The meat pies were salty, but good. Cheese, bread, and pudding were also set before them, and since Mr. Byers was picking up the tab she did not mind in indulging at all. It was only until she was tipsy off the sherry that she found that she was ready to go back to the room where she could fall into a drunken sleep.
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The next morning they set out bright and early on the road back to London and she knew that once she was back in her own home and routine she would feel better.
But two months after they returned things were worse than she could imagine.
June 1863
“I am sorry that I must let you go, Katrina,” Madame Douvaine said one month later.
“What? But why?”
“Your reputation as a thief has been bad for business. But do not worry, I do not mean to put you out on the street. Do you remember a Sir Norington?”
“Yes that elder gentleman. He is always keen on speaking with me after our performances.”
“Yes, just the same. Well he has invited you to stay with him at his estate, and I believe in time he wishes to propose.”
“But... But I cannot...”
“You must and you will. Now go and pack.”
It was a grand affair to be a guest of Sir Norington at his estate, though Katrina still did not know what this man required of her. Was he truthful in his inclinations that she could become Lady Norington, in time? Or was he merely tricking her as so many men had done before?
"Are we almost there?" she shouted out the window to the footman sitting on the back of the bustling carriage. He turned to her and looked shocked. She guessed it was not very ladylike of her to be shouting out the carriage window and it shocked him, but she was growing tired and impatient.
"Just around the bend!" He shouted back to her before taking his position in a most snobbish manner.
She looked ahead at the bend in the road surrounded by tall trees in the English countryside. Indeed she should have been delighted. Any woman would be very grateful to be the honoured guest of Sir Norington, but she was not. Katrina was torn. Sir Norington was twenty-five years older than she, and yet he considered her as a prospect for marriage. But when she thought of marriage to him, she thought of Mason Byers. But Mason had not offered marriage to her; he only saw her as a courtesan or an, actress, and now a thief, a fact that hurt her greatly.
Katrina did not find that she had any particular feelings about Sir Francis Norington, but he did offer a chance to get back what she had lost so many years before, a true home and a place in the world. He was the key to it all. Therefore she swallowed her pride and her notions of any romantic prospects of a true husband, and did what she had to do. Besides, after the shame she had brought upon her family, she did not have many choices.
As the sun started to set the grand estate came into view. She gasped as she looked at it. She had heard tales of its grandness but seeing it with her own eyes was quite something different.
“It is magnificent,” she whispered.
The large grey stones piled high with two rectangular turrets on both ends of the house. The front doors were so large she could see them from her point of view still a way down the road. There were many windows and she could see candles and chandeliers being lit as one light after another came on. As the house came to life in the twilight night, she tried to convince herself that she was marrying the house and the estate and not the man. A smile came upon her face at such a notion.
She would marry his power and influence; and that influence was that notion was how Sir Norington peaked her interest in the first place.
The carriage rolled to a stop and she took a deep breath. The door opened and the footman helped her out of the carriage. She looked up at the towering estate house wondering if this would be her new home. Katrina both delighted in but also dreaded that possible future.
“Miss Katrina Proctor, this way please,” the butler said upon opening the massive door.
Odd that the Sir Norington and his family did not await to greet her as Sir Norington did have two daughters a few years older than she, and a son five years older. No doubt they would be suspicious of her staying
As the butler led her in through the massive door, her mouth parted in gasping breath. The grand hall was cavernous. A large two-tiered staircase came down on both sides of the hall leading to the upstairs galley and rooms. The massive crystal chandelier sat near the ground as servants scurried around it lighting the many candles, then like magic, the hoist was raised and the lit chandelier slowly moved up back toward the ceiling where it belonged, lighting the grand hall with a beautiful yellow glow. She suddenly felt very simple in her plain brown traveling dress compared to her surroundings.
“I am required to summon you to the guests parlour upon your arrival Miss Proctor,” the butler said.
“I would very much like to freshen up sir, before being received,” she said, taking the opportunity that the family did not greet her out front as a blessing so that she could wash the dust of the road off of her.
“I am sorry Miss Proctor. I have been ordered to show you there first, before your rooms. Follow me. Your bags will be taken to your rooms for now,” the butler said as he walked to the left corridor and toward a grand pale mint green door. He opened it and announced, “Miss Katrina Proctor.”
Katrina entered to see two women staring at her with mischievous grins. The butler stepped outside into the hallway and closed the door. She felt like she had just been thrown into a lions’ den.
“Oh look at her dress, Emma,” the taller one whispered to the other in shock.
“It must be a hand me down, Jane,” the shorter one whispered back. At first, she felt very embarrassed by their reaction. Not just because they were talking about her dress, but also because they were talking about her as though she was not in the room at all.
“I am right here ladies, if you so wish to speak directly to me,” Katrina said in a scathing tone and lifted her chin.
The women gasped as they looked to each other and then erupted into laughter. Katrina rolled her eyes and sighed. Perfect. The two daughters of Sir Norington are witches. This would be torture. Though I’m sure the prospect of having a stepmother that is younger than they would not make them happy. Especially because only Jane was married and Emma had yet to be married off, which was very strange. The daughters of a rich Sir were always courted and eligible matches for any rich bachelor, but for some reason these two had a hard time finding a match.
Jane had only been married the year before and she was told her dowry had to be double in order to make that happen. However, now that she could see the not so attractive women in front of her she could see why. It wasn’t just their appearance that was unattractive, it was their personality and no amount of lavish dress could change that.
“Tell me, Miss Proctor, how do you find Norington Estate?” Emma said in a snobby manner.
“Well, I find it very grand indeed,” she said, noticing that they had not offered refreshment or asked her to sit down. She still stood in the doorway. They were rude and childish.
“I bet you do indeed,” Jane added then picked up a bell and rang it loudly. The butler strolled in.
“Please show Miss Proctor to her rooms. We are done with her.”
Katrina practiced restraint in not telling teaching these two some manners. You would think they were the ones raised on a farm, but at this point in her life she had been dealing with scathing remarks as an outcast of society for years. She could handle the witch sisters.
Katrina bowed her head slightly and smiled, but said nothing. As the door closed behind her, giggling echoed throughout the room. Katrina bit her lip in anger. She tried not to stomp as she followed the butler down the marble floors to the bottom of the staircase. Indeed now, it was difficult to appreciate her surroundings as she followed because of her newfound anger. What did you get yourself into Katrina?
>
“Who are you?” a deep voice asked. She looked up and straight into the eyes of perfection.
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The butler had disappeared further down the galley and she had just made it up the last stair at the top. There stood a gorgeous man. He was tall at six foot one with jet-black hair that was long a bit ruffled as it swept down to his jawline. He was unshaven with a bit of five o’clock shadow on his perfect face. His brown eyes were lined with black lashes and his lips were full. He wore a button-down shirt and the collar was undone as well as two buttons, most scandalous. His black trousers were fitted into brown riding boots.
“Well maid? Did you hear my question? No matter, I’ve lost interest. I need new sheets put on my bed within the hour.” Then he leaned in close to her ear and said, “Perhaps I’ll even want you in them.” He smiled a wicked grin that nearly dropped her heart to her stomach, and then he began to move past her.
“I am not the maid,” she said to him coldly suddenly feeling her anger come back after she fully processed all that he had said to her.
“Miss Proctor, your rooms,” the butler said as he scurried back down the galley toward them.
“Miss Proctor?” the attractive young man said. “You’re Miss Proctor?” he laughed.
“I am,” she said, stubbornly straightening her back.
“I was just showing Miss Proctor to her rooms, as she just arrived a moment ago,” the butler said.
“So, the infamous Miss Proctor, is it?” the young man said as he crossed his arms across his chest and casually leaned against the railing of the stairs. “I was expecting a fat old spinster when my father mentioned that he had invited a Miss Proctor to the estate. But you are neither of those things. I must you say you are much, much, more... interesting,” he said with the same grin he used when he invited her into his bed only moments before. Then it registered what he had said, “father” this was Sir Norington’s son!
“Mr. Norington,” she said as she grabbed her skirt and curtsied to him. He laughed at her and said, “My God what on Earth is that you are wearing? Did you steal a sack off some potatoes and wear it as a dress?”
Katrina gasped at his remark and blushed. “It is my traveling dress,” she said regally as though his remark did not embarrass her one bit. He was just like his sisters. Lord, this was going to be some stay at Norington Estate.
He laughed and continued down the stairs as he shouted up at her, “I hope you brought something better for dinner!”
Katrina narrowed her eyes and followed the butler down the galley toward the rooms. So that was the famous Alexander Norington, the heir to Sir Norington’s Estate. She had heard many infamous tales about him but did not know he was attractive. She had found herself hating him even before she met him because it was very unfair that he should do so many scandalous things and his reputation was intact. His roguish actions were even seen as cute and manly in polite society, yet she endured a scandal that was not her fault and her reputation was ruined forever. It was very, very, unfair and it made her so angry!
“These are your rooms madam’,” the butler said as he opened the doors and stepped into a large sitting room with a roaring fire. Katrina gasped at the beauty of it. Crème coloured drapes hung off the large windows overlooking a massive garden. The plush chairs and rich wood tables were ornate and perfectly set on top of a thick Persian rug.
“This way is your bedchamber,” the butler continued as he moved through the sitting room and through an arched door. On the other side was the bedroom and dressing area. It was stunning. The grand canopy bed with netting was romantic. The silk wallpaper was blue and white and the furnishings were delicate with lace here and there. There was a screen for a changing area and her dusty old trunk sat in the corner. In the other corner was a maid pouring hot water into a bath. She said nothing but curtsied and nodded to her. She was a pretty young thing and it hit her why Alex had invited her into his bed when he thought she was a maid.
“I leave you to Ms. Michaels, she is your chamber maid and has done up a hot bath for you. Dinner is a late supper due to your arrival and will be ready in two hours. You will be called to supper. Now, do you require anything else?” he asked with his nose in the air.
“No, thank you very much. It is a very pleasant room and I will be ready for dinner in two hours. Thank you again.”
He nodded and left the rooms. Ms. Michaels said nothing only helped her out of her clothes and held her hand to steady herself as she sunk deep into the hot bath.
“I will return in half an hour if that pleases you Miss?” she said.
“Yes, thank you Ms. Michaels,” she said excited for the solitude finally. Katrina would need it if she were to gather her strength before being pushed back into the lions’ den.
Katrina stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself up to dry. Giggling in the hallway just outside her door caught her attention. She moved to the door and pressed her ear against it.
“He went for almost an hour this morning. That Alex is some delicious morsel I must say that,” a voice whispered as she giggled.
“Yes, last night his tongue went to work on me until I thought I should faint,” the other distinct voice said. Then they grew quiet until they said, “Do you think she is ready and done with her bath yet?”
Katrina quickly pulled away from the door as she realized that they were coming to her room.
Knock. Knock; the gentle light tapping on the door was enough time for her to move across the room toward the window. “Miss Proctor we are here to dress you for dinner!”
“Come in!” she shouted.
Katrina was shocked to see it was the quiet Ms. Michaels and another maid she had not seen yet. She could not believe that Ms. Michaels had been with Alex! She seemed so quiet like a meek mouse. The women entered and began to unload her trunks and hang her simple and few dresses in the armoire.
“Miss Proctor...?”
“Yes?”
“We were merely inquiring as to what dress you would like to wear to dinner? If you had one in mind?” Ms. Michaels asked.
“Oh yes, of course. I will wear the rose coloured gown,” Katrina said embarrassed by the fact that it had been a costume from the theatre.
“Very well. I will do your hair now, if you please” Ms. Michaels asked.
“Yes that would very good indeed,” she said sitting down in front of the vanity. Ms. Michaels brushed out her wet hair drying it. Katrina stared in the mirror as she eloquently pulled up her blonde hair into a bun twist and adorned it with small white flowers. She felt refreshed after the bath and somewhat ashamed in finding pleasure having a maid fix her hair for her. Maybe I could get used to this?
Half an hour later there was a knock at the door. The maids had left her after they helped her into her corset, pantalets, and rose coloured empire waist gown. It was simple but elegant and it went well with her complexion.
“Miss Proctor, you are summoned to supper,” the butler said through the door.
Katrina took a deep breath and one last look in the mirror and was satisfied with her appearance. But the anxiety she had over the company that she was to endure throughout the long late supper was almost unbearable.
She followed the butler down the stairs and through the massive house and its main corridor to the sitting room. He opened the door and there sitting was Alex and the two sisters drinking wine.
“Miss Proctor,” the butler said as he announced her presence. Alex stood up, as a gentleman would and the two sisters’ mouths fell open, as though in shock by her transformation from dumpy traveller to elegant young woman. Good, let them gawk at me.
She stepped into the room and Alex did not hide the fact that he was looking at her up and down. He smiled and said, “Allow me.” He put his hand out flat like a plate and she rested her hand on top of it as he led her over to a large banquet bench by the fire to sit.
“You look very well t
his evening, Miss Proctor,” he said quietly as he walked her over.
Katrina sat down and then he turned and walked away, his interest in her quickly dissolved just as easy as it had appeared. He walked over to the bar and poured himself a large glass of brandy and sat down with a book.
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Katrina looked to Emma and Jane as they whispered into each other’s ears. No doubt about her, but she sighed and looked elsewhere. This sitting room was right off the dining hall and there were large tapestries hanging from the tall walls. Rich furnishing adorned the room and there were two chandeliers. It was a very regal room and to think, all this she could be mistress of if Sir Norington proposes to her.
Then the door opened and Sir Norington himself, Albert Norington, strolled in. “Oh it seems you are here already. I apologize for the late supper, but as you know it was to suit our guest arrival. My, my, Miss Proctor you do look beautiful,” he said as he walked over to her and put his hand out.
Katrina placed her hand in his and he kissed the top of it. She tried not to be repulsed by it, but she could not. A weak smile came upon her face as she felt the eyes of those in the room watching her.
“Shall we?” he said implying an invitation to escort her to dinner. “Yes, thank you,” she said.
A giggle emanated from the two girls as they all left the sitting room and entered the dining hall. It was very grand. There was a long table that could seat twenty people. A roaring fire lined the wall and the mantle was almost as tall as a man. The side table was adorned with silver domed dishes ready to be served with two servants standing on either side. The table itself had a rich flower display in the middle as well as small silver candelabras with glowing candles. The white porcelain china was finely decorated and the silverware was shining. It was the most elegant table setting she had ever seen.
An Alone and Destitute Girl (#3, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 16
