Page 11 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
“Ye scabby bawbag,” Phineas joined in.
“You are quite right in that, darling,” Seraphina growled as she patted her pet. “He truly is a filthy, horrible scrotum of a man.”
Mouse, his giant head swiveling about, ears perked forward, let loose a low whine from his deep chest. When he moved to Katrina and placed his head in her lap, looking up at her with those large, soulful eyes of his, Katrina could hold her grief in no more. To her utter mortification, sobs erupted from her, shaking her body as she cradled the dog’s head.
At once her friends’ fury transformed to worry. They surrounded her, their arms going about her, hands stroking her back and her hair as she bent over Mouse and pressed her face into his neck.
“Oh, darling,” Adelaide soothed. “I know it must pain you.”
“You have still got a home on Synne,” Bronwyn murmured. “We shall always be here for you.”
“As selfish as it is, we are glad you’re to stay,” Seraphina added quietly.
Finally Katrina’s sobs subsided. She raised her face and looked about her circle of friends. It was true, she had not wanted to leave this place or her friends, or even Lady Tesh.
Only she had not realized how much it would hurt to lose her brother again. And this time she feared it was for good.
Adelaide passed her a handkerchief. “I am sorry, dearest.”
Katrina managed a wan smile as she dabbed at her wet cheeks. “I should have expected as much, I suppose. But now I have my answer, don’t I? I can move forward.”
“That’s right,” Seraphina said, giving her a bracing smile.
“And the first order of business in this new future of yours,” Honoria declared, grabbing at one of the plates on the low table in the center of the room and holding it out to Katrina, “is to fill your belly. Adelaide has brought us some magnificent goodies from the Beakhead, and they will set you to rights in an instant.”
“And I already have a bundle in my bag for Ash’s sisters, so you’ve no need to worry about leaving some for them,” Bronwyn said.
“Oh, we weren’t going to worry about that,” Honoria said archly. “When Adelaide’s baking is in question, it is every person for themselves.”
As chatter once more filled the room—Katrina knew what they were about, trying to distract her from her brother’s letter and the pain it had given her—she took a sponge cake from the platter. But she had no stomach for it. As surreptitiously as she could manage, she passed the treat to Mouse, who inhaled it without hesitation.
Yes, it was true she had her answer now. There was no more wondering, no more worrying. Her path was set before her. She was still safe, still had a home and a living. It was more than so many could claim.
But that did not stop the sorrow that burrowed deep in her heart. Though she and Francis had never been particularly close, after their parents’ deaths he had become everything to her. And now even he was lost to her. And it was so much more final than the first time he had sent her away. Then, no matter the dire straits she had found herself in, she had been certain it was a temporary thing. Now, however…
The time with the Oddments, usually something that sped by, passed with aching slowness. Katrina tried with all her might to disguise her heartache—not that her friends would have blamed her a bit for it, but she did not want to cause them a moment’s more distress from her reaction to Francis’s letter. When it was time to leave, however, it was made painfully obvious to her that she had failed spectacularly at disguising her emotions as, upon Katrina saying her farewells and gathering Mouse, Bronwyn sidled up beside her.
“Walk me out?” she asked gently, linking an arm through hers.
Flushing, Katrina nodded and accompanied her friend through the blue curtain and into the Quayside.
“How are you feeling?” Bronwyn murmured as they nodded their farewells to the two younger Athwart girls—and pointedly ignored the matron nearby, who nodded Bronwyn’s way before giving Katrina a cold glance and turning up her nose.
Katrina, cheeks burning from the cut direct—something she had seen a fair amount of in the last month, though the people who lowered themselves to such acts were careful not to do so in Lady Tesh’s presence—did her best to focus on her friend’s question. “As well as can be, I suppose.”
Bronwyn nodded in understanding. “As you know, I’ve dealt with my fair share of troublesome family members, and was even set to be banished from home. And though our situations are in no way the same, know that should you ever have need of an ear to fill, I am here for you, day or night.”
Tears burned Katrina’s eyes. “Thank you, Bronwyn,” she managed. She remembered that time too well when, not even a year ago, Bronwyn had been a victim of her parents’ ambitions, when they had tightened the reins so brutally her friend had been in danger of losing everything that was precious to her.
She looked at her friend as they stepped out onto Admiralty Row. The afternoon sun glinted off Bronwyn’s spectacles, shone on her relaxed, content expression. How different she was from the strained, anxious woman she had been then.
“How did you do it, Bronwyn?” she found herself asking. “How did you manage to get past that time?”
“Well, marrying Ash did help.” She laughed, and her sharp, narrow face lit up. But she quickly sobered. Pulling Katrina off to the side of the walkway, she peered closely at her.
“Although I rather think you’re asking about my reconciliation with my family. My situation was nothing like what you are enduring, my dear. And I don’t have any answers for you, though I wish with all my heart I did. But know that we are always here for you, no matter what path your life may take.”
Katrina gave her friend a watery smile, beyond words. Though none of her friends had wished for her to leave Synne and return to her brother, they had nevertheless supported her in her decision to do what she had thought was right. And though they had mentioned how happy they were that she was remaining on Synne, it had been their expressions that had been proof of just how deep that relief and happiness had been.
