“Welcome home, daughter,” he said, pulling her towards him and giving her a quick peck on the cheek, before dropping his arms and stepping away.
“Father,” greeted Cathryn. “You are back. Does that mean you have finished your consultations with the king?”
“No,” he replied, “but the court has moved to the summer palace, and the king does not wish to pay attention to matters of state while there are summer balls to enjoy.” He shook his head in perturbation. “But enough of that, how goes our wool business?”
“Very well, Father,” replied Cathryn, walking past him to enter the house. “I can give you a full report on the morrow, but there is another matter I wish to discuss with you, later this evening after I’ve had a chance to recover.”
“Very well,” he said. He watched her for a moment as she mounted the stairs to her chambers, before turning his attention to Felix.
Chapter 28
“What?” demanded Father later that evening as they sat in the parlor after supper, his face reddening as he glared at his daughter. “What do you mean, you wish to annul the contract?”
“I love someone else, Father,” Cathryn said.
“Love,” he scoffed, “what do you know about love? All love does is lead to pain.”
Cathryn closed her eyes at her father’s words, but then opening them once more, met his gaze unflinchingly. “I would rather experience both love and pain, than live a life feeling nothing at all.”
“And who is this man? What makes you think he feels the same for you? Some men are predators, just after money and security.”
“He is a good man,” she said. “He has no need for my money, and in fact, I would be the one gaining something.”
“What would you gain?” he demanded.
“Love, family, a home,” she said softly. Father pulled back at her words.
“Cathryn … I may not express it well, but you know I love you.”
“I know that, Father,” she replied. “But I would like my life to have more meaning than just the business. Favian has helped me to see that there is so much more.”
“Favian?”
“Favian Drake,” she said.
“Drake … as in Margaret Drake?”
“Yes,” she replied, looking away.
“Ah. You told me you were spending time with your friend.”
“And so I was, Father,” she retorted. “If you recall, I didn’t even want to go, but you insisted upon it. And although Favian was there, he acted as a gentleman the entire duration of my stay.”
“I’m sure he did,” Father replied dryly. “So you have decided to put your own personal desires above all other considerations. I expected you to be more considerate of your duty to this family.”
Cathryn looked at him in astonishment. “Everything I have ever done has been for you and the business,” she said. “Should my future happiness be laid as a sacrifice on the altar of financial success as well?” She rose to her feet and strode around the room. “A marriage with Geoffrey may tie our respective businesses closer together, but it is not crucial to your success. Indeed, it may prevent you from seeking other partnerships. Or do you want this partnership because it guarantees you the easier path?”
“Cathryn, please …”
“No,” she said. “I am done. I refuse to marry Geoffrey Beaumont. Favian has already offered to make restitution should this result in a financial loss.” Father turned to look out the window, his fingers tapping on his leg as Cathryn watched him from behind. After a long moment, he turned to face Cathryn again.
“Very well. If you are determined to follow this path, I will not stand in your way. However, let me just say I am very disappointed.”
“Thank you, Father,” she said. “I will send a note to Geoffrey on the morrow, asking him to call, and will break the news in person.”
Father nodded. “I will be at a guild meeting in the morning. When will I meet this Favian Drake?”
Cathryn looked away.
“I’m … not sure. Soon.”
“Very well,” he repeated. “But know this. I will find out all I can about this man, and will not consent to your marriage if I find he is not all you say he is.”
“I understand,” she said. “Now if you will excuse me, I wish to retire to bed.”
“Before you go, Cathryn, Felix has told me that you handled the contracts and negotiations with ease and skill. Well done.” He gave her a slight smile. “I look forward to receiving a full report on the morrow. Goodnight.”
Chapter 29
Cathryn sent two notes the next morning, asking the recipients to wait upon her. One was addressed to Favian at Drake Manor, the other to Geoffrey Beaumont; the second arrived within half an hour of her note, limping with the aid of a cane.
“Ready to finalize our marriage?” he asked with a grin, carefully making his way into the parlor. “We could go find a priest now if you want.”
She poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him, watching while he drank it down. “Actually,” she said, taking the glass from him, “I’m not going to marry you, Geoffrey. I want to annul our contract.”
“What? You can’t do that!” He paused in the process of seating himself, and turned towards her.
“Yes, I can, and I will,” she retorted hotly.
“I was right,” he said. “You are having an affair with Favian Drake.”
“How hard is it to believe that I am not like you?” she demanded. “You may think it is perfectly acceptable to bed someone to whom you are not married, but I do not.”
“So you intend to marry him, then?”
“Yes,” she said, “if he will still have me.”
“But what about me?” he said. “What about our business partnership?”
“We can achieve that without marriage.”
“No. You cannot do this. I will not allow you to break this contract.” He grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him, before bending his head and kissing her savagely. She struggled against him, but it was the voice from the doorway that made him pull away.
“Unhand her this instant.” Father’s voice was loud and angry. “I have been completely deceived in you, Geoffrey Beaumont.” Geoffrey pulled away and ran a hand through his hair, giving Cathryn a sheepish grin before turning to her father.
“I have no idea to what you could be referring,” he said. “Should I not be allowed to kiss my future wife?”
Cathryn opened her mouth to retort, but her father held up his hand.
“You know perfectly well to what I am referring, and it has nothing to do with you kissing Cathryn, as shameful as that is. I suppose she has already given you the news that she has chosen another, but even if she has not, there is no way I could allow this marriage to proceed.”
“Ah,” said Geoffrey, the color draining from his face. “So that is the way of it, then?”
“Yes,” said Father. “You can find your own way out.” Cathryn watched in growing confusion as Geoffrey nodded and left the room.
“What was all that about?” she asked.
“Geoffrey Beaumont is bankrupt,” said Father. “He made some unwise investments, using his business as collateral, and has lost everything.”
“Oh! How dreadful.”
“Yes, indeed. Thankfully we were not too deep in with him, but if the marriage had gone ahead, we would have lost everything along with him.”
“That explains his sudden desire for a quick wedding.”
“Is that what he wanted? Perhaps it is a good thing Favian Drake crossed your path when he did, although I was not pleased about it last night.”
“What will happen to Geoffrey?”
“The debt collectors will be after him for everything he has. He will have to hire out his services to earn some money. But do not waste your thoughts worrying for him. Men like Geoffrey Beaumont always land on their feet.” Cathryn nodded, recognizing the truth in his words. Father walked towards the door, pausing at
the entrance. “Bring your ledgers and notes to my study, and let’s review what you have been doing.”
Chapter 30
Favian did not come the first day, nor the second or third. On the fourth day there was a small tap on the door, and Hannah announced that she had a visitor.
“Master Drake?”
“No. She gave her name as Madame Drake.”
Cathryn looked at Hannah in surprise.
“Thank you.”
She made her way slowly down the stairs. If Margaret was visiting, it could only mean bad news. Perhaps Favian did not want to see her. The red dragon scale lay on her chest, and she placed her hand over it. She pushed the door open and walked into the parlor.
“My dear,” Margaret said, walking towards Cathryn and taking her by the hand. “I felt I needed to come and see you to explain.”
“Explain?”
“Your note arrived a few days ago,” Margaret said, “and I took the liberty of opening it. I hope you don’t mind, but you see, Favian is away and I did not want you to be waiting for a response.”
“Favian is away? Where has he gone?”
“I do not have an answer to that, my dear. All I can tell you is that he returned about two weeks ago, but before we had a chance to talk to him, he was gone again. He left nothing to indicate his direction, or how long his absence would be.” She paused for a moment, watching Cathryn intently. “Cathryn, please forgive my inquisitiveness, but I need to ask you — why do you wish to see Favian?” Cathryn stared at Margaret in surprise, and she gave a sympathetic smile. “What I mean to say is, do you wish to tell Favian to leave you in peace?” Cathryn turned away, watching as people hurried past the window.
“No, I … uh … I want to apologize for … not … for being a coward.”
“You do understand that Favian is … not like other men?”
“You mean that he is a dragon? Yes, I do know that.”
“And you can accept that?” she asked.
“It came as rather a shock, at first,” Cathryn replied with a sigh. She turned to look at Margaret. “I’m afraid I reacted rather poorly. Favian lost patience in the end. It was only after he was gone that I realized I should listen to my heart. I thought I could explain that to him, but …”
“Don’t despair,” Margaret said gently. “Favian will return. This is new to him as well.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me anymore?” Cathryn whispered.
“Favian loves you,” Margaret said, “and no matter how angry he may be now, he will return.” She lifted the pendant hanging around Cathryn’s neck, holding it in her open palm. “This alone tells me that Favian will return. The gift of a dragon scale is more precious than any amount of gold or jewels. A dragon does not lose his scales the way a bird may lose a feather. It needs to be wrenched off, and once it is gone, that spot will be forever vulnerable. Favian has given you something of infinite value, my dear, and it was not lightly given.” She dropped the pendant and smiled at Cathryn. “But perhaps we can help things along. Aaron knows Favian better than anyone, and he will know where to look for him.”
“I doubt Aaron will want to help,” Cathryn said. “He does not like me very much.”
“Nonsense,” Margaret said briskly. “Aaron has no problem with you personally — just a problem with his humanity in general. But despite his disparagement of love as nothing more than a weakness, he does love Favian, more than anyone else in this world. He will do anything for his cousin, including finding him and bringing him home to the one he loves.”
“Thank you,” said Cathryn softly.
“Favian loves you, Cathryn,” Margaret assured her. “Whatever may happen, and however long it takes, do not stop believing in that love.”
As day after day passed, Cathryn found herself thinking back to Margaret’s words. Surely if Favian loved her, he would not stay away so long. It seemed like a lifetime had passed when Hannah tapped on the door to her chambers before slowly opening it.
“You have a visitor, Mistress,” she said.
“Master Drake?” asked Cathryn.
“Well, yes, Master Drake is his name, but not the one you are hoping for.”
“Mistress,” said Aaron with a smile as she slowly entered the room. She drew in a sharp breath at his friendly demeanor. With a smile, the man was actually quite handsome, she thought.
“Master Drake,” she greeted with a nod.
“My apologies for this unexpected visit, but Margaret felt it would help to set your mind at ease if you know that I bear you no ill will.”
“Ill will?” Cathryn repeated in confusion.
“Yes.” Aaron turned away with a sigh and went to stare out the thick, leaded window. “I’m afraid my presence caused you some distress when you were at Drake Manor. For that I apologize.” He turned back to face her again. “I have held the society of humans in disdain for a very long time, Mistress, but Favian has been attempting to convince me that I was too hasty in my judgment, and perhaps he is right.”
He took a few steps towards Cathryn, pausing when she flinched. “Love does not come easily to any of our kind, Mistress. Although we wear a guise of humanity, we remain creatures of the wild, powerful, predatory and worthy of fear. We have no need for warmth, or shelter, or food cultivated by humans. People run from us in fear, and we can smell it, revel in it. It is an intoxicating thing, knowing you hold the lives of so many within a single fiery breath.” Cathryn stared at him, both terrified and awed at his words. “There is only one thing that makes us weak, and that is love for humans. And I am beginning to see that within that weakness, there is an element of strength. That love can serve to anchor us to who we are, beyond the beast. It makes us human.” He paused as Cathryn watched him. “I know where to look for Favian, Mistress,” he said. “I will remind him of his need for love, as he has reminded me so many times.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking a step towards him. “And please, call me Cathryn.”
“Favian told me that you had strength of character,” he said with a smile.
“I’m afraid I have not shown much strength of character lately,” she replied with regret. “I was terrified when I realized what Favian was.” Aaron nodded.
“Yes, so Favian told me, and I hold myself responsible. Again, my apologies.”
“No,” she said. “I was a coward. Please just find Favian so I can at least tell him how sorry I am.”
“I will, Mistress … Cathryn.” He held his palm towards her. “May I?” Cathryn looked at the outstretched hand for a moment before placing her own within his. Very slowly he brought her hand to his lips, barely brushing it with a kiss before releasing it again. “Good day, Cathryn,” he said, and quickly strode out the door.
Chapter 31
Cathryn was distracted. Surely Aaron should have found Favian by now. Every morning she went riding and every afternoon she spent at the warehouse, but these activities were not enough to keep her mind off the one person she longed to see.
A few days after Aaron’s visit, she was called to her father’s study.
“I have a meeting this afternoon with a clothier interested in pursuing a business relationship with a wool merchant,” he said. “I would like you to come with me to meet him.”
“Of course, Father,” Cathryn said. “What is his name?”
“Master Grant. He is a friend of Tom Bradshaw’s.”
Master Grant was short and portly, with a balding crown and fleshly jowls. He had a kind face and a friendly smile, and Cathryn found she liked the man, despite her urge to shudder when he grasped her hand in his own warm, moist palms. He had been in the cloth industry for more than thirty years, and she listened as her father asked him questions about the business. It was clear from his answers, and the way he framed his questions, that he was very familiar with all aspects of the wool and cloth industry. They had spent more than two hours with the man by the time they rose to leave, and he turned to Cathryn with a smile as they walked towa
rds the door.
“I have a son around your age,” he said. “You will meet him soon should we pursue this relationship, since he is actively involved in the business. You have a lot of common — both of you are only children, raised without a mother.”
“Really?” said Cathryn, her smile hiding her dismay.
“Yes, indeed,” Master Grant replied. “He’s recently become betrothed, so perhaps you will give us the pleasure of your company when we celebrate the exchange of vows.”
“Oh, yes, that would be wonderful,” said Cathryn. “Is the betrothal a business alliance?”
“A business alliance? No, indeed! When my wife died her cousin came to live with us. Dame Turner is a fine woman, very adept at keeping us all under control.” His gaze turned inward for a moment, and Cathryn saw him shudder. “A fine woman,” he repeated, bringing his attention back to Cathryn. “Her daughter Amelia is a lovely girl, very quiet and demure. She and Robert have loved each other from a young age. The only delay to the marriage was due to Dame Turner’s, eh, reluctance, at seeing Amelia marry too young.”
“How old is she?” asked Cathryn.
“How old? Oh. Um, seven and twenty.”
Cathryn smiled to herself as she went down the stairs, stepping into the waiting carriage.
“I like him,” she said to her father as the carriage lurched into motion.
“I do too,” Father replied. “But before I enter into any further business arrangements, I would like his records inspected by a lawyer, and a proper contract drawn up.”
“That,” said Cathryn, “is an excellent plan.”
The next few days were spent in consultation with a lawyer, and further meetings with Master Grant, but Cathryn struggled to keep her mind on the business at hand. Why had Favian not come? She could not keep the question from plaguing her mind. As the days passed she could feel the lassitude bearing down on her, smothering her like a blanket. Once, she came upon Hannah and Father in earnest conversation, but the conversation ceased as soon as Cathryn walked into the room. They continued to stare at her, however, and after a moment, she turned around and left the room.
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