Dawn Annis (2 page)

Chapter 2

York 1624

One, two, three . . . The church bell tolled on, but Kate no longer cared. A clap of thunder echoed in the distance. The frigid wind tugged at her woolen cape and crept down her neck. Her wet curls escaped their pins. She shivered. Shifting her aching feet, she swayed. Drawing her cape closer, she bowed her head, concealing her eyes. “Eyes that had the devil himself in them,” her mother-in-law had frequently declared before she died.

Kate let her tears of relief fall. Today she buried the bastard. Free.

“Oh, Lord, we place your earthly son into your hands. Guide him to his reward in Heaven,” the priest said in a loud, singsong voice.

Sidney wasn’t headed for heaven. Kate turned her ghost of a smile to a grimace. More likely hell wouldn’t take him either.

Her husband, the Baronet, Lord Sidney Thomas Colquhoun, lay in his coffin. A powerful nobleman, full of wealth, influence, and lands. He belonged to the right circles of society. He knew all of the correct people. He did not die in his own bedchamber.

“His excesses made his heart stop,” the physician had told her.

Kate asked nothing further. She knew what the man meant. He’d examined the body and then sent a message to Kate at the country estate in Dumbarton in the Scottish lowlands where she lived. Lord Colquhoun preferred to keep his wife in the country giving him a greater degree of freedom so he might thoroughly enjoy his less than upstanding pursuits. The arrangement afforded him one other recompense.

Kate knew of her husband’s pleasure to hurt her. She dreaded his visits into the lowlands. To Sidney, it was a game. One she was ashamed of, one she hid from all who could have helped her.

Sidney, the dandy, thought highly of himself. He dressed his body in lace and satin. His skinny, ill-formed legs were covered in silk hose; his shoes sported fashionable red heels. With his straight thin brown hair, squinty eyes peering out from a pox-marked face, and his bloated belly, he looked much older than his twenty-four years. He relished rich food and drink. He enjoyed cards and spent a great deal of time at the gaming tables losing more than he won, always sure the next big win was around the corner. His gaming debts were heavy.

Kate stared at the coffin. What a fool. She watched as Mrs. Drake patted old Mr. Drake’s arm. They had been together for the better part of forty years. After all this time, his eyes still lit up when he looked at her. Kate sighed. She ached for the closeness she saw in other marriages.

She had convinced herself she loved Sidney. But she soon realized the feeling was nothing more than a desire to please her indifferent
father.

Kate peeked from beneath her lashes at her father standing beside her. Jacob Randall, the Earl of Westmoreland, followed his daughter’s gaze and harrumphed. Her shoulders slumped. Once again, she’d disappointed him.

“I do not expect to see you on my doorstep,” he whispered through clenched teeth. “No doubt Sidney provided amply for you. I see no reason for you to make a nuisance of yourself.”

Kate swallowed hard, fighting back her first real tears of the day. “Yes, Father.”

He stared sternly at her.

Kate stumbled. “I mean, no, Father.”

Yes, she was a woman of means. She didn’t need to rely on her hardhearted father. She was a baronetess and a widow. With the title came Sidney’s wealth and status. She felt free, though it didn’t stop the tears.

“Kate,” her father said sharply.

Kate shook herself and wiped her tears. Bending down, she grabbed a handful of dirt. Resisting the urge to throw it at Sidney’s coffin as hard as she could, she walked to the grave and let the crumpled earth fall slowly through her fingers. She wouldn’t even give him that much effort.

“Thank you for coming. Please join me for food and wine at Colquhoun House,” Kate said to the group.

She faltered at her father’s grimace. His disappointment hung on her like a shroud.

Scowling, her father led the way to the waiting black crested carriage. Kate stumbled in the mud. How could he be angry at
her
? What had she done except marry the man he’d expected her to marry, be subjected to Sidney’s demands. With a sigh, her father turned to retrieve her. His grip bit into her arm causing her to wince in pain. Not that she’d let him see her distress.

The horses, their black plumes limp from the drizzle, stamped their hooves sharing her impatience to get underway. A waiting footman handed her in. Glad to be away from the watchful eyes, Kate nestled into the squabs, pulling the woolen blanket across her lap. She tucked the soft fabric around her legs. The carriage tilted as her father entered and settled himself on the opposite seat. The footman closed the door, jumped onto his perch, and yelled to the driver to be off. The carriage started forward with a jolt.

“I don’t think your smile was appropriate. People will think you are improper.”

“I apologize, Father. It wasn’t my intention,” Kate said quietly.

He frowned. “I expected to see Andrew at the grave site. Did you send a message?”

Kate grew irritated but kept her temper in check. She’d learned from her years with him and later Sidney to hide her true emotions. “Yes, Father. Of course. I hoped Andrew could help me notify the rest of Sidney’s family. I sent a message to his uncle in Leeds. I have not received a reply.”

Her husband’s brother had not made an appearance at his funeral. Some might find it odd. She did not. Andrew did nothing unless it furthered for his own gain.

“Well, when you receive an answer ask Andrew to contact me. With Sidney’s death, there is much to do.”

“Yes, Father,” Kate said. Given the opportunity, her father would use Andrew as he’d used her husband. Much like Andrew, her father was very good at taking care of himself and his business arrangements. Not that she cared.

After what felt like an eternity trapped in hell with her father, they finally arrived at Sidney’s home. She didn’t think of it as her own. She never had.

Lord Sidney Colquhoun had not been a popular man but he had a great deal of money and family ties to King James and the English Court. Both the lying-in-state and the funeral had been lavish. They’d had to be. Kate arrived at the estate to a flurry of activity. Almost immediately, Sidney’s housekeeper, Mrs. Garth, hurried up to her.

“Ah, Mistress. I hope the funeral went well.”

“Yes, it did. How are things here? You weren’t given a great deal of time.” Kate placed a hand on Mrs. Garth’s plump arm.

Mrs. Garth deftly slipped out from under Kate’s touch. Sidney’s household staff was not accustomed to kindness. They did not know her. She had been living in the country when they were hired. The turnover was great in Sidney’s house.

Mrs. Garth gestured to the receiving rooms, formal dining room, library, and immense hall on the ground floor showing they were draped in black fabric. Kate walked from room to room. The mirrors in the dining room, hall, and parlor had been removed.

“The House of Colquhoun will have a great feast to honor our lord,” Mrs. Garth said, with disgust. She caught herself and straightened. “Begging your pardon, ma’am.” Mrs. Garth bobbed her head.

Kate gave a slight smile and nodded. A look of relief spread over Mrs. Garth’s face. Kate understood. She mustn’t blame the woman, she felt the same way.

The candles in the candelabras had been lit to bring light to such a cold and dreary day, the smell of burning wax pungent. The folding doors between the formal dining room and receiving room were open to provide a good-sized area for the mourning guests. Stuffed pheasants, fresh fish with creamy sauces, and plenty of thinly sliced beef and poultry covered the highly polished mahogany table. The sideboards were loaded with wines, champagnes, and punch. The smell of the food sickened her.

The guests arrived and gathered in the main hall. Kate straightened and inhaled a deep breath.

“Welcome to Colquhoun House.”

“Lady Colquhoun, my deepest sympathies,” Mr. Cochran said as he kissed her cold hand.

His kiss wet, Kate shuddered and resisted the urge to wipe her hand.

“Pray call on me if I can do anything to ease your pain.” Mrs. Kettering took her hand and held it to her breast.

Sidney had bragged about a liaison with Mrs. Kettering, a buxom brunette who didn’t mind showing her assets, even at a funeral.

Forcing a smile to her face, Kate tugged until she was finally able to tease her hand from the woman’s grasp.

“My dear, how devastated you must feel. Will you be in York long?” the sharp-eyed Mrs. Jennings asked.

Kate replied quietly, “As long as it is necessary.” She offered nothing more. She wasn’t going to fall into a gossip’s trap. While she had never met Mrs. Jennings, her gossip mill was legendary.

Turning from Mrs. Jennings, she gave a soft smile of welcome to each of the mourners. She was gracious. She was welcoming. She would give no one any cause to think she was anything other than the properly grieving widow.

Throughout the evening, she found herself introduced to more than one person she had never met. Many, it seemed, attended simply to catch a glimpse of her, the wife so many had heard of, but so few had seen. More than once she saw groups of four or five people gathered, eating and drinking the fare she had provided. Their eyes were on her as they whispered. “I heard he was found in Mrs. Lionel’s establishment,” Mrs. Kettering murmured.

Mr. Cochran grinned. “Well, that isn’t at all surprising now, is it?” He hunched in closer to the intrigued group. “Mrs. Lionel specializes in a certain clientele, after all.”

“Really?” Mrs. Kettering and Mrs. Jennings said in unison.

“What?” Mrs. Kettering asked.

Mr. Cochran pursed his lips as he nodded. Then he mouthed to his astonished audience, “Boys.”

Kate stiffened. As she passed another clustered group, they, too, had not bothered to lower their voices. Perhaps they thought she would join them. Maybe even give them the opportunity to make their thinly veiled inquiries. They were curious. They wanted to be privy to her life with Sidney. They carefully watched her every move, strained to hear her every word whenever she chose to speak. Whether they approved or disapproved of Lord Colquhoun they still wanted the lurid details. What tidbits they gathered here today would sustain the gossips for weeks.

Kate mentally shrugged her shoulders. At this point the attention was focused on Sidney. For the moment, she wasn’t the topic of discussion. Boys? She’d never thought his depravities went so far to prey on children. Nausea bubbled in her stomach and she sighed with relief when Emily slipped her arm through hers.

“Welcome back to England, dear friend. I am so sorry it is for such a poor reason you have come back.”

Kate’s shoulders eased. She was happy to see her friend.

Emily was a dark-haired beauty with bright blue eyes. Her plump build was in contrast to her husband Gerald’s tall, heavy-muscled form.

“Yes, welcome,” Gerald said. “I am sorry for your loss.” His brown eyes were full of sympathy.

“I wish you had let us come to the cemetery. We didn’t want you to go through that alone,” Emily said.

Kate smiled at them. “I know. I needed to do it on my own. My father was there.”

Emily rolled her eyes and then said, “You’re too thin. Let’s get you something to eat.”

“I’m glad you are here,” Kate said as they made their way to the food tables.

Gerald nodded once to Mr. Cochran and his companions, who skittered out of his way.

Kate smiled her appreciation. Gerald winked.

A few minutes later, laden with plates of food, Kate found a place to sit with her friends.

“I would much rather be in Scotland right now,” Kate said, her voice lowered. She pushed her food around her plate. “I cannot stand the sly looks, the exaggerated whispers.”

“Pay them no mind, Katie. They are fools,” Emily said.

“I miss my flower gardens, my herbs. There, I feel comfortable. I don’t have to put on a show.” Kate reached out to Emily’s hands, feeling warmth and strength. “Here I have you but my life is so much simpler in the lowlands. I have worked hard to make it a home.” At the risk of shocking the gossips, Kate chuckled. “Mother always said ‘If Kathryn never had to walk out the front door again, she’d be perfectly happy.’ She was right. Sidney may have thought he was gaining his freedom by sending me to Scotland. Truth be told, he gave me mine.”

“I miss my mother. Somehow this all would have been easier with her by my side. She seemed to know the right words to say. The right course of action to take.” She sighed.

Emily leaned in close, then whispered, “You know, I never believed her carriage rolling over was an accident.”

“I never believed it either. Father and Sidney would hear none of my suspicions. They wouldn’t even answer my questions,” Kate said quietly. “I felt so alone when she died. Perhaps she would have allowed me to leave Sidney and come home. Although, Father would never have allowed it. He arranged the marriage because the Colquhouns were friendly with the English monarchy. Father wanted Sidney’s royal and social influences for his shipping business. He’s lost that now.”

“I should not be too surprised. Father never cared for me,” Kate said, dabbing her eyes. “I was valuable when I married to Sidney. Father is a harsh man and has very little time for his daughter, particularly if she is unable or unwilling to further his own ends.”

The tedious day eventually drew to a close. Lady Colquhoun stood in the foyer once again, this time to say farewell to her guests.

“Kate, you are exhausted. Get a good night’s sleep. We will see you soon,” Emily said as she hugged her.

Gerald kissed her hand.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine once I get home. I’ll come back and visit.”

The last of the mourners left, stuffed with food and drink, toting their gifts and giving their sympathies.

Kate waved as Emily and Gerald stepped into the night. She took in a deep breath. To hell with her father, and Sidney, for that matter. She was going home. Home to Scotland. She would see to her father’s business when it suited her, not at his dictate. She would take care of closing the house and Sidney’s will. He didn’t want a nuisance; she wouldn’t be one.