Lady in Waiting

‘Did Her Majesty truly say that, Aunt?’

‘I believe she found the tale diverting,’ Lady Stamford said, looking thoughtful. ‘I naturally apologised for your absence, for a royal invitation is a command, Catherine, and I believed she might be angered, but not so. You will I am sure be commanded to her presence again soon.’

‘I thank you for your good offices on my behalf, Aunt.’

‘You repay me with good manners, Catherine. Remember them should Sir Nicholas or his mother call on you. Lady Fineden did say she would ask us to dine another night, but we shall see…’

Left to herself after her aunt had gone out, Catherine spent half an hour or so at her needlework but found that it palled and laid it down, venturing into the small courtyard at the back of the house to take a turn about it in the sunshine. Her inactivity irked her, for she had been told that her father was sleeping and she had nothing to do but wait for her aunt’s return.

It was as she was about to return to the parlour that she turned to see one of the footmen waiting to see her.

‘Your pardon, Mistress Moor—but there is a visitor. A gentleman has called to inquire after Sir William’s health.’

‘A gentleman?’ Catherine stared at him, her heart racing frantically. ‘What name did he give?’

‘Sir Nicholas Grantly, mistress. I asked him to wait in the small parlour but Sir William’s man has given orders that he is not to be disturbed.’

‘I shall come at once,’ Catherine said. ‘The gentleman is known to me. I shall receive him myself. Please request Mistress Pike to bring refreshments to the parlour—some wine and biscuits I think.’

‘Yes, of course.’

The footman bowed and went away. Catherine took a deep breath before walking into the parlour. Sir Nicholas was standing by the small window, looking out at the street, his back towards her, but he swung round as she entered, a slow smile spreading across his mouth—a mouth that could only be described as sensuous—and into those grey eyes. Oh, what that smile did to her foolish heart. It was beating so fast that she was sure he must see her agitation.

‘Mistress Moor. Forgive me if I intrude? But I came to inquire after your father. He seemed much shaken last evening. My mother was most concerned and scolded me for not accompanying you both home myself. And indeed, I regret that I did not do so, for your need was surely the greater.’

‘You do not intrude, sir. I thank you and Lady Fineden for your concern on my father’s behalf. He was indeed much shaken by what happened, and I believe his arm pains him a good deal though he denies it. He is resting in his chamber today and may not be disturbed, but I shall tell him of your kindness in coming to inquire.’ Catherine smiled as she took a seat in a chair by the fire and gestured to its pair at the other side of the hearth. ‘Will you not sit down? I have ordered refreshments, as I am certain my aunt would wish to return the hospitality that was shown us at your good sister’s house.’

Nick did not hesitate, sitting at his ease in the chair she indicated, his long shapely legs stretched out in front of him. She noticed that he was again dressed in black that morning, his white shirt showing through the slashing of his handsome velvet doublet. As on the previous evening, his clothes were much finer than he had worn when they had met on the road and at his sister’s house, and he looked every inch a courtier of some degree. But there was more than that about him, some indefinable quality that Catherine could not name, but which she found fascinating.

‘I hope your father’s health will not be long impaired? It would be a shame if we were not to have your company at court, Mistress Catherine. Her Majesty was pleased to ask me for the truth concerning your absence last night, and much entertained when I told her you were as fierce as any bear in defence of its young, hanging on to the ruffian’s arm until he threw you off by superior strength. I told her that a lady of your beauty and courage must be brought to court, for we should all be the poorer for the lack. You must know that Gloriana admires spirit more than anything, and she was intrigued by the story.’

‘My aunt assured me that Her Majesty would invite me to attend her again, but I feared I might have offended. I am glad that it was not so.’ Catherine blushed as she met his look, which seemed almost to burn her with its heat. Why did she find her eyes drawn to his mouth so often! She looked down, feeling slightly breathless, and was a little relieved when the housekeeper brought in their wine. ‘Ah, thank you, Mistress Pike. You will take a glass of wine, Sir Nicholas?’

‘I thank you, Mistress Catherine.’ Nick bestowed his warm smile on the housekeeper. ‘Did you make those delicious-looking biscuits yourself, ma’am?’

‘Why yes, sir.’ The woman dimpled at him and placed the dish of almond comfits on a small board set on a stand close to his hand. ‘Should you need anything else, Mistress Catherine, you have only to ask…’

‘I have never seen Mistress Pike dimple before,’ Catherine said after the door was safely closed behind her. She smiled, her green eyes unconsciously alight with teasing laughter. ‘I think you are a rogue, Sir Nicholas. Do you charm all the ladies so?’

Nicholas chuckled softly in his throat, amused by her show of spirit. He had been trying to charm her and she knew it—no fool then, the little Moor. Yet he would swear Matthew was right and there was fire beneath the ice. Indeed, the ice had already begun to melt several degrees.

‘How is it that you have found me out so swiftly, Mistress Catherine?’

‘I saw you on the way to London—you were watching a play with those ruffians who caused the trouble…’ She broke off and frowned at him. ‘That was not well done of you, sir. The poor man was doing his best to entertain us.’

‘And making a poor show of it.’

‘You and your friends did not make his task easier, sir, for you taunted him dreadfully.’

‘Nay! I beg you acquit me of the charge, Mistress Catherine. I am guilty of many things, but I am not so ill-mannered—though I admit to being amused by their jesting. He did take so very long over his dying. You must admit it was overlong?’

‘Yes, I shall not deny that,’ Catherine said. His tone was teasing and his eyes were full of gentle mockery, and she responded in kind. ‘But I saw you laughing and calling out insults to that poor man—though I do not believe you threw anything at him.’

‘Nor was I a part of the company who did,’ Nick said, his smile warm with merriment. ‘But I will admit that I was not kind to the poor fellow—and I did not know that I was being watched by a lady of your tender heart.’

Catherine’s cheeks were on fire as she met his look. Was he flirting with her? She was confused and yet pleased by his teasing looks, her heart fluttering like a dove in a cage.

‘Do you claim you would have behaved less unkindly if you had?’

‘To win your approval? Indeed, I should have beaten off those who taunted him. I was a fool else, Mistress Catherine, for a lady of your beauty and sweet nature is seldom met with.’

‘My nature is not always sweet,’ Catherine said, pouting at him. ‘I have claws, sir, and may use them when minded to do so.’

‘Ah, I might have known such a rose would have its thorns,’ Nick said wickedly. ‘But a scratch from thorns that adorn thee, sweet rose, would be sweeter than a kiss to me…’

‘Are you a poet, Sir Nicholas?’ Catherine laughed at his words, which were clearly designed to flatter and cajole. ‘You have a way with you, sir. None could deny it in truth. But despite your silver tongue, I still think you are a rogue.’

‘Every man must have a silver tongue at Gloriana’s court,’ Nick replied. ‘And it is as well to be able to pen a few lines to the mistress you would court. A true troubadour never lets the sun go down without a poem for his love.’

‘I dare say your flattery goes well with the ladies of the court,’ Catherine said, standing up to take a turn about the room. His looks and words had brought a flame to her cheeks and she felt a little giddy with excitement. For the first time she was aware that she was flirting with danger by entertaining a gentleman alone. Did he think her fast—would he attempt to seduce her? Indeed, he was succeeding without trying too hard, for her foolish heart was beating like a drum. ‘But I am…’

She turned and discovered that he had come up behind her and was standing close to her, his eyes intent on her face, burning her with their heat, setting her whole body aflame. His mouth was soft and somehow tempting to her, and her lips parted on a sighing breath as something stirred within her—some desire or longing she had never felt until this moment.

‘You are lovely, perfect…’ Nick said huskily. ‘I vow you have bewitched me, Mistress Catherine. I languished all night for thinking of you.’

His words were true enough, for he had forgone his tryst with Annette because he could not get a picture of Catherine Moor out of his head, and he had lain sleepless in his bed thinking of her. The glimpse of her white breasts above the revealing neckline of her gown had set him to wondering about the softness of her skin and the gentle curves of her lovely flesh. How sweet it would be to lie with her!

‘Fie on you, sir!’ Catherine laughed. ‘You flatter me but I…’ She caught her breath as he moved towards her, certain that he meant to kiss her and not sure what she would do then, but even as she trembled inwardly she heard her aunt’s voice calling in the hallway and knew that she was saved. ‘Ah, my good aunt is home. She will be delighted to see you, sir.’

‘And I to see her, of course,’ Nick replied but looked so disappointed that Catherine could not hold back her laughter.

She was laughing as Lady Stamford swept into the room, her eyes sparkling like precious jewels as she turned to greet her.

‘Sir Nicholas called to inquire after my father. Was that not kind of him, Aunt?’

‘Exceeding kind,’ Lady Stamford said. ‘I hurried home lest you were fretting, Catherine, but now I see you have been well entertained.’

‘Mistress Catherine was good enough to see me in your absence,’ Nick said coming smoothly to her rescue. ‘And we laughed over Her Majesty’s comments last even. Now, I must come to the second purpose of my visit, ma’am. My mother Lady Fineden begs that you will bear her company at a picnic tomorrow by the river—if such a pastime is agreeable to you?’

‘Thank your mother for her kindness,’ Lady Stamford replied looking pleased. ‘We shall be delighted to come, sir.’

‘Then I shall take my leave of you, sweet ladies.’ Nick’s eyes dwelt on Catherine for a moment. ‘I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, and shall send an escort for you so that you may easily find the appointed place.’

‘We shall look forward to seeing you, sir,’ Catherine replied, a little flush of pleasure in her cheeks.

Catherine’s aunt gave her an odd look but said no more as Nick bowed and went out, merely remarking a little later that it was a kind thought on Lady Fineden’s part to invite them to a picnic.

‘I have heard that her home has a splendid garden that leads down to the river,’ Lady Stamford said. ‘I imagine we shall be somewhere nearby.’