Picking up a letter that had been sitting on a center table, the butler passed it to Cathryn. “This came for you this morning, milady.”
“Thank you,” she replied. She took the envelope and looked it over carefully. It was a fancy script but she had no idea who could have sent it. She’d open it in the privacy of their chambers.
“Would you care for something to eat?”
“A light lunch would suffice,” Charles said. “A pot of tea, some cheese, bread, and fruit should do.”
“Where would you like to dine, milord?”
“In our chambers. The sitting room.”
He and Cathryn made their way to the chambers. When he closed the door behind them, she took off her shoes and set them to one side. With her letter in hand, she sat in a chair nearest the windows.
She broke the seal and removed the letter. After reading and rereading it, she burst into a smile. “Charles! I’ve been invited to play for the Prince of Wales and his wife, Princess Alexandra, in two weeks’ time.”
“That’s wonderful! Where will you perform?”
“It doesn’t say. Only that the prince’s secretary will be in touch with details.”
“That’s quite an honor.”
“It is. I’ll write a reply once we’ve finished our meal.”
“That would be smart, letting them know you accept and add any questions you may have,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”
“I wonder if there’s some specific occasion or if it’s simply another one of their parties.”
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon,” he replied.
“The prince is known for enjoying a good party,” she said, placing the letter and envelope on a nearby table.
“We’ll go to the music room after we eat and see if the piano needs tuning. If it does, I’ll get someone out here immediately.”
“I can still play it as is. It would just be nice if it were in tune,” she replied.
She walked over to a small round table near the windows. It had obviously been used as a place to take meals if the occupant didn’t care to go downstairs to eat.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Charles went over and opened the door to let the footmen in with their meal. He instructed them where to leave the food and waited until they left before joining Cathryn.
He sat down and watched as she poured them each a cup of tea. She passed one to him and placed the other where she was going to sit.
“This is nice,” she said, surveying the various plates. She passed an empty one to him and sat down. He watched as she chose a piece of each cheese, some apple slices, a piece of warm bread, some cold roasted chicken.
He slathered butter on the chunk of bread in his hand. “I agree. This is nice.”
“It is. Not too much. Just enough choices,” she replied.
“What would you like to do when we finish eating?”
“First, I would like to see what condition the piano is in. After that, see if my things are being put away. Perhaps take a bath and change clothes.”
“Yes, I suppose I should check on Frazier and what he’s up to.”
He watched as she picked up a piece of cheddar and popped it in her mouth. It was sensual how easy it came to her.
“While you’re doing that, I should find the housekeeper and set up a time for us to meet in the next few days.”
“What for?” Charles asked.
