Chapter 23
By the time Stephen and Catherine made it back to the house and changed into dry clothes, breakfast was being served. When they made their announcement everyone present congratulated them.
Stephen was able to leave shortly after noon, and fortunately the rain let up a bit, so the roads weren’t too muddy. Catherine missed him intensely, but she kept herself as busy as possible in an attempt to make the time pass more quickly.
He returned four days after his departure, but he was not alone. Mama, Papa, and Travis were all with him.
Once greetings were exchanged and the travelers had a chance to change out of their traveling clothes, Stephen took Catherine up to the nursery to see Travis. As they walked, Catherine asked, “Have you told him, yet?”
“No,” he answered. “I thought it best for us to do it together. I am certain he will be thrilled. He adores you.”
“And I adore him,” she said. “I only hope I can be a good mother to him. That is something I did not learn in school.”
“Just continue to treat him as you have done, and you can’t go wrong,” said Stephen.
When they reached the nursery, Travis was eating supper. There were two other little ones there, children of some of the guests of the house party, but they were so young they werealready becoming sleepy, and the nurse was preparing them for bed.
Catherine and Stephen sat at the table where Travis was eating. “Are you tired from traveling?” asked Stephen.
“I am a bit,” replied Travis, “but I am still glad to see you, Catherine. I hope we can play together tomorrow. Perhaps battledore and shuttlecock?”
“If you like,” said Catherine. “If you prefer, I can teach you how to play ninepins. I believe you said you had never played that before.”
“Really?” Travis’ eyes lit up with delight. “That would be excellent.”
“Then it is settled,” said Catherine. “We shall play ninepins directly after breakfast.”
“Now that you have plans for tomorrow,” said Stephen, “Kitty and I have some news for you.”
“What is it?” asked Travis.
“Kitty and I will be married in a few days,” said Stephen. “She will be your new mama.”
Travis was taken utterly by surprise. He dropped his fork and didn’t seem to notice. After a moment, he said, “Mama? You will be my mama?”
“Yes,” said Catherine. “Do you mind?” He had been so shocked that she couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or not.
Travis leaped up from the table and nearly tackled Catherine with a hug. “That is the best news I have ever heard,” he said as Catherine hugged him back.
~~~~~
When they were done talking to Travis, Catherine and Stephen separated. He had some business to attend to, and Catherine needed to speak to her parents. She headed for the library where she was sure to find Papa.
He was there, but Catherine was surprised to find Mama there as well. When Catherine entered the room, Mama practically leapt up to hug her daughter. “You have done well, Kitty,” she said. “I hope you are happy with him.”
“I am Mama,” she said. “Thank you for your advice last month.”
“Of course,” said Mrs. Bennet. “That is what mothers are for.”
The two ladies then sat down near Mr. Bennet. “Well, you have done almost exactly as I thought you would,” he said. “I told you that with your fortune you could possibly even attract someone with a title. How do you feel about being a future countess?”
Catherine chuckled and shook her head. “Papa, since you were one of the ones who drew up the marriage contract, you should know better than anyone that it is not my fortune that attracted Stephen.”
“You are correct,” said Papa, “but it is your fortune that put you in his path and made it possible for the two of you to interact. Without it, you might never have met him, and even if you did, you would not have interacted much.”
“It is possible,” said Catherine. “Who can say what would have happened? As for how I feel about being a countess, I am utterly intimidated. I am confident I can keep house, even a very large one, but I have no idea how to be a countess.”
Papa shrugged. “You can be a countess in any way you please,” he said. “Just look at your betrothed. He uses his power and his title to behave just as he pleases, paying little attention to other people’s opinions, but they still like him, because he is a viscount and a future earl.”
