As Catherine left Jane’s room to head down to dinner, she heard a child’s voice coming from farther down the hall.
“Papa!” the boy cried.
Catherine turned to see a young boy running towards Viscount Hilldale. The Viscount swept him up into his arms and swung him around, causing him to squeal in delight.
The two of them began chatting quickly, and Catherine could tell that they were the best of friends. It shouldn’t have been so surprising, considering how childish Lord Hilldale could be sometimes, but Catherine was indeed surprised. Fathers typically paid little attention to their children until they were old enough to begin learning. This child seemed just barely five years old.
She did not wish to interrupt such a pleasant scene, so she turned back around and headed downstairs.
As everyone gathered for dinner in the drawing room, Viscount Hilldale came up to Catherine and said, “You shouldn’t have left so quickly. Travis has been wanting to meet you for a while. I could have introduced you.”
“Travis? Is that your son?” Catherine asked. When he nodded, she said, “Why would he have ever heard of me?”
Viscount Hilldale’s face split into a boyish grin. “I am afraid I told him about our conversation concerning what I should call you. He insists that Trifle is far better as a name than Kitty. He doesn’t particularly like cats, you see.”
“Now I am afraid to meet him,” she said. “Do you think he really will call me Trifle? I suppose that is better than Pudding, but not by much.”
“He is a good boy,” responded the Viscount. “If you really don’t wish to be called something, you may tell him, and he will listen.” He grinned again. “Personally, though, I would love to be nearby when he does call you Trifle.”
“Of course you would,” said Catherine. “Regardless of what he calls me, I would be more than happy to meet Travis. Perhaps I could do so tomorrow morning, if Jane is feeling well enough for me to leave her alone for a bit.”
“Shall we all meet in the garden just after breakfast, then?” he asked.
“That sounds lovely,” said Catherine.
~~~~~
The following morning, Jane was feeling significantly better. Her fever was gone completely, and she was just a bit stuffed up and had a bit of a cough.
Seeing that her sister was much better, Catherine looked forward to a walk in the garden with Viscount Hilldale and his son after breakfast.
Surprisingly, Lord Hilldale was in the breakfast parlor when Catherine came down. Previously, she always seemed to get there before anyone else. She assumed it was because none of them were quite used to country hours the way she was.
They chatted in a friendly sort of way while they ate, and after they were done, he scampered off to fetch his son, telling Catherine they would meet her in the garden.
After fetching her pelisse, she headed outside through a side door that led directly into the garden. She had only been walking for a couple of minutes when Lord Hilldale and little Travis were spied walking toward her.
When they reached her, Lord Hilldale said, “Travis, I would like to introduce Miss Catherine Bennet. Kitty, this is my son, Travis Fitzwilliam.” Travis gave Catherine a bow, and Catherine curtseyed in turn.
“I am most happy to meet you, Master Travis,” Catherine said.
“I am pleased to meet you as well,” Travis said. Catherine was charmed by the little boy’s effort at being serious. The façade was broken, however, when Travis said, “Are you really called Kitty?”
“Your father calls me that, as do my sisters and some of my friends. I prefer Catherine, though,” she said.
“If you prefer Catherine, why do you let people call you a name you don’t like?” asked the boy. “I am certain Papa would call you by your proper name if you simply asked him.”
“As long as the name is not insulting, I find it is easier to let people say what makes them comfortable. So, what would you like to call me?” asked Catherine.
She expected him to say, “Trifle,” but he surprised her. “Since you like to be called Catherine, that is what I shall call you,” he said.
“You are quite the gentleman,” Catherine responded. “Thank you.” She looked up at Lord Hilldale’s face and was pleased to see him glowing with pride while looking down at his son.
“Shall we walk?” asked the Viscount.
The walk was a pleasant and unique experience for Catherine. In general, she was not overly fond of children, since they were inevitably messy. She hadn’t even liked children when she was one. Travis, however, was so kind and cheerful it was impossible not to be charmed by him.
As the young boy ran ahead to investigate an interestingly shaped branch, Catherine said, “He is a wonderful young man.”
