Page 61 of An Offer for a Spinster
“I see. Well, I’m sorry for it – I look forward to our discussions.”
Timothy’s breath seemed to stop in his throat. He eyed her for a long moment, long enough for his gaze to make Katherine’s skin prickle.
“Really? You do?”
She nodded, not entirely sure why her throat had suddenly turned as dry as it had.
“That… that means a great deal to me, Katherine.”
Timothy reached out, tentatively, and she felt his fingers brush hers.
“You mean a great deal to me.”
Had she really said that? Aloud? How delightfully shocking.”
“I…” Timothy began, then stopped, brow furrowing. “Oh, now isn’t the time.”
He turned to leave, but Katherine grabbed at his arm again.
“Wait. Before, you’d said that there was something you wanted to talk to me. Do you remember? You never did tell me what it was.”
Timothy swallowed reflexively. He seemed nervous, and Katherine couldn’t for the life of her work out why. Had she said something wrong?
“I… now isn’t the time, Katherine, I’m sorry. I’ll explain it all another time.”
“Oh,” Katherine was aware of a sense of disappointment coursing through her. “That’s quite alright, of course.”
Timothy gave a sharp nod, backing away as if he were afraid that he would change his mind if he lingered. Katherine stayed where she was, staring down the hall after him.
Why did she feel as if everyone worth talking to at this party had just gone? Why did she feel hollow and miserable?
Oh dear,Katherine thought tiredly.I think I may be in love with Timothy.
Then she heard Lord Barwood call her name and was conscious of a comically intense surge of rage.
Chapter Twenty
William turned the locket over and over in his fingers, as though some new clue might be gleaned from its familiar silver surface.
He kept wondering whether something might click, whether he would look at the little boy’s miniature inside and get some new clue as to who his mother might be, but no. Nothing.
He set the locket down on his desk with a sigh and rubbed his face. This time of day was William’s favourite – nobody was around, and he could get work done in the early hours before breakfast. Right now, the rest of them were still in bed. Katherine had attended a party thrown by Timothy’s aunt, which was said to have been a great success, so it was fair to assume she would be sleeping for a while longer.
It always made him feel better, getting some work done before they all sat down to eat together. As if he hadearnedhis food, somehow.
Of course, if he did not get his inheritance soon, there would be no work to do, because he would have no money for anything. Everybody knew that estates such as his required a certain amount of money to keep it afloat. They weren’t in immediate difficulties, and would likely manage to keep themselves going for a year, perhaps two, but after that…
William deliberately nipped off the thought. There was no point worrying about his own inheritance until Katherine’s was all managed. Certainly, pursuing strange women in blue dresses and masks should beveryfar down the list indeed.
Anyway, nobody knew who the woman was. He’d asked around, described her, even showed the locket – so that word might get back to her that somebody had her necklace and wasready to return it – but nobody seemed to have a clue who she might have been.
He had considered asking the hostess of the party that night to provide him with a list of invited guests, but that really was just a step too far. Besides, it wouldn’t do him much good. There would be a hundred people there whose names he didn’t recognize.
A tap came on the door, and William flinched, as if he’d been caught doing something embarrassing.
“Yes, who is it?” he said at once, sliding the necklace under a pile of papers.
Ruth, the butler, cracked open the door. He looked less than pleased.
