Everything within her stilled at that declaration. Those beautiful words threaded their way through her, and as they wove deep into her heart, energy pulsed once more. Katherine was trapped in this delicious agony, caught between freezing in place and flying apart at the seams. Certainly, her heart could not handle such strain, and it felt ready to leap free of her chest.
He loved her. Yes, that declaration had been qualified with “believe,” but even that was far more than she had ever hoped to hear. David loved her.
“And as much as I hate to be a bother, I’m here because Mrs. Tate mentioned last night that she was going to visit today, and I desperately require her assistance,” added David.
Katherine frowned at that. What did Rosanna have to do with any of this?
“You are correct, but I fear she is late,” said Mama, sitting once more whilst motioning for him to do the same. “Tell us about this direly important assistance you require.”
However, he remained where he was, casting a glance at Katherine. Of course, he was waiting for her to sit first; her brother may have the manners of a dockworker when it came to his sister, but David was a gentleman through and through. Unfortunately, Katherine couldn't move.
What did Rosanna have to do with this? Her mind pieced together possibilities, but each was ludicrous and nonsensical.
Standing there, she stared at David, and a chill started at the tips of her fingers, spreading through her to settle deep in her heart and causing it to sink beneath the weight of that unnamed dread. This was David. Her David. Katherine batted at that awful foreboding, which had no place inside her during such a pleasant moment, but its hold was too firm for her to break.
Something was amiss.
“I met the most magnificent lady last night, and I was certain Mrs. Tate might know who she is,” said David, glancing at Katherine. Just moments ago, she would’ve taken that as some secret laugh or communication, but there was only mild curiosity in his gaze. No doubt wondering why she kept both of them on their feet.
The strength seeped from her legs, and Katherine sank into a seat as he went on to give an abbreviated version of his evening with his “Mystery Lady.” But her ears refused to work. His words were muffled, and Katherine sat there, staring at him as he spoke with all the animation of a man truly ensorcelled and convinced his lady was the finest in creation.
Her thoughts stuttered. Last night had seemed improbable, but this mistake felt impossible. How did he not know her? Her mind stuck on those questions, unable to follow the conversation. Having replayed the evening countless times since she’d snuck out of Rosanna’s garden, the memories came quickly to her call, and she scoured them for any sign.
Surely this was a jest. David had known it was her. It wasn’t as though she had hidden her identity beyond blocking her face. Yes, she had masked her voice at times and played the part of the Mystery Lady, but he knew her far too well to be taken in by that weak ruse. The way they’d spoken. The things she’d shared. How could he not recognize the soul beneath the mask?
But a realization struck her with such force that Katherine couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.
Expectations colored perspectives, twisting reality until it was unrecognizable. If one did not expect to see something, it was easy to overlook. And Katherine was so far from being a viable romantic option in David Archer’s mind that he couldn’t recognize the truth staring him in the face.
Her stomach turned, and her muscles cramped, holding her in place like a statue as she stared at the far wall. Her breaths came in pants, and though her heart began to crumble, she forced herself to remain calm. Immoveable. Impassive. Fighting against the pain vibrating through her, Katherine forced herself to show no sign of distress. The others laughed and teased, speaking of the evening in grand terms whilst her world toppled to the ground.
And no one noticed.
Mr. Archer’s gaze turned to her, and Katherine’s eyes prickled, though she refused to let them compound her pain by revealing her shame. Had she truly thought he loved her? That one evening of dancing and talking would suddenly alter everything about their relationship? His brows furrowed, but Katherine drew in a deep breath and kept her chin lifted.
“Might it be Miss Pelham?” asked Mama, tapping her chin with a finger. “Or Miss Chorley?”
“Impossible,” said Benjamin with a laugh. “Miss Pelham is quite enamored with Mr. Tomlinson. And I doubt Miss Chorley would tolerate such a poor excuse for a beau as David Archer.”
“You wound me,” replied the gentleman with a laugh.
Ticking off her fingers, Mama rattled off several other names in quick succession, but Katherine’s attention waned once more. Until Benjamin responded.
“You are forgetting one eligible lady,” he added with a teasing smile.
Mama frowned. “Am I?”
Brows raised, Benjamin nodded at Katherine. Her mother didn’t even hesitate before she chuckled.
“Don’t be a ninny, Benjamin.”
It was the same sort of dismissal Mama always gave. Katherine couldn’t recall a time when the lady had ever paid the slightest bit of attention to her daughter—except to criticize. So, it ought not to hurt now. But Mama’s words struck her heart like a dagger. The Mystery Lady had entranced Mr. Archer, drawing forth a declaration of love (however hesitant it was) in the short span of an evening, and the thought that Katherine could be that lady was so ridiculous her mother thought her brother’s suggestion was a jest.
And perhaps it might’ve been. With Benjamin, she couldn’t say for certain. But did it even matter?
Shooting to her feet, she strode from the parlor with her head held high. Let them talk. Let them laugh. But Katherine refused to sit there and listen to it.
Chapter 9
