Travis looked confused. “I thought spinsters were old,” he said. “You aren’t old, Catherine.”
“No, I am not,” said Catherine. “Well, if am not a bachelor, and I am not a spinster, what am I?”
“Kitty,” said Lord Hilldale at the same time that Travis said, “Catherine.”
“You do not need a label,” added Lord Hilldale.
“Hmmm,” said Catherine, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“So, where are you and your sisters going today?” asked Lord Hilldale, clearly sensing her desire to change the subject.
“I am just here to follow them,” she replied. “I suppose I could look at bonnet trimmings with Lydia and see if something catches my eye, but to be honest I am quite tired of trimming bonnets.”
“What would you rather be doing?” he asked.
“It has been quite a while since I have sat at my easel for any length of time. I would quite like to paint again.”
“Why don’t you?” he asked.
“Painting requires quite a bit of concentration, but my sisters do not understand this,” said Catherine. “Any time I sit down to paint, I am interrupted because one of my sistersneeds me for something or because my mother is calling for me. This past summer I solved the problem by sitting outside, but I cannot do that now that the weather has cooled off.”
“Do you have a specific room where you paint, or is it something you do in the drawing room?”
“We have a little parlor in the back that is not used for anything else,” said Catherine. “The lighting is not the best, but it is easier to paint there, because I can lay down sheets to prevent any paint from spilling onto the carpet. My sister, Mary, used to use that room to paint little tables, but she gave up that hobby a long time ago.”
“I see,” said Lord Hilldale.
“I hope I can see your paintings someday,” said Travis.
“Perhaps,” said Catherine. “Most of them aren’t particularly good or interesting. I just do it for fun.”
The conversation drifted to other topics. Catherine kept expecting Lord Hilldale and Travis to head back out into the country, but the two of them kept pace with Catherine as she trailed behind her sisters.
Eventually, all the shopping was done, and the three gentlemen and one boy took their leave, heading back to Netherfield, but not before leaving an invitation to a ball, which was to take place the following Tuesday.
~~~~~
The ball at Netherfield was the event of the year for those living in the vicinity of Meryton. If it was just an ordinary ball, it would have been special enough, but it was made even more so by the fact that it ended with two engagement announcements.
By the end of the night both Elizabeth and Jane were engaged to gentlemen who treasured them, namely Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
Catherine was pleased to see how happy her sisters were, but she was not looking forward to the changes their departure would make at Longbourn. Jane and Elizabeth were, by far, the most pleasant of Catherine’s family members. Without them she would be left with Mama’s complaints, Lydia’s thoughtlessness, and Mary’s serious but boring conversation. She supposed Papa would be there as well, but she had never understood her father very well.
Two days after the ball, Catherine was surprised to receive a call, not only from Lord Hilldale, but from his son as well.
Mama was confused to see the Viscount in her parlor without either his cousin or his friend. She said little, but she kept looking back and forth between him and Catherine. Catherine tried to ignore her mother’s odd behavior and focused on her guests.
Lord Hilldale said, “Travis and I have come to bid you farewell. We will be leaving tomorrow to head back to my estate for the winter.”
“I assumed most people in your circle wintered in London where it is warmer and easier to socialize,” said Catherine.
He shrugged. “There is plenty to do at Snowhaven to keep us both busy and entertained.” He turned to Travis and said, “Isn’t that right?”
“I have lots of toys and books there, and when it snows we can make a snow fort,” said Travis.
“See,” said Lord Hilldale, “my son knows how to have a good time.”
“I appreciate you taking the time to say farewell in person,” said Catherine. Somehow, she was unaccountably disappointed. It made no sense. She had no claim on Lord Hilldale, yet she felt almost as sad as she did when she and Georgiana were separated during the school holidays.
