Page 56 of Katherine the Vixen

“No, it’s not like that! I do not think that Walter is not prestigious enough for me,” Katherine interrupted, brushing tears from her eyes. Would no one allow her to try and deal with her complicated emotions on her own? Could they not see how difficult this all was for her? “These clothes do not belong to me, and I do not have aspirations above my station. I am nothing, I do know that, but even if I had never left to go to Wales, I still would never have married Walter.”

“Is that so?” Annette sounded rather displeased at the declaration. Then she shook her head, as if aggrieved by the sudden gulf between them. “Well, if you have changed your mind, then it would seem I was right. You have met someone who is waiting for you to come back, someone who has made you forget all about poor Walter.”

To Katherine’s dismay, the tears that had gathered in her eyes spilled over onto her cheeks. Why was this so difficult?

“No, there is no one waiting for me in Wales.”

He’s here, in England, barely three miles away. And he is most definitely not waiting for me.

“Thank you for walking with me for a while, but I need to go,” she told her sister, gathering the hem of her gown to ensure it would not trail in the mud. How apt an image this was. Her world and Siaspar’s would never be able to co-exist, just like this silk gown was not supposed to be worn in the forest. “I don’t want my absence to be detected. But I promise I will come back as soon as I can.”

She hurried away before Annette could respond.

14

14

Drat, it was too late to turn back. She had been seen. And it would be obvious to anyone that she had been away from the castle without permission.

Katherine walked up to Lady Malpas as composedly as she could, telling herself she had done nothing wrong. At least, Siaspar was not far, conversing with his squire. Placed where he was, he would be able to hear the confrontation. With hope, his proximity would help deflect the worse of the woman’s temper.

The first question was not long in coming. “Where have you been?”

“I apologize, my lady.” Katherine dropped a quick curtsy. “I went to see my family, who lives on the other side of the forest. I left before dawn, thinking my absence would not cause you any prejudice as you were still abed then.”

“Well, I am up now as you can see,” was the biting answer. “Little wonder, as it is already mid-morning. Did you think I would lie abed all day long? And your absence did cause me some prejudice, not that I should explain myself to⁠—”

“How so?”

Both women turned to Siaspar, who had asked the question in a deceptively low voice.

“I-I beg your pardon, my lord?” Lady Malpas stammered. Lost to her anger, she had not seen him coming closer.

“How could Katherine’s momentary absence cause you prejudice, I cannot help but wonder?” His voice was still calm but his eyes had started to glitter, a sure sign of displeasure his wife didn’t miss.

“I…” She floundered. It was obvious she had not expected anyone, much less Siaspar, who rarely bothered with her, to demand an explanation. In her mind, she was allowed to scold who she wanted for no other reason than she wanted to. “One of my gowns needs stitching. I intended to wear it tonight for the banquet my brother is giving in my—in our honor.”

“Then Katherine will attend to it immediately. It is after all, only morning. I am sure if she works diligently, the dress will be ready tonight, for the banquet in your honor.”

The emphasis on the word was not lost on either woman. He had picked up on Lady Malpas’ unfortunate lapse and he enjoyed making her see that he was not fooled. Her brother cared nothing for his Welsh brother-in-law.

“The gown will be ready, my lord, I promise.”

Relieved everything had been solved so easily, Katherine curtsied again and made to leave.

“Wait. Why did you go to see your family under the cover of darkness, like a thief, without telling anyone?” Lady Malpas asked, taking a step toward her. “Did you perchance want to give them some jewel or other trinket that belongs to me? Something you stole?”

“No, I swear, my lady!” Katherine was horrified. “I just wanted to see them. It’s been more than three months since I left. I have missed them.”

“Oh, really?”

The sarcasm cut deep. Evidently, the lady could not imagine why anyone would prefer the company of poor villagers to that of her brother’s household.

“Yes, really.”

“Shall I inspect her to set your mind at rest, my lady?” Siaspar offered. His smooth voice had acquired an edge of steel. It would not be long before his anger exploded. “Do you remember if there was a pearl sewn on her headpiece or the exact width of the embroidery on the sleeves of her dress? Shall I strip her down to check she did not give her shift to her family to sell? Can I at least bring her inside before I do that? Though I am sure your brother’s men would enjoy the display. They seem to be a distinctively crass lot, almost like…savages.”

Lady Malpas was not so easily cowed. Bravely—one might say foolishly—she stood her ground.