Page 54 of Katherine the Vixen

An image of Siaspar flashed through her mind and she blushed. “No. No.”

She started explaining the unusual position Siaspar had devised for her, stammering a little in her bid to make it sound unremarkable—in vain, for it was a very unusual arrangement. When her father frowned further, she realized that she should have come prepared with a better story. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to guess that her feelings for the lord of the castle were of a complicated nature to say the least.

To her relief, they were interrupted by an exclamation before her father could ask the uncomfortable questions already on his lips.

“Katherine! Oh, my God, it is you!”

Her sister, Annette, rushed forward, a small, blond baby in her arms. The baby whose life she had likely saved. Katherine’s chest tightened at the thought.

“You knew me, despite the clothes?” she asked, kissing her sister on the cheek.

“Silly! I would know my sister anywhere. But look at you! Should we curtsy, I wonder?”

“Please, no!” Katherine said in mock horror. “I would much rather meet my new brother,” she added, giving the babe a stroke on his fuzzy hair. “So this is little James? He’s the image of Mother, don’t you think?”

Annette laughed. “Yes, just like all the others.”

“I think this may well be our last child, so I shall never know the pleasure of holding a babe with my looks.” Her father did not sound sorry in the least at the prospect.

“Come,” Annette said, taking her by the arm. “I was about to put the babe to sleep and I wager you will need a drink.”

When Katherine entered the familiar house, she could not stop a new wave of tears from springing to her eyes. It suddenly felt as if she had left years ago, rather than months. And yet, everything was the same. The room was filled with the sweet smell of the birch logs her father always insisted on burning. The cooking utensils, gleaming as ever, were suspended in their usual place. In the corner her mother’s warp-weighted loom had been prepared with brown and white thread, ready to be used. Was she making a blanket for the new baby?

Harry, who had been shelling broad beans at the table, threw himself into her arms when he saw her enter. In typical boy fashion, he had not even seemed to notice her unusual clothes.

“Katherine!”

They hugged a long moment, then both sat down,

“Your mother is not here, I’m afraid,” her father said, reaching for a ladle. “She went to the market in town. Elena, who gave birth to her own son last week, agreed to feed James while she was gone. She will be heartily sorry to have missed you,”

With those words he handed her a bowlful of broth.

He had not asked if she was hungry or if she had eaten but evidently, he could not even imagine that she would not share the morning meal with them. And he was right. After the long walk from Allerby, she was grateful for the food. She selected her favorite wooden spoon from the basket where they were kept and handed a spoon to each person.

“I am sorry to have missed her too. But I will be back as soon as I can.”

They ate together, everyone plying Katherine with questions. What did she think of the Welsh? How long was she to stay at Castell y Ddraig? How did you actually pronounce that name? Had she missed the family? Had she made any friends? What kind of shift was she wearing underneath the silk dress?

This last question was whispered in her ear by Annette while they cleared the empty bowls together.

“Linen, thin and beautiful,” Katherine whispered back, reddening slightly. It was just as delicate as the one she had worn on the two occasions Siaspar had bedded her.

“Lucky you.”

Soon, much too soon, it was time to leave.

“They will be expecting me at the castle.” She had not asked permission for this outing and had a feeling she would regret it. But after so long, nothing could have kept her away from her family. “Lady Malpas doesn’t even know I’m gone.”

“Lady Malpas?” Her father’s eyes narrowed. “I thought she was married now?”

“She is, of course. I just thought you would not understand who I meant if I used her new title. Besides, just like the castle’s name, it is almost impossible to pronounce.” She laughed a little too nervously but mercifully, no one made any comment. “I will come to visit again as soon as I can, I promise. Give my love to Mother.”

It was the first time she’d felt uncomfortable in front of her family. Little wonder, as it was the first time she had hidden anything from them. But how could she explain the unusual situation that had developed between her, Lady Malpas and Siaspar without giving them the wrong impression or causing some alarm? They would naturally become suspicious and try to convince her that she had better get away from such a tangle before real damage was inflicted. She was here with them now. If she decided to leave Lady Malpas’ employ, she would not have to make the treacherous journey back from Wales on her own. Her father was working again, and able to provide for the family. It was the perfect moment to leave a mistress she had come to loathe.

Yes. But how could she leave Siaspar?

The answer was simple. She could not, not so quickly, not like this.