that your daughter is a spiteful jade who thinks of no one but herself.” The last was said in a rush then the child pulled free from her sister and ran from the room.
    The baroness's face grew red. “How dare that ungrateful child slander her cousin so! After all Dorinda has done for you both.”
    Karis set about trying to soothe her aunt's wounded sensibilities. Unlike Anthea, Karis knew the child would have ended up in an orphanage had their father's only sister not agree to take them in. “Aunt Flora, please, she is just a child. I know that cannot excuse her bad manners, but I do assure you that once she is over the shock of our being separated she will truly apologize to you.”
    Dorinda rose haughtily and stood behind her mother. “I think I am the one that deserves an apology.”
    With resignation, Karis replied, “And so you do, cousin. I hope you will forgive Anthea her show of temper and remember that she has only recently lost her father and is about to be parted from her sister.”
    The baroness looked back at her thoughtfully. “I had not thought her so emotional but my dear you both act as if I were sending you to the ends of the earth. Mrs. Handley lives in Coventry. I am sure she will have no objection to your coming to see Anthea on your own time.”
    Relief flooded Karis. She would not be completely removed from her sister and would get to see how she went on, even if it was as rare as once a month.
    The next half hour was spent appeasing her relatives. She knew she would have to find Anthea and return her to the drawing room for an apology, but Karis wanted the child to have an opportunity to get past her first wave of anger. She even dared hoped her sister might return of her own accord once she realized the magnitude of her insult to their cousin and aunt.
    At last, sufficiently certain that Aunt Flora and Dorinda were no longer furious with her sister, Karis excused herself and went in search of the child. Within a matter of ten minutes, however, it became clear that Miss Anthea Lockhart was no longer at Westwood Park.

*   *   *
     
    Anthea paced in front of Binx and Lady Rosalind having just poured out the details of the meeting in the rear parlor. “I tell you my cousin is despicable. She is making Aunt Flora send Karis away.”
    “But why?” Lady Rosalind looked up at her nurse, puzzled.
    Binx returned the girls' questioning stare. She realized, she being the adult, they were expecting an answer from her. “Well, I can't say why your cousin--what did you say `er name was?”
    “Miss Dorinda Westerly.”
    Binx brows rose. “The same Miss Westerly what claimed to be thrown from `er `orse in front of the manor?”
    Anthea nodded her head. “The very same.”
    “Then `tis clear as glass. Your cousin is a cunning baggage. Tryin' to get Lord Marsden to make up to `er and she don't want no other female about distractin' `im. Wasting her time, if you ask me. `E'd be much better off if `e married up with your sister.”
    At first Anthea's face brightened, then her expression grew gloomy. “Karis says that titled gentleman never marry penniless ladies.”
    Binx sadly replied, “`Tis commonly true.”
    Lady Rosalind jumped to her feet. “I wish my papa would wed your sister. Then we would be a family and I should never have to live with Grandmama again. I like Miss Karis immensely but does my father?”
    Binx shrugged her shoulders. “Lord Marsden does get a certain look in `is eyes when they rest on the lady. But you two are gettin' way ahead of things `ere. `Is lordship ain't said nothin' about gettin' married.”
    The girls' faces grew gloomly, both realizing that Binx was right.