Her mother looked indecisive. “Fortunately, it didn’t come to that, my darling. Now, go to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
The door closed behind her and Katherine covered her face with her hands, joy and thrilling anticipation coursing through her. Jack wanted her as much as she wanted him.
The storm which had stayed his progress, halted his spontaneity, and had him holed up in some tavern in Southampton, had given Jack enough time to realise he couldn’t live without Katherine.
And Katherine had been granted a second chance to forge ahead and take a chance to be with the love of her life.
Her mother knew how tumultuous and desperate true love could be. Surely she’d forgive Katherine?
The moment her mother’s footsteps had died away, Katherine tore off her nightgown and changed into her most practical travelling dress. Then she seized the carpetbag beneath her bed, and began cramming into it everything she would need for the next three days as well as all her jewellery. This she could sell or pawn for the necessities to sustain her until they reached dry land.
Jack hadn’t needed much and nor did Katherine. A week in London had buoyed her up with all the social excitement to last a lifetime. Jack had taught her what was important: true, honest feeling, and there was not much of that, she’d discovered, as she’d waltzed from one ball to another. Her time in the social sphere would come, and she’d embrace it when it did. Jack would go far; she knew he would. His adoptive parents had connections, and when Jack had proved himself and returned home with a fortune he’d earned by his own toil, he’d be given the appropriate welcome. Katherine would be forgiven, and her new life on English soil in a few years’ time would be all the richer for having followed a purer path when she’d been given the chance.
It was squally and blustery as she tiptoed out of the house, giving the scullery maid who was half asleep on a pallet in front of the kitchen fire sixpence for keeping quiet until morning.
Then, with her breath coming in short, jerky gasps, she dashed across the cobbled road and into the waiting carriage, the coachman jumping down from the box to help her in and to tuck a rug about her knees, saying, “Me master’ll be glad yer chose to come. Now, ‘ave some rest, fer it’ll be three hours on the road, I’m guessin’.”
Yes, three hours to Southampton would be right, thought Katherine, putting her head against the soft cushion that had been provided for her comfort, and telling herself she should get the rest she needed while she could, because there’d be plenty of adventure ahead of her during the next phase of her life.
But she knew she could not sleep a wink. Not with the knowledge that Jack would open the carriage door when she reached her destination, take her into his arms, and tell her how proud of her he was that she wanted to be an adventurer with him.
But she did sleep. Although the rain was ulfaltering and the night was dark, the carriage rocked at a steady pace over the cobbled streets of London and then onto a good, flat road. The motion was calming and rhythmic, and since Katherine couldn’t see anything in the dark, her excitement was soon lulled into a state of happy calm, until her eyes closed and her mind took her to the faraway places she and Jack would explore.
“Wake up, miss!”
A rush of cold air swept into the carriage, together with the rough though not unfriendly rousing of the coachman.
Rubbing her eyes and sitting up, Katherine saw she was in the stableyard of an inn. A lantern was raised to light her way, and she took the hand she was offered, struggling out onto the hay-strewn cobbles. She raised her face to the sky and tried to breathe in the smell of the sea, but the most prominent aroma was that of horse manure.
“This way, miss.” The matronly voice identified herself as the tavern keeper’s wife before she led Katherine through the courtyard and up a short flight of stairs, and into the warm tavern. “Yer gennulman friend is waitin’ fer yer in the private parlour. Follow me.”
Barely able to contain her excitement, Katherine hurried after the woman. By the time she’d reached the end of the corridor and the door was thrown open, she thought she might collapse with it.
Joyously, she burst into the room, ready to throw herself into the arms of her beloved Jack.
But it was not Jack who stood by the fire, smiling his welcome.
In shock, Katherine blinked several times, her mind trying to assimilate the strange reality that instead of Jack, striding towards her as if she’d made him the happiest man on Earth, it was Mr Marwick.
“My dearest Katherine,” he cried, enfolding her in his arms. “I truly wasn’t sure if you’d come. In fact, it has been in the greatest trepidation that I’ve waited these past hours, wondering if you’d act on the daring note I sent you, or whether you’d simply crumple it up and consign it to the flames. But you have come!”
The fire crackled; the lamp flickered in the dim, comfortably furnished room while outside the wind howled. Like Katherine felt like doing as her jaw dropped, and she allowed herself to be kissed on the head and finally on the lips, at which point she drew back her face.
“Of course, you’re feeling vulnerable, and so I must assure you that until we are married, I shall behave in the most gentlemanly fashion.” He put his hand to his chest. “Upon my honour, I pledge that not until my ring is on your finger will I do anything unseemly. Have no fear that I will besmirch your reputation.”
Except that Katherine knew it was besmirched already. The mere fact of being alone with any man overnight, regardless of where each slept, would damn her in the eyes of the world.
Terror, uncertainty, and finally dumb grief gripped her as he led her to a blue-velvet sofa and handed her a brandy. Dear Lord, she needed that to dull her senses. So, Jack hadn’t written the note begging her to elope with him? Apparently not. Which meant he’d not thought of her at all with his new world taken up by excitement and adventure.
Meanwhile, Katherine had behaved like the most foolish of impetuous misses who ever got hung out to dry. She hadn’t even got so far as to read who’d signed the note before she’d crumpled it in the fire and set off on this madcap fool’s errand.
“Don’t look so fearful, my dear. Of course, you’ve had a long journey and clearly not enough sleep.” Mr Marwick seated himself next to her and patted her hand. “I promise to look after you, always, my dearest Katherine. I promise I’ll reward you forever for trusting in me like this.”
Katherine considered how wise it was to confess her error. It was possible he’d not take kindly to learning that she’d intended eloping with another for, in truth, Katherine had no idea what kind of man Mr Marwick really was.
She just knew that she had to keep the peace, keep her virtue, and hope that her family came to her rescue so that the whole affair could be hushed up and she’d not find herself bound to Mr Marwick for life.
She was surprised when he laughed suddenly, a sound both full of glee but tinged with sympathy. “You poor child. You look quite dazed. I’ll have Mrs. Tate take you to your room for the night, and then we shall continue to Scotland where we can be married by the afternoon. Then you will be mine—forever!” He reached over and pressed his lips softly against hers.. “I knew from the first moment you agreed to kiss me with such touching alacrity that we were bound together forever.”