The wind had blown the door open and exposed her hiding spot. Catherine’s face flushed.
“Pardon me, I did not mean to disturb you. I can come back later.” Catherine addressed the floor. She turned on her heel.
He grasped her by the wrist. She tensed and yanked her hand away. He wasn’t going to punish her, was he? She never should have come here. Edward was an important man, and she’d wasted his time on her insignificant feelings. She turned to face him wide-eyed, one hand clenching the fabric at her throat. Edward canted his head to the side as he furrowed his brows.
Her blush only deepened. This wasn’t Elk Grove. Edward wasn’t going to lock her away in the room for misbehaving. He wasn’t Dr. Armstrong.
“You can visit me whenever you like; there’s no need for apologies.” Edward smiled again, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Dark smudges darkened under his eyes, and a yellow tea stain marred his white shirt. When had he changed his clothes last, or ate a proper meal? He seemed to hardly ever leave his study. Instead of wasting his time with her, he should be resting. Catherine pulled down the hem of her sleeve and rubbed the silken fabric between thumb and forefinger.
“Did you have something to ask me?” Edward prompted.
“Oh. Well...” She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “The thing is, we haven’t seen much of one another.” She winced. Now she sounded like Mama nagging at Papa.
“You’re right.I feel as if we have barely had a moment to speak since we’ve arrived home. Perhaps we can go for a walk about the garden together. You can tell me your plans for it.”
Catherine’s head shot up. “Are you sure? You seemed to have more demanding matters to attend to.” Her eyes drifted to his desk, cluttered with papers, and then back to him.
“My work will still be there when I get back. Let me just ring for my coat, and we can head out.” He reached for the pull cord on the wall, and a distant bell rang. And then he turned back to her with another smile. She wanted to reach out and wipeaway the smear of ink on his chin. That was the sort of affectionate gesture a wife would do. Her finger twitched. If she did, would he push her away or pull her closer and...
Edward cleared his throat. “Mrs. Morgan says preparations are underway for the ball.”
“Yes. I believe so.” Just this morning, Mrs. Morgan had delivered choices for invitations; the supposed varying shades of creme paper had all looked the same to her, and so she’d picked one at random. The thought of the ball made her chest tight. She prayed she didn’t embarrass Edward in front of his friends and neighbors. She couldn’t dance and had not the faintest clue how to host such an event.
The door to the study flew open, and Catherine jumped back, colliding with Edward, who caught her shoulders. She pressed her arms to her side. Edward let her go without a word. But he must realize now she recoiled from unexpected touch. It evoked memories of the grasping hands of the caretakers at Elk Grove.
“My Lord, it happened again! The prize hogs are all slaughtered, and Mr. Moore is—” He looked up, and his thick mustache sagged. “I didn’t realize you had company.” He removed his bowler hat and clutched it in tanned and chaffed hands.
“Ah, yes. Mr. Wolfe, this is my wife, Lady Thornton.” Edward gestured toward her.
Mr. Wolfe bobbed his head in greeting. “Pleasure, my lady. Lord Thornton has spoken highly of you.”
Catherine bobbed her head in greeting.
“Mr. Wolfe is my estate manager. I don’t know what I’d do without the man,” Edward said with a strained smile.
Mr. Wolfe nodded beneath his praises though his smile was stiff as well. He and Edward exchange a furtive look. There was something neither of them was saying. Dr. Armstrong and the nurses at Elk Grove did the same. It usually preceded her being locked in the room. Ice ran through her veins.
“I must see to this. There’s a wild dog on the loose, you see. It’s been killing my tenant farmer’s livestock. And the beasts are costing me dearly. We’ve yet to catch the thing.” Edward sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “I am sorry, Catherine, we’ll have to walk together another time.” He reached toward her, and she noticed dirt embedded in his nail beds and the grains of his palms. He pulled back at the last moment as if second-guessing himself.
“I understand,” Catherine said as her shoulders slumped.
“Give us a moment, will you, Mr. Wolfe?” Edward said.
Mr. Wolfe nodded as he put on his bowler hat. He left, closing the door after him. The click of the door made her stomach flop, and she glanced toward the window facing the garden. Using the swaying branches of the forest like an anchor. This wasn’t the room. Catherine fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. Edward wouldn’t harm her. She wanted to believe that. But she couldn’t shed fear like it was a coat. How long before he gave up on trying to hold out a hand to her altogether?
“I’m sorry to do this to you. I promise I will make it up to you somehow.” His wrinkled brow and down turned mouth didn’t suit his handsome face.
She shouldn’t be causing trouble for him. Not after what he’d done for her and her family. “Don’t trouble yourself over me; the tenants need you.”
“How about this, tomorrow you and I will go for a ride in my two-seater.” He flashed her a smile. Now he resembled the gentleman she’d met in London.
Her stomach fluttered. “I would like that very much.” Her face flushed for an entirely different reason.
He leaned in slowly, and this time she forced herself to stay very still as he planted a kiss on her forehead. It was warm and soft. When he pulled away, her stomach was doing somersaults. “I look forward to it then.”
Even after he left, Catherine continued to stare at the empty doorway. Elk Grove had left its mark on her, but if they took it slow and Edward was willing to be patient, maybe she could learn to be more like a heroine. She wiped her clammy hands on her skirt, but she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Miss Larson, her lady’s maid, arrived with her coat slung over her arm.
