The two assented warily and Angelica continued her peace offering. “Please feel free to advise me on which eligible gentlemen to invite. This will be my first organized entertainment and I do so want to do a capital job.”
Claire lit up like a Christmas candle and began rattling off names so fast it was a wonder she could breathe. Victoria was looking at Angelica with gratitude.
“I would so appreciate it if you would call on me for tea tomorrow afternoon, and we may discuss my guest list in further detail,” Angelica said, preparing to depart. “One more thing. Do either of you happen to know where I may acquire a cat?”
“What a coincidence that you should ask that,” Claire said. “There are two children with a crate full of kittens in front of the apothecary’s. I think they are giving them away.”
Angelica would have preferred a full-grown cat to deal with the rat problem right away, but the thought of kittens made her heart turn over in her breast. She clasped Claire’s hands in glee, resisting the urge to embrace her. “Oh, thank you! I shall see you both tomorrow then.”
By the time she got to the apothecary shop, there were only three kittens left.
“We didn’t ’ave th’ ’eart ta drown ’em,” a filthy boy of about eight said.
“Ma told us that if we could find ’omes for ’em, they could live,” his little sister added, wiping her runny nose.
“How long have you been out here?” Angelica asked, alarmed at the sight of the underfed, shivering pair.
“’Bout an hour,” the little boy answered.
A pang of shame hit her as she realized that children such as these two were likely a common sight in even the most fashionable districts. They had merely been invisible to her until Ian pointed them out. Something should be done about this! Her mind roared. But she could do nothing now, except to look at their offering.
There were two orange kittens and a black one, rolling and tumbling over each other in the most adorable manner. She wished she could take all three, but one would likely be enough of a handful. After a long moment of deliberation, she chose the black one, thinking his soft coat would match the duke’s silver and black colors quite nicely.
“Is this one a boy or a girl?” she asked softly, hating her ignorance.
The girl took the kitten from her hands, turned it around, and lifted its tail. “This un’s a boy,” she said frankly, handing the tiny feline back to her.
Angelica blushed at her naivety and clutched the warm black ball of fur to her bosom, inhaling the musty feline scent with delight as she reached into her reticule and handed them all the money she carried. Guilt washed over her anew. From the look of their wan faces and shabby clothing, it wasn’t nearly enough.
The children’s eyes grew wide as saucers as they looked at the coins and took note of the regal crest on the coach parked nearby. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” they chorused and bowed.
“My thanks to you, children,” she said, hiding a sad smile. If only she were the monarch. Perhaps then she could do more for them.
As Angelica climbed into the carriage, she saw John Polidori come around the corner. She nearly leaped out of the carriage to follow him, but the kitten mewed and recaptured her attention. As the conveyance made its way down the street, she peered out of the curtains one last time to see him disappear into the apothecary’s shop.
For a moment she wondered if she should tell Ian of the sighting, but when she remembered the mad manner in which he had behaved the last time he saw the chap, she decided not to. She couldn’t bear the thought of her husband murdering the writer. Perhaps when Ian had calmed a little more over the matter, she could mention the sighting.
***
The moment Ian walked into his house, he was attacked. He looked down at the little scrap of black fur that was determined to shred the left leg of his trousers, his brows raised in disbelief. Cats usually fled from him, instinctively recognizing that he was dangerous. This kitten was either completely fearless, or it hadn’t had the benefit of instruction from its mother.
“My apologies, Your Grace,” Burke said. “The wee creature was making a nuisance of itself during the duchess’s fitting, so he had to be put out of the room.”
“Very good,” Ian said, handing the butler his coat and hat. “Where is she, by the way?”
The butler bowed. “In the blue salon, Your Grace.”
Ian nodded and picked up the kitten. He stroked the tiny animal behind the ears and grinned as it immediately began to purr. “Come along, scamp. Let us go see your mistress.”
The room looked as if a rainbow had exploded within. Myriad silks, batistes, muslins, and velvets in every conceivable color were draped across every available space, while an army of seamstresses buzzed around his wife like worker bees, each holding up fabrics for her approval. His tiny bride stood regally on a raised platform, alternately nodding and shaking her head at their offerings like a queen.