Following the path around the shrubbery and seeing that May-Jewel and Alex were still by the gazebo, Katherine turned in another direction and continued down the walk. All that had happened to her since her arrival invaded her thoughts. She wondered who among the people there was dangerous enough to try to harm her and why. It didn’t seem likely that May-Jewel was in any way responsible for the goings-on that threatened her, and Alex was too obvious in his ‘divide and conquer’ scheme to try another method. Her thoughts turned to Selina. Certainly Selina was her first choice, but Katherine couldn’t understand why the woman would want to hurt her. And why was everyone denying Selina’s existence? Why hadn’t anyone see this woman walking about the manor? Could Alex, Charles and Molly have lied to her about Selina? But what would that accomplish? And what about Charles? He certainly did react when Katherine first mentioned Selina, but she couldn’t put her finger on what that reaction was. Could it have been guilt? What about Brice? No, he’s too simple-minded to manufacture the events that have happened to me. And now another had entered the picture: Garth.
What about him? She shouldn’t feel the way she was feeling when he came to mind. The image of his face shouldn’t linger in her mind like it did. May-Jewel’s personality must be rubbing off on me. I’m a fool to keep thinking about Garth. She chastised herself and reminded herself that he was, after all, her half-brother … if he was Garth. Who was she going to trust? There only appeared to be one person whom she could trust… Vicar Hawes.
The restless wind murmured through the garden as Katherine slowed her steps. The vicar was the only person she knew who didn’t have a hidden agenda, and he truly seemed to like her, seemed genuinely worried about her. Katherine smiled as she pictured his face. Maybe he really can help me. Tomorrow I’ll tell him everything that has happened to me since arriving here and see what he can make of it.
Putting off her thoughts of the vicar, she concentrated on May-Jewel’s growing interest in Alex. She realized that most of the time it took the form of anger and, as long as Alex assumed that because they were women they were incapable of thinking, May-Jewel would stay angry at him. Katherine sat down on a small stone bench. She realized that May-Jewel’s anger could serve her own agenda. It could give her the time she needed to do a little directing of her own. But she needed a ‘wedge’ to put between her sister and Alex. Perhaps Jeremy was it. From what May-Jewel had said Katherine knew that they had a love-hate relationship. There’s a thin line between love and hate, she mused, and everything is mind over matter. A woman wanting to be loved can talk herself into or out of anything… with a little help. Yes, she decided, it was time Jeremy came to Wistmere to separate the growing attachment of May-Jewel to Alex.
Chapter Ten
Weary of thinking, Katherine finally returned to the manor and to her room. She was surprised to see May-Jewel sitting on the bed waiting for her.
“I tried to find you,” May-Jewel said. “Where did you go?”
“I was walking and thinking. What was the result of your conversation with Alex?”
May-Jewel’s sigh was one of exasperation. “Nothing came of it. He’s an aggravating sort.” She played with the lace on the coverlet. “He said some irritating things, and I’m not sure I like the way he looks at me.” She didn’t pursue the rest of that line of conversation.
But Katherine took this opening to begin her plan, and said, “I think it’s disgraceful the way Alex treats us… treats you. He has taken a great deal of freedom with the estate and, it seems, with you. I’m sure that you’ll agree he’s a most insufferable man. There’s an unfavorable likeness between him and Sir Robert in their degrading point of view toward women.” Katherine paused. The pout on May-Jewel’s lips became more pronounced. Katherine knew her sister was upset by her words and couldn’t hide it. But Katherine pushed on with her plan. “From what you told me, Jeremy is more of a gentleman. Isn’t it strange how men can be so different?”
“You of all people can’t tell me anything about men,” May-Jewel commented peevishly.
Katherine ignored her tone and implication, and continued, saying, “I mean there are those men who know the worth of a woman and are strong enough to admit their admiration and their love. And then there are those who have the attitude that women are playthings to be fondled only when the desire strikes them. You know the kind. The ones who think women are good only for one purpose.” Then Katherine set the bait by adding, “I wonder if Jeremy is like that.”
May-Jewel’s eyes widened and she threw her shoulders back as she answered, “By comparison, Alex is crude.” Her voice softened. “Jeremy is refined. And his manners are impeccable. He’s a gentleman from the old school. He would never think of a woman only in that manner!”
“If he’s so wonderful, how is it that you left him there to all those beautiful and wealthy Bostonian women?”
“Because I know…” May-Jewel stopped. Did she know? No, she didn’t know Jeremy, not really. She did know that he was
