“They never attend. Dauntry has, but no one else from the family.”
“Are they Catholic?” Kitty asked in surprise.
“Heavens, no, but they have the chapel and a chaplain to offer services. A doddery old fellow.”
“Isn’t that unusual?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I’ll attend service here and I’ll try to make sure my husband does, too. The dowager may worship in her chapel, but Miss Isabella can be compelled.” She saw Ruth’s expression. “No?”
“I know only what Dauntry has said, but ‘stubbornly willful’ seems to fit, with the dowager encouraging her.”
“Why does the dowager still live there? Isn’t there a dower house?”
“Used by the estate steward for at least thirty years.”
Kitty frowned at an inoffensive gravestone ahead. “Do you think the dowager drove off the previous viscount’s wife on purpose?”
“Kitty! Don’t let your imagination run away with you. Why would she do that?”
“Mothers and sons. Is Andrew’s mother protective of him?”
“Not particularly, but she has three other sons.”
“Lady Cateril has one other son and two daughters, but that didn’t help. I’d never thought before to be grateful that Marcus insisted on us living so far away. Life at Cateril Manor would have been unbearable.”
On Monday Kitty was startled to receive two letters from Cateril Manor. Both were franked, so Andrew had nothing to pay.
When Kitty hesitated, fearing what Lady Cateril had to say, Ruth said, “Open them!”
“Both at the same time? Why are Lord and Lady Cateril writing to me separately? Heavens. Could my news have killed her?”
“Then she’d hardly be writing to you, would she?”
“No, but...”
“Why the hesitation? You’re not going to let her disapproval prevent you from marrying, are you?”
“No, but...” Kitty broke the seal on Lady Cateril’s letter. It was short, so she grasped the contents immediately. “She’s sending me my possessions without objection.” She stared up at Ruth. “She even says Marcus would have wanted me to live a full life. I can hardly believe it.”
“Why doubt?” Ruth snatched the letter and read it. “It seems plain enough. You have her blessing, Kitty. All is well!”
Kitty opened the other letter. “Perhaps it’s to tell me she’s run mad. No. It’s to thank me.”
“For marrying?”
“Lord Cateril says my news has helped Lady Cateril return to life. She’s put off her blacks and is taking her full part in life again.”
Ruth was beaming. “A blessing all around!”
“But at the end, he wishes me well and hopes Lord Dauntry is worthy of me. That’s odd.”
“Good wishes?”
“That he say that. As if he has doubts. Do you think he knows Dauntry?”
Ruth took that letter. “He means worthy of Marcus’s widow. Rejoice! You can marry without a cloud on the horizon. Andrew!” she called. “All’s well! Lady Cateril makes no objection, and Lord Cateril thanks Kitty for bringing about a change in her.”
