Chapter 20

Seth had imagined many things on his journey home; he replayed the journey in his mind over and over again, as if he could will himself to be home faster, the winds more favourable, the waves gentler, if he simply thought about it hard enough. He had formulated and abandoned dozens of plans, unsure of how his return would be accepted by those he wanted to see most of all.

He had made up his mind at long last, as he was being rocked about in a humble hammock slung belowdecks of the ship, on a course of action. No more would he be a timid boy-man, perpetually caught in his father's shadow and under his mother's thumb. He had endured too much, grown too much, to continue on in that manner. His time in the wilderness had taught him not only independence, but also how to be decisive; no moment could be taken for granted.

To that end, Seth had resolved to say hello to his mother, ensuring her that he was home safe and sound, and without delay to sally forth to Miss Kitty Johnson's home. Once there, he intended to ask for her hand, to spirit her away that very evening if she was agreeable. He had allowed others to make decisions for him for long enough, and it was time he started living for himself.

The very last thing he had expected on long nights shivering in the dark, creaking bowels of the ship, was to push open the door to his mother's sitting room and find the object of his longing there, waiting for him. It was like some kind of miracle, a scene from his own hopeful imagination.

There Kitty was, sitting on a settee, looking for all the world like a painting come to life. She was pastoral, fresh and spring-like, a sharp contrast from the grey winter outside. Her eyes, green and wide, were shining with some unnamed emotion. Seth could not take his eyes off her, a dream-like haze colouring his vision. It was impossible to tell what was real and what wasn't for a moment.

The manner in which his mother rushed to him, crying his name and throwing her arms about him, was also incongruous with the life he had known before. Lady Veronica Cluett was many things, but "warm" and "loving" were not the sort of adjectives one might have used to describe her. Yet, here she was, nearly bowling Seth over in her exuberance to see him.

"Seth! Oh, my darling boy, what ever are you doing here?" she asked, holding him by the arms.

"I have returned," he answered obviously, tearing his gaze away from Kitty with only the greatest of efforts.

"To stay?" Lady Veronica asked, her own brown eyes staring up into his.

"For now," he said, his attention drawn to Kitty once again with an irresistible magnetism. "Yes. I am here."

"Well, come in and make yourself known," Lady Veronica said, taking him by the arm and drawing him forward.

It was only then that Seth noticed that there was a stranger sitting on a chair near the settee, turned toward Kitty. He was a tall, thin man, with hair that was neither blonde nor brown, plastered to his head with a quantity of pomade. He looked to be about forty or so, with a highly fashionable cut to his jacket. He rose, peering down his sharp nose at Seth.

"Seth, may I present Sir Alexander Wright? He is one of the gentlemen with an interest in one of your late father's building projects," Lady Veronica said, smiling benignly at the stranger. "Sir Wright, this is my son, Seth, Viscount Cluett," she concluded, beaming proudly up at him.

"My Lord," Sir Wright said, bowing only as much as was required to avoid seeming impolite.

"Sir," Seth answered neutrally, returning his bow. They eyed each other warily, like dogs meeting on the street who circled with their hackles raised.

"I had no idea we would be enjoying the pleasure of your company," Sir Wright said smoothly. He shifted his posture slightly, angling himself so that he was standing slightly in front of Kitty.

"All the better," Lady Veronica said hastily. "Now our numbers are balanced, and my son can help to answer any of your questions." She turned to glance at Seth's rumpled travelling clothes. "I imagine that you will want to change before dinner."

Seth shrugged. "I doubt my cases have been delivered from the dock yet."

Lady Veronica gave him a pained smile. "Well, then I suppose we shall simply have to make do."

Seth shrugged again. He allowed his eyes to slide back to Kitty, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. Sir Wright followed his gaze, clearly trying to subtly shift so that she was blocked from Seth's view.

"Oh yes," Lady Veronica said, clearly having forgotten all about poor Kitty, "this is my companion, Miss Catherine. I expect you will remember me mentioning her in my letters."

"I do," Seth said, stepping forward and bowing under Sir Wright's frown. Kitty's expression changed, becoming pleading; she shot a glance to his mother, then back again. Seth, a little bemused in spite of the strange situation, decided to play along. "I am pleased to meet you as well, Miss Catherine," he said, bowing again. "I can't tell you what a relief it was to know that my mother was being so carefully looked after," he added.

I am so glad that you are here, was what he really said, hidden beneath the words he spoke.

"I am just so pleased that you have returned safely," Kitty replied. "Lady Veronica prayed for your homecoming every day."

I thought of you every day, was the meaning he took from her careful reply.

He smiled at her gently, and for a moment, they were lost in a world of their own making. Kitty's eyes still shone, and there was much emotion in their depths. Seth could not begin to imagine what strange turns had led her to accepting a place in his mother's house, but he meant what he said: He was beyond glad that she was there.

A single tear spilled over Kitty's cheek, and Seth felt his own sentimentality respond in kind. He wished to rush forward, take her in his arms in a most daring fashion and to comfort her. There was very little stopping him from doing so, really; he could drop to one knee and propose right now, if he so wished.

"Why Catherine, you sentimental thing!" Lady Veronica said, smiling condescendingly at her.

"Forgive me, Lady Veronica," Kitty said quickly, dabbing at her eyes with the back of one hand. "I am just so pleased to see you reunited with your son. I know how much anxiety it has been giving you."

"I told you she was a soft touch, did I not, Sir Wright?" Lady Veronica said, leaning toward the thin stranger as if they were co-conspirators.

Sir Wright smiled, but it was not mirthful; to Seth, he looked hungry, like a wolf that had just spotted a wounded deer, all sharp teeth and leering eyes. "You did indeed," he confirmed, turning toward Kitty again.

The butler reappeared at that moment to announce dinner. Lady Veronica immediately claimed Seth's arm that he might escort her into dinner, which left Kitty to be squired by Sir Wright. The situation left a rankled feeling in Seth's stomach, and he could not begin to explain why. It was clear that something was at work here that he had no clue of, and it unsettled him.

I've been back in society for all of five minutes , he groused, and I am reminded of why I hate it so. What schemes and duplicity have I wandered into now ? Though he was warm and safe, he could not help but think longingly of the harsh wilderness he had left behind.

Lady Veronica was chattering away amiably, instructing the staff to lay another place as they made their way to the dining room. Seth could have been mistaken, but he swore that he saw a panicked look pass between a maid and the footman. He was clearly not expected, but that should not be enough to put the house into a tizzy.

Seth frowned; there was clearly more at work here than he had imagined.

"Oh-ho-ho, Miss Johnson, you are too amusing," Sir Wright said from behind them.

Seth felt his frown quickly turning to a scowl, and had to work to smooth his face. He had spent so long simply being Seth instead of Viscount Cluett that he had forgotten how to school his expressions carefully into acceptable masks. Something about this man needled Seth, and he could not figure out what it was.

Well, beyond the fact that he seemed to assume that Kitty was to be served up to him alongside dinner. That was certainly reason enough for Seth to detest the man. He craned his neck, catching a glimpse of Kitty holding to Sir Wright's elbow. She was smiling up at Sir Wright, ignoring Seth entirely now.

During his time in the Canadian wilderness, he had seen storms whip up out of nowhere. One moment, it would be a mild, if slightly windy day, and he would be in his shirtsleeves cutting wood; in the next moment, a thunderhead was pouring over the nearby hills, rolling across the sky in great roiling waves. The entire settlement would have to scramble to secure their belongings and livestock as the wind turned violent. The skies would loose a barrage of hail and rain, lightning cracking across the sky and down into the forest.

That was precisely how Seth felt now. He had been full of hope and relief, from the moment his hired horse turned onto the street his mother's house was on. Seeing Kitty here, in his very own home, was more than he could have ever expected. It was a joyous surprise, one that filled him with the same kind of optimism that a warm, sunny day did.

Now, with a word, a gesture, Seth could feel his own mood blackening, storms gathering and ready to charge down the hills at any moment. He cast a last glance at Kitty as they entered the dining room; she ignored him again, only letting her eyes dart up to his once. She positively glowed in the candlelight for a moment as she waited for the footman to help her with her chair.

Then she was lost behind the dishes piled high with food, the polished candlesticks, and the floral arrangements. Though they were closer than they had been for over a year, there might as well have been a whole forest between them. They were together, but alone, cut off.

Not for long , Seth thought to himself. It was both comforting and a promise that he intended to keep.