by Alice Kirks
‘Oh Robert, I am so sorry.’
‘Are you? I was glad to see the back of her. She fled it back to London where, I am sure, she will find someone with a much more suitable bank account.’
‘I meant about losing the manor.’
‘Do not be sorry. For I secured a way to save the manor. I may have omitted that from the conversation when talking to Dorothy though.’ He winked.
Katherine hid a smile, for surely it meant he had discovered the jewellery that she had hidden in his bed before she left. Thankfully, he had not allowed his pride to stand in the way of saving his family home. It was splendid news, both for him and Alison.
‘I am sure The Duchess was not best pleased at Lady Westland’s departure.’
‘I can guarantee, she was not. A fact that bothered me little, as frankly, I had had enough of her. Her actions and meddling caused me great loss of things that were very precious to me.’ He looked at Katherine intently. ‘I sent her too, back to London. Alison is now old enough to be left in the kind hands of Kitty, who was more like a mother to me anyway.’
‘Goodness me. The Duchess surely did not go without protest.’
‘There was a little protest, but she also had been deeply disturbed by the deceit of Ravenscroft and what I discovered when I found you.’
Katherine unconsciously shuddered.
‘Katherine, she had no inclination to his intentions.’
‘Of course not,’ she shook her head vehemently, ‘meddling she is, but I could not imagine her distress when she found out what he had done. Apparently, they had been close friends for a very long time.’
‘Yes, they had. Something they are not, any longer. But enough of that dog. Before she left, my aunt explained her reasoning behind pushing me to produce an heir. I am, it would seem, of a similarity to my father, her brother. Witnessing my need for exploration and adventure, she feared that I would never settle down as, apparently, it had been a struggle to get my father to do also. Her idea of settling down was marriage and a child. And whilst I do think she went about it completely the wrong way, I do not doubt, that the continuance of the family lineage is still her desire.’
‘Yes. I would agree with you. We had a long conversation about it when I was still at Winfield. I do feel, she fears she will die before she gets to see it. Perhaps that is an added reason for the pressure she put you under.’
‘Perhaps, but her actions were still wrong, and I wonder how our circumstances would have been different had she welcomed you instead of shunning you, or if she had not been so arrogant as to assume to know what was best for me.’
‘Well, there is little we can do about it now.’
‘There is plenty we can do about it.’ Robert replied. ‘As I have already stated, I intend to court you as I should have when I first laid eyes on you.’
Katherine again blushed at his intensity, for she had not witnessed this part of him. This desperate need to truly want her, and to be with her. In fact, neither of them truly knew each other, for the intricacy of deceit had evidently run through both of them.
‘I would like us to begin at the beginning Katherine. Only, I know it is not completely possible, for we do know a little of each other, but there are things you yet do not know about me.’
‘Such as?’
‘Such as, how much I love you.’
Katherine gasped a little at his forward remark.
‘That I have loved you for a long time before we wedded, and have not stopped loving you since. We can certainly start with that.’
‘Please forgive me then, when I ask, why did you send that letter?’
‘Ah, yes. The one I have yet to receive a reply from.’ He smiled.
‘Well,’ she stumbled a little, ‘I thought, you did not want to hear from me, and then, when Alison told me about Lady Westland’s visit…’
‘My intent was to leave you to recover, to give you space. To let you discover what it was you truly wanted for yourself. With the truth revealed, I thought your father may have realised his part in all of this.’
Katherine shook her head.
‘Indeed. I see clearly that his pride and self-righteousness take up much more room than I first imagined. Yet, when I wrote that letter, I thought you would be given your freedom to choose your own path. All I could hope for, was that I may be part of that. It was only when I received word from William that I realised how very wrong my conclusions about your father had been. Which is why, I am here now.’
‘I am sorry I did not reply Robert.’ She said quietly. ‘I thought you were writing to release me.’
‘I was, in a way. But only so you felt under no obligation. You had been unfairly pressed into enough decisions. My aim was to release you from expectations Katherine, for I know how gravely you view them.’
Katherine suddenly shivered, rubbing her upper arms, for though she wore gloves, they reached only so far and her gown was not intended to keep her warm.
‘Good heavens, how blind of me, you are surely freezing. Here, take my coat.’ Robert began to shake it from his shoulders, when she pressed her hand on his arm and shook her head.
‘It is fine really. I think we ought to get back inside, there have been enough wagging tongues over the months.’
‘And there shall be some more,’ he said gleefully, replacing his mask, ‘for I intend to dance with you all night. Not another partner will you have, for I refuse to share you. I have lost you once Katherine, I am determined, that will never happen again.’
Chapter 27
He meant every word, for Robert had no intention of letting her escape his love again. Had he known how his letter would have been read, he would have never written it, or at the very least, made it crystal clear, yet, he had also thought Lord Ennis a sensible man, more fool him.
There were already glances and muttered whispers when they re-entered the ball room. Whether Katherine noticed them, he could not be sure, but for his part, he could not care less. Nothing and no-one would separate them again, even Lady Ennis, when she came bustling towards them, needing to know where her daughter had sneaked off to.
They truly were the most oppressive parents and whilst Robert wanted to court Katherine properly, it would for certain, be a short engagement. She needed to be rescued from this environment, and quickly.
A spirit that needed room to soar, she could never reach her true potential penned in under the circumstances that were currently, her life. Robert had noted the supposed suitors that had been invited, some of them were over twice her age. He could hardly comprehend Lord and Lady Ennis in wanting rid of her, for they did not know what they had in their spirited daughter. Nor did they deserve her.
Breaking all the rules, they danced together for the remainder of the ball. Robert nearly laughed out loud as he watched the twitches and whispers of the crowd around them.
That, however was not the best part of the night. Though deliriously happy to have her back by his side, the highlight of his evening was a conversation between he and Katherine on one of their many dances.
‘I am sorry I left Winfield.’ She said, as they swirled.
‘I am surprised you lasted as long. I think, only for Alison, I would not have expected you to remain for a week.’
‘Why would you say that?’
‘It is hardly a mystery Katherine, you were miserable. Neither I nor The Duchess much helped. If I had been in your shoes, my stay would have been a great deal shorter. But I know why you stayed.’
‘You do?’
‘Absolutely. You are as stubborn a woman as I ever met.’ He smiled down at her.
‘That is not the reason.’
‘Oh.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Do tell.’
‘I stayed because I love you Robert. I loved you back then and even more so now.’
Robert jolted, and only for her guidance, was able to continue the dance. He had told her a lot of things tonight, expressed how he had felt, laid out the land for her to decide what she wa
nted and held nothing back. For he wanted to start their new life in complete honesty. But for that moment in time, he was speechless.
Not because he did not believe her, not because he had no words to speak. Simply, that his joy overwhelmed all other things. He was certain he had felt something from her in their time together, he knew there was more than just the convenience of their union, yet by the time he had plucked up the courage to ask her, it had been too late.
Collapsed and unable to answer him, he had left Spencer Manor and York, not knowing. Not knowing for months, for he thought her delay in writing back may be to do with her recovery, and after all, he had promised himself to give her all the space she needed.
It was not such a shock to hear it, for he knew, from William’s correspondence, that she still felt for him. But that was only imparted to him in the last letter William had sent. The same letter that had warned him of the impending ball and the domineering Lord’s intentions. The friends shared a healthy dislike for the man.
Robert had hoped, as they began courting properly this time, that at some point, Katherine would disclose her feelings. Not imagining it would be so soon, he struggled to resist the urge to sweep her off her feet before the entire room and embrace her.
‘Thank you.’ He eventually whispered.
‘I should have told before. I am sorry it has taken so long.’
‘I do not care,’ he said gleefully. ‘I am happy that you have told me at all.’
‘It took much to hide it from you for the time we were together, and as we are putting all our cards on the table, it is time you knew the truth.’ Katherine smiled up at him.
Gazing down at her, his heart expanded. If he had this wonderful woman by his side and was the sole aim of her love, there was nothing that could take his happiness from him.
Having been stationed in York for the past few weeks, he had travelled to Lord Suttons manor and prepared for the ball there. Melinda, though thrilled at his arrival, had been sworn to secrecy, for if Lord Ennis had any inclination of Robert’s attendance, her father would surely attempt to put a stop to it.
William and Robert had urged her to act exactly as she would, if he had not arrived, and Melinda, though admitting it would be difficult, promised that she would. By Katherine’s reaction, she had evidently kept her word.
Robert could only have hoped that the night would have turned out as well as it had, and when the ball ended, he would go back with William and Melinda, but tomorrow, he would return to Spencer Manor to speak to Lord Ennis. For Melinda had already told him of Katherine’s promise. That she would marry the first man to ask for her hand. He could not allow anyone else that opportunity.
No-one would separate them ever again. Not his aunt or her parents, or any circumstance in the future. Knowing the anguish and torture of losing her once before, he would not allow it, nor could he endure it, for the last months had been too dire to even recollect.
Chapter 28
Katherine had barely slept.
Reliving the evening over and over again and hardly believing it had happened, she, not so very patiently, awaited Robert’s arrival that morning.
Before he departed on his horse last night, he had told her that he would return. They would be together, even if he had to steal her away. Katherine had laughed, for she doubted, with her parent’s desperate desire for her to leave, that that would be necessary.
They had already caused a minor scandal, him never letting her out of his sight for the rest of the evening, and even as some had attempted to dance with her, Robert had been quite possessive. But their conversation continued as they danced, and it was obvious, Robert had been little impressed with her father’s need to be rid of her.
‘I hope you do not mind me speaking so frankly Katherine, but I cannot understand nor comprehend such a desire.’
‘It is simple. I do not fit.’
‘You do not fit!’ He stated, sounding rather annoyed. ‘What utter nonsense.’
‘Well, it is not really nonsense, it is the truth.’
‘Oh, yes. I do know that. It is one of the many reasons I love you my dear Katherine. What I find utter nonsense is that your parents cannot accept you for who you are. Cannot or will not support you in your quest to be different. I could never imagine being such a tyrant with our children.’
‘Our children?’ Katherine was more than a little taken back, for they had hardly yet announced an engagement. And yet, she knew, that children would be in their future at some point.
‘Well,’ he stammered a little. ‘Yes. I hoped so. But perhaps, that is not what you wish.’
Katherine gazed intently up at him, for truly, she would do anything for this man, having loved him for so long. Not that he would ask anything that she did not want to give, for that was exactly the point. He knew her better than he realised, much more so than her parents for sure, and with that knowledge, she knew anything he asked would not be obligatory or oppressive.
‘I suppose, that would depend.’ She teased.
‘On what?’
‘Well, if our daughter were anything like me, we would have quite a stubborn, rebellious handful.’
‘And if our son were anything like me, we would have an adventurous explorer who cannot be settled.’
‘Excellent,’ Katherine replied, ‘so together, we are to produce an unsettled, stubborn, adventurous, rebellious explorer.’
‘They sound perfect,’ Robert grinned. ‘I would not want our child to be any different.’
‘Nor me.’ Katherine agreed.
***
The tune softly drifted from the pianoforte as her fingers danced over the keys in her usual practise before breakfast. Hobbs, as always lay beside her feet, his head on his paws, looking to be asleep. Katherine was nervous, for since last night, she had yet to face her parents, and she did not relish the conversation at the breakfast table.
Having danced with Robert for the entire evening, she was certain both her mother and father were now well aware of who the stranger was, and having overheard her father speaking to her mother in the drawing room this morning, her suspicions had been confirmed. Her father had not sounded best pleased. Yet he had made a promise. He could not now go back on his word.
Smiling to herself and whimsically recalling her evening with Robert as she lost herself in her music, Katherine was suddenly distracted by a movement from the corner of her eye. Looking up, she saw her dashing Captain, leaning against the frame of the open French doors.
Her heart leaped and she beamed over at him. Just as it was that very first day of her deceit, when he stood there, watching her play, but now, he returned her smile. Seemingly well aware of what she may be recalling.
‘My presence is disturbing you.’ He smiled knowingly.
‘No,’ she smirked, ‘please stay.’
Hobbs lifted his head at the disturbance, but when realising nothing exciting was happening, he dropped himself back down again with a heavy thud.
‘Do you play?’ She asked, knowing well they were reliving their first meeting in this room.
‘I do not,’ he replied, playing along. ‘I wonder though, how do you know this piece that you are playing?’