“No, Your Grace! I shall just say that you were sleeping, so I sat with you, and when I awoke, you was gone.”
“But… but that will get you into trouble. I cannot let you do that.”
“No trouble, Your Grace! I’m a heavy sleeper, and no one said I had to stay awake. Only to be by your bedside. The truth is, that since His Grace employed me… he is a frightening man and I just never took to him. But right from the get-go, you’ve been lovely to me. And I can tell you’re a good person. So, I’m glad to help.”
Catherine hugged the young woman impulsively.
“Thank you, Sally. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Where will you go, if you don’t mind me prying, Your Grace?” the maid asked.
“I do not know. It sounds foolish, but I haven’t thought that far ahead. Only that I cannot stay here.”
She could feel the tears pricking at her eyes and turned away to hide them. She felt something akin to grief at the prospect of leaving Caerleon Manor and could not understand why.
I must remember what made me want to leave in the first place. There is secrecy and mystery here. And not in the exciting way of adventure stories.
“Begging your pardon, Your Grace, but you don’t seem too sure about this…” Sally bit her lip in reluctance.
Catherine blinked her tears away, pushing the sadness to one side. She had to be pragmatic. Her life may depend on it.
“I am, Sally. Now, will you show me a way that I may sneak out of the house—preferably not by the front door?”
The young maid nodded once, then guided her through the night-shrouded hallways. Down narrow stairs and alongnarrower passages until they reached a heavy-timbered door that opened out onto the stable-yard.
“Look, Your Grace, I have a cousin who lives on a farm near Croxley Green. Blackthorn Farm. Her name is Edith Bagshot. If you tell her that Sally Oldcastle sent you, she will put you up for a few days—” Sally suddenly blushed, “Listen to me, sending you to a farm to live. I’m sure you have grand houses that you can stay at. I just thought...”
Catherine smiled at the maid’s simple, innocent desire to help.
“I will go to Blackthorn Farm, Sally. Thank you.”
She hugged the young maid and then quickly stole away into the night.
CHAPTER 15
“Ibeg your pardon for the intrusion, Your Grace,” McKay opened the door to Gideon’s study after a pre-emptive knock.
“I am busy, McKay,” Gideon drawled, not looking up from the plan of the coal mine he was hoping to reopen in Lancashire.
With investment from Obadiah Threnthorpe. His knowledge and my financial clout, and we could rival the North-East for coal production.
It was an exciting prospect that always set his blood alight and his heart racing. The idea that he would step out of his father’s shadow, at least, achieve something which even that devilish old man could not have criticized or belittled.
Not to mention Aaron, wherever he is in this world or the next. This will be the final victory, the proof that I was worthy of the Dukedom—not he.
“It’s… Her Grace, the Duchess,” McKay said, sounding uncertain, which was unusual.
Gideon peeked up, frowning. Once, the planning of his great industrial triumph was all that was needed to set his blood afire. Now, the mention of Catherine made the drum of his heart pound with the relentless force of the rhythms that had sent men into battle for countless generations. Mention of her name made Gideon ready to fight a battle, either for or against her.
“What of her?” Gideon said, suddenly remembering the lurid dream he’d had of her the night before.
“She is not in her rooms. As far as I can tell, she is not to be found within these walls. Not at all, Your Grace.”
Gideon stared at him for a long moment as though he were mad.
“I have had the staff look on all floors and in all rooms. I was concerned about her being out of the house without access to... medicine,” McKay added, “and there is no sign of her.”
Gideon got to his feet, striding for the door.
