Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

Kathryn

Dorset 1824.

K athryn slipped the earrings on, staring at herself in the vanity mirror.

"Pretty," she murmured, admiring the earrings that had been leant to her. They belonged to her aunt and were a thank you gift from Sebastian, her cousin, who had expressed great gratitude for her help in uniting him with his love, Elizabeth.

Kathryn ran her fingers over the earrings, admiring the pearl and the delicate twist of the gold drop. They were truly beautiful. Ever since she was a child, she had admired them and longed to wear them, but now she had them, that luster had somewhat diminished, though it had little to do with the earrings.

"That was my doing," she whispered and sighed as her eyes darted to her face. Her dark brown brows mirrored her hair perfectly that was swept back into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck. Her dark eyes were rather close together, her thin face and slanting nose almost elfin in places. She'd often been told she had a keen stare, but it was one that was easily shifted by the mischievous smile that was often on her lips.

That smile seemed a distance away now. Ever since she had nearly brought scandal upon the family, she had struggled with such smiles, just as she struggled to wear the earrings now.

Feeling unworthy of them, she took them off and replaced them in the jewelry box in front of her on the table.

Her aunt, Arabella, the Duchess of Gordon, was once a healer when she was young. Given the name Bona Dea, she wrote to ladies offering advice and healing herbs when needed, though that was many years ago. When she was accused of being a witch, she had retreated from such an occupation, that was until Kathryn brought the legend of Bona Dea back to life the year before.

Arabella's son, Sebastian, had longed for a way to grow closer to his love, Elizabeth. It had been Kathryn's foolish idea to suggest to the confused Elizabeth to write to Bona Dea to ask for advice, though Sebastian replied in the place of his mother. What had seemed like such a simple idea at first had become complicated, and at one time, there had been awful rumor spreading once again that Arabella was a witch.

Kathryn had felt the shame of their deception ever since.

Though all had worked out well for Sebastian, who had won Elizabeth's heart, Kathryn felt the weight of what they had done considerably. It was her suggestion that had drawn Arabella into such gossip and scandal again.

It was my doing.

She pushed the jewelry box away, feeling so unworthy of wearing the earrings that she couldn't bring herself to put them on again. She stood and brushed out the creases of her silken peach gown, trying to appear like the fine young lady she knew her mother wanted her to be.

Clara, now the Baroness of Aldington, and sister to the Duke of Gordon, had always been an elegant lady. In contrast, Kathryn felt like a bumbling fool compared to her mother. She was mischievous and had often gotten into trouble as a child. She was also a clumsy soul, and where Clara could walk into a room and captivate others with her elegant movements, Kathryn would fall in behind her, drawing eyes as she fell into a bundle on the floor.

Leaving the room, Kathryn crossed the landing and walked to the stairs, trying her best not to dwell on the earrings. When she heard Arabella's voice in the distant regions of the house, echoing as she talked to Clara, Kathryn hurried her pace. Descending the stairs, she reached the lower floor and moved to the sitting room where she opened the door wide.

She took two steps in before she managed to trip on the corner of a rug. In danger of falling, she gripped the back of the chair where her mother sat. Clara laid a hand to her heart in surprise at the sound and flicked her head around, her brown eyes that were so like Kathryn's own narrowing a little.

"God's wounds, Kathryn. My heart cannot take such scares," she said with a heavy sigh.

"My apologies." Kathryn forced a smile, hoping she could cover up the fact she had tripped again.

Sat in a chair opposite her mother was Arabella, smiling sweetly as she lifted her teacup to her lips and laughed. Often could Kathryn trace some of Sebastian's features in Arabella's face, though he looked more like his father.

"Still tripping up?" Arabella asked.

"Thank you, for that, Aunt. I was trying to hide the matter from my mother."

"You think I do not know when you trip?" Clara laughed as she raised her own teacup to her lips. "Sweetheart, you have barely walked straight since you first started tottering around as a child." The two women laughed together.

Kathryn forced a smile, knowing it was all in jest, though she felt strangely uncomfortable at the words today. The sense of discomfort hung over her from staring at those earnings and her eyes settled on Arabella.

"Aunt, may I speak with you?" She rounded Clara and took care to find her seat without tripping up again.

"You can always speak to me, dear." Arabella reached for the teapot and poured out another cupful, handing it to Kathryn. "What's on your mind?"

"I wish…" Kathryn paused and looked at her mother. Clara was eyeing her carefully, with that same watchful gaze that had been in her expression ever since she found out that Kathryn was behind the scandal that had befallen them the year before. "I wish to apologize."

"What for?" Arabella said softly.

"I wonder," Clara said with full wryness, her light tone drawing Kathryn's gaze. She loved her mother dearly, but her recent disappointment made her ache too.

"For what happened last year." Kathryn returned her full focus to her aunt.

"Again?" Arabella spluttered, lowering her own teacup to her lap. "Kathryn, you have apologized countless times already. You do not need to do so again."

"I feel I need to." Kathryn didn't bother raising her teacup to her lips but sat with it woodenly in her hands, feeling strangely out of place in her own sitting room. "What Sebastian did was at my suggestion. I feel entirely responsible for what happened next, the articles in the scandal sheets, all of it."

"Kathryn, please, listen to me." Arabella put her teacup down on the tray beside them and reached for Kathryn's hand, taking it in her own. "What you did was revive a name that was trusted, and as I have understood from many ladies since, did some good. It's a great surprise indeed to myself that my son could give such good advice to ladies, but he could, though I question how much medical advice he gave." She winced at the thought. "What you did was an innocent act. Perhaps a little… misguided."

"I was going to say a little inconsiderate," Clara said, taking a clam sip from her tea once again. Kathryn looked at her mother, her spine crumpling under the weight of her mother's disappointment.

"I considered Sebastian," Kathryn tried to explain herself. "I apologize, for I fear it is only he who I thought of in this matter."

"Then your heart was in the right place." Arabella patted her hand in comfort before returning to her teacup. "Besides, perhaps it was time for the name of Bona Dea to be revived again. Ladies still send letters. Sebastian and Elizabeth sometimes answer with advice, and whenever anything medical arises, they come to me for my assistance. We are able to help people again. The good of that cannot be underestimated. Can it, Clara?" She appealed straight to her sister-in-law, clearly encouraging her to say something good.

"Yes, yes, I know all that," Clara murmured with a heavy sigh. "Arabella, you do good work, as you always have done, but none of us were overawed by how you came to being accused of witchcraft, did we?"

Silence fell in the room as they all sipped their tears. Kathryn forced the bitter taste down, for she had forgotten to add any milk.

"Kathryn, you need not apologize to me anymore," Arabella said after a minute or so of this awkward silence. "Your apology is accepted, and I for one do not see that you did anything so wrong." She looked pointedly at Clara.

"Oh, do not look at me like that." Clara tipped her head back, as if avoiding her sister-in-law's gaze. "I know much good has come from it, but you must be in agreement with me that Kathryn's plotting, her mischievousness can be a little…" She paused, struggling for the right word.

"Endearing?" Arabella offered with a humored smile. Kathryn looked at her aunt, sharing in that smile.

"Can you stay all the time?" Kathryn asked, making her aunt laugh.

"I think a better word is concerning." Clara's words made them both stop laughing. "Kathryn, you are a young lady now. I am sorry to say it, but it is high time you acted like one."

"And of course, you were never so mischievous, were you?" Arabella asked, staring straight at Clara. "For your daughter must have got the attribute from somewhere."

Clara smiled for the first time, looking straight at Kathryn. It was an expression that perplexed Kathryn greatly. She could have almost mistaken her mother for being a little proud of her.

"I love you dearly, Kathryn. It cannot be denied you are like me at times, but as your mother, I have to protect you. Even if that means protecting you from your own artful ways. That you may have gotten from me."

"Is that a compliment? I can no longer tell," Kathryn said, sitting forward in bafflement. When Clara didn't answer, she returned her focus to her aunt. "I would like to say something more on this matter, as we're dredging up the past. Aunt, I must confess myself fascinated by your story. It captivates me! Completely."

"How do you mean?" Arabella said with a small, surprised laugh.

"How you managed to help people. How you cultivated an occupation for yourself, when so few women are permitted such an occupation themselves. It fascinates me more than I can declare," Kathryn spoke with vigor, sitting so far forward the she was in danger of falling out of the chair.

"Kathryn." Clara stood from her seat. "Here, let me rescue that teacup before you drop it when you clamber out of that chair." She took the teacup away before Kathryn could indeed drop it.

"I admire your learnings so much, Aunt," she continued on, determined to speak so openly now she had begun. "I'd be fascinated to learn more about it."

"You would?" Arabella seemed equally enthused, sitting forward.

"Of course."

"Well, if you are interested, I can lend you my notes on plants and botany. There is much in there one can learn." Before Arabella had even finished her offer, Kathryn was already nodding, eager to accept. "I am sure your mother would not object, would you, Clara?"

"No, I would not." Clara smiled softly. "After all you have done for dear Daniel, I know your knowledge is vast indeed." She spoke of her brother, Arabella's husband, with pain evidently tinging her voice.

Kathryn had heard much of this tale, how Arabella and Daniel had met when Clara called Arabella to the house. Daniel was suffering from a lung condition, and it was Arabella who helped him to manage it. To this day, he would occasionally have problems and coughing attacks, but Kathryn had been informed many times that he was infinitely better than he had been before he met Arabella.

"Yes, by all means share your knowledge," Clara encouraged.

"I'd love that. Thank you." Kathryn stood from the chair and clasped her hands together, excitedly.

"Well, on that good note, I must go home. Sebastian and Elizabeth are to come for dinner tonight, and judging by how Elizabeth complained at the scent of coffee last time she came, I suspect she has some news for us." Arabella stood with a smile.

"What news is that?" Kathryn frowned, with her brows pinned together.

"One of the things that I shall teach you," Arabella said softly. "Those carrying a child often reject the strong scents of coffee and other such drinks. Now, I must take my leave. I shall see you both tomorrow."

As Arabella left, Kathryn stood dumbstruck, staring after her aunt. As the door closed, Clara sat down in her chair once more, sighing with her spine softening.

"How can she tell if Elizabeth is pregnant?"

"She knows everything." Clara waved a hand and laughed. "She always has done."

"Yes, but… pregnant! Imagine Sebastian as a father." Kathryn giggled at the notion. "He'll make a good father. Playful indeed."

"Yes." Clara's eyes turned to Kathryn.

She knew that look. Clara had something to say. Kathryn fidgeted where she stood, trying to straighten her peach gown.

"What is it, Mother?"

"How do you know I wish to say something?"

"Because you are looking at me the way father eyes his business investments. As if you have a plan." At Kathryn's words, Clara sat forward, perching on the edge of her seat.

"That is because your father and I have a proposition for you. One we believe will help you." She paused, chewing her lip for a minute before she went on. "We wish to send you away for a time."

"Send me away?" Kathryn spluttered. She walked forward in her effort to reach her mother, and ended up kicking the table where the tea was placed. All the China danced on the surface as she hopped, managing to stamp down on her other foot. "Ow!"

"Don't get yourself in a spin." Clara stood hurriedly, reaching for her.

"I know I made an error last year, but please, do not send me away because of that. Mother, please –"

"Kathryn, you misunderstand." Clara laid her hands on her shoulders, softening her tone. "I am not sending you away for good. My suggestion is to send you to my mother's cousin, Lady Georgiana Bingley, Dowager Countess of Gloucester, for the summer. She is a fine lady and lives in London. She has excellent skills and a great sense of propriety."

"Propriety?" Kathryn wrinkled her nose.

"Do not pull that face as if I have offered up a rotting flower in front of you."

"Forgive me, give me a minute to straighten it again." Kathryn jested and adjusted her expression, pulling an amused smile from her mother that she clearly tried to fight.

"You need a good tutor to be a fine lady, Kathryn. Perhaps exposure to London would assist you. I think Lady Georgiana could be of great help to you, and your father is convinced that traveling to London will do you good too. Once he gets an idea in his head, it is hard to argue with him after all." She rolled her eyes. "Now, what do you say? It is not for so long but could help you very much."

Kathryn wasn't sure what to feel. Her mother's disappointment had been palpable for so long that she wished to be better for Clara's sake, but she was also saddened by the idea of parting from the home she loved so much.

Yet it would make my mother happy, and it is not for so long.

"If you wish it, Mother. Yes, I shall go."