She smiled at such a characteristic speech from John’s best friend. But she still couldn’t speak.
“Please,” he said, looking down at her, “say you’ll marry me. Not in a few years, but a few weeks. Soon. As soon as we can do it.”
“What will we say to Henrietta?”
“The truth. She’ll understand. I know she will. Please. Marry me.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Catherine awokethe next morning, she wondered if she had dreamt the night before. Then, she felt John curled around her and she knew that it was real.
They were getting married.
Not in three years, not in one, not after Henrietta was out and married, but in a few weeks at most. They had resolved that, today, they would tell Henrietta the real nature of their relationship. Then they would alert their friends and family to the engagement. They would plan a small wedding as soon as possible.
She felt John stir beside her and kiss behind her ear. She smiled at him and, in his eyes, she saw a softness that had never been there before.
A knock sounded on her chamber door.
John’s relaxation turned to alarm. She grabbed his robe from the bedpost and wrapped it around herself before opening the door.
Mrs. Morrison stood on the other side of the threshold.
“Miss Aster,” she said, with her characteristic irony, “Lady Trilling is here to see you.”
She looked at John. In the excitement of the night before, they had completely forgotten that Lady Trilling had seen her. That said, it hardly mattered now.
“And, Your Grace, your friends have returned,” Mrs. Morrison said, raising her voice so it could be heard through the doorway. She couldn’t see John from her perch in the doorway, but she knew he was there. “They said they will be heading back to London this evening. After they sleep off last night, I presume.”
Catherine turned back to Mrs. Morrison. “Lady Trilling is here now? It’s not even noon.”
“She said it was a most pressing matter.”
“Very well,” Catherine said. “Tell her I will be down shortly.”
Mrs. Morrison curtseyed and left.
“Shall I come with you?” John asked.
“I think it would be better if I spoke to her alone. She only asked for me. And I forgot to tell you, in the chaos of last night, but I think she might know where my aunt is. I don’t think she was completely truthful to me before.”
“What?” John sat upright in bed.
Catherine nodded vigorously and relayed what she had overheard the night before in the retiring room.
“Your aunt doesn’t want to see you?” he asked, after hearing the story.
“Apparently not.” Catherine tried to ignore her pang of pain at his question.
“Jesus Christ.”
“I will probably have to tell Lady Trilling why we are looking for my aunt. She doesn’t want to give over her location, but she may do it for a good enough reason.”
“I think she proved herself trustworthy in regards to Henrietta’s reputation last night. I have no objection to telling her the truth, if you think it will help.”
“It may,” Catherine said. “I am glad she’s here, whatever she wants, so that I can question her more closely. Maybe, this time, she’ll give me the answer I’m looking for.”
John gave her a smile. “You are quite fetching when you are determined. And when you are slapping a baron.”
