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He had once, until she had ruined everything. Catherine took another sip of wine, hoping to hide how her face fell. Williamhadbegun leaving his desk, and Catherine had somehow ruined everything by falling out of a tree. It sounded ridiculous, even to her.

Elias shook his head. “Is that…why you are?—”

“I do not want to talk about it,” Catherine said firmly. “Stop trying to force me to speak of the matter. Please, Elias.”

“Apologies,” he replied, raising his wine in a mock toast. “I promise that I shall stop trying to coax the answer from you. What were we discussing?”

“Lady Mathers’s seminary.”

“Ah, yes. She is a fine woman,” Elias said. “I understand why she does not wish to marry again, but that is a loss to all the bachelors of the ton, for I am certain that she would make a splendid wife.”

Catherine wondered if Lady Mathers would make a splendid wife because she was experienced in the joys of the bedroom. Certainly, Catherine suspected that was why her brother delighted so much in the lady’s company. Before marriage, she had not understood why her brother was such a rake, but having experienced the joys of the bedroom, she knew the reason why.

“A splendid wife for you?” Catherine asked. “Do you think you could persuade her to wed you?”

Elias laughed so hard that his glass shook, and droplets of wine spilled onto his sleeve. “My dear sister, she would be a fool to marry any man, much less one as rakish as me! Why, if shediddecide to become my wife, I suspect that I would lose all interest in her. Isadora’s brilliance is part of why I love her so much.”

Catherine hummed, considering her brother for a moment. “Do you know—I think that is the first time you have ever expressed any admiration for a woman’s intelligence? Usually, you talk about their beauty. Sometimes, their conversation. But never intelligence.”

“She is a woman beyond compare,” Elias said. “I mean that truly. I might even venture to say that I love her. How ironic is that? I learn to love a woman who refuses to marry.”

“You deserve to have a wife who loves you,” Catherine said softly.

She thought of her own husband, who no longer loved her. When Catherine thought of her dear brother trapped in a loveless marriage, her heart ached.

“Promise me,” she said.

“Promise you?”

“That you will marry for love,” Catherine clarified. “Promise me that you will find a love-match, and you will not settle for a marriage of convenience. That is all I want for you.”

Elias’s face softened. For a heartbeat, Catherine thought that she might have said too much. He might have guessed what exactly it was that distressed her so terribly. If he did, however, he respected her wishes enough not to mention it.

“I promise that I will do just that, kitty cat,” he said. “If it will make you happy.”

“It will make the both of us happy,” Catherine replied.

Elias finished his wine and stood. “Do you want to do something this evening, kitty cat? We might watch a show at the theater. Or perhaps, an opera.”

Catherine smiled and nodded. “I would like that,” she said.

“Good,” he said. “I have just a little work to finish today. Your room should be ready for you. Take a rest, my sister, for your journey has been very long. I will wake you once I am finished with my papers, and we will go to the theater. We will watch a show. That is certain to revive your spirits, and you can forget all about what has upset you so.”

She raised her glass to him and smiled gently. “Thank you, Elias. To you.”

He winked and raised his glass, too. “And to you, my sweet sister.”

CHAPTER31

William began counting his days. It had been seven days since he had last seen Catherine. Eight days since she had last been in his study. Nine days since their last dance. As he entered the dining hall, he gazed mournfully at the place where his wife usually sat. She was always there at his right, his sisters seated further down.

Now, the place was empty. After his mother had died, William had often felt as though she haunted him still. Her presence was everywhere in the house. Now, it was Catherine, whose spirit seemed to occupy every corner, every piece of furniture, and every slice of sunlight that drifted through the windows and cast light upon the floors.

At his approach, Hannah and Hester straightened in their chairs and turned to him with eager eyes. “Are you going to join us for breakfast?” Hannah asked.

“I am,” he replied, taking his seat.

“It is good to have you eat with us,” Hester said.