“It’s a shame that she wasn’t able to attend his funeral either, but I am sure she felt at blame for his passing away, or at least she should have, and did not want to face her brother! He is still very piqued at her as it is.”
"Then this room belonged to her?" Katie asked the obvious.
"Yes, that's right," Bess smiled.
"But you mentioned something about Lord Emerson waiting for a Katherine Gail something-or-other? Where is she, and why is he waiting for her?" Katie’s curiosity had gotten the better of her, though she hated sounding so interested. Now that Bess had piqued her interest, not ever having had a real family of her own, made all of this family history the more fascinating to Katie, and oddly enough, she was anxious to learn more.
"You mean Katherine Gail Winslow?"
Katie nodded.
"Well that is a long story, so I hear. All I really know is that she was an heiress or the like, from Winslow Hall, who disappeared when she was a little girl. From what I'm told, she was betrothed to Lord Emerson by his father and the heiress’ mother, when he was just a lad."
"And he is waiting for her to return so he can marry her?" The story sounded unbelievable.
"I wouldn't know that, Miss. Likely as not, the heiress is long dead. After all, no one has seen her since she was a child. It is just that his Lordship seldom encourages the womenfolk hereabouts, unless you consider Lady Alain. He does spend a lot of time helping her with her estate and all. Anyway, that’s the reason everyone says that he must be waiting for either Katherine, or her ghost to return!"
Katie gave a slight shiver. She found it all very difficult to understand. Lord Emerson himself was quite out of the ordinary! Heartless one moment and tender the next. Yet he was such a handsome figure of a man, Katie could hardly believe what Bess said about him not encouraging women, and wondered what part this... Lady Alain played in Lord Emerson’s life? Though her curiosity was consuming her, she was not about to inquire into his personal affairs. She already felt that she had over stepped her curiosity bounds as it was. Besides that, she was having a hard enough time trying to dismiss the unexpected contentment she had felt in his arms, which had surfaced against her own will!
Katie cast all the highly irregular things Bess had been telling her aside. It was probably just some exaggerated gossip to keep life interesting, she decided. After all, what else did wealthy people have to talk about and do? They had to have something to keep their leisure life style interesting, she decided. She had enough things to worry about, without trying to figure out what Lord Emerson's problems were.
Katie insisted on toweling herself dry, with the warm soft towels, Bess presented to her, while Bess became occupied with choosing a dress from Lady Lorna's closet. Holding out a green taffeta with mother-of-pearl buttons on the cuffs, and dainty lace at the neck and wrists, Bess cooed, "Oh, do wear this one. It was always Lorna’s papa’s favorite."
"If you wish," Katie admired the dress that was the same color green as her own emerald eyes. "I’m afraid the cut is a little lower than I am used to wearing, though," she calculated, as she held the dress up to herself in front of the mirror.
Bess gave a little giggle. "I'm afraid all Lady Lorna's dresses are quite low," she confessed, with a mischievous grin. She busied herself picking up Katie's discarded rumple of wet clothing from the floor. "I'll just get rid of these things and be back in a wink to help you," she told Katie as she bustled from the room.
The dress fit Katie well enough, and she marveled at her transformed reflection in the mirror, compared to what it had been when she first arrived at Emerson Manor. Her long auburn hair now hung in a damp, thick, shining, mantle straight down her back, almost to her waist. Katie had secured it back from her eyes with a slender green ribbon, which she had discovered on the dressing table. Tenderly, Katie placed her simple gold locket that had once belonged to her mother, back around her neck where it now lifted lightly against her pale skin with every breath she took.
"My, don't you look lovely in that dress,” Bess sighed, as she entered the room. “And your hair's so shiny and clean!"
"Thank you Bess." Katie could not help but feel a little self-conscious. She had never worn such fine clothing before, and the soft silk under things, and crisp taffeta felt unfamiliar against her skin.
After appraising Katie’s appearance, Bess indicated she sit down while her foot was wrapped in linen strips by the expert hands of the young maid. “I think that will do you,” Bess smiled as she finished wrapping Katie’s foot.
"Yes, you have done a very good job of snugly wrapping my ankle. Now could you show me where Lord Emerson wishes me to dine with him?"
"Oh, but Miss Dow, I just spoke to Lord Emerson, and he made it perfectly clear that you were to stay off your ankle He said for me to fetch him when you were ready to come down to dine, so he could bring you down himself. I'll go do that directly. You are free to choose a pair of Lorna’s shoes to wear if you wish."
"They are not my size” Katie informed her distractedly, “and I am perfectly capable of...” only Bess was out of the door and hurrying down the stairs to fetch her Master.
Katie could not understand why Lord Emerson should insist he come all the way back to the room and carry her downstairs. She was reluctant to feel his arms around her again. Somehow, it made her uneasy. Anyway, she told herself, she was not such an invalid that she was incapable of getting about on her own, even if it did ache a great deal whenever she put her weight on the lame ankle. If Bess had only let her lean on her, it would have done well enough, she thought irritatingly to herself.
In spite of Bess' instructions to wait, Katie followed after her. However, when she reached the hall, the plump maid had disappeared from sight.
CHAPTER THREE
Katie approached the banister peering down to the huge entryway below, her fingers curled tightly over the smooth polished wood, as she supported her weight against it. The memory of Lord Emerson carrying her through the high commanding entry doors came with a rush to her mind. She recalled now, how the faint scent of his cologne and the closeness of his face had sent maddening trimmers throughout her body, and she had wondered then why she felt suddenly drawn to him when she wanted to hate him so? Confused by these warring emotions, which the man effortlessly create by his very presence, she had managed to distract herself from the turmoil that had been galloping through her, by averting her eyes to the elaborate, but unlit, chandelier that hung directly above them.
Having noticed her upturned face, Lord Emerson’s gaze had followed hers.
"A pity it isn't lit to welcome you to my modest home." The sarcasm bit at her ears. His home was far from modest, and she felt he had said that to put her in her own lowly place. "But then I have been away on business, and of course we were not expecting, an enchanting visitor such as yourself this evening."
That was the crowning remark, considering the condition she was in at the moment. His arrogant attitude had a way of pulling irritation to the surface, and so she had tried to ignore him by turning her attention to the checkerboard pattern created by the black and white tiles of the marble entryway floor.
Out of the corner of her eye, Katie had caught the glimpse of a startled servant who had poked his head through a doorway to see his Master carrying a mud-covered woman up the stairs. A smile came giddily from within, as she could not help but think what a curious picture they must have presented.
Now Katie pulled away from the banister and placed her one strong foot upon the first marble step gracing the crest of the sweeping staircase. Holding firmly to the fine mahogany railing for support, she winced slightly at the pain of each separate step she took.
"Miss Katie Dow!" The forceful voice halted Katie so fast that she nearly lost her balance. Her eyes flashed down as Lord Emerson, who was coming up the steps towards her, was just rounding the bend in the stairs. "I thought Bess gave my instructions not..." The sentence did not finish pouring from his mouth, as he stopped dead still
a few steps below her, merely staring up at her. Once again, Katie thought she had detected a look of perplexity cross his eyes. His mouth remained open in the middle of a word.
Katie, whose heart had jumped in fright at his voice, now felt that same heart pounding in an irregular beat which she had no explanation for, as his eyes caught hers and held them captive for a brief moment. "Is… is, something wrong?" Her timid response irked her, since it seemed to acknowledge the power he appeared to have over her.
Lord Emerson managed to gain composure. The very sight of her outstanding beauty had startled him, but there was something more… He pushed it all aside as the look of perplexity vanished from his face, almost as quickly as it had appeared and he proceeded towards her. "No, no...Well yes!” he responded gruffly, trying to cover up his inner confusion. “You should know better than using that foot. I told you to stay off of it until the swelling went down. Are you determined to ignore my every instruction?" He found himself replacing his irritability at himself, towards this amazing beauty before him.
"I do not recall becoming your patient, Lord Emerson. However, I insist that you explain why you were looking at me so... so oddly. You seemed shocked, like, like..." Her voice trailed off. How could she explain the way he had looked at her when she didn't understand it herself?
Lord Emerson appeared disturbed by her question. It was not just her beauty that had shocked him, but something else. Something that was not quite tangible, so he had no way of explaining it. “I...I guess I am ...shocked by your...your drastic transformation.” He paused and seemed to be taking in her improved appearance. Then his features stiffened. “It’s not important,” he added briskly. “What is important is that you may cause great damage to that ankle of yours if you persist in trying to use it before it is healed." For some reason, his concern for her health, made him feel more in control. That certainly must be it! He was just concerned for her well-being!
Without another word, he was at her side lifting her roughly into his arms, for the third time, since she met him. With an authoritative air, he turned and proceeded back down the stairs. “Are you merely endeavoring to be irritating, or perhaps just trying to make your ankle worse so you must be carted around for the rest of your life?" He tried to cover up his bewildering feelings as his voice suddenly became absent of any warmth, while all the time, he soared within, just to feel her slight figure in his arms again. Katie felt as though he was deliberately trying to distract her from his earlier moments of concern.
"Heaven forbid if it means you should be the one appointed to carry me!” Katie smoldered, matching the mood of his seeming aggravation.
"Well if you continue to act so obstinate, I can tell you, your future most likely won't be a pleasant one!" His retort spurred her on; in doing so, it seemed to exhilarate him.
"Is that a threat, or just your wishful calculation?" Katie spat back.
"I see you intend to try and outwit me with words, Miss Dow, which leads me to believe you are a brazen woman. Brazen women have no place in a gentle society!” He knew his retort was harsh, yet for some reason he could not restrain himself.
Katie found her voice stiffening even more. "Lord Emerson, I don't see where my place in society should concern you in the least. As you well know, I am not of gentle society, nor most likely ever will be. I must inform you, this ridiculous pastime you seem to have taken upon yourself, of carting me around, as you say, is very distracting! It is true, I have twisted my ankle, but I am not an invalid yet!"
"I assume you do not wish to become one either,” he replied, while wishing only to have the occasion of carting her around all the more. “If you will promise to be a little more cooperative, I will try to be less distracting, and perhaps we can salvage the evening from total disaster! Besides, what makes you think I enjoy carting you around anymore than you like me doing it?" That should put her in her place, he thought satisfactorily to himself.
Katie felt her temper flaring inside, but said nothing. Disaster! He had been the one who had caused the disaster the moment his carriage wheels sprayed her and Shancy with mud! Now he was being high-handed, and lacking in manners! She fumed from within. She prayed inwardly that she could only keep her temper until she was able to get the information she was searching for. Then she would be out of his life for good, and both the happier for it no doubt.
Lord Emerson must have taken her silence as consent, for as they entered the drawing room, he gave her an engaging smile, as though they were old friends. With a dramatic flourish, he placed her at a small table that was set before a large elaborate fireplace.
Katie eyed him warily, as though trying to make heads or tails of the man. Why did he disturb her so? This was exasperating! Yet, she felt powerless to alter anything. There was something else about him too that she couldn’t quit put her finger on either, but it was distracting enough that she had her own mystery about her identity to contend with, without having to quarry out reasons for Lord Emerson’s effect on her! She resolved to quiet her own confused thoughts and get her businesses over with as expediently as possible.
Their meal was served to them and eaten in stoic silence, except for the clinking of silver wear, and sipping of tea. Lord Emerson smiled to himself, as he watched her hesitation at deciding which eating utensil to use. He could barely contain his own entertainment as she ended up picking the improper one. Though, she could pass easily, in Lorna’s clothes, as a woman of station, her very lack of experience in the world of high society, was strongly apparent. It was a shame, he thought, because she was extremely beautiful, and she did not speak like an uneducated winch. In fact, her voice sounded quite refined, which indicated she had received some sort of education. When they finished, and the table had been cleared away, Lord Emerson stretched his legs out before the fire and leaned back in his chair.
For a moment, he simply looked at her, as if sizing her up. It made her feel intimidated beneath his scrutiny. Feeling her discomfort, Lord Emerson slowly began to speak, as if choosing his words with care.
"Now, about your business, Miss Dow, what is it that has brought you out in such a storm to Emerson Manor?"
Katie cleared her throat. "It was not storming when I left Windy Gates," she informed him.
"Windy Gates? That is a rather far way for a lady to be riding alone, is it not? It seems to me that you must be extremely brave, or just incredibly unwise.” The woman never ceased to amaze him!
"Are you reprimanding me for my bad decision?” Katie asked in an innocent sounding voice. “Or are you merely asking me why I was riding so far by myself?" Katie’s eyes showed her displeasure at his judging her actions.
"I was just concerned..." There was something about the spark in her dazzling green eyes that seemed to prod him on.
"I see," she interrupted. "The truth is there was no one to accompany me. You see, Lord Emerson, I lived there with my mother in a cottage on the outskirts of the village. She died not long ago, and I had to sell our small dress shop in order to pay our debts. When she died, I decided to find my uncle, since he is the only relative, I know of. So, with what money I had left, I have set out to find him. My problem is I only know him as Uncle James. My mother never mentioned her maiden name, and I suppose I never wondered about it.
“Now I have come to you because my mother and my grandmother once worked here and she told me Lord Emerson was a kind man.” She paused, giving him a decisive and calculating glare. “Of course, she was most likely speaking of your grandfather,” she leveled her gaze at him even more, to press the point home. “I am not sure, but whatever, I thought someone might remember her and be able to help me. Her name was Nancy Dow. Dow, as you know, is also my Sir name, so I have no idea what my mother’s maiden name was.” She finished her speech and sat back, then said softly, “Is there any way you can discover my mother’s maiden name, thus disclosing the Sir name of my Uncle?”
Lord Emerson looked a little taken back at the flood of information that rolled from K
atie’s mouth in a rush before he could get in another remark.
“I am truly sorry to hear about your mother’s death.” He said in an abashed tone. “Having lost my own father, not long ago, I can understand what you must be going through.” Perhaps he was being a little too indifferent towards her plight, he thought in slight remorse. But he just couldn’t resist the fact that she was so spirited, and quick witted.
She raised an eyebrow, wondering if he truly did know what she was going through. He certainly did not have to worry about his immediate future, or his financial well-being at his father’s death. He knew who all his relatives were! There was more to her dilemma than just losing a loved one, she thought, indignantly.
After a short pause, he continued. “Your Mother was correct. My grandfather was a kind man, Miss Dow, just as I am endeavoring to be, but I have no idea how we should go about this, as you only know her Christian name. How long ago did your mother work here? If she worked for my grandfather, then I was probably just a lad at the time."
She ignored his subtle indication of his impatience with her and just answered his question. “Well, it must have been more than twenty years ago, as I am just now turning twenty-one, and she was a young girl when she worked here. Her name, as I told you, was Nancy and her mother was the cook. That might help, don’t you think? She told me she used to help her mother in the kitchen. Do you think it may be in your records somewhere?"
"Yes, I suppose it might." He pulled a braided rope and a servant appeared at the door. Katie recognized him as the same one who had brought the tub earlier that evening. "Dodge, bring me the Manor records for the period of time about twenty to thirty years ago please." Dodge nodded, and turned to disappear down the hall.
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