- Chapter 3 -

Katherine stretched gloriously in the wide cot she and her sisters occupied; knocking a head and stomach as she did so, and causing Betsey and Cecilia to rouse with sleepy exclamations and groans of irritation. "Hush you lazy piglets, 'tis morning, look! Birds have been up for hours and father and boys have undoubtedly joined them by now. You should be ashamed to be slumbering while they are busy at work already!" She took them by their shoulders and shook some more yelps and moans out of the two younger girls before throwing off the blankets entirely. "Up with you!" She was attacked. Girlish laughter and boisterous conversation followed the girls into the living area of the farmhouse where their mother was already up and about, cleaning up the wooden dishes and iron pots used to make porridge for the girls' father and two brothers. There were still three bowls steaming for those late to the table, for they were not so slothful that their breakfast had cooled. They made short work of their morning meal before ushering their mother away from the wash basin and finishing the job.

"It is so nice to be able to have you in the morning, Kat." Her mother commented as she walked by with a sheet-full of clothes to wash. "How nice it was for the Baroness to allow you to commute."

"Yes, it is not far and the wealthy tend to keep some very unusual hours so there is no hurry in the mornings. Though I dare say, if there are many more nights like Tuesday's dinner party I may need to start keeping similar hours!" She handed a wet bowl to her youngest sibling, Cecilia, to dry.

Her mother had paused to listen and replied with a chuckle "Midnight is hardly a late hour in those social circles dear, just wait for the June ball you said they are planning in a fortnight, in my experience it isn't proper to leave a ball before two or three in the morning."

Katherine's jaw dropped "I shan't arrive home before five!!"

"That is to be expected." her mother laughed, walking out the door.

Kat hurriedly finished the rest of the dishes and helped Betsey and Cecilia dry and put away the rest before whipping off her apron and snatching her bonnet from a peg by the door. "Mother is waiting for help with these clothes girls, remember the wash barrel will need more hot water in ten minutes so get some boiling Betsey!" Tying on her bonnet she lifted her skirts away from the mud, and turned towards swaying fields that rolled up to the trees surrounding Castle Rosforte. "Ta! I will see you all tonight!" she called behind her, picking up her pace. Not an hour passed and she was in her small room adjoining her Lady's, another maid helping her don a navy, cotton gown (one Katherine thought a mite too extravagant for her position, but what did she know).

Her first day had been the week before; and the first order of business, according to the Baroness, had been to update Katherine's wardrobe. "A Lady's maid" Miss Compton had declared "must be entirely vouge! As my confidant and stylist you will naturally be seen with me any time I travel or present myself in town; it then follows that you, as an extension of me, are also an expression of me. You shall, additionally, require ball gowns; for I take pleasure in having my abigails participate in such events; for reasons of my own." Kat recalled the glint in Miss Compton's eye at the last statement with suspicion.

She hopped down stairs and hurried down halls until she reached the kitchen where cook had prepared a platter of breakfast scones, cheese, and honey. With a quick and cheerful greeting she swept away the platter and was back upstairs. She quietly placed her Lady's morning meal on a small breakfast table by the massive curtained windows. Pulling out a pocket watch she checked the time and rang for a maid to fetch hot water for Miss Compton's bath. Kat then quietly lit the deep stone hearth in the Baroness' bedroom, careful not to wake her. Once the fire was enveloping the small logs therein, cheekily spitting sparks, she entered the dressing room, searching through dozens upon dozens of grand and elaborate gowns of impeccable quality. Laying out a pale rose day gown on a large pouf in the centre of the room, she then busied herself with selecting appropriate accessories; ironing gloves and hat feathers, and polishing gold and pearls. She checked her pocket watch again to see it was nearly quarter-past eleven, and scurried to open the drapes in the bedroom.

The Baroness stirred as sunlight brightened the room, though it was still relatively dim behind the sheer curtains that flowed from the canopy of her massive bed. Katherine let her wake on her own, slipping into the bath chamber to check on the progress there. A fresh fragrance caressed her senses as she entered and she breathed deep. Good, they had boiled in the flower she had requested before bringing it up. She dipped a finger into the water, deeming the temperature perfect, just as Baroness Compton entered the room stretching her arms in a yawn.

"My gracious it smells lovely in here!" She exclaimed, shedding her night robes and dipping eagerly into the steaming water. "My past abigails always prepared rose or lavender scents, but I find I much prefer this, chamomile is it?"

"Yes Miss Compton, I took the liberty of changing your usual fragrance; I find chamomile has a more subtle scent and is more calming. I am also told it has healing and rejuvenating effects; I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all Katherine, we are of like mind it appears." She settled deep into the iron tub with a contented sigh as Kat brought a plate of scented soaps for her to choose from. "The mint scrub today dear." She closed her eyes in relaxation. Kat nodded with a smile and gently began to massage Miss Compton's shoulders and back with the grainy soap. "There will be a ball in two days' time, at Norcastle." The Baroness continued. "Apparently her son is in town for a week or so and she wants to hold an event for him before he leaves."

Katherine's heart stopped and a lump rose to her throat at the mention of Mrs. Routley's son. She had only one, therefore, this could only mean Brandon had returned. Probably at home, not five miles away as we speak. She swallowed the lump and pushed her silly thoughts and memories away with as much determination as she could muster. "Do you have a suggestion for which gown you would have me press?" She replied evenly after rinsing the scrub off Miss Compton's clear skin.

"I trust your judgment completely," was the reply, accentuated with a dismissive sweep of a hand, causing drips to fly "although I'm feeling a nice burgundy might do well."

Katherine grinned "Of course Miss Compton, precisely the color I would have chosen for you. I shall have one groomed and ready for you."

The Baroness smiled and peeked at her through one heavy eyelid. "I do believe you mean you will prepare two gowns, for both of us?... If I'm not mistaken dear, I very particularly said you are to be my un de plus at any event I attend. Be sure to have a gown for yourself ready as well or I shall be most disappointed!"

Katherine - unfolding the large bath towel she was taking to warm in front of the fire - halted in place as panic once again thrust a lump into her throat. She felt colour drain from her face as her vision reeled. I cannot go! She thought desperately. I cannot see him again I could not bear it! I must think of an excuse to decline attending!

"Are you quite all right Katherine?" Miss Compton questioned, sloshing as she sat up slightly, head tipped toward her new young maid. "You looked nearly unwell for a moment."

Katherine took a shaky breath and turned to her employer with a bright smile. "It is nothing I assure you Miss Compton. It must just be the steam, heat, and an empty stomach making me faint. It was foolish of me to eat so little this morning." She laughed through her lie, then turning to the door "I will excuse myself to warm your bath towel m'lady."

"Ah! Ah! Pause a moment young lady!" Kat turned to her employer who was resting her chin on hands that clasped the edge of the tub, brow furrowed. "I left a honeyed scone on my breakfast table; oblige me and eat it, I shan't have my staff fainting while I'm on watch!"

"Yes, thank you Miss Compton." She gave a slight curtsy, amazed not for the first time at the generosity the Baroness of Rosforte never failed to extend to her staff. Though the scone was undoubtedly the most soft, sweet, delectable morsel she'd ever had the pleasure of tasting; she found it hard to swallow past the guilt of her fib, and immense grief and panic that still coursed through her at thought of seeing Brandon Routley again. With fingers sucked clean and wiped of any sticky honey, she held her Mistress's towel before the crackling fire, struggling also to hold back tears. Her hands trembled as memories nearly a year old flooded back unbidden, as clearly as yesterday. I will not be able to avoid him, she worried frantically. What if he speaks to me, or asks me to dance? What on earth could I say? How will I deny him, for I know I must! She bit her lip as it threatened to tremble as well. Or, alternatively, what if he ignores me? What if he has found a lady more deserving of his rank and has forgotten me?

An image came to her then. The man she'd learned to love with a fine and beautiful lady of the Ton, laughing and whispering together, heads touching. She imagined him looking at her, and his eyes pass through as though she never existed. A rebel tear escaped down her cheek and Katherine's lips parted in a sharp intake of breath at the pain that bloomed in her chest. She quickly snapped the towel back from the flames, realizing she was allowing it too much heat, and folded it tightly to preserve the warmth. Do get ahold of yourself Katherine! She chided herself strictly, sniffing away her tears – The latter would be the best scenario you could hope for, so cease your sniveling over it! – and brought the towel in to the Baroness that she may dry herself.

Katherine focused determinedly on her duties the rest of the day, glad for the distraction from her thoughts; and when she left the castle late that night she was grateful to see Betsey waiting to accompany her home. She secretly thanked all that was good and kind for sending her sister to fill the silence of the long walk home; for had she walked it alone, she was quite sure she would wallowed in self-pity and regret all the way.