A Taste of Honey Read online

  A proud smile spread across her lips. “My charges are somewhat famous in some circles. The girls I take with me often have many proposals and are able to choose their husbands. Due to the unique circumstance of finding a set of twins such as yourselves, I have decided that I would be willing to take on two girls this year, rather than choosing only one of you.”

  Katherine could feel Robin grasp her hand and squeeze gently. It appeared to her sister that all of her dreams were finally coming true. With a stern look from their mother, both girls silenced their many questions and untangled their hands. They tried to be the obedient young women that their mother had claimed they were.

  Looking around the small room for something to drink, Mrs. Brentley appeared disappointed to find that no tea had been set out for her, let alone biscuits to break her hunger from the long journey. “You do not entertain often, do you?” she asked Mrs. Wellings, motioning to the empty side table.

  At once Mrs. Wellings realized her mistake and turned to her girls. “Go and fetch Laney. Tell her to get us some tea and cake,” she instructed.

  Katherine rose to do her mother's bidding before being stilled by Mrs. Brentley. “I would like to speak to your daughters alone for a moment. Would you be so kind as to retrieve the maid yourself?” The words were spoken kindly, yet with authority and Katherine could not remember her mother ever being told to do something by someone. She did not keep any friends who might question her. Their father had long ago given up on trying to direct their mother to do anything, as she often did the opposite merely to spite him. For a moment Katherine thought that her mother would refuse Mrs. Brentley. Then, with a stiff smile, she stood up and nodded before leaving the room.

  Mrs. Brentley waited for the door to click shut, then released a light sigh. Turning to the girls she smiled warmly. “Your mother wrote to me over a year ago asking for my assistance. She has told me much about you through our correspondence, and you both appear to be likely candidates for my assistance.”

  Robin smiled and nodded her head, clearly excited to please the woman in any way possible, at least for the moment. Katherine wondered how long her sister's good behavior would last before she would again sink into a state of ill tempers.

  “However,” Mrs. Brentley continued with a far less friendly tone, “I have not yet decided. As I would be taking care of you girls for as long as four of five months, I would like to know that we will be able to enjoy each other's company.” Sitting back in her chair Mrs. Brentley seemed to be testing them. “What can you tell me about yourselves that your mother might have missed?”

  “Well, we're nothing like our mother,” Robin said rudely before Katherine could poke her in the ribs.

  Instead of lecturing her for speaking ill of their mother Mrs. Brentley fought to hide a smile. “What else?” When the girls remained silent, Mrs. Brentley pushed a little harder. “Do you know what kind of men you would be looking for and what kind of talents you possess that would tempt them?”

  “I want a rich husband,” Robin declared before Katherine could stop her.

  Mrs. Brentley smiled warmly despite being taken aback by the girl's bluntness. “Yes we all want wealthy husbands, but is there anything more particular that you see yourself searching for?”

  Robin thought for a moment. “I supposed that I would be looking for the new money sort of men. They are quickly becoming richer than even some of the oldest Lords and I would be very useful because I have an impeccable eye for things like fashion. From what I have seen and heard about most of those men, they grew up very poor and have no idea of how best to use their money to show their status. Since I am constantly keeping an eye on the newest trends in hair, clothing, and how to decorate one's house I believe that I could best help by giving them a direction for their money.”

  Mrs. Brentley's smile faded for a moment as she considered how to respond. “There are a few advantages to marrying men such as the type that you describe. However, I should warn you that in London, if not here, there is a certain stigma attached to that particular group of men. They are known for being quite rowdy and irresponsible. They allow their mistresses to appear publicly with them and are often encased in one scandal or another. You must consider these kinds of things before choosing a husband.”

  “That might be true but I don't care about the man's reputation,” Robin blurted out even as Katherine pinched her side to keep her silent.

  They shared a simmering glance in which they spoke more quickly through thoughts than they could have with words. After a moment Robin relented and fell back against the seat. “I'll give it some thought,” she said moodily.

  “What about you, Katherine?”

  “I know French and a little German. I have also been instructed in sewing and I play a few instruments.” Mrs. Brentley nodded her head as she received the kind of information that she had expected. Katherine hoped that she could smooth out any ruffled feathers that her sister had caused. “I also have a great fondness for reading.”

  “That's wonderful. Like many others I enjoy listening to music. I would like for you to play for me some night after dinner. There is a small piano forte at my apartments that rarely gets much use.”

  “I would enjoy that very much.” Katherine was surprised to hear Mrs. Brentley offer an invitation. It seemed that their chances were better than she could have hoped.

  “What kind of husband do you consider yourself appropriate for?” Mrs. Brentley asked.

  It was a strange question for Katherine to ponder and she wasn't given much time to do so.

  At the same time that Mrs. Brentley finished asking the question Mrs. Wellings entered. Katherine could tell that her mother had been listening in on at least most of their discussion and she wasn't too surprised. “Katherine will marry a Duke,” Mrs. Wellings said forcefully as she took her seat.

  Mrs. Brentley frowned for only a brief moment before she was able to mask her reaction. “Why a Duke?”

  “Perhaps a Viscount or even a Lord, either of those would be suitable as well. It is really a matter of influence and wealth that is important.”

  Katherine knew that her face reflected the same kind of shock as Mrs. Brentley's. Her mother had never mentioned to her that she expected anything quite so ambitious from her daughters. Even in London girls did not fall across eligible Dukes at every turn.

  “Are you expecting this of both of your daughters?” Mrs. Brentley asked.

  “No, of course not. Robin is far too wild to marry into the aristocracy.” Mrs. Wellings made a motion with her hand as if to dismiss Robin entirely. Her attentions seemed focused on Katherine alone. “She may do whatever she likes. However Katherine has been raised to be suitable for such high circles of society. Don't you agree that she would be a fine wife for any titled man?”

  Mrs. Brentley looked Katherine over carefully before addressing her mother. “I believe that she would make a fine wife for any man, no matter how blue his blood was.”

  After a tight and rather forced smile Mrs. Brentley changed the subject until they had found a topic that did not cause as much disagreement.

  By the end of their short interview it was clear that despite some of the fears that Mrs. Wellings and Robin had raised, Mrs. Brentley had decided to take both girls with her to London. She warned them that they would have to be ready by early the next morning, which seemed impossible until she told them what to bring.

  “We don't have time to pack all of your gowns and dresses. Take only what you will require for our trip to London and the rest will be taken care of later.” With a quick goodbye the three women ushered Mrs. Brentley out of the door so that they could prepare for tomorrow's journey.

  Robin sauntered dreamily about the small hallway as her head filled with the ideas of lavish balls, outrageous plays, and all of the money her future husband would have. Katherine smiled at the scene, happy to see that for once her sister had little to complain about. She tried to ignore her mother's strange request as perhaps
being only a show for Mrs. Brentley but Mrs. Wellings soon crushed most of the joy that she had been feeling.

  “This could be the best thing that has happened to us in a long time.” Mrs. Wellings said as she pulled Katherine aside. “You'll do me proud,” she stated rather than asked. “Once you've married well there will be nothing left to worry about. I will always have a home to turn to, even if your father's health continues to slide away from him.”

  Katherine fought the urge to laugh at her mother's exaggeration. “There is nothing wrong with him; he has a simple head cold. He will be fine.”

  “Regardless of his condition, I have had to live seventeen years without any guarantee of my protection and your marriage into nobility will finally secure my comforts in life.”

  She knew that it was her mother's own way of asking for things, to state them as if they were already fated to happen. “What if I'm unable to find a titled husband?” Katherine asked her. “Or worse, if I cannot find a husband at all.” She had meant to make a joke with her remark and lighten her mother’s mood. Instead Mrs. Wellings refused to laugh as her eyes narrowed in and her lips pursed.

  “Were you to come home without a suitable husband you would be disowned.”

  Katherine's heart sank as she watched her mother's face. There was no sign of humor to soften the fiery look in her eyes and she began to understand the seriousness of the situation.

  “I have worked too hard on you to let all of my efforts come to nothing. I cannot put my faith in your sister. Robin is too silly for her own good. Instead I place it in you. I have worked for you to have this opportunity in London.” With a last and less pleasant glance at Robin, Mrs. Wellings began to walk up the stairs towards her room for the night. “Do not disappoint me,” she said as she walked away.

  Chapter 2

  After many hours of bobbing in the large carriage that Mrs. Brentley had secured for their trip to London, they at last came to a halt outside of the inn that they were to stay at for the night. Mrs. Brentley had told them that her daughter would meet up with them there but she had not yet arrived. Mrs. Brentley asked her footman to carry up the girl's trunks and have a dinner brought up to them at the room.

  Katherine was relieved to see that they were to occupy their own set of rooms while Mrs. Brentley and her daughter would be in a different set across the hall. Robin had spent most of the carriage ride discussing topics that she and Mrs. Brentley did not agree on. The two had nearly fought when Robin had brought up the subject of the new money men that she had narrowed in on so intensely. An entire night in the same room with each other might have led to an even larger argument between Robin and Mrs. Brentley, who had not yet broached the subject of fashion, something that she was sure both women would be quite opinionated about.

  “She's unbearable,” Robin whined as she sat down at the small table in their room and began picking at a string that hung down from her bonnet. “I can't stand how she gives her advice, as if it came from God and cannot be questioned! There are different men intended for different women. She does not accept that I have needs that someone without vast amounts of money could not satisfy.”

  “Hush Robin, don't be quite so loud.” Katherine decided not to agree or disagree with her sister in case it caused an argument between them as well. “The walls aren't that thick in some of these old inns, so tonight you should watch what you say,” Katherine warned. The next few months were likely to include many occasions where Robin and Mrs. Brentley would butt heads if neither was able to cool down and make concessions on some of the subjects. Knowing Robin, Katherine felt it was unlikely to come from her sister's end.

  “I hope her daughter isn't quite as bossy,” Robin said with a slightly lower tone. “I don't think that I could handle two women like her. They would be telling me what to do all of the time.”

  Katherine admitted that she had considered the same possibilities but added that neither one of them had grown up to be like their mother. “There is no reason that we should assume that Winnie is a replica of her mother, she could be lovely.” Robin laughed grimly at the thought before starting to unpack and choosing which dress she wanted to wear when they first entered London tomorrow.

  Digging through her clothes Katherine found the purple velvet hooded robe that she used for walks on cold nights like tonight. Her favorite past time back home had been walking around their small garden and into the woods behind their house wrapped up in her warm cloak. Right now she felt that need for some time alone to think and sort things out. Her emotions over her mother’s new demands had sent her into a spin of uneasiness and being in a new town meant that there would be new things for her to see during her walk. Night was her favorite time to be outside, when everything was silent and still.

  A small tap at the door announced Mrs. Brentley who burst in with a maid holding a tray of tea and a few cold sandwiches purchased from the innkeeper for their dinner.

  While trying to avoid any further confrontations Katherine was able to steer their brief conversation to Mrs. Brentley's daughter and how often they would be seeing her while they stayed at the Brentley's apartments.

  “Winnie is not very fond of London,” Mrs. Brentley confessed. “She prefers our estate in the country and often stays there with her brother during most of the season. Since she is to start attending the events next year I have encouraged her to stay longer with us this year but she has not yet made up her mind.”

  Katherine was surprised that such a domineering woman as Mrs. Brentley did not seem to completely control her daughter's schedule. Instead the girl seemed to go where ever she pleased, whenever she wanted to. It made her more of a mystery to the girls and strengthened Katherine's hope that she would get along with Winnie, who was less than a year younger than her.

  Mrs. Brentley poured the hot tea into each of the cups with their mismatched saucers while Katherine went to her bag for a small vial of honey. Not many of the women that she had known used honey with their tea so Katherine always brought her own small jar when she traveled or visited friends.

  The little vial seemed to amuse Mrs. Brentley as Katherine poured some into her tea and sampled the drink before adding a bit more of the golden colored liquid in. “If you are that attached to honey in your tea you must remind me to have some ordered fresh while we are in London. I doubt that I have any at the house and that tiny bottle won't last very long for the two of you.”

  “Katherine is the one who likes honey in her tea,” Robin corrected Mrs. Brentley. “I hate sweetened tea, just a little cream,” she said as she added the right amount and stirred it in until it had a rich tan color.

  Mrs. Brentley added her own mixture of sugar and cream to her tea as she thought for a moment. “Tea is such a personal thing,” she commented. “How a woman takes her tea can tell the company with her a lot about her character. If she takes more than three sugars she usually has a sweet tooth for other treats like chocolate. If she adds nothing at all, she might have grown up too poor for such luxuries and now cannot stomach the sweetness.” Picking up the small vial Mrs. Brentley smiled warmly at it, as if it confirmed some suspicion that she had already had about the two girls. “Honey in tea is rare in most of the cities where they are less likely to have access to fresh stores of it. Everyone who takes tea with you will know that you were once a little country girl.”

  “Is there something wrong with that?” Robin asked defensively before taking a sip from her cup.

  Mrs. Brentley shook her head and placed the bottle back in Katherine's waiting hand. “Of course not Robin. You should not be ashamed of where you came from, you should be proud that you got to live in such a lovely quiet area of England. What I'm trying to tell you both is that from now on people will be watching you very closely, and you should be watching for little things like this as well. You and your future husband may not have much time to spend together before you have to say yes or no to his proposal. Take in as much detail as you can of the men you meet. How does he t
ake his tea, or does he prefer brandy after dinner? Does he ever mention his home and his hobbies? Are they hobbies that you enjoy? Never go out of your way to ask such questions, especially if you've just met him, but try to glean the answers from what you do know about them. It can help you decide if the two of you are suitable for each other.”

  “Like calloused hands might mean that he is poorer and has to work harder,” Robin commented as she watched Mrs. Brentley closely, trying to reopen their previous conversation during the carriage ride. Much to Katherine's embarrassment it seemed that Robin was determined to make an enemy out of their sponsor.

  Luckily Mrs. Brentley quickly dodged the subject, keeping with the one that she had already started. “It depends on the types of calluses Robin. Sometimes they can be from horseback riding or other hobbies. The point is to not get caught up in what they are saying at the time, try to read more into them than what they are telling you. Some of the men I've known act very differently at home than they do at public events like the ones that we will attend. It is best if you understand what they like to do in private as well.”

  Katherine had been so worried about finding a husband that her mother would approve of that she hadn't given any thought to the idea that someone might not be totally truthful about their true positions. She had heard about men who gambled and drank their riches away without ever telling their wives until all of their money was lost through frivolity. That was one reason that the new money men had been able to rise up in society. Despite everyone's talk about blue blood, money would still hold more sway than a pauper with no home who only had a lovely title.

  It was the first bit of advice that made both girls realize that this was not their local neighborhood where if someone lied everyone knew about it and they were quickly punished by their neighbors. London was an entirely different world and far more dangerous and strange than any they had experienced. In a city that large, people could vanish, and did vanish on an almost daily basis. People couldn't always trust who their neighbors were. It reminded Katherine of the book that she had read with her father, where a commoner had pretended to be a Comte to exact his revenge for past wrongs.