The Prince in the Tower Read Online Free

Cavalier?”
    There were eager ayes all round.
    “What if he says no?” Mrs. Appleby asked sensibly.  The ladies frowned at this spanner thrown into their plans.
    “He would not refuse if Katherine were in charge.”
    Everyone stared at Lady Alice, who had been unusually quiet this afternoon, even for her.
    Lady Alice, though amazed at her own temerity, could not let such a golden opportunity pass by, not if she wanted to see Kate married and settled before she was a confirmed ape leader.  And to attach such a one as the dashing Mr. Dalrymple -- her maiden heart fluttered beneath her serene countenance.
    “ Katherine has had a great deal of experience in managing amateur theatricals,” she said, and it was no more than the truth.  “Also, she and Mr. Dalrymple are old friends from London.  If she asked him to participate as a personal favor, I cannot think he would refuse.”
    Once more that afternoon, the Countess was moved to unconditional praise.
    “A n excellent notion, Alice.”  She bent a commanding eye around the room as though daring anyone to disagree.
    But since all the ladies with unmarried daughters were secure in the knowledge that these daughters all had positions in the pageant, from which it would be easy to get them in the way of Mr. Dalrymple, or failing that, perhaps one of the officers or titled tourists who were certain to come, they were content.  The only one who had any objection was Miss Radish, who rather fancied herself an authority on the theatre, having once seen the great Kemble in her youth.
    Her opposition was voted down and the matter settled.  A celebratory sherry was poured all 'round, and the meeting was adjourned.
     
    ***
     
    “You what?”  Kate started up from the settee, The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders tumbling unheeded to the floor.
    “I was able to secure for you the directorship of the pageant,” repeated her aunt with admirable composure.
    “Aunt Alice, I have no time to do anything with the pageant,” protested Kate.
    “My dear, the harvest is i n, the quarterly books are done.  On what, precisely, do you need to spend so much time?”
    "So many things,” Kate replied vaguely, searching for an excuse which didn’t involve highway robbery or the capture of desperate, murdering counterfeiters.  It was a task which taxed even her fertile ingenuity, but pickings would be ripe with the hordes of tourists expected for the festivities.  Kate had no intention of missing such marvelous opportunities for filling the family coffers.
    Besides, and this was a reason she didn’t like admitting even to herself, but her dramatic soul craved the excitement, though uncredited, which the appearance of the Cavalier during the festival would cause.  To take that away would reduce her to a mere -- she shuddered at the term -- spinster.
    Lady Alice continued to coax.  “You work so very hard, Katherine, I thought this might be a bit of a holiday for you.  And with the dragoons--”
    “Dragoons?”
    “--coming into the village, not to mention your nice Mr. Dalrymple, it would be the perfect opportunity to--to expand your social circle,” Lady Alice offered, as an inducement to tempt her recalcitrant niece.
    Kate narrowed her eyes, but could not refuse her aunt, who so seldom asked for anything. 
    “Very well,” she conceded.  “I accept.”
    “The re is just one more thing, Katherine.”  Lady Alice colored faintly, her fingers carefully smoothing the pages of the book Kate had dropped.  She frowned when she saw the title, but was too preoccupied to lodge what she knew would be a futile protest.
    Kate couldn’t remember a time when her aunt had been unable to meet her eyes.  Warily, she asked, “And what might that be?”
    “We, that is, the Ladies Aid, have decided that Mr. Dalrymple should play the Cavalier and you must ask him.”
    Kate couldn’t help it.  She snorted with laughter.
    “Oh, I think not.”
    Lady Alice