It was rather a large group gathered in the hall at Westwick Heights when Kent arrived the next day, for the whole of Uncle George’s family were agog to know why Miss Parish had returned so abruptly, in a hired post chaise and with no warning, or so the servants had whispered. Apart from Uncle George and Aunt Jane, all six of his cousins were there, including six-year-old Philip, and also Bertram’s betrothed, Bea Franklyn, who happened to be visiting.
They walked in a straggling train down the hill and through the woods to Cathcart House, although Aunt Jane fussed the whole way about the dampness of the air, adjuring everyone to keep well wrapped up and walk briskly, to keep the chill at bay, but not too briskly, for fear of overheating. As usual, no one took very much notice of her. Having been ill for much of her early life, she had the greatest terror that one of her children would succumb to the same weakness and could never be reassured that they were in the rudest of health.
They were received with bright smiles by Mrs Cathcart, and by blushes and downturned eyes by Katherine, as they all crowded into the drawing room. She looked well, Kent thought, and when he managed to catch her eye she smiled at him so warmly that he could not doubt her pleasure at seeing him. Such a sweet girl, and so guileless that her affection shone as bright as a star. The contrast with Miss Cathcart was striking, the one all innocence and demureness, the other brash in her attempts to attract his notice. He had never been deceived by such flirtatious behaviour, but now that he had Katherine’s shining honesty before him, he was repelled by Aveline’s duplicity.
The Strongs were already ensconced in the drawing room, and in possession of Katherine’s person, Lady Strong sitting on one side of her, and Winnie on the other. No doubt they were also driven by curiosity, and since Lady Strong was holding Katherine’s hand in a motherly fashion, and Winnie had one arm round her shoulders, perhaps there was more to this sudden return than mere whim.
Kent could not have imagined the truth, however, for when Mrs Cathcart recited the whole of it, he was appalled that his Katherine should have been subjected to such ungentlemanly behaviour. The ladies gasped when hearing that Mr Ryker had entered Katherine’s bedroom, wearing only a nightshirt! Then they laughed at the maid hitting him with the bolster. They gasped again to hear that Mrs Ryker thought nothing of it, and clapped and cheered at Katherine refusing to give way, and hiring a post chaise on her own.
James Cathcart rather smugly described his own and his brothers’ part in events, and although Kent was relieved that Katherine had male relatives to step forward when she was ill-treated in such a despicable fashion, he wished with all his heart that it could have been his duty to defend her honour. And yet… surely that meant he wished he were her husband, did it not? Was that truly what he wanted?
When the Strongs rose to leave, Kent swiftly took the vacated seat beside Katherine, while Emily sat down on her other side.
“I am so sorry you had to endure such a horrible occurrence,” Kent said, “but I know I speak for all the Athertons when I say we are very happy to have you back amongst us.”
“Oh, yes!” Emily said. “Such a shocking thing… I should have been terrified! One never imagines agentlemanwould behave in such a way.”
“I think we may safely say that this Ryker was no gentleman,” Kent said. “But how fortunate that you had a maid with you. Was that one of Mrs Ryker’s maids?”
“No, no,” Emily said. “Katherine has her own maid now, Daisy Marler.”
“Marler?” Kent said. “Related to Dan Marler, the farmer over at Welwood?”
Katherine nodded.
“She left there to stay with her uncle in the village here, and Katherine met her… somewhere, I forget where.”
“In church,” Katherine said, in a low voice.
“DaisyMarler? In church?” Kent said. “That would be a novelty, by all accounts.”
“Oh, no, she was praying at the Lady Chapel, in great distress at some transgression… her conscience was troubling her.”
“Praying? Well, perhaps she has changed…” He frowned. “Or perhaps I am confusing her with someone else, for the Marlers are generally regarded as a respectable family.”
“I am sure they are,” Katherine said. “Farmers are such hard workers, are they not? Out in all weathers to tend their animals and crops, and always threatened by an unseasonal snowstorm or floods or pestilence.”
“Like the Bible,” Emily said.
“Although perhaps there are not so many plagues of locusts in Yorkshire,” Kent said, and was pleased to see that his modest jest raised an answering smile from Katherine. When she talked, she forgot to be self-conscious and the blushes died away, revealing the creamiest skin he had ever seen. Lord, she was pretty when she smiled at him in that artless way! How was he supposed to decide what to do when she was so… soenticing.
Mrs Cathcart came bustling over, with that over-bright smile on her face. She was excited to have her drawing room filled with well-wishers, no doubt, but then she always seemed a trifle excited to him.
“Miss Atherton, Mr Atherton, we are planning to hold a small celebration dinner in honour of Katherine’s safe return to us after her ordeal. It will just be a few of her friends, young people like yourselves. I hope I can depend on you to honour us with your presence?”
“That would be lovely,” Emily said at once. “We are engaged at Birchall House on Wednesday, but we have no other engagement, that I know of.”
“Next Tuesday, perhaps?” Mrs Cathcart said. “Mr Atherton, would that suit you? And perhaps the Lady Olivia would like to come, too?”
He agreed to the date, and thought that very likely Olivia would be agreeable too, for she never missed an evening out if she could possibly help it. Like her older sister Izzy, she was a sociable creature, who came glowingly alive in company. Katherine was the very opposite of those two. Kent had decided many years ago that he would never marry a woman like Izzy, for it would be too exhausting for words, whereas Katherine’s quiet ways and gentle demeanour were just the thing to make him feel like royalty. To her, he was not merely the youngest son, a man of no account and with no prospect of advancement.
And here he was making comparisons again, and daring to wonder what it would be like to marry her. He really must make a decision soon.
15: Celebrations
Kentstoodbeforethealtar of St Timothy’s church beside Walter, watching Winnie Strong walking towards them on her father’s arm, her face filled with radiance. Alongside him, Walter, too, was glowing with happiness.
Was this how it would be for Kent if he married Katherine? He could picture her on her uncle’s arm, but she would be blushing, her head lowered, the very image of demure maidenhood. When she reached his side, she would look up at him and smile, that look that made him feel like a giant walking the earth.
