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“Pardon me,” he said. “What do we have here?”
Catherine yanked her hand away and her face went pink as she darted up. “Felton, w-what a surprise.”
“I should say so as well.” Felton was taken-aback; he had never seen Catherine flustered before and his eyes flicked to Rawden. “Good afternoon, Hinds. What brings you by?”
“A friendly visit,” Rawden replied, “Lady Gale was a delightful partner at Lady’s Ashford’s ball, and I’ve come to value her wit and insight.”
Knowing that Catherine could be a bit flippant, Felton wondered what discussion they were having where his sister would be insightful. “You don’t say. Well, I won’t interrupt, but where’s Mother, Catherine?”
“I believe she is in her sun room, Felton,” Catherine replied while resting a hand on his arm,“How are you faring though?”
His smile was tight, “Fairly well. I will speak to you when I am finished with Mother. Excuse me.”
With a nod to the three, as there was a maid in the room, he left to find his mother. He found her kneeling on a pillow as she trimmed her precious roses. “Afternoon Mother,” he greeted.
She looked up, “Felton, dear, how are you? You are not here for another one of my roses, are you?”
Laughing, Felton shook his head, “No, Mother, I’m not. Your precious plants can rest without worry. I’m here to see how you are doing. Are you aware of Lord Camden, I assume, visiting, or is it, courting, Catherine?”
“Oh, I do not believe it has gotten to that point yet,” Lady Dorothea stood, then gave him a pointed look. “But if it does, at least I know who my daughter’s suitor is. I wish I could say the same for you?”
“It is not to that point, Mother,” Felton replied. “It is too early to tell.”
“I would still like to meet this lady,” his mother said plainly, “when it does come to that point, please bring her around.”
“Well, I see all is right with you. I best take my leave,”looking around, before he spun on his heel, Felton added, “have a good evening.”
He was nearly at the door, when his mother called at his back, “Felton, dear, whatever you are doing with this lady - and I hope it is a lady because my roses shall not be gifted to trollops - make sure it’s of good standing, will you?”
Fortunately, his back was turned to her, so she did not see his fleeting wince. “Why would you think otherwise?”
“For the same reason I just stated; I have not seen this lady,” his mother reiterated. “Before you left, you have courted twice and on the second outing, you brought the young lady here to meet me. I assumed you would be following that tradition.”
His fist clenched a little at his side, “I’ve changed, Mother. I’m not one to leap before I look any more.”
“Oh, Felton,” his mother’s disappointment was palpable. “Something good will happen for you, I feel it.”
Twisting to look over his shoulder, Felton gave her a bare smile, “Me too, Mother.”
With a nod, he left the sun room and back to say his farewells to his sister. He approached the drawing-room, but only popped his head in. To his surprise, Catherine and Rawden were playing cards.
“I’m off, Catherine, and Hinds, be a gentleman and lose, will you?” Felton said. “You are a beast with card games.”
Going downstairs, Felton donned his coat and left the house to the carriage. After entering it, his jaw set tight and he forced himself to think of anything else but the pity he had seen in Esther’s eyes.
He detested pity, warranted or unwarranted, it made him feel incapable and inferior. But again, maybe her feeling sorry for him would work in his favour.
The seeds for his seduction were planted, by now he was sure that she had read half of the book already and her heart must be palpitating in lust. But Catherine’s heart had been palpitating in pain, and she needed to feel it even worse. No, he was not going to ruin her out of spite, but she was going to know what heartbreak was and know it dearly.
