by Skyler Grey
Catherine looked at him in shocked disbelief that he’d say an ill word against his mother, even if it were true. Unable to help herself, she laughed.
Devan laughed, too. His eyes softened as he spoke. “Catherine, I have wanted to tell you this for some time now. All the years that I was so cruel to you has brought me immense shame and guilt and it’s been eating away at my insides. My behavior was short of unforgivable and I’m humbly asking your forgiveness now. I was a complete idiot. An imbecile. A …”
Catherine raised a slim brow as she finished his sentence. “An Ass?”
He looked at her, before tossing back his head with laughter. “Yes! A complete ass! These past two years, I’ve done quite a bit of growing up and in doing so, the guilt of my behavior has been weighing heavily on my heart. When you were at a time in your life that you needed family, a friend, I was never there, being instead, a spoiled, selfish prick, and I’m deeply sorry. I’d truly like for us to be friends, Cat. If you can you find it in your heart to forgive me, I think we can be.”
She looked at him in suspicion.
Throwing his hands up, he nodded in understanding. “I know, I know. You have every right to not believe or trust me. But I want to make it up to you. I swear I do. If you’d but give me a chance to prove it.”
Catherine felt an overwhelming desire for peace. She no longer cared if he spoke the truth. She was about to start a new life and she wanted to mend fences, especially with her family. “Okay, Devan. I believe you. But you don’t have to make anything up to me. We can just start over, now.”
Devan smiled. “Yes, I do, Cat, but it’s more than that, I want to. Promise me a ride through the park first thing in the morning. I’ve a surprise that I’ve been dying to give you since my return.”
She could only laugh at the excitement in his voice. “Certainly,” she conceded. “But for now, I’m tired and would like to rest. Would you be so kind as to give the princess my apologies?”
Devan stood quickly as she rose to her feet. “Of course. Here, let me help you.”
Catherine shook her head and gave him a light smile. “I’m fine, Devan, but thank you. My foot is actually healing quite nicely. Another week or so and I should be good as new.”
Devan placed a light kiss on her forehead. “Then I shall see you in the morning, Little Cousin. Be sure to dress in your favorite riding habit.”
Catherine shot him a look, unable to stop the grin that slipped across her face. She loved to ride, but it had been so long.
“I will, and I believe I’m actually going to look forward to it.” Then before she turned, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Devan.”
He only smiled.
Morning came sooner than Catherine cared, but she forced herself out of bed and dressed in a smart, green velvet riding habit with matching hat and gloves. Devan had already sent word to her, letting her know he was anxious to start the day.
So many years of bickering and hateful encounters had Catherine on edge, prepared for yet another cruel joke. It would not surprise her if he were to do something foul. In truth, it would surprise her if he didn’t, but he seemed so sincere the night before. Sighing, she truly prayed that he had changed.
She made her way downstairs and outside to the stables. True to his word, Devan stood with the biggest, silliest grin she’d ever seen. But it wasn’t his grin that caused her eyes to widen as the most beautiful gray gelding she’d ever seen was brought forth.
Unable to contain her admiration for the stunning beast, she softly praised him as she ran her fingers through his thick mane. Nuzzling her gently, the horse whinnied against her shoulder.
Catherine laughed as she placed her cheek against his velvet nose, whispering soft, soothing sounds to the animal.
Devan chuckled. “I’m happy you like him.”
Catherine stepped back, smiling. “Yes, I do. He is absolutely beautiful. Where did you find such a stunning horse?”
“Well, to be honest. I won him in a card game. He’s my gift to you, Cat. When I saw him, I knew I had to have him. Knowing how much you love animals, I knew that he would be perfect for you.”
Catherine gushed in shock. “You cannot be serious!” Even as she spoke, her hand went out instinctively to stroke the horse once more.
“More serious than I’ve ever been. Now, how about that ride?”
Catherine could only stare in awe and disbelief as she whispered, “I don’t know what to say, other than thank you. I shall cherish him dearly, Devan.”
A month had come and gone since Catherine had returned home. Eric had dropped by almost daily. Several weeks prior, he had come to tell her that his father had sent for him. Although she felt her heart lurch at the thought of his leaving, she understood. They had walked along the grassy path of the labyrinth in the early moonlight that evening, finding her quiet place of solitude where they discussed plans for when he returned to her.
After his departure, the loneliness of not having Eric caused her to mope, making Devan more determined than ever to lighten her mood.
She was happy they had found a new kinship with one another and the Lady Miranda and Princess Lavinia’s visits helped to brighten her days as the four of them would laugh endlessly.
Eric Sent word through his aunt that he had arrived safely at his parents and was anxious to get things settled quickly so he could return home to her. But as of yet, he was unsure as to how long that might be.
Two more months went by, and Catherine was beside herself. So wrapped in her loneliness of missing Eric, she jumped when her aunt snapped her name.
“Catherine! For the love of God, do you ever listen when someone is speaking to you?” Lady Abigail had come in from a day of shopping, tossing her cloak to the butler. “I said, where is Devan? Run fetch him, I’ve bought him something today and I can’t wait to give it to him.”
Catherine gritted her teeth. Although she and Devan had mended their differences, her aunt had refused to even try. She still treated Catherine as if she were nothing short of a nuisance. Reaching her limit with her aunt’s callousness, she finally snapped.
“Aunt? Is your eyesight failing you?” Catherine asked tartly.
Abigail gave Catherine a startled look. Before she could reply, Catherine added, “Because my status in this family is not that of a servant. Therefore, if you feel you must give your precious Devan something, I suggest you hurry off to find him yourself, or call a servant to do your bidding, else you will have to wait.”
Her aunt gasped, throwing her hand to her throat, her face paling.
“How dare you speak to me in such a way, you ungrateful little twit! I knew you were trouble the day you walked through our doors. But out of respect for my dead sister, I opened my arms to you. And this is the thanks I get?” she screeched dramatically.
Catherine snorted and stood face-to-face with her Aunt. “Opened your arms to me? You must be dreaming, dear aunt. You’ve never once opened your arms to me. In truth, all I’ve ever gotten from you was contempt and cruel threats. I’ve felt more love from the animals that play in your labyrinth than from you. I tried my best to be as respectful as you clearly demanded, but no matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. No longer! I’d have been better off in a convent than in the care of your so-called generosity.”
Abigail reared back, striking her niece across the face. The stinging ring of her hand immediately brought tears to Catherine’s eyes.
Devan had entered the room, witnessing his mothers attack in stunned disbelief.
Rushing to Catherine, he looked in horror at her cheek. Upon seeing the perfect imprint of his mother’s hand, he whirled to face her. “Mother! What in hell is wrong with you? What could Catherine have possibly done to deserve such abuse?”
The Lady Abigail enhanced her state of stress by reaching for a chair and falling upon it with dramatic exaggeration. Her breathing coming in short gasps, she looked up at her son with a stricken face. “That ungrateful chit i
nsulted me to my very face, Devan. After all we’ve given her. She told me that she would have been better off in a convent. Well, I just couldn’t take it. After all your dear father did for her, for her to show such disrespect was simply unforgivable.” Taking a deep breath, she glared at Catherine.
Hissing, Abigail growled, “You’re just like your mother. Never caring about anyone but yourself. Let us pray that you don’t end up like her, pregnant before your wedding day.”
Catherine’s breath caught in her throat as she stepped back in disbelief at the vicious words her aunt flung at her. “How could you speak such horrible lies? My mother was a woman who was good and kind. You’re a spiteful woman, Abigail Armstrong, you with your overweight, pompous fat ass and jealous hate!”
Abigail shrieked at the insults, lunging forward in her chair as she dug her nails into the wooden armrest. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to speak my piece about your mother? Your mother was never my sister. My mother died at childbirth. When father remarried, it was to the Lady Cynthia, who was your grandmother, my step-mother. She was already pregnant with your precious mother and tried passing her off as Father’s, but he knew. We all knew, but for whatever reason, father remained silent. When Christine was born, rumors flew like the wind around London’s Ton.”
Abigail’s eyes narrowed as a sneer crossed her face. “Christine did not look like father’s family. Grandmother was dark-haired as was father. But lo and behold, your dear mother was fair-headed with blue eyes. There’s not been a blue-eyed baby in the Roth family for centuries. Now you tell me.”
Catherine’s head spun as she pressed her hands to her temples, shaking her head. “Lies, all lies! You’re a vicious, cruel woman who has always harbored a jealous hate for my mother. She spoke often of how much grandfather loved her. How kind he was. You’re just being vengeful by slandering the good name of a woman who cannot defend herself from the grave. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
A dark laugh came from her aunt. “Ashamed? My dear girl, it is you who should be ashamed. For your dear, sweet, precious mother did the same thing.”
Catherine’s eyes flew wide. “What are you saying, Abigail? That my mother was pregnant before she married my father? If so, I’d be careful, for slander is a crime and I’ve powerful friends who would not hesitate to defend me.”
Abigail grinned, a satisfied smile across her face. “A crime if proven wrong, and yes, I stand by what I said: she was pregnant with another man’s child. Why do you think Richard, your dear father deserted you? You never belonged to him, and he knew it. His shame at what she had done sent him over the edge and when she died, he no longer could stand the shame. Therefore, he packed you off to us and disappeared. Never to be heard from again.”
Leaning back in her chair in a satisfied huff, she gave Catherine a cruel smile. “Finally, the truth is out, and I for one will sleep well tonight for the first time in years.”
Devan’s voice was low, his contempt clear. “I never thought I’d say this. But I am ashamed you are my mother. You have shown me what I want never to become. All those years of spoiling me and not making me accountable for my arrogance and hateful taunts only brought embarrassment to father. It wasn’t until recently, thanks to Father Peter, that I truly realized how shameful my upbringing was. I’m leaving, and I will not return.”
Facing Catherine he gave her a gentle smile, his eyes apologetic. “I am truly sorry, Catherine. If there were more I could do, I would. And don’t worry about mother. She has no hold over you. When father died, he left you a commendable dowry and plenty of money to live on. Not to mention he threatened to send mother packing if she were to ever try and send you away. He even went so far as to make sure you were protected after his death, for he knew he was ill. He made it clear to mother that if she were to try and send you away, she would immediately be cut out of the will and sent to live with whatever relatives would have her.”
Catherine stared at her cousin, unable to believe her ears. “You mean all those years of threatening to send me away, they were nothing but lies?”
Devan looked down in shame. “Yes, and I’m sorry I never told you.” With a kiss to her forehead, he turned to leave, not bothering to look at his mother.
“Devan! Darling, please don’t be like this. You will break your mother’s heart. Devan? Do you hear me? I beg you please, you didn’t mean what you said, did you, Devie-pooh?”
Abigail jumped to her feet and rushed after her son, her face stricken with horror and disbelief that he might never speak to her again.
Catherine fell into the empty chair, her aunt and cousin’s words tumbling over and over in her mind. If what her aunt said were true, that meant she had a father out there she had never met, but who? Tears trickled down her cheeks. She had to come to terms with this new and shocking development in her life. Maybe then she might truly make a fresh start and begin a new life.
Chapter Seven
A week had passed and Catherine had not come down for dinner or received any visitors. Pushing the untouched meal that had been brought to her room away, she thought she heard loud voices coming from the stairs. Cracking the door, she stepped into the hall to listen.
The arguing came from the parlor room below. She heard her aunt’s shrill voice along with a man’s. Freezing, her knees grew weak. It couldn’t be. After all these years her father had come back! She crept closer to the edge of the banister and craned to listen intently to the angered voices below.
“Abigail Armstrong, you will do as I say and bring me my daughter immediately. You have done us both a grave injustice and you will make it right.” Richard Townsend’s voice boomed loudly below.
Running back to her bedroom, Catherine slammed the door, locking it behind her. Why, after all this time did he now return? Where had he been? Too much had happened over the course of her life, not to mention the past months. She couldn’t take any more.
Changing quickly, she put on a light gown, ignoring the cumbersome hoop and bone corset that hung next to it. She had to get away to think.
She snatched her cloak before slipping through the door and moving quickly down the hall. Taking the servant’s stairs, she pulled the hood over her head and escaped into the back courtyard, making her way into her private sanctuary and running until she reached her secret spot. Dropping onto the marble bench, she clutched her cloak tightly about her as she fought to control the pounding of her heart.
Her heart continued to race as she sat in silence, trying to make sense of everything.
A rustling in the grass caught her attention and she held her breath. Deathly still, she peeked through the leaves as the stranger neared. Catherine cried out, for she would have recognized the outline of her betrothed a mile away. “Eric.”
Unable to move, she held still, her body trembling, not from the night air but from the longing of missing him so much her heart was near bursting at seeing him.
He let out a long, exasperated sigh of relief. His deep voice comforting as it carried across the short distance to where she sat. “Catherine.”
She hesitated for only a moment before rushing into his arms.
Eric cradled her gently, placing soft kisses to the top of her head.
“Catherine, my beautifully strong and sensitive, Catherine.” He looked down at her, his eyes soft. “Your father has returned and he told me everything, things that you do not know and deserve to hear. Your aunt has been wickedly deceiving and she has a great lot of explaining to do. Shall we return to the house…together?”
Catherine melted into his embrace. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him, afraid to let go.
Finally, pulling back, he wiped her tears as she gave him a brilliant smile. “Yes, together.”
She bit the corner of her lip, remembering all the years she had prayed that her father would come to take her home. But now that he was here, she was scared beyond belief. She longed to see him, demand to hear what his reason was for abandoning he
r, but afraid as well. For now she didn’t know if he were truly her father.
Catherine looked pleadingly at Eric. “Promise me that you will never leave me again.”
Eric’s smile faded as he held her face gently between his hands. “I swear to you, my sweet Lady; I will never leave you again. You belong to me, and I you. Forever!”
The breath she held escaped as she went limp against him in relief.
They turned and climbed the steps that led back into the house. Facing her father now would not be so hard.
As Catherine approached the room that held her father, she hesitated until she felt the reassuring squeeze of Eric’s hand. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle, pushing it open.
There, across the room, was her father. He looked older, tired. But his face was still handsome. He looked up from her aunt as she continued to argue with him. His hard eyes softened as tears filled them. “Catherine, how beautiful you’ve become.”
Catherine felt the carefully-built wall around her heart crack. She struggled to control the emotions that filled her. With a nod, she gave him a faint smile. “Thank you. I’ve been well taken care of during your long absence. You look well, father, although I was only a little girl when last I saw you.”
She watched her father flinch at her sharp words.
He stepped forward but she turned quickly to Eric. “Eric, I would like you to meet my father. Lord Richard Townsend. Father, this is, Prince Eric Rycroft. We are to be married”
Eric smiled as he reached out to shake hands with Catherine’s father. “We’ve met, Catherine, remember?”
Catherine stammered as she acknowledged Eric’s reminder. “Oh…yes, I’m sorry.”
Richard chuckled deeply and Catherine softened, remembering the warmth of its sound.
“I am good friends with Eric’s father, Catherine.”
Catherine stepped back surprised. “What? How?”
Richard took Catherine gently by the arm and led her to the paisley sofa in the center of the room. “It’s a long story and I’m happy to share it. That is, if you don’t mind being bored to tears listening.” He smiled at her, his face melting any reserve she might have had left.