In the Shadow of Arabella (17 page)

Charity blushed becomingly but sat nearby and listened as Katherine gave Lord Harrington an all-encompassing description of Oliver Seaton’s person and character.

At two o’clock Katherine’s coach arrived to take her on her round of afternoon visits. Accompanied by Charity, she called on the vicar and his wife and several other acquaintances before she asked Charity, “How has Lord Parnaby’s mother been?”

“She is totally blind now and keeps to her room most of the time. I think it is a great shame, especially on a day as glorious as this one.”

“I should like to call on her,” Katherine said. “Perhaps she will let us take her chair out into the garden.”

She directed her coachman to the Parnaby estate, where they were welcomed warmly and taken to Lady Parnaby’s rooms on the ground floor.

“My dear Katherine,” she exclaimed, “and Charity, too. How thoughtful of you to come.”

“I would not travel all this way without stopping to see you,” Katherine said, taking the older woman’s hands and bending to kiss her cheek. “The day is beautiful and the sun is shining warmly. I imagine the aroma of the blossoms in your garden is heavenly. Will you come out with us?”

The viscountess smiled, her wide blue eyes staring vacantly into space. “I should love to.”

A footman soon lifted the frail woman into her wheeled chair. With a woven shawl over her shoulders and another across her knees, he pushed her through the house and out into the garden before relinquishing the task to Katherine. The chair rolled easily over the brick paths.

“I heard, of course, about your marriage, my dear,” her ladyship said. “I am very happy for you, even though I had hoped . . .”

“I know, ma’am. I had hoped it, too, but it was not to be.”

“Your garden is so lovely, Lady Parnaby,” Charity said, skillfully changing the subject.

Her ladyship held out a hand and Charity laid her own in it. “And tell me, child, how you fared on your visit to London. Were there men writing sonnets to your beauty?”

When Charity blushed and failed to answer, Katherine supplied, “No sonnets, but there was a man who plied her with flowers and invitations.”

“Indeed? And who was that, my dear?”

“My husband’s brother, Mr. Oliver Seaton. He showed a marked preference for Charity’s company.”

“Then I suppose it will not be long before you shall wed as well. Then I shall lose both of my favorite young visitors.”

Moved by the sadness in her voice, Charity offered, “But you will soon have a new daughter, Lady Parnaby, and perhaps grandchildren . . .”

Realizing too late how her words might hurt Katherine, Charity hesitated, casting an apologetic glance at her friend, who only shook her head and smiled as she added, “Charity is absolutely right. And in no time at all those grandchildren will be old enough to push your chair down these very paths, raising such a clamor that you will be wishing for your solitude again.”

The smile on the viscountess’s face told both girls that the picture they had drawn for her was a pleasant one.

When Lady Parnaby began to tire, Katherine and Charity took their leave, with Katherine promising to visit again on the morrow. “I am going to Lincoln tomorrow afternoon to collect Serena, but I will ride over in the morning to see you, if you should like it.”

“I would love it, child. You must tell me all about your husband and your new home.”

The following morning Katherine visited with the viscountess for an hour. When it was time to leave, she walked round to the stables as was her custom. As the groom held her horse and she prepared to mount, she heard the clatter of hooves on the bricks behind her. She turned to encounter the startled gaze of Lord Parnaby.

“Katherine!”

“Lord Parnaby. Good morning. I have been with your mother. She did not mention that you were here.”

“She does not know. I arrived very late last night.”

After this burst of awkward speech they both fell silent until, conscious of the groom at her elbow, Parnaby asked, “Are you leaving? Allow me to escort you.”

Unable to graciously refuse such a civil request with the groom listening to every word, Katherine said, “Thank you, sir, you are very kind.” Turning to the Harringtons’ groom, she added, “You may ride home, William. Lord Parnaby will see me back to the manor.’’

With only a nod the groom helped Katherine to mount, then collected his own horse and rode off, leaving Katherine and the viscount alone. Parnaby started his horse off at a slow walk and she followed suit.

“This is perhaps not wise, sir.”

“Why not? You are a married woman. I am betrothed. We are old friends. No one will think it strange if we choose to ride together.”

“I thought you were in France,” she said, searching for a harmless topic of conversation.

“I was. My intended wished to purchase her bride-clothes in Paris, so I escorted her there. It was actually quite entertaining.”

“I have never been to Paris. I hope to go someday.”

“I am certain Rudley will take you if you ask him. He knows the city well, I believe.”

As they walked the horses along a highway they had traveled many times before, he said, “The horse chestnuts on the far side of Miller’s Pond should be in full bloom. Shall we ride that way?” He turned his horse right-handed onto a narrow lane, and Katherine followed.

The beauty of the spring countryside was undeniable. In a season often shrouded by clouds, mist, and rain, Mother Nature had offered two successive days of magnificent sunshine. The wood was fragrant with spring blossoms. Rabbits and squirrels scurried from sight as the horses trod the unfrequented road. Bees droned contentedly, seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of flowers to choose from.

He paused near the pond where the trees were indeed robed in elegant white blossoms. “Shall we stop?”

She kicked her foot free of the stirrup and slid to the ground to stand near him. “This place is never lovelier than at this time of year.”

“We had some grand times here, as I recall,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.

She looked solemn. “Times we need not think of now—times past and gone forever.”

“It was good of you to visit my mother,” he said. “How did she seem to you?”

“Well. Hopeful. She is looking forward to grandchildren.”

He looked out over the pond, where a cluster of ducks bobbed on the water’s surface. “If my intended continues to be the cold, unresponsive creature I have found her to be so far, I think it is unlikely
that
dream will come true in the near future.”

Katherine’s voice revealed her shock as she replied, “James, you must not say such things.”

“Why not? It’s true. She has none of your passion, Katherine. When I hold her, I feel none of what I felt with you.” Then, rather bitterly, he added, “Does your husband content you? Can he satisfy you?”

Blushing painfully at this intimate remark, Katherine protested, “James, please. You must not speak so to me. Nor ask such questions.”

“I have thought of you, you know, with
him.
Does he make you feel the way you felt when you were with me?” Without warning he took her into his arms. Taken by surprise, she instinctively raised her face to his as if no time had passed since the last time he had held her so.

His kiss was passionate, just as she remembered, but she was surprised to find that the embrace did not elicit the response from her that it always had in the past. She felt no quickening of the pulse, nor shortness of breath, but rather a sense of shock that he would so presume to trespass on her married state.

She pushed herself free from him as she said, “I will not discuss my husband with you, James, not now, not ever. If you persist with this conversation, I will never speak to you again.”

She turned away angrily, silently accepted his help to mount, and then set off toward Harrington Manor without waiting for him. He soon caught up with her but maintained a prudent silence.

Absorbed in her own jumbled thoughts, Katherine had not considered that the road they were following would take them past the George Inn, where all of Rudley’s servants were staying. Only when they were nearly upon the inn did she realize her blunder, but by then it was too late. Mr. Kendall was sitting on a bench outside the inn writing in a small book. He looked up and saw her and smiled. Her hope that she and her companion could ride by with a nod and a smile was dashed when Kendall put his book aside and stepped into the road to meet her.

Katherine drew her horse up beside him, striving for a normal tone.

“Mr. Kendall, allow me to introduce Lord Parnaby, a neighbor and old friend.” Then to Parnaby she explained, “Mr. Kendall is Rudley’s secretary. He arranged my journey and accompanied me.”

The men nodded a mutual greeting before Kendall asked, “I know you ordered the coach for three, Lady Rudley. Shall I come with you in the event the headmistress turns nasty?”

She smiled. “I should like that if you are sure you will not be terribly bored.”

Glancing around at the remote inn, he replied rather ruefully, “This is not exactly the hub of civilization. Three o’clock then.”

As Katherine and Parnaby continued down the road he said, “You seem on intimate terms with your husband’s employees.”

“If you are trying to goad me into an argument, James, you will not succeed. My life and my friends are no longer your concern.”

They managed to finish their ride without further altercation and parted at Harrington Manor on relatively friendly terms. Parnaby declined to come in for refreshment. After a groom led Katherine’s horse away, she climbed the steps alone then turned at the top to watch the viscount disappear around a bend in the drive.

* * * *

Katherine’s coach collected her promptly at three for the thirty-minute drive to Westleigh Academy where Serena was enrolled. Katherine had written to the headmistress of her intention to withdraw her sister from the school several days before the term ended.

Arriving at the square brick house on the outskirts of Lincoln, Katherine laughingly assured Mr. Kendall that she could handle Miss Westleigh. She entered the building alone.

Her reception on this day varied greatly from the one she had received when she first delivered Serena to the modest young ladies’ academy. On that day she had been treated with polite deference. Today she felt more like royalty. She was shown immediately to what she was convinced was the handsomest salon in the building. Miss Westleigh was with her within seconds of her arrival, smiling excessively and seeing to Katherine’s every wish. Would she care to sit? This chair was the most comfortable. Would she stay to tea? They would be so delighted.

Tea, for which Serena was invited to join them, was lavish. The headmistress chatted effusively, dropping so many “my ladys” into the conversation that Katherine began to feel as if she had strayed into Bedlam rather than a select school for young ladies. Miss Westleigh went on at length about how pleased she was to have Lady Rudley’s sister grace her humble school. Certainly if Lady Rudley were to recommend the academy to her friends, Miss Westleigh would be eternally grateful.

Just as Katherine cast Serena a long-suffering look, wondering how they could tactfully extricate themselves from Miss Westleigh’s presence, Mr. Kendall was shown into the room.

“Excuse me, my lady. Miss Stillwell’s trunks are loaded. If we are to arrive home in time for dinner, we must leave soon.” He paused with an expectant look on his face.

Katherine rose instantly and offered Miss Westleigh a pleasant farewell. Serena curtsied demurely to the woman who had been her mentor for nearly nine months. Within minutes they were out the door and handed into the coach, the doors were closed, and they rolled away.

Only then did Katherine allow herself the laughter she had suppressed. “Peter, you were wonderful! How did you know I was desperate to get away from that woman?”

“It was simple,” he replied. “Knowing you, and knowing the type of woman who operates such an establishment, elementary deduction was all that was necessary.”

Controlling her mirth, Katherine said, “Allow me to introduce my sister Serena. Serena, this is Mr. Kendall, my husband’s multitalented personal secretary.”

Kendall bowed from his seat opposite Serena as she nodded with a smile. “You were wonderful, sir. You quite silenced poor Miss Westleigh with your unexpected interruption and authoritarian manner. She is probably wondering, even now, who you are. It is so uncommon for gentlemen to be within the walls of Westleigh.”

Kendall returned Serena’s smile. He had noticed she was slightly shorter than her sister and her hair was a lighter brown. He suspected it was naturally curly, for the tendrils that had escaped from under her becoming bonnet curled tightly against her face. Her eyes, like Katherine’s, were gray and lovely; her smile warmed her whole face.

The sisters had not seen each other for some months, so they chatted happily on the way back to Harrington Manor. Katherine had warned Serena in a letter not to mention Sir Humphrey. Faithful to her sister’s request, Serena never spoke his name until they were alone in the privacy of Katherine’s room.

“Well, tell me,” Serena demanded, the moment the door had closed behind them. “Did Sir Humphrey agree?”

Katherine took both her sister’s hands, holding them in a warm clasp. “He did! You are no longer his ward. You need not marry Archie Postlethwaite. You need not marry at all until you wish it.”

Serena returned the pressure of Katherine’s fingers. “But you gave up your income for me. How can I repay you?”

“You do not have to. I have all I need. Tell me what you think of my plans for your summer. Lady Brent is a sweet, good-natured woman and I know you will like Marie. Do you care for the Bath scheme?”

“Actually, I was rather relieved when you suggested it, for even though I do not know Lady Brent or her daughter, I had much rather go to them than foist myself upon you and your new husband. You deserve some time to yourself. You have only just married!”

“Don’t be silly, Serena. We would love to have you with us. The last thing Rudley said before I left was that if you did not care to go to Bath, I should bring you home with me.”