Rescue or Recovery

PT.5

After taking a short rest, Kitty woke to a light tapping on her door. Looking up, she called. "Come in. It's open.

As the door slowly opened, Kitty noticed Hilda standing, holding the door. Her face was long, eyes sad. "Miss Kitty, did I wake you?"

Tilting her head, "Oh? No, of course not, Hilda. Come, sit." Kitty now walked to the settee and patted the seat beside her. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you've got a lot on your mind. Want to talk about it?"

Now her tears trickled down her cheeks, "Oh, Miss Kitty, it's just not right."

Taking a kerchief from her sleeve, Kitty blotted the tears. "Hilda, what has you so upset?"

"It's… it's… this wedding!"

"The wedding?" Kitty repeated.

Sniffling, "Yes, the wedding, the marriage, all of it! Miss Kitty, I don't want any of it."

Now with eyes wide, "You don't? Well then, why? Why are you marrying this boy?"

"That's just it Miss Kitty, he's not a boy. He's a man."

Kitty held back a smile, realizing Hilda may have wanted her to consider them grown. "Oh, yes, of course. You are both very grown. I'm sorry, Hilda. Don't you love him?"

"No, Miss Kitty. I barely know him and he's more grown than you know." Now lowering her eyes. Miss Kitty, you don't understand. This marriage is arranged. Father arranged it like a business deal. This man, he's… he's… well, he's older."

"Older?" Kitty questioned. "Hilda?"

"Yes, Ma'am. He's Father's age, maybe more."

Shocked and raising her brow, "Oh, come now, Hilda. Your father wouldn't…"

Quickly stopping her, "Yes, Miss Kitty, he would. He told me my marrying Louis is good for the family and the family business. Oh, I know Father loves me but his business is the son he never had."

Kitty felt a sickness in the pit of her stomach. "Hilda Honey, don't you worry. I'll have a talk with your father and maybe this Louis."

Quickly, Hilda hugged Kitty. "Oh, Mother says cook will have dinner ready in a half hour."

Kitty changed clothes. Hilda had freshened up and met Kitty back in the hall.

"Well, you look much better." Kitty told the girl.

"Thank you. You look really nice tonight. Shall we?" Waving her hand towards the staircase. Chuckling, the two walked arm in arm.

As Kitty and Hilda entered the library, "Ah, there you are. We waited for you ladies."

Smiling, "Sorry, if we kept you." Kitty offered her apology.

"Oh, no, not at all. It gave us men a chance to have a drink before dinner." Just then, as William began to say, "Kitty, Claudia and I would like you to meet Hilda's fiancé." The man stood from the high back leather wing chair. "Louis."

Kitty stood stunned.

"William," Louis began speaking, "Miss Russell and I have already had the pleasure." Walking closer, taking her hand, he kissed the back of it."

Kitty swallowed hard. William looked at Kitty's expression. "Kitty, is something wrong?"

Now she looked from Louis to William then to poor Hilda. Her stare could have burned a hole through him. "Mr. Shaw?"

Claudia interrupted. "Dinner in ready. Let's all move to the dining room."

Louis took both the arms of Claudia and Hilda and William walked up, offering Kitty his arm.

Leaning in, "William, if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if we could talk. In private?"

William looked her in the eye with speculation. "Sure, Kitty, anything for my business associate, and a mighty beautiful one at that."

Kitty noticed, all through dinner that Claudia and Hilda were excluded from conversation. But Kitty being Kitty did her best to change that. She remembered how much interest Hilda had in her grandfather and father's business.

"Hilda, tell me, how has it been working with your father?"

Louis was looking annoyed. "Come now, Miss Russell, that's preposterous."

Tilting her head, "Is that a fact, Mr. Shaw"

Now snickering, tossing a condescending look at Hilda, "She's a woman."

Now a raging temper began to boil in Kitty. "And your point would be?"

Shocked, Louis looked to William, "Seems I've touched a nerve."

"Let me tell you something." Her jaws were now clinched tight. "I have owned and run my own business for twenty plus years and have been very successful at it. And if Hilda wants to follow in her grandfather and father's footsteps, there's no reason she can't!"

"Louis," Hilda spoke up. "Miss Kitty is one of Father's associates. She is part of our family business."

Quickly, he hushed her. This again angered Kitty.

"Don't you dare hush her! William?"

"Kitty, Louis will be Hilda's husband."

Kitty couldn't figure why this strong man she had met just a little over a year or so ago was allowing someone to roll right over him and his daughter. She understood the family was grieving but this was too much. Placing her napkin on the table, "If you all will excuse me, I think I need some air."

TBC