Chapter Eight #2
She could only imagine that he’d grown more wicked as the years went by.
She could only imagine what kind of man he was now, and how surely that must have been damaging to the de Allery household.
But her father, who had always shown apathy toward his children, probably considered his own son another man’s problem.
Living in London as she had over the past few years, Katiana had been removed from all of that.
Now, unfortunately, she was going to have to face it again.
She was going to have to face Ansel again.
The more she thought about it, the more apprehensive she became.
So she tried to focus on packing, or at least pretend she was focused on packing, trying to keep the fingers of fear from clutching at her.
They grabbed at her even now as she began placing her neat stacks of clothing into her trunk, because she realized that she was packing to return home again.
To face her brother again. To face their life that she had been happy to leave behind.
Soon, she would no longer be able to avoid it.
“My lady?”
A soft rap on the door distracted her, and she turned to see one of her aunt’s maids enter.
The woman’s name was Anne, and she probably spent more time with Katiana than she did with Ethyl, who had many maids.
Anne was older, and Ethyl liked to surround herself with younger folk because it made her feel younger to be the center of a younger crowd, so Anne was often sent away to attend to Katiana or to more mundane things in the house.
Katiana smiled weakly when she saw the woman.
“I’m sure you have heard the news,” she said. “I must return to Callerton Castle with all due haste. Aunt Ethyl says that I shall leave tomorrow.”
Anne nodded, but she stood by the door, seemingly nervous. “I’ve not come about that, my lady,” she said. “There’s someone… There is a knight here to see you.”
Katiana looked up sharply from her trunk. “A knight?” she repeated. “What knight?”
Anne put her fingers to her lips to quiet her. “Your aunt does not know, my lady,” she said, whispering loudly. “The knight asked that we not alert her. He has only come to see you, and he is in the yard, at the kitchen door.”
Katiana’s brow furrowed. “Who in the world is it?”
“He gave his name as Titus de Wolfe, my lady.”
Katiana fled her bedchamber and down the corridor before she even realized she had moved.
Suddenly, she was racing to where Titus was, down in the kitchen.
She had no idea why he was here, but she suspected that it could not be good.
He said he would return to call upon her, but he’d never said when.
Surely, he could not have meant in a few hours.
She would soon find out.
Truthfully, she wasn’t running because she was concerned.
She was running because she wanted to see him again.
She didn’t even know why she’d asked Anne who the caller was, because it could be no one else but Titus.
It wasn’t as if she knew a herd of knights who came around the back door, asking to speak with her.
It could have only been one.
By the time she hit the kitchen, she was flushed from running down all those stairs.
The kitchen was steamy at this time of day as things were boiled or cooked or heated.
She pushed through the servants, several of whom seemed to congregate near the kitchen door, and Katiana could hardly blame them.
Her gaze fell on tall, dark, and handsome Titus lingering by the back door, his hair catching the light of the sun, and she had to pull the cook’s assistant away from the door in order to get to him.
“Titus?” she said almost incredulously. “What are you doing here?”
He turned to her quickly when he heard the sound of her voice, his features lighting up at the sight of her.
“I’m very sorry to intrude,” he said. “I want to be as inconspicuous as possible, but I seem to have drawn a crowd.”
Katiana turned to see about a dozen maids and kitchen servants standing behind her, very nearly all of them fawning over Titus.
Not that there wasn’t a good deal to fawn over, but it struck her as being particularly hilarious.
Biting off a grin, she moved through the door and shut it behind her, shutting out all of those longing expressions.
“You will have to forgive them,” she said. “It is not often that they see such a handsome young man. But I fear our time is limited before rumors of your beauty reach my aunt, who has a penchant for fine young lads. You’d better state your business in a hurry before she comes.”
He scowled. “A penchant?” he said. “What does she do? Eat them?”
Katiana broke down into laughter. “Nay,” she said. “But she fancies them. She never married, but that does not mean she does not appreciate a handsome man.”
He cocked an eyebrow, almost fearfully. “You never told me that.”
“You never asked.”
That was true. Titus was trying not to chuckle as he reached out and took her hand, pulling her with him as he walked away from the kitchens with its doors and windows where nosey servants could eavesdrop.
“Then let me indulge in the last few moments of privacy with you,” he said. “But the truth is that I cannot stay even if your aunt demands it. I’ve been summoned home. I am leaving London tonight.”
Katiana’s features fell. “Leaving?” she said. “Oh, Titus… I hope it is not terrible news?”
He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “My father has summoned me home, but as you know, there is a good deal of turmoil in England right now, and I suspect he simply wants me out of London. But I could not leave without telling you. Without saying what a marvelous two days I have had with you. I’d forgotten what it was like to be happy in a way that a man can be when he’s smitten with a beautiful woman. It has meant a great deal to me.”
Katiana’s smile returned because it was a sweet thing to say. “I echo the sentiment,” she said. “You brought joy into my world, Titus. It is time with my champion that I shall always treasure.”
He smiled because she was, but it was clear he wanted to say more. “I do not know when I will return,” he said hesitantly. “But I do not… When I do come back, I hope you will let me call on you again.”
“Anytime you wish,” she said. “I will be here. Well, I suppose I will. You see, you are not the only one who has been summoned home. I received word this morning, whilst I was out with you, that my father is dying. I will be leaving for Callerton Castle on the morrow.”
He grew very serious. “I’m very sorry to hear that, Katia,” he said. “I did not know your father, but I know he has long been a de Wolfe ally.”
Katiana nodded. “He was always proud of that.”
“Has an escort been sent for you?”
She shook her head. “My aunt is sending me north with a couple of stable servants,” she said. “She is letting me use her small carriage so the ride will be more comfortable.”
Titus stared at her. Then a look of bewilderment rippled across his face. “Servants to escort you?” he said, aghast. “To protect you? What madness is this?”
She shrugged. “Not madness, I assure you,” she said. “Auntie does not employ soldiers, but she has an army of servants to do her bidding. She can spare a couple.”
“That’s the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard of.”
“Foolish or not, that is all she can offer.”
“Does your aunt even realize what lurks on the road between London and Northumberland?”
“I do not know, but she must. Surely she must.”
He looked at her as if she had lost her mind, and before Katiana realized what was happening, he’d grabbed her by the hand and was pulling her back toward the kitchen door.
“Titus?” she said, concerned. “What is the matter? Where are you going?”
He came to the door and threw it open, startling a half-dozen servants that were still standing there.
“Announce me,” he said simply.
Now it was Katiana’s turn to look at him as if he’d been robbed of his senses. “Announce you to whom?” she asked.
He charged on into the kitchen. “Your aunt,” he said patiently. “Take me into your hall and summon your aunt. I wish to speak with her.”
Katiana’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You want to—”
He cut her off, though not harshly. “Is the hall through there?”
He was pointing to a doorway that led to a servants’ hall and then the main living area beyond.
Katiana nodded unsteadily, and he continued on, pulling her behind him all the way.
Once they reached the main entry area, with wooden-paneled walls painted with birds and, strangely, swords and maces, he let go of her hand and gestured for her to call for her aunt.
When a nice-looking young man appeared from another chamber, Katiana sent him in search of Ethyl.
They didn’t have long to wait.
As suspected, word of a handsome knight seeking Katiana had gotten back to Ethyl with lightning speed.
She was already on the move when her major-domo found her and, in a flurry of silk and heavily rose-scented perfume that smelled more like tallow than the flowery smell, she appeared down the stairwell, her gaze immediately finding Titus as he stood in the middle of the entry.
“Katia!” she gasped. “I heard you had a suitor call upon you. Will you not introduce me to this handsome young knight?”
Katiana could already see her aunt lusting after Titus. That was clear the moment she laid eyes on him.
“This is Sir Titus de Wolfe, Auntie,” she said. “His father is the Earl of Berwick. I fostered at Roxburgh Castle when I was a young lass, and he fostered there, too. We are old and good friends.”
“De Wolfe!” Ethyl lit up. “Your family owns the north!”
Titus could see, in those few words, that Ethyl de Edington was more than likely a bold, foolish old woman who was influenced by money and politics. He already didn’t like her. The only saving grace was the fact that Katiana said they got on well, so for her sake, he would be polite.
But already, he knew it was going to be a struggle.
“My lady,” he greeted Ethyl evenly. “My family is indeed from the north. I was born in Berwick.”
“How delightful,” Ethyl said, going to him and standing a bit too close with her tallow-rose scent. “We are honored with your visit. Will you come into the hall and allow us to show you our hospitality?”
Titus shook his head. “With regret, I cannot stay,” he said. “I had come to tell Lady Katiana that I was heading home to Berwick immediately, but she has told me of her intention to head north as well.”
Ethyl wasn’t happy that she wouldn’t have a man in her hall, one she could ply with wine and perhaps even steal a kiss from. “Aye,” she said. “That is true.”
“She said you were sending her north with two servants as escort.”
Ethyl looked at Katiana, now trying to figure out where the conversation was going. “That is all I can spare,” she said. “She will be quite safe, I am sure.”
Titus shook his head. “Forgive me, my lady, but I am equally sure she will not be,” he said. “I would, therefore, ask permission to ride escort for Lady Katiana. She and I will travel the same road, and it would be no trouble at all to see her safely to Callerton Castle.”
Katiana’s eyes widened. She truly had no idea of Titus’ motives when he’d asked to be introduced to her aunt, but quickly, she looked at Ethyl, who seemed positively delighted at the request.
“Sir Titus, the honor is ours,” the old woman said, looking to Katiana gleefully. “Did you hear that? He wishes to be your escort!”
Katiana nodded to her aunt’s obvious question. “Of course I heard him, Auntie,” she said. But then she looked at Titus hesitantly. “Are you certain, Titus? I would not wish to be a burden.”
His eyes took on a warm glow as he looked at her. “You could never be that,” he said. “And I can sleep at night knowing I am your protection and not two weary servants. It is settled, then?”
He was looking at Ethyl at this point, who nodded fervently. “Settled, indeed,” she said. “How thrilling! Come, we must celebrate!”
She grasped him by the arm and tried to pull him into her lavish hall, but he politely resisted.
“Again, my apologies,” he said, nicely but firmly. “I simply do not have the time. I have a few things to attend to, but I will be here before dawn. Make sure Lady Katiana is prepared to travel lightly. We must move swiftly.”
“Lightly?” Katiana found her tongue. “But I shall be driving my aunt’s small conveyance. It will carry my trunk and other things.”
Titus shook his head. “No trunk,” he said. “A satchel is all you can bring, because you will be riding with me. It will be safer and swifter.”
“No trunk for a lady?” Ethyl said, outraged. “That is unheard of, my lord. A lady must have her things.”
Titus smiled politely at her but returned his attention to Katiana. “A small satchel only, please,” he said. “I will see you upon the morrow.”
He started to turn for the door, but Katiana came up behind him. “Wait,” she said. “I thought you said you were leaving tonight?”
Titus paused. “I can wait until tomorrow morning,” he said. “I should not like to take you out of the city after dark, so I will wait.”
Katiana was still rather overwhelmed with his offer. She glanced at her aunt, who was several feet away and looking rather puzzled, before returning her attention to Titus.
“Are you sure?” she said softly. “You do not have to do this, Titus.”
He gave her a half-grin. “I am your champion,” he said. “Do you truly think I would let you travel north without a proper escort? It is my duty, Katia.”
“But…!”
“My grandfather made you my duty long ago, and I am not one to shirk duties, so be ready at dawn,” he said before she could protest. “And tell your aunt there is no need for servants. I will travel better without them.”
Katiana sighed. “You know better than to suggest two unmarried people travel alone,” she pointed out. “The servants must come, for propriety’s sake.”
He made a face suggesting that he knew she was right but was unhappy with it just the same. “Very well,” he snapped softly. “But they had better be upon swift mounts. I will not wait for them if they move slowly.”
“Aye, commander.”
“That’s lord commander to you.”
She burst out laughing, soft giggles that buoyed the mood between them.
He was about to take her hand and kiss it, but thought better of it with Lady Ethyl watching every move he made.
He suspected she might not be so inclined to allow Katiana to travel with him if he was openly kissing her hand, or anything else, on her person.
He had the woman’s permission and wanted to keep it.
With a wink to Katiana, he fled the manse.
At dawn the next day, she was waiting along with a male and female servant while Aunt Ethyl remained inside and sulked. If Titus wasn’t going to flirt with her, or show respect for her home or her position, then she had no use for him.
But Katiana did.
For her, the journey north had begun.