Chapter Nineteen #2
They consumed the glass slowly, enjoying the flavor of the wine. Cathryn placed her empty glass back on the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to change. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
She found an ecru night gown and robe set out for her. Quickly she began to disrobe, finally remembering she needed Charles’s help with loosening the corset. Walking back into the main room, she found it empty.
“Charles?”
His head popped around the corner. “I was getting comfortable as well. Is there something you need?”
“Help with my corset? I really can’t do it alone.”
He walked near her. He had no shirt on, and she couldn’t help but stare at his muscled chest. The next thing she felt was him spinning her around so he could loosen the laces of the corset. His fingers worked quickly to get her waist out of the contraption.
“I don’t know who came up with this. There has to be a simpler way.”
“Let me know if you find it. You could probably make a fortune,” Cathryn said.
“If I did, what would you ladies do with the time it takes to tighten one of these?”
“Have more time to get ready for bed,” she replied. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
Quickly she finished getting ready for the night by brushing her hair.
She decided not to braid it but let it hang loose.
It felt better being free. Putting the brush down, she went to join Charles.
If this evening’s outing bothered him, he handled it well and never let on. Most importantly, he didn’t bolt.
*
Charles awoke the next morning to the sound of Cathryn throwing up.
She was in the bathing chamber, but it was so forceful it could be heard anywhere in the suite.
He pondered what might be wrong with her.
They hadn’t eaten at the party, so it wasn’t that.
The champagne? They’d had it before, and it’d never bothered her.
Perhaps it was her nerves. Yesterday had been a stressful day for her, especially the confrontation with her mother. That was probably it.
With this going on, he wondered if they should leave today. Grabbing his robe, Charles made his way to the bathing chamber. When he opened the door, she was sitting on a chair with a basin in front of her.
“I couldn’t help but hear you. Anything I can do?”
“I’ll be fine. I think the worst is over. I’m going to take a bath and then dress.”
“Do you think you’ll be up to traveling today?” he asked.
“Yes. If you wouldn’t mind, would you have some toast and tea sent up? That should help tremendously.”
He nodded. “Of course. I’ll get Frazier to take care of it.”
“Thank you. Now go finish getting dressed and have breakfast. Then we can leave,” Cathryn said.
Again he nodded, not really sure what to say. He’d rarely been sick in his life and hadn’t been around others who were. He hoped he wasn’t missing anything, and should he leave her by herself? Too many questions. Frazier might have the answers to a lot of them. He always did.
He needed to look for his valet. Cathryn needed tea and toast.
Charles found him readying his clothes for the day. “Would you mind having some toast and tea sent up here? Lady Cathryn is feeling poorly. Too much champagne last night and no food.”
Frazier nodded and was gone. Charles decided to use the time to dress himself. His valet would want to do a shave, which he didn’t mind most of the time.
The valet returned faster than Charles anticipated. “Tea and toast are on the way. So, tell me about last evening. Was she as wonderful as she sounds here?”
“More. She was extraordinary,” Charles replied.
“I imagine the Prince and Princess of Wales were enthralled.”
“They were. His Highness wants Lady Cathryn to play on a regular basis.”
“That would be quite the honor,” Frazier replied.
“She doesn’t want to play that often. She said she’d think about it.”
“Well, we know what sort of reputation the prince has. I’m sure that was part of her reasoning not to.”
Charles nodded. “Yes, that and the fact her mother showed up and wants Cathryn to do it, and more. She’s quite odd, that one. She sees her daughter as unable to make her own decisions.”
“She forgets her daughter is married and her life is none of her concern,” Frazier said. He picked up the shaving razor after soaping up Charles’ face. “You need to speak with Lady Cathryn and set some rules when it comes to her parents. Otherwise, her mother is going to try and take over.”
Charles knew his valet to be opinionated but wouldn’t have it any other way. Frazier had helped him through many difficult situations over the years. He owed the man a debt of gratitude for helping him maintain his sanity and show him the ways of the world.
“We’ve tried and she complies with our wishes for a while, but then she’s back to interfering with us.”
“You’ll work it out. Lady Cathryn is a smart lady and knows her mother better than her mother thinks. Just keep an open line of communication between the two of you,” Frazier said.
“Absolutely. Now, let’s all go home,” Charles said cheerfully. In the past, nothing seemed to make him happy. He did what he enjoyed, things that seemed to bring him joy, but not like the happiness he felt whenever Cathryn was near.
He met up with his wife, who seemed to feel much better than earlier. It must have been the champagne and nerves, like Cathryn mentioned.
The ride back to Gloucester was quiet. The sky was a mixture of dark and white clouds, like the weather was unsure what it was to do. Neither of them seemed to notice after their initial inspection. Both fell asleep to the rhythm of the carriage as it headed home.
Once they arrived at the estate, the clouds had gotten even more ominous. Darker, grayer, black. The wind had picked up since leaving London, leaving the impression rain was not far off.
“I’m going to go to my study and see if any correspondence came in,” Charles said as he and Cathryn entered the drawing room.
“Would you like me to have tea sent?”
“Please, that would be nice.”
“I’m going to have tea and sit near the fire to warm up. After that, I plan to check my correspondence,” Cathryn said with a soft smile.
Charles leaned down and kissed her. “I know where to find you.”
“Indeed, you do,” she replied.
Much to Charles’s chagrin, there was a large pile of unopened correspondence waiting for him on his desk.
A lot was the usual monthly bills. He began to sort everything in the stack, making it easier to know how to respond to each one.
The estate ledger was to the right side of the desk.
His estate manager must have gone through it for the month.
The man probably wanted to meet so they could discuss any work needing to be done.
Cold weather would soon be upon them, and he was sure there were jobs which involved making sure things stayed dry over the course of autumn and winter.
He decided to go through the one stack and see what it was.
Then when the estate manager came in the morning, bills could be paid and invitations answered.
There were the usual household expenses, a few larger ones for the gardens and overall renovation of the grounds.
That would be reduced or eliminated once the gardener and his crew got things done to improve the look of the estate.
A letter from Oxford that he would read tomorrow. Probably about making up dates or confirming them. Nothing out of the ordinary.
One bill caught his eye. A bill from a doctor in London. Cathryn, it seemed, had been the patient but had not said a word to him about going. She usually told him everything going on with her, but not this. If she had, he didn’t recall. He would have to ask her about it later.
The tea had come but he hadn’t taken the time to pour himself a cup.
He put all the papers on his desk in place and walked over to the tea tray.
The pot was still quite warm, so he prepared himself a cup.
Noting a slice of seed cake on a plate, he picked it up and took everything to the couch to eat.
The fire was a warm welcome. He took a bite of cake.
It was delicious. Some of the best seed cake he’d had in quite a while.
The only place he’d had it better was on Wight.
There was a shop on the outskirts of town that had the best baked goods.
The seed cake was one of their most popular.
Whenever he was on one of his walks and had some money, Charles always stopped and purchased something from the small shop.
He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of hard rain hitting against the windows. The storm had arrived. Hopefully there’d only be rain and wind and no thunder and lightning. And he also wanted it to be gone by morning. Being cramped up inside wasn’t one of his favorite pastimes.
Perhaps he and Cathryn could play cards, or he could introduce her to chess. He could set up a board and invite her to play and see if she was good or not. If she knew how to play, it would make it nice to have someone in the house who also knew the game.
He finished his tea and cake and headed out into the hall, sure he’d find Cathryn in the drawing room.
When the footman opened the door, he found her still sitting in front of the fire, a teacup and plate of fresh scones on a table in front of her.
She had a handful of embroidery threads she’d purchased in London.
She was sorting them and deep in thought when he approached.
“Scones?” he asked. “Why didn’t I get any?”
“They probably weren’t finished baking. Take one. They’re quite good.”
“I think I will after I pour a cup of tea. Would you like some more?”
“Yes, please,” she replied.
He reached across and poured another cup for her. “Do you need any help sorting those?”
“No, but I think I’m going to take a break and enjoy your company.”