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Katherine was nervous about the evening and that made it nearly impossible to get dressed for dinner. It took her so long that she worried she might miss it. She found Patrick waiting for her outside in the hallway with a jovial smile on his lips. The man never got his feathers ruffled like she did.
“You look lovely, Kitty.” He said, offering her his arm.
“I should hope so. I tried on nearly every dress I packed. Twice.”
“Perfection takes time.”
Katherine knew she didn’t look perfect. Her curls were already beginning to slip from the pins that held them and a few fell across her cheeks. The gloves she wore had a tiny tear on the inside of her little finger but were the only pair she brought. Beneath the hem of her dress, her slippers were plain and without detail, because that meant they could be worn with every gown. Overall she was certain she looked acceptable but far from perfection.
“If we are late that will make a terrible impression on the other players.” Katherine said.
Everyone would be gathered in the parlor, lining up for dinner already. She felt her hand trembling where it rested near his elbow but Patrick acted unaware.
“Nothing in society ever happens on time. If we are a little late they will assume we are very important.” He said.
Kate looked at him disbelieving.
“You think being rude will work in our favor?”
“Being polite all the time is boring.”
They arrived as the line began to walk into the dining room, so they had no choice but to be on the end of it. As they sat, Kate found herself looking across the table at the man in the hallway and his sister. They both wore impeccable evening clothes and Kate felt that her efforts were wasted in comparison. Henry smiled at her over the table decorations but his sister didn’t. That woman had the look of a predator, singling out the weakest in the herd and Kate hoped it wasn’t her.
“Good to see you again, old chap.” Patrick said to Henry. “Is this that delightful sister you spoke of?”
“He called me delightful?” the woman said, her face showing no hint of amusement. “At least now I know when you’re lying.”
Patrick chuckled. The woman did not.
“Allow me to introduce you to my sister, Rory. This is Lady Katherine Woolard and Mr. Helms. They are two of our competitors in the tournament this weekend.”
Henry ignored the glare his sister shot at him and smiled brightly. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence where Rory didn’t acknowledge the introduction, but it was interrupted when the servants brought in dinner.
The two siblings couldn’t be any more different.
“Do you know Lord and Lady Andrews well?” Rory asked as the group ate.
“They knew my late husband.” Katherine had to swallow a mouth full of food to answer. “He was originally the one invited but he passed away before he could attend.”
“So you’re not a true player, just the wife of one?”
There was a sharp glint in the women’s hazel eyes. Kate had been dealing with women like her since her days on the stage.
“My husband enjoyed playing in the evenings. I think he enjoyed teaching me.”
Kate didn’t want the Rory to know how good she really was. Better to let your enemy underestimate you. Henry looked at her with a tilt in his head. He watched her closely and her cheeks grew warm from the scrutiny.
“The first round of play is tonight after dinner. We will get a chance to see how good the players are then.” He said.
The tone of his voice caught her attention, he knew she had was hiding something. His eyes focused on things around him and gave away his intelligence, making her uncomfortable. Intelligent players were worse than skilled ones. They knew how to figure things out and how to adapt. She would have to be extra careful when she played him.
“Where does your family hail from?” Rory asked. “You don’t seem familiar.”
Kate felt her pulse quicken.
“Most of my family lives on the continent. I met my husband in France while he was traveling. My father is a missionary with the church.”
This was a lie that that Ephram had made up years ago to explain her sudden appearance and their hasty marriage. It was true that they had met while Ephram was traveling, but it had been here in England. Kate had learned French from another actress in the company, so that seemed like an easy choice. People never asked for more details than that.
“What city or village? My mother and I took a tour of the country before my parents died. We might have been there.”
“I doubt it. It was a small and poor village where my father helped those in need.”
“We might have passed through. Was it Giverny?”
Katherine nodded at the suggestion Henry made. “Just north of it.”
He gave her that smile that made her tingle again and she looked away, embarrassed to be so easily delighted by a man.
“I must have seen you as we passed through.” Rory sighed, growing bored with the conversation.
Katherine could feel Henry’s eyes on her during dinner. She pretended not to notice and kept her head down, staring at her plates as they were moved by the servants. Her ears listened as Patrick continued to keep up the polite conversation with the others at the table. He was always better at handling situations like this.
“Lady Woolard, it’s a pleasure.” Lord Gerber and his wife were the first pair that they would be playing. “I had the pleasure of knowing your husband briefly. He was a fine gentlemen and an even better player.”
They were taking their seats at the table finally, making Katherine’s nerves tingle. “Thank you. I hope to do justice to his memory this tournament.”
“Good luck to us both then.”
Patrick took his seat across from her and Katherine steadied her breath. Her mind was a jumble as she tried to remember all of the lessons her husband had given her. She should have paid better attention to those games but at the time they seemed frivolous. Gambling was his hobby and she was only indulging him on the evenings he didn’t go out. Now her livelihood depended on being able to win. Looking over, Patrick was smiling but with tight lines in the corners of his mouth. She remembered she wasn’t the only one depending on it.
“What have you been doing the last few months?” Lady Gerber asked as she sorted out the cards in her hand. “I have always dreaded the idea of mourning. Being stuck inside the house like that would drive me mad.”
“Is that the only reason you dread my passing?” Lord Gerber cut in.
“Of course not. It is just one of the reasons.”
“The most important it seems.”
The two married people were now glaring at each over their cards and Katherine felt a sense of relief. Players who didn’t work well together were easier to beat. Katherine bit back the urge to grin. She felt much more optimistic about the first round.
“Kitty has been helping her nephew adjust to the new title he inherited.” Patrick spoke for her, letting the lie slip out easily.
“It’s a shame you didn’t have any children before Ephram passed, so that it had to go to a distant relative.” Lord Gerber gave her a sympathetic look.
“We didn’t have enough time I suppose.” Said Katherine.
“At least that means you still have time to marry again.” Lady Gerber added.
“Is that what you plan to do?”
Lord Gerber raised his voice as he spoke to his wife.
“If I’m still young enough to get an offer.” She snapped back.
The two of them continued to bicker for the rest of the game and it was no surprise when they lost. The tension drained from her body, leaving her exhausted but able to breath.
It was a short-lived relief. She turned her head to catch Henry watching her with a hunger that made her skin flush.