A Lady of Hidden Intent (23 page)

Catherine thought of the long walk back. It had been easy enough to reject the idea when Winifred offered, but with the carriage right in front of her and knowing the box to be particularly troublesome, Catherine yielded.

“Very well.”

She let Carter help her into the carriage but was surprised when instead of merely offering up the box, he climbed in with it and took the seat across from her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m seeing you home.”

Catherine shook her head. “You said nothing of coming along.”

“I would hardly be a gentleman if I allowed you to carry this yourself.” He leaned out the still-open door. “Joseph, take us to Mrs. Clarkson’s sewing house.”“Yes, suh.”

Carter closed the door, and the carriage interior immediately dimmed. Catherine put her sewing bag on the seat beside her, hoping there would be no repeat of Carter’s previous moves.

He grinned, as if discerning her mind on the matter. He said nothing, however. “So have you transformed my sister into a mysterious creature for the ball?”

“Yes. She looked quite beautiful.” Catherine tried to keep her focus on her gloved hands.

“And are you ready yet to give in to my request and court me?” he asked matter-of-factly.

Catherine looked at him and rolled her eyes. “No. I’ve decided we should forego the courtship altogether and marry by the end of the week.” The exasperation was clear in her voice.

“Wonderful!” Carter laughed heartily. “I shall arrange everything.”

She shook her head and sent her gaze rolling once again.

“Sir, you and your gender are most . . . most . . .”

“We are quite entertaining, are we not?” He eyed her with an air of amusement.

“ ‘Entertaining’ is hardly the word. I was thinking more along the lines of vexing.”

“I haven’t even begun to try to vex you, my dearest Catherine.

Although perhaps since charm isn’t working . . .” He let the words hang and offered her a wink.

“I must say, men in America are far more brazen than Englishmen.”

“That’s because we’re all about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I’m especially after the latter part at the moment. Speaking of America, how do you find it now after living here for several years?”

For a moment, Catherine lost her ability to speak. The question reminded her of their conversation when Carter had first danced with her in Bath. They had talked of how she had no opinion of America and no desire to formulate one.

Carter watched Catherine’s face as she wrestled with the question. He was certain she remembered that they had once discussed this very topic in England. He thought she might then admit to him who she really was, but she didn’t.

“I find . . . it has treated me well,” she admitted. “But I miss England at times.”

“It’s a wonderful country. The architecture there is magnificent. I look forward to returning.”

“You plan to go to England?” she asked, her tone almost wistful.

“Perhaps. Maybe,” he teased, “we could journey there on our wedding trip.”

She fell silent and looked out the window, as if to keep herself safe from his advances.

“What were you like as a child?” he asked, hoping she would answer.

“Happy,” she replied without so much as a breath. “I was loved, and I was safe. Nothing could hurt me.” She bowed her head.

“But you don’t feel safe or happy now, do you?”

She refused to reply. Carter leaned forward. “I’d like to help you. I’d like to make you feel safe—to know you’re loved.” The time was right, he thought. He would tell her that he knew everything. He would share with her how he was working to see her father’s circumstance reviewed and righted.

“Catherine, there’s something I’ve wanted to say for some time. I know that you’ve only been in America for five years.”

The carriage came to a stop and Catherine reached for the door, but Carter halted her. “Please just hear me out.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Please don’t. Please.” She met his gaze and he couldn’t continue. He had no desire to cause her pain, yet that was exactly what he was doing.

Joseph opened the carriage door and offered Catherine his hand. She took up her bag and hurried out of the carriage. She might have run for the door, but Carter called her back.

“You’ve forgotten this.”

She turned and saw the dress box. It seemed she wrestled over the decision to return to the carriage and Carter or simply let it go. Before she could do anything, however, Joseph took the box from Carter and hurried up the walkway. Catherine accepted it from him and wordlessly walked inside.

Catherine entered the house and immediately found Mrs.

Clarkson at her side. She seemed quite excited and quickly took the box from Catherine and set it aside.

“Come with me. We have a visitor.”

“Who is it?” Catherine asked. She put her bag down and began to unbutton her coat.

“It’s Mrs. Sarah Hale from
Godey’s Lady’s Book
. She wants to feature some of your designs and perhaps a pattern or two in several of their editions. It’s all quite exciting.”

Catherine had barely removed her coat before Mrs. Clarkson took it from her. “Come along.”

Trying to show a positive spirit, Catherine pulled off her gloves and nodded. She followed Mrs. Clarkson down the hall, untying her bonnet as they went. Catherine barely had time to put her gloves in her hat and set it aside on a small hall table before Mrs. Clarkson pulled her into her own private sitting room.

“Here she is,” the older woman announced. “This is Catherine Shay.”

A beautiful woman, who appeared to be Mrs. Clarkson’s age, got to her feet to greet Catherine. “I am Mrs. Hale. I manage
Godey’s
.” She was dressed fashionably in a walking-out suit of dark plum wool, with a tiny black bonnet and black gloves.

Catherine nodded and curtsied. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“I have long wanted to make your acquaintance. You are spoken of by the best families in Philadelphia. Your gowns have made you famous.”

“Catherine has brought enormous success upon this house,” Mrs. Clarkson declared. She turned to Catherine. “Mrs. Hale is offering a substantial payment for the rights to print six different designs and perhaps two patterns. Will you agree?”

Mrs. Clarkson gave Catherine a fixed stare, as if to remind her that she was desperately trying to gather money. Feeling there was no choice, Catherine nodded. She hadn’t wanted fame. She had, in fact, tried her best to hide away from the world.

“Wonderful. I will make the arrangements for you, dear.”

Mrs. Clarkson patted her hand.

“I would like very much to discuss your designs,” Mrs. Hale interjected. “Perhaps Miss Shay could remain?”

“Catherine is very busy with final gown preparations. You know that there are many upcoming parties. Please forgive her, but perhaps another time?”

Certain her relief was evident, Catherine met Mrs. Clarkson’s gaze and nodded. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Hale. I’m quite fond of your work. I believe
Godey’s
has offered the common woman great insight into the genteel life of society.”

The woman smiled and nodded. “Every woman is a lady at heart. I am certain our readers will delight in what you have to offer. We shall increase your fame across the country now. You will have more than enough work once people know how to reach you.”

Her words did little to comfort Catherine. If she wasn’t careful, her identity and secret would be revealed. She headed upstairs with this thought on her mind, as well as ideas of what she could do with the payment Mrs. Hale would give. The extra money might very well allow her to get her father the help he needed. Then as soon as he was freed and vindicated, she could go home.

But that thought held some regret. There would be no future with Carter Danby if she returned to England.

CHAPTER 17

T
he day before the Danby annual masquerade ball, Carter sat in Leander’s office and smiled at the wonderful news. The duke of Mayfield had written to Leander personally.

“He says that the judge is reviewing all of the materials and he soon expects Mr. Newbury to be free. The duke has made special arrangements for Newbury to be moved to his estate. It’s unusual, but the duke believes a great wrong has been committed.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Carter replied. He hadn’t expected such good news but was happy for it. What a great Christmas gift this would be for Catherine.

“The duke was also relieved to know that Catherine was safe. Upon studying the entire matter, he was alarmed to hear of threats being issued from Baker for Catherine’s well-being. He says there is no doubt, however, that she has had nothing to do with any of this. I shared the matter with Father and he agrees; she should not live in fear. We need to arrange a meeting, Carter. A meeting between you, Father, myself, and Miss Shay. We can give her this information and allow her to know that she is not in danger of arrest.”

“But she may be in danger of Baker, the man they clearly want brought to justice. I will not see her used as bait to lure him in. Not unless she can be completely protected.”

Leander nodded. “I agree. I would not wish it for her or any woman.”

“I’m also hesitant to get her hopes up,” Carter said, trying to figure out what was best. “Should something go wrong and her father remain imprisoned, I think it would cause her even greater grief. It would be rather like losing him all over again.”

“I suppose you are right. Still, having some hope seems preferable to none.”

“Let’s pray on it and see what is to be done. I want her to have hope, but I don’t want it to be of a false nature.” Carter got up to leave, then stopped. “Oh, I thought I would let you know, I overheard Mother going on and on about Winifred’s masquerade gown. Apparently it’s pink silk with real roses sewn into the bodice. I saw a few of the pieces when it was being designed, but I can’t really tell you anything more.”

“The roses should make her easy to spot; I’d hate to spend the evening with someone else,” Leander said with a smile. “And what of Catherine? Did Winifred manage to convince her to attend?”

Carter laughed. “She nagged her and gave her a gown to make over for the event, but she wasn’t at all sure Catherine would keep to her agreement to come. So I have enlisted the help of Mrs. Clarkson.”

“I hope it wasn’t as costly as setting up Miss Shay’s outings with your sister.”

“Not quite, but still it was worth every penny.”

“And what is she going to wear?”

Carter shrugged. “I haven’t any idea, but I’ll know her. A mask of lace and wire won’t keep me from recognizing her.”

The twenty-second of December dawned cold and clear. Catherine worked to see the sewing room put in order. They were finishing with the last of the New Year’s gowns, and Mrs. Clarkson had promised a full two days off for Christmas. It had been agreed upon that those two days would be the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, and since the twenty-third was a Sunday, they would actually have three days to call their own. With her fingers stinging from hours of needlework, Catherine thought of nothing but delicious hours of idleness.

The last few hours had been focused on the details of cleaning and finishing costumes, and now Catherine performed the final sweeping in the alteration room. She straightened as the clock chimed four.

Three days. Three days to do nothing, if that’s what I choose
.

She remembered her youth and the boredom she felt in the life of a leisurely young lady. She had often whined and complained only to have Nanny Bryce put her to work with a needle and thread. When Nanny Bryce and Catherine’s mother had passed away, Catherine thought her life would end. The emptiness and sorrow she felt were often more than she could bear. There wasn’t even the noise of her young brothers to console her. She and Father had clung to each other in their grief. The memory only served to strengthen her resolve to see him set free. Despite Carter Danby’s appealing nature and desire to court her, Catherine was determined to keep her mind set on her father’s needs. She would simply find a way to put Carter from her life, even though she knew it wouldn’t be easy.