Chapter Ten #3
Picking up the pen, he held it for a moment before writing.
He informed Arthur that they had married in Gretna Green and if he hadn’t heard, they were in York.
Charles mentioned her parents had tracked them to Scotland, but by the time they did, it was too late, and they were on their way out of town en route to York.
He asked his brother what they should do next, that he and Cathryn had talked about a couple of different options. Kent and London being among them. He mentioned his longing to get himself and his bride settled.
He ended the short letter with a note that he would await word from him before leaving York.
Charles was surprised how easy it was to write to his twin.
Even though they’d spent much of their lives apart and not knowing about the other or having vague memories of the other, Charles still felt a closeness to Arthur.
Deep in thought, he didn’t hear his bride enter the room. He was busy addressing his letter when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck from behind as her lush lips kissed his cheek.
“Perfect timing, my love. I’m just finishing up.”
“So I see. You never touched your tea.”
“I forgot about it. Since I’m done, would you like to sit near the fire and enjoy some tea?”
She sat down on his lap, putting her arms around his neck. “I’d actually like you to do naughty things to me, but a cup of tea might be the perfect teaser to that.”
He was caught off guard. He hadn’t seen this side of her.
Not that he didn’t like it; he was just knocked off balance.
They hadn’t coupled since the first night as he was trying to be respectful of any discomfort she might be feeling.
Obviously, if she truly had any discomfort now, she wasn’t going to admit it to him.
“Let me call and have someone take this letter.”
“I’ll take your tea and plate and get you a fresh cup while you do that.”
He said nothing, simply nodding as he rose and walked to the bell pull. Rejoining Cathryn, Charles noted she added sugar to her cup. When he sat down next to her, she picked up the other steaming hot tea and placed it in front of him.
“I took the liberty and added clotted cream and strawberry jam to your plate. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
A quick knock on the door and a footman entered. “There’s a letter on the corner of my desk which needs to go out today,” Charles instructed the young man.
“Yes, milord.” The young man picked up the letter and departed the room as quickly as he’d entered.
Charles turned his attention back to his wife. He picked up his tea and took a sip. “Hopefully, we’ll have a response in a day or two.”
“I’m sure your brother will be prompt.”
“Yes, I’m sure he will be,” he replied.
Cathryn picked up a small cucumber sandwich from her plate and bit into it. “Are you going to talk with someone about finding us a house?”
“I thought I’d wait and see what Arthur has to say. It’s too far north here, and the house needs a lot of updating and renovations to come up to the times.”
“You’re right about updating. Would you still consider London?”
“Yes, but where would we go during the summer? No one stays in town during the summer. So that’s a bit of a quandary right there. I thought we could find somewhere not far from London to live. That way during the summer we could either stay at my family’s home in Mayfair or go home to the country.”
“That’s a smart move.”
He reached for his scone to slather some jam on it. “You’ve been around much more than I have. Is there any place you’d like to look?”
“The Cotswolds is a large area and there are a good many beautiful places. It’s not far from your family or London.”
“Anywhere else?” he asked.
“By the sea?”
“Somewhere in particular?”
“Somerset area is quite nice. My mother’s sister used to live in a house overlooking the sea. Now she’s no longer with us and the house is just sitting there.”
“What happened to your uncle?”
“The last time I heard my mother mention my uncle, she said he could not bear to spend time in that house and moved to Italy after accepting a position with a shipping company whose home base was somewhere in Italy.”
“I’ve heard of that happening before. It makes for a sad situation.”
She nodded. “Yes, it does.”
“Who lives in the house now?”
“Their son, Monty.”
He smiled broadly.
“What? Did I say something funny?”
“No. I was merely smiling because you finally shared something about your family.”
“That’s not true. I’ve shared before. I’m just not happy with them right now, particularly my parents.”
“I was teasing.”
She arched a brow. “Your attempt at humor? Bad, really bad, Charles.” She smiled and giggled.
“Something more for you to teach me,” he replied and winked at her.
“Depending on what your brother says, we’re going to look in Gloucester and Somerset. What if he offers the wing at the manor house? Is that something you’d consider?”
“I’m not sure. It needs to be updated, like this house, and York is a good way off from the families.”
“It’s not something we have to decide today,” she replied.
He nodded. The waiting was the worst part. Arthur would send a reply as soon as he read Charles’s missive. He was punctual like that. Out of the corner of his eye, Charles noted Cathryn watching him intently.
“Isn’t there a maze in the gardens?” she asked.
“Yes. Why? Do you want to go play in it?”
“I think we’re a little old for playing, but we could make it a game.”
“Or we could have a look around the greenhouse.”
“Yes! I noticed it earlier today on our walk back. I’d love to see what the gardener is doing.”
Charles nodded. “Come, let’s go check both out.”
He assisted her to her feet, and together they walked to the door. They made it to the area in the gardens where the maze began.
“Maybe we’ve found a place to have some privacy.”
“I believe you’re right. I’m used to being on my own and alone most of the time. Crowds sometimes overwhelm me, as I’m sure you’ve recognized.”
“I have,” she replied. “I can see why writing is so appealing to you. Playing piano as well. Solitary endeavors.”
“I know.”
It was a shame he had no real life before now. He was thought to be a bit mad, so others thought it best to leave him alone. Trying to learn how to live among people was going to be a challenge he would have to deal with for the foreseeable future. At least, though, he had Cathryn to help him.
He could see the tall hedges of the maze coming into sight. It seemed mazes were going to have a significance in their lives. Once they chose where they were going to call home, he would have to have a maze installed if there wasn’t one already.
If they had to install one, he would design it himself. Something people would always remember. Challenging, that’s what he wanted.
Greenhouses weren’t uncommon. The estate gardeners, he understood, had at least one where they would raise plants from seedlings, graft roses, and such. He missed being able to work in a greenhouse. Again, another solitary place and occupation.
“What about the coal mine? Are we still going to go look at it?” he heard Cathryn say.
“Yes, perhaps we can do that tomorrow. I’d like to see the operation,” Charles said.
“From what I’ve heard and read, it’s a horribly dirty and dangerous job.”
He nodded. “Yes, that goes without saying for any type of mining.”
“True,” she replied. “I would hate to be married to a miner. Not knowing if they’d come home every evening.”