Page 104

Catherine walked with Lambert across the square. It was a glorious morning, and she was ready for the battle ahead. Reaching Matlock House, she smiled at the footman who opened her door. “Thank you, Jones.”

Barnes came to her immediately and bowed. “Miss Catherine, may I say just how glad I am to see you here?”

“I am rather glad to be here.” Catherine grinned at Theodore’s batman. Lambert had confessed that she had spoken with Barnes, and he had seemed bothered by Theodore's recent actions. It was reassuring to discover that he had been silently rooting for her, like a hidden ally.

“Lord Matlock asked that you join him and his mother in the breakfast parlor. If you follow me.” Turning, he led the way to where Theodore waited for her.

Upon entering the room, Catherine noticed Lady Matlock was sitting at the table drinking tea. There was toast with jam on a plate near her saucer, and she was working her way through a plate of eggs.

As Theodore saw Barnes bring her into the room, a smile instantly spread across his face, lighting up his eyes.

His breakfast of tea and toast sat untouched.

“Kitty, I am so glad you were able to come for breakfast.” Getting up, he came over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

“Come sit with me. Would you care for some tea?”

Catherine sat in the chair that he pulled out for her and smiled warmly at him.

“Yes, I would. You know how I like it.” Looking across the table, she did not miss the look of shock flash across Lady Matlock’s face.

The lady never would have expected Catherine to show up so calmly at breakfast. Her plan had failed.

Catherine would not be suffering the dreadful fate of being forced into marriage with Deerhurst. Not that she would have wed the cur no matter what he did.

It would be interesting to watch how Lady Matlock reacted to her failure.

She did not strike Catherine as the sort who liked to lose.

“Really, Theodore, the girl can get her own tea,” Lady Matlock scoffed at her son. With a subtle hint of doubt, she altered her tune, her soft smile lending a softness to her next words. “She is not as delicate as you might suppose.”

Catherine took the teacup that was offered and took a grateful sip before turning to smile at Lady Matlock. “Thank you for your support, Lady Matlock, but I do like it when your son chooses to spoil me so.”

Taking his seat once more, Theodore smiled at Catherine over his own cup of tea. “And I love spoiling you, so it works out for the best.”

Catherine looked around the room while she waited for the battle to begin.

It was a pleasant space, even if slightly ostentatious.

The food on the sideboard was plentiful and she might have enjoyed some if she did not have something to do instead of enjoying the morning.

The morning paper sat on the sideboard next to the food.

It was unassuming but held the key catalyst to the morning’s events.

Catherine desired to get things moving, so she spoke up.

“Would you mind if I looked at your paper?

With so many people at my home, I have to wait my turn to read the day's happenings.”

Lady Matlock stood and went to the sideboard, instantly taking up the paper and moving back to her seat. “Of course, dear, as soon as I finish with it. I always read it first thing. You would not know this, but a person of my status simply must be kept up to date on all the goings on.”

“By all means, please do read it. Tell me if you see anything of note.” Turning to Theodore, she smiled at him, her heart racing with anticipation.

They had wanted his mother to see what they had arranged to be in the paper, but she knew they could not simply ask her to read the paper.

They had discussed the fact that Lady Matlock may try to twist things unless they presented their engagement as a done deal.

She would also need to be shown their commitment to her absence from their lives.

They did not have to wait long before a high-pitched shriek disrupted their quiet conversation about Artie’s latest antics.

Lady Matlock slammed the paper down on the table before her. “Theodore, this is not to be born! There is an announcement here in the Morning Post that is simply outrageous. You must contact these people and tell them of their errors. It is egregious.”

“What error, Mother? What did you read that was so very upsetting?” Theodore put his teacup down and leaned back in his chair.

“There is an announcement of your engagement to Miss Catherine. You are courting the chit, not marrying her. They obviously have their facts wrong. It even says that Lady Matlock is relocating to Wales and will not be present for the wedding to be held at Pemberley but wishes her son every happiness. I have no desire or need to move to Wales or anywhere else.” Clearly realizing his lack of intentions to do her bidding, Lady Matlock made a strangled sound of frustration.

“You must go there immediately and set them straight.”

“The announcement is correct, actually.” He reached out to Catherine, who was sitting next to him, and as their hands met, he pressed a gentle kiss onto her knuckles, a gesture filled with affection.

“I have humbly asked Miss Catherine to be my partner in life, and she has bestowed upon me the privilege of her hand.”

Lady Matlock gaped at them, mouth open and expression bewildered, but then her expression hardened. “You did not see fit to come to your mother with this news?”

Catherine gently placed her hand on Theodore's, providing reassurance, before she spoke.

“We announced it at supper last night at Darcy House. Our news was received with great enthusiasm, and everyone was thrilled to hear it. You were invited to come last night, were you not? My sister said she invited you personally.” Catherine smiled innocently at the woman who had plotted her demise.

They had all known she would not attend.

Lady Matlock had not come to a single family dinner.

Apparently, she thought herself above such things.

Despite appearing chagrined for a brief moment, Lady Matlock pressed on seemingly undeterred.

“Yes, well, beyond that. They obviously still got things wrong. I am not going to Wales.” Once more, his mother could not maintain her deceptive act, and her tone was on the verge of reaching the extreme end of the screech spectrum. She would soon make the dogs howl.

As he intertwined his fingers with Catherine's on the table, he met his mother’s gaze. “Mother, do you remember our conversation when I told you I knew you had been the one spreading rumors about Catherine? I emphasized the need for you to apologize and rectify your actions.”

Lady Matlock sniffed and looked haughty. “I remember that conversation and I have every intention of—”

“Pretending to apologize. Yes, I know that you would do something of the sort. But that option is no longer open to you, not when I know that you are still actively attempting to hurt Catherine.”

Lady Matlock slammed her teacup onto the table as she tried to defend herself.

“I do not understand how you could believe such a thing about me!” In a sudden shift from rage to sorrow, she added, with tears welling up in her eyes, “I have been trying to draw closer to you. Has this woman been turning you against me? Against your own mother?”

In the face of his mother's dramatic and ever-changing behavior, Theodore stayed composed and responded with a calm demeanor. “If you had read further, you would notice that Lord Deerhurst is being prosecuted for blackmail, among other crimes. He told us that you were paying him to ruin Catherine.”

Lady Matlock cried, her hand clutching her heart as she desperately tried to elicit their empathy. “What!?! And you would believe his lies over your own mother ?”

“Yes, Mother,” he confessed, his voice trembling with anger.

“I can't deny that I suspect my own mother of paying someone to injure the woman I hold dear. I will not tolerate the deceitful behavior that you have consistently displayed. This is not up for debate, and I will not argue with you about it. From this day forward, I will no longer have you in my home or, for that matter, any of my properties.”

Lady Matlock's mouth flapped for a moment, and then she let out a shrill, incomprehensible sound that made Theodore and Catherine cringe in unison.

Theodore watched her carefully; it was obvious his mother was trying to come up with some plan to stymie him.

She had painted herself into a corner and had been found out.

There would be no escape from the consequences of her actions.

Ignoring his mother’s attempt at interruption, he continued. “The maids are packing your things, and you will be on the road by mid-day. There is enough light in the day for you to get several hours out of town by nightfall.”

“I am your mother. You cannot do this to your nearest relation.” The warmth and emotion drained from her voice, leaving behind a hollow emptiness that exposed the artificial tears she had been using.

“I protect those I love, Mother, and while I thought I could love and trust you, you have proven me wrong. I no longer acknowledge you as my mother. Thankfully, in just over a month, I will be marrying an incredible woman.” Looking to Catherine, he gazed lovingly at her.

“Her mother has graciously given me permission to call her my own, easing my feelings of being an orphan.”

Standing up, Lady Matlock stomped her slippered foot. It was quite ineffectual. “That woman is the daughter of a solicitor! Nobility runs in your bloodline. You cannot possibly be glad of such a relationship!”