“Good morning,” she said, as she entered the breakfast room.
“Good morning,” Garth answered, pulling a chair out for her. “I hope you slept well.”
“Yes, thank you.” She smiled at him as he served her from the sideboard.
“I thought we might go riding today. Oh, you do ride, don’t you?” He brought his own plate to the table and sat down across from her.
“Of course, but not very well,” she admitted.
“Then we’ll have to make sure Brice saddles a gentle mare for you.”
Their conversion was light and polite, nothing of the previous evening was mentioned, although each felt it keenly. When they had finished eating, Katherine finally told him of Selina and the cottage fire.
He surprised her by saying, “I know about the cottage fire because I was there. But at the time, I didn’t know that the fire wasn’t real. I saw some smoke and then heard someone scream. You were very near unconscious when I pulled you from the building. It was only later when I returned to examine the place that I found that the whole thing had been staged, that there really wasn’t a fire. I later assumed it was Alex’s doing in an attempt to scare you away from here.”
“You pulled me out?” She frowned, confused. “How long have you been here at Wistmere? Why didn’t you make your presence known then?” Was he lying to her? Could she not trust him after all? She could feel the anger rising. “If you had stepped forward then with what you knew, I wouldn’t have had to suffer Alex’s insults for he questioned my sanity. And what of Selina?” she asked, her eyes blazing. “Do you know about her too?”
Nodding, Garth reached to take her hands in his. “Katherine, trust me. I had my reasons for staying hidden. I had to know a few things before I showed myself. You, yourself heard the gossip about Charles. Do you think it escaped me? No. It was easier to investigate if no one knew I was here. And as for Selina, yes, I know a woman of that name. She-”
Katherine pulled away as if his hands were afire. “You know Selina?”
“Yes, I know a woman by that name, but she couldn’t possibly be here.”
“You know Selina?” She repeated, unable to believe what she had heard. A gasp tore from Katherine’s throat and she cried, “You’re no better than your father!” Rising, she ran from the room.
“Katherine wait, let me explain! It’s not what you think!” Garth pulled the chair out from beneath him to go after her. But by the time he got to the hall, she was gone.
With Garth’s last words echoing in her ears, she sought refuge in a field of tall grass by the cottage. The sting of the betrayal bore deep into her heart. He was here at the cottage! He knows Selina? What a fool I was to believe in him. What a fool I am to have believed all his lies! All that he told me was said only to get me to weaken and to believe in him, to defend him. What an idiot I am! Tears flowed freely but none of them could wash away the feeling of being used yet once again. She had wanted to believe him to be a genuine, honest man who would erase all the memories of the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of men, starting with Sir Robert. The tears ended and the anger came.
Rising, Katherine dusted off her dress, wiped her face, and headed down toward the manse. She believed, no, she knew that there was but one man whom she could rely upon, maybe the last decent man in Scotland, Vicar Hawes.
* * *
“I be off now,” the old vicar called to David as he opened the door. Spying Katherine heading down the walk, he greeted her, tipping his hat as he called over his shoulder through the open door. “Ye have company.” Then he smiled at her and added, “I be sorrowful but canna stop ta chat. Mrs. Cabe be needn’ comfort and prayer.”
“Oh, yes… well,” she started to retreat. But then saw David in the hall.
“Katherine,” he said in greeting as he rolled down his sleeves and straightened his tie.
Her eyes were drawn to a kitchen towel draped over his shoulder.
Quickly removing the cloth and tossing it onto a nearby table, he motioned her to enter. “Please come in.”
“Are you sure that I’m not intruding?” She lingered indecisively near the door.
“Absolutely sure. You’re just saving me from helping with the breakfast dishes.” He directed her into the drawing room. “Please have a seat,” he motioned to the settee.
Smiling shyly, Katherine crossed the room and sat down.
At first the silence wasn’t awkward, just refreshing. But then David became acutely aware of the ticking of the clock upon the mantle. He cleared his throat and then inquired after her health.
“I’m… I’m fine,” she replied casting her eyes upon the floor.
Frowning, David rose and went to the door. “Mrs. Hoode, can you come here please?”
Katherine looked up. The woman’s presence surprised her. She wasn’t aware that the manse had a housekeeper. But, of course, it would with two bachelors living there. David spoke to her and Mrs. Hoode disappeared back down the hallway.
Reclaiming his seat, the vicar stated, “I’ve asked Mrs. Hoode to make us some tea. Tea always clears one’s thoughts.”
“I didn’t know you had a housekeeper, but then I don’t know why I should be surprised.”
“Yes, she’s housekeeper, cook, sometimes surrogate mother, and thank God that we have her, at least three times a week. It’s up to Earnan and me other times, although in order to encourage her to keep coming, I help
