Page 33 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

Will shrugged. ‘Because she’s at a ball? Because she can walk again?’

‘Probably yes and yes. Although, I think the walking is more important to her.’ Charles laughed. ‘She’s a terrible patient. Absolutely dreadful. As you know.’

‘I do know.’

Charles nodded. He took another drag of the cigar. ‘I have to be honest with you. My Aunt and Uncle are quite determined to make a match for her very soon.’

‘A match?’ Will’s stomach somersaulted. ‘As in a wedding? A betrothal?’

Charles nodded. ‘The very same.’

‘Well then.’ Will wrapped his arms around himself again. ‘Thank you for telling me.’ He nodded and made to walk off before he punched the man delivering the news to him.

‘Wait. Will. Edward Mountfort is the man they’ve marked out for her. I think I ought to tell you that in good time.’

‘In good time? In good time for what?’

Hector growled softly, seemingly aware of the temper rising within Will.

‘In good time for you to do something about it.’ The cigar flared again and Charles locked eyes with Will. ‘I’m drunk, Will. It’s social suicide to tell you this, which is why you didn’t hear it from me. But if you perhaps think of a way to win her, that would be a good thing, wouldn’t you say?’

‘I don’t need to win her!’ protested Will angrily ‘She’s not a possession! A prize at a fairground. For God’s sake!’

‘You do need to win her.’ Charles leaned forward. ‘Cat and I — we aren’t as high status as the Aldrichs. We’re not Earls or Ladies, but we do have that connection to them. And Cat can’t marry a blacksmith. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. It doesn’t mean I agree with it, and Cat would fight that concept until her last breath. But the fact remains, it’s what we live with. The family would never agree to a match with you at the moment.’

‘So what the hell am I supposed to do?’ hissed Will.

‘What you’ve been talking about doing. Go and do something that means you can come back for her with some money in your pocket and a way of supporting her in the life she’s used to. Cat deserves that.’

‘The only reason I haven’t gone anywhere is because of her! I’ve enough money put by to go abroad tomorrow. I’ve been checking passages on ships and opportunities abroad. But so long as she’s here, and I’m here, then we have that hope, and besides that — I didn’t want to leave her.’

‘I understand. But Edward’s here now.’ Charles looked at the house and shrugged. ‘I have to take some of that blame upon myself. I perhaps shouldn’t have re-introduced them, but I had no idea what the family was planning. Let’s just say it was particularly bad timing on my behalf.’ He looked back at Will. ‘I can only do so much here to delay it. Millie knows as well. I know through her what you’ve all been up to. I’m just trying to help, that’s all. One man to another.’ He stood up and held his hand out. Will hesitated then took it, and they shook.

‘Promise me you’ll consider it, at least.’ Charles tugged the edges of his waistcoat together and smoothed the fabric down. He stubbed the remains of the cigar out on the stone plinth and tossed it to the ground. ‘For now, I have somewhere else I need to be, and someone else I need to be with.’ He nodded at Will and strode off towards the Hall.

Will watched him go. He had some thinking to do — a lot of thinking.

* * *

Kate looked a little bit stunned to see him. She was curled up very comfortably in the window seat of the ballroom and as he walked over to her, her eyes focussed properly on him — she had seemed for a minute as if she was miles away.

As he approached, she stood up. ‘I didn’t know you’d be here.’

Theo glanced down at the clipboard. ‘It was a bit of a last-minute decision. Have you become a tour guide?’

‘No. I’m selling ice-creams. From a bicycle. For Cassie’s Living History weekend. I was only supposed to be collecting an outfit today.’

The pieces fit together with a small click in his head. ‘That bicycle you were working on outside the museum? That’s great!’

Kate nodded and hugged the clipboard to her chest. ‘Yes, it’s going to be parked up at the pool area. Cassie ordered me a highly unsuitable costume which means I can’t cycle very far. But that’s Cassie. She’s never been the most practical of people.’

‘Cassie’s just the person I’m looking for, actually. The lady in the gift shop said she was up here. She let me through the back way.’ Theo looked around, then leaned in towards Kate. She smelled delicious. Lowering his voice, he continued: ‘I feel a bit of a fraud slipping in that way, but the lady said it would be quicker if I came through the kitchen corridor and they didn’t charge me an entrance fee.’

‘I did the same.’ There was a hint of a smile playing around Kate’s lips and it was lovely. ‘So what do you need to see her for?’

‘She was supposed to take me up to the stables. I have to meet Hughie and check him over for the Living History weekend. See if we’re going to get on or not. I’m planning on camping in the area again in August, so I thought I’d offer my services, kind of thing, for Cassie’s weekend.’

‘That’s very convenient.’