Chapter 19
“Tell us everything!” Fiona exclaimed as she pulled Catherine into yet another embrace.
Catherine, Fiona, Louisa, and Harriet were all standing in the entrance hall of Coldmere Castle. Oliver and Alaric were out for a ride, both having recovered well from their bout of sickness.
I suppose I should thank Mrs. Langley for that.
It had seemed sensible to let the chaos of her friends’ arrival be tended to before introducing Oliver into the mix. Lord Frederick had returned to his country estate to investigate things further.
As soon as she had seen them, Catherine had thrown her arms around her friends. They had laughed and hugged her back so tightly she had feared that her ribs might break.
“No one has heard from you in months!” Louisa looped an arm through Catherine’s as they began to walk toward the drawing room, where tea and biscuits were waiting.
“It has not been that long.” Catherine frowned.
It cannot have been that long.
“It has been at least a month, Kitty, we were worried sick,” Fiona added as she peered at a nearby suit of armor.
“I had to practically sit on Fi to keep her from storming the castle. But even I was starting to get worried. It is not like you to disappear like that.” Catherine could hear the hurt in Harriet’s voice.
Guilt washed over her. “I should have written to you all sooner. I did not mean to worry you.”
“Why did you not?” Fiona asked as they sat down on the sofa and armchairs as they entered the drawing room.
“It is complicated. There were things I needed to see to, and I had not planned on staying so long.” Catherine poured them each a cup of tea, trying to ignore the fluttering of her heart.
“I really did not think it had been so long, though I suppose with one thing and another, I have been rather distracted.”
“Or controlled.” Fiona’s eyes darkened. “If your husband forbade you from writing to us, I will have my brothers sort him out.”
“Fiona!” Harriet exclaimed.
“What? The last we heard, Kitty was coming here to give him a piece of her mind. We hear nothing of her and how she is doing, and then out of the blue, she invites us here?” Fiona shrugged.
“It was circumstance that kept me from writing. Alaric was in an accident, and he has been recovering. The accident affected his memories. Given everything that happened with Oliver, we did not want to risk people finding out the truth. He feared it would make us vulnerable,” Catherine explained.
“Us? Alaric?” Louisa’s eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into her fringe. “Perhaps we have got the wrong end of the stick entirely, ladies—maybe our little Kitty has been in the throes of newlywed bliss.”
Drat.
“Hardly,” Catherine said with as much disdain as it was possible to muster when her cheeks were so red she was sure they would be visible from the other end of the estate. “It is a long story, and while we are more friendly with one another—”
“So friendly you are using his Christian name,” Harriet pointed out.
“Yes, as I was saying, we are more friendly with each other, for now at least, but I have no idea if it will last.” Catherine swallowed.
He is still missing most of his memories, and there is every chance that when they return, so will the man he once was.
“And in any case, even if it does, we have both agreed that once this whole business with Oliver is settled, we will go our separate ways.”
“But surely it must be settled by now; you have hired a governess after all.” Fiona gestured in the direction of the doorway.
“There are some things that still need looking into, and that may take some time.” Catherine shrugged.
“How much time?” Harriet asked.
“I am not sure.” She did not mention that she had told Alaric that she would wait until Frederick returned with news about Oliver’s mother. “No more than a month.”
When they had discussed it, Alaric’s face was partly hidden in shadow. She could not tell if her staying was a relief or a frustration.
And I wish that lack of knowledge did not bother me so much.
“Very well, as long as you are better at staying in touch.” Fiona squeezed Catherine’s hand. “Honestly, it is rather distressing getting news of you from the old bats at Mother’s bridge club.”
“And what are they saying about us?” Catherine felt herself bristle.
“The usual drivel. That you are after his money. Otherwise, how could you bear to have some other woman’s son in your house?” Louisa made a disgusted noise. “Though the story of the Duke and your mother is a rather amusing one.”
“Whatever my mother is saying, I assure you it is untrue.” Catherine’s fingers curled into a fist.
Of course, she would be bad-mouthing me.
“It is not your mother saying it, but her friend, Mrs. Higgins,” Harriet explained.
Fiona chimed in. “Apparently, he threw your mother from the castle and threatened to set the dogs on her.”
“He did not set the dogs on her, but he did ask her to leave. Well, no, he told her to leave after he heard her raise her voice to me. She recalled the anger that had flowed off Alaric and the feel of his hand on her back. “He said that he would not stand for anyone disrespecting me like that.”
A lump formed in Catherine’s throat, and she wanted to tell her friends everything that Alaric had said in her defense, but she could not. Instead, she swallowed. “He was only so firm with her because she refused to leave when I asked her. He did not lay a finger on her, nor raise his voice.”
“I would love to have seen that.” Fiona popped a biscuit in her mouth. “I bet Lady Danford was fuming.”
“She was.” A voice said from behind them. “Though her anger was nothing compared to mine. No one speaks to my wife like that.”
They all spun around to see Alaric walk into the room, removing his riding gloves. When his eyes landed on Catherine, she felt her stomach tighten and flutter. He inclined his head toward her then bowed slightly as he saw her friends.
Out of the corner of her eye, Catherine saw the others get to their feet, each curtsying, though she noticed that Fiona’s was the barest curtsy possible whilst still being polite.
“On that much we can agree.” Fiona was looking at Alaric as though he were a particularly dangerous animal. “None of us would tolerate anyone trying to hurt Kitty.”
Catherine held her breath, partly worried that Alaric would snap at Fiona’s obvious hostility. To her surprise, Alaric simply tipped his head.
“I feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to try and do so in your company.” Fiona narrowed her eyes at his response, but she did not say anything. Alaric shrugged. “Though I suspect that, given your sex, many would not see you as a threat. A mistake, of course, and one I would never make.”
Fiona’s eyes widened, and Catherine caught sight of Louisa and Harriet giving each other a sidelong glance.
“I think a round of introductions might be sensible. Alaric, I mean Alaric Deverell, Duke of Coldmere,” Catherine sprang into motion, gesturing to each of her friends.
“May I present Lady Fiona Blackwood, Lady Harriet Montrose, and Lady Louisa Everly. Three of my dearest friends.”
“A pleasure to meet all of you, and welcome to Coldmere Castle.” Alaric moved further into the room and beckoned for everyone to sit. “Please, sit. I am sure you must be tired after your journey. Oliver will be along shortly. I suggest you move that bag, Lady Harriet.”
Harriet frowned as she picked up her handbag. “Why...”
Before she could finish her sentence, Daisy came hurtling into the room, barking loudly. Oliver followed her, but not as closely as usual. He stopped when he realized how many strangers were in the room, looking from Catherine to Alaric and the others.
Catherine saw him look at Daisy and realize he was trying to figure out how to get to her without entering the room. She glanced at Alaric, but he was already kneeling on the ground.
“Would you like to greet Catherine’s friends, Oliver?” Alaric’s voice was gentle.
Oliver took a step forward, then patted his thighs twice. Daisy looked around before returning to her efforts to get into Harriet’s bag. Oliver tried the motion again, and Daisy ran back to him, but she darted between him and everyone else.
“We have met before, do you remember?” Louisa smiled at Oliver with such kindness that it made Catherine’s heart ache. “When you were in London?”
Oliver nodded, but did not move closer.
“Is this your puppy?” Fiona asked as she scooped the wriggling Daisy into her arms.
Oliver nodded again, his fingers twitching toward his slate. Catherine saw her friends’ brows furrow. Alaric had clearly seen the look, too, because he said, “Oliver uses the slate to communicate. It was Catherine’s idea, one of the many strokes of genius she has had.”
“It was not that extraordinary. I just saw it and thought it would be worth a try.” Catherine felt her cheeks warm.
Louisa laughed. “I see your ability to receive compliments remains unchanged. Or perhaps I should say your inability.”
“I have been trying to improve it.” Alaric smiled. “But I have had mixed results.”
“I am perfectly capable of accepting a compliment, thank you very much.” Catherine frowned at Alaric and her friends.
“And I am the Queen of England.” Fiona snorted so indelicately that Daisy stopped wriggling in her arms, and Oliver giggled. “You see, even Oliver agrees with me.”
Catherine saw her flash Oliver a smile and felt a thrill run through her when he returned it. She caught Alaric’s eye and saw that he was smiling too. Her heart fluttered.
Daisy took that moment to squirm out of Fiona’s arms and dash around the table in frantic circles, making everyone laugh. Oliver moved a little closer, his eyes wide with curiosity.
“How long have you had Daisy?” Louisa asked.
Catherine watched as Oliver scrunched up his face, counting on his fingers. Then he held up his hands, indicating the days he had been with her.