Handfasted (To Love a Governess Novella) (14 page)

Chapter 11

Timothy checked his watch when they pulled in front of the hotel. Katrina’s interview wasn’t for an hour so they had time to talk.
 
He bounded out of the carriage and into the inn.
 
Mrs. McConnell was standing at the front counter. “Good afternoon, Lord Timothy. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
 
He suspected the word left unspoken was
again
.
 

“Is my wife in?”

“She went across the street to the dressmaker.”

“Thank you.” Timothy turned on his heel and marched out of the inn, across the street and into the dress shop.
 
Only one woman was present and it was not his wife.

“Hello, how can I help you?”

“I was told my wife, Lady Strotham was here.”
 
Timothy stilled. Not once since they were handfasted had he referred to her as Lady Strotham. He found he liked addressing Katrina by the name and title. It suited her.

The dressmaker arched one eyebrow. “Ah, you are the handfasted husband, then.”

“Yes.” He was surprised Katrina had told anyone. But what other explanation could she offer for an absent husband and the need to find employment other than the truth.

“She left a short time ago with Lady Fairfield, for her interview.”

“But it isn’t time.”

“They were introduced in this shop and Lady Fairfield saw no point in waiting.”

He had to go after her. Or, maybe he should just let it be. This was what Katrina wanted, wasn’t it?
 
Timothy turned toward the door and stopped. What should he do?

“Why are you here?”

He turned around to face the woman.
“To see my wife.”

“But why?
You did your duty. You were handfasted and left her here.”

“Things have changed.
 
What I thought awaited me in Middleton does not.”

“So that is why you came back?”

Why was he having this conversation with a complete stranger?
 
But for some reason he found himself telling her things he wouldn’t tell his closest friends.
 
That just proved h addled Katrina had made him. “I found I wasn’t quite ready to part from my wife, if you must know.”

A slow smile came to her lips. “I assumed so.
 
Nor do I think she is ready to be parted from you.”

His eyes bore into hers. “Why do you say that?”

The woman shrugged.
 
“Just the look on her face when she spoke of you.
A smile on her lips as if she were thinking about a special secret. That is all.”

Maybe Katrina was not set to become employed.
 
Did he dare risk it? What if she just wanted her memories and nothing permanent? That could be the meaning behind the secret smile and this could be a fool’s errand that left him highly embarrassed.

“I suggest you go after her before you find her employed.”

“Thank you.”
 
Timothy left the shop and sprinted across the street.
 
“Take me to the Fairfield estate.”

If she didn’t want him, or she reacted poorly to his sudden appearance, then what?
 
He glanced down and smiled.
 
If worst came to worst, he was simply here to return her books.

* * *

“I hope it isn’t an inconvenience that I am here before our scheduled appointment.”
 
Katrina stood in the center of the library.
 
Lord Fairfield was seated in a dark chair, fingers steepled and his elbows rested on his desk.
 
Lady Fairfield had settled into a chair by the fire.

“I find that my schedule rarely goes as intended since I married.”

Katrina would have thought he was angry but his eyes strayed to his wife and they held the same warmth and love she had witnessed in Lady Fairfield when she spoke of her husband.

“Please, have a seat.”

Katrina settled herself in the chair in front of the large desk, back straight, chin up, hands on her lap.
 
She needed to make the best impression possible.

“Well, I shall get to the point.
 
My wife has already decided that you will do.”

She willed herself not to relax in her chair from relief.
 

“I had come to the same conclusion after my investigation.”

Katrina waited for the offer, clenching her skirt with both hands.

“I simply needed to meet you to assure myself the girls would do well within your care.”

She fought to keep her leg from jiggling, which she often did when nervous.

“What I propose. . .”

There was a scratch at the door and Lord Fairfield broke away from what he was saying and called out. “Enter.”

“There is a gentleman here most insistent on speaking with you, Lord Fairfield.”

“Please put him in the blue salon and I will be there when I am finished.”
 
Katrina remained facing forward and waited for the door behind her to close.

“I tried, Lord Fairfield, but he will not wait. He insists on seeing you and Lady Katrina Strotham now.”

Katrina turned in her seat.
 
Who would want to speak with her? The only person who knew where she was at the moment was Monique.

Lord Fairfield shot her a look, a question in his eyes.
 
Katrina simply shrugged.

“Very well, show him in.”

Katrina returned her focus on the door, anxious to see who was here for her.

Mr. Wallace strode through the door, hat in his hands.
 
Katrina rose from her seat and approached the man. Why was he here?

“Lord Fairfield,” he greeted with a slight bow ofis head.
 
“I apologize for this inconvenience but I must speak with Lady Strotham. It is a matter of urgency.”

Lady Fairfield came out of her seat and approached Katrina. “Is something wrong?”

Mr. Wallace looked between the husband and the wife. “I think perhaps Lady Strotham would wish me to tell her this in private.”

She may have had the position a few moments ago, but Katrina doubted Lord Fairfield would offer it to her now, not after this strange interruption.

“Is there a place we could speak?”
 
Katrina asked Lady Fairfield.

“Yes, the blue salon.
Directly across the hall.”

She turned to walk in that direction, passing Mr. Wallace and stopped when the servant entered again.
“A Lord Timothy Strotham to see you Lord Fairfield.”

What was Timothy doing here?
 
She turned to look at the man she had hoped would be her employer.
 
There was a hint of a smile on his lips and humor in his eyes. “By all means, send him in.”

“He should hear this too,” Mr. Wallace insisted.

“Katrina.”
 
Those were the first words out of Timothy’s mouth when he entered the room.
 
His eyes went from one person to another and whipped back to Mr. Wallace after passing over his face once.
 
“What are you doing here, Mr. Wallace?”

“I have something I need to tell both of you.”

“What are you doing here, Lord Timothy?” Katrina asked, ignoring Mr. Wallace. Any news from Blackrig could wait until she found out why Timothy was here. Had he come to see Lord Fairfield, or her? She was in the house earlier than expected. Perhaps he hoped to miss her, but she couldn’t imagine why he would need to meet with Strotham. She had been under the impression he didn’t even know the gentleman.

“
I, . . .
well you see. . . I started thinking . .
.Then
I became concerned.”

Lord Fairfield laughed and settled on the settee, gently pulling Lady Fairfield down to his side. “Did I appear that ridiculous in Monique’s shop?”

“More so, I am afraid.”

He barked out laughter. “This should be interesting.”

“I don’t think you should take a position of governess,” Lord Strotham blurted out.

“Why not?
You know I need to find a position. We have discussed this, several times actually.”

“Yes, but that was before.”
 
Timothy pushed his fingers through his hair.

“Before?”
Did she dare hope he developed the same feelings for her as she had for him.

“Well, before we were handfasted, and before I, well. . .”

“Spit it out, Strotham,” Lord Fairfield ordered from his settee, a grin on his face.

“Before I fell in love with you.”

Katrina couldn’t believe she was hearing the words she so badly wanted to hear.
 
But what was he proposing? She certainly would not become his mistress, regardless of how they had spent those few days in the carriage. Yet, if they were together for a full year and a day, then they would be married for good.

Timothy studied her face. “Well?”

“Well?”

“Dare I hope you return my feelings?” The words were almost a whisper.

“Yes.”

His shoulders dropped as if relieved at her answer. “I don’t have a home, or a place for my library, but we will make do.”

“No home? What about the estate in Middleton.”

“Burned to the ground.”
 

Why was he grinning?
 
Had Timothy somehow become addled in his brain since they parted?

“Two years ago. I just never got the letter informing me.”

That would change his plans but surely there was somewhere else to live in the town.

“Nor is there space to rent or buy for the library.”

He was about as homeless as she was.
 
“Do you plan to return to London?”

The smile decreased.
“Only if you wish to.
I could go a very long time without visiting the City.”

“Then what do you propose?”

“We stay here.”

“Willanton is a lovely town. I would have no objection.”

“I am sure there is property somewhere I could buy and maybe even have our own home built.
 
I don’t recall seeing a lending library in town and I am sure there is a place for one.”

“Actually there is a lovely . . .” Lord Fairfield began before his wife pulled him back and shushed him.

“It sounds as though you have thought of everything.”

“Not really.” He shrugged. “I haven’t really thought anything through, but I know a life with you is what I want, if you will have me.”