Virginia Henley by Insatiable

Author:Insatiable [Insatiable]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Catherine dragged out her trunks and began packing with furious speed. Inside, her hot anger slowly turned into an icy carapace around her heart. She would not let the hurt touch her; she would distance herself from the pain of rejection, aye, and keep herself aloof from the cruel monster who inflicted that pain.

When she and Maggie had packed everything they owned, she picked up Tattoo and cuddled her. “I won’t take you away from the home you love, but I will think of you every day. Goodbye, puss.”

Cat swept down the stairs with her traveling cloak over her arm and Maggie at her heels. Though Hepburn was in the hall with Geordie, she did not address him. Instead she spoke to a servant.

“Kindly inform his lordship that our trunks are upstairs.”

The servant approached Patrick, who had obviously heard Lady Catherine’s words. Hepburn waved him aside, gave Cat a level look and then took the stairs two at a time. While he was gone, she took the opportunity to put her arms around Geordie.

“Good-bye, Granddad. Thank you for everything. I promise I shall come back to Seton again.” To allow Maggie and Geordie to say their good-byes in private, she went outside to await the carriage that was being readied, displaying deliberate indifference about how Hepburn would cope with all their luggage.

When Patrick helped Maggie into the coach, he glanced at Catherine. She was sitting ramrod straight with her eyes fixed on a distant mountain. Hepburn was not in the habit of explaining his decisions to women, but in her case he would have made an exception. He would not tell her about Jenny, because he didn’t want to alarm her, nor have her feel guilt. He did want to alert her to danger, however. He saw this was not the moment and clamped his mouth shut. If he spoke, Hellcat would use the opportunity to coldly rebuff him. He mounted Valiant and told the driver to make all haste to Edinburgh.

With each mile, his premonition of trouble grew stronger. Since previously his sixth sense had not warned him of danger to Catherine, he assumed the menace was a threat to him or Crichton. He touched the long dagger and the dirk in his belt as his eyes scanned the horizon. The sunny day and blue sky did not lend themselves to foreboding thoughts, and his mind began to explore why he had not sensed the impending danger to Cat.

If Catherine was a part of me, I should have been aware of her peril. I lusted for her and her lands, but I did not allow myself to love her—not until now. Stop being fanciful, Hepburn—to love someone is to lose them. He glanced at her profile in the carriage window. She was easily the most beautiful, elegant female he’d ever known. Love or lust, I don’t intend to lose her or her lands. This is a temporary separation. The queen won’t allow her to wed, so she will be safe until she comes of age in March.

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