Chapter 16. Going the Distance

The journey had been a long ride on horseback. William wouldn't let them stop to rest for long. He didn't want to give Lady Catherine enough time to actually speak more atrocities about destroying his marriage and new life with Alexandra. To his relief, she remained pensive and said little when they did stop. He would escort her as far as Ivy Clifton. Uncle James could deal with the matter of returning her safely to her cousins.

 

They were more than halfway to Ivy Clifton before he realized he'd forgotten to dispatch a note to her parents. They had stopped in a small village to rest and he'd found it impossible to find anyone who would ride four hours south to deliver a letter, even for a handsome coffer. The longer he looked for someone the more impatient Lady Catherine became. Everyone he spoke to seemed too busy to be bothered. The mail coach had already run and the best he could do was wait until he arrived at Ivy Clifton and send one of his personal footmen. He had a feeling Alexandra would be facing visitors come morning and she'd be giving him an earful when he returned. In his urgency to get on the road, he'd forgotten a crucial step. His mind raced with a hundred scenarios that might play out but there was nothing he could do. They were more than half way there and he'd just have to hope for the best at this point.

 

The last leg of the journey had been the hardest. The horses were dragging and everyone was tired of endless miles of bumpy dirt roads. Once in a while he could get the horses to pick up the pace to a steady trot but not for long. His trusty steed had done well but he'd had to adjust his own speed to following her curricle. Sometimes he and his horse had taken the lead but the lad had held the reins for the lady and was proud of himself for following the Duke's directions and steering the bay toward “home.” When William caught his first glimpse of the lights that lit up Ivy Clifton Hall in the darkness, it did his heart good to see it loom up before them. He'd missed it. He always did. He could make out lanterns at the stables and more lanterns at the circular drive and entrance, a bright light on in the main hall and more lights in rooms on all three floors of the sprawling mansion. He was tired and sore from riding, but glad to have finally arrived.

 

There was no time for sentimental thinking on this journey. He was planning to hightail it back to Alexandra. He had no intention of even sleeping there, though he admitted he was exhausted. He might be able to sleep on the way back to the farm if he could coax a driver to take Benjamin and him by coach as far as Hanwell. From there they could walk to the cottage. He could leave his horse to rest at the stables of Ivy Clifton Hall. There were others for his use at Hanwell Farm.

 

He practically dragged a hobbling and stiff Catherine across the portico to the front doors when the horses came to a stop. He had lifted her out of the curricle and held her elbow firmly in his grasp in case she decided to bolt. He wasn't about to let her go now that they were there to find out the truth about this alleged contract. If only his well-meaning relations hadn't thrust her upon him so often, none of this would be happening. Benjamin followed them inside the grand house, looking utterly lost. He'd only been to the London townhouse and Hanwell Farm. Ivy Clifton Hall was daunting to any newcomer. To a small boy, under the cloak of night, it looked simply formidable. Catherine didn't flinch except when her ankle seemed to bare her weight.

 

She pulled away from him, “Let go of me Hartford! I want to know the truth as much as you do! My father spoke of this contract on more than one occasion! You don't have to drag me!”

 

He relented and released his hold on her. She sleepily glared at him but bit her tongue. He didn't seem fully convinced of her cooperation but as he was greeted by a butler she could see he relaxed a little.

 

Servants scurried to stable the horses behind them as the butler closed the great doors and greeted His Grace with a bow. “Welcome home Your Grace!”

 

“It's good to see you Ormsby.”

 

'Ormsby' asked, “Are you in need of a warm meal Sir? We can have something put out shortly. Are you staying the night?”

 

“No, I'm not planning on it, though I'm a little undecided. I might rest for a few hours before I'm back on the road. I'm not planning to stay for long, though she might be in need of a meal and a good night's sleep when this ordeal is over with.” William tried not to glare back at Lady Catherine. He was trying to be pleasant, but businesslike, on the off chance she was indeed ready to be compliant. Perhaps his silence on the journey and having seen his wife for herself in person had helped her realize he had no intention of marrying her. “We're here on an urgent matter. I know it's late, where is my Uncle?”

 

“He's in his office going over the ledgers, as usual,” Ormsby nodded in the direction of a door down the hall.

 

“Good,” William replied. He wasn't in the mood to wait for Ormsby to announce their arrival. It turned out he didn't have to. Two hounds rounded the corner and just then it seemed they were soon barking and welcoming His Grace home, bounding to the doors at the entrance with great affection, tails wagging, tongues nipping at his feet. Uncle James heard the commotion and was shortly thereafter welcoming his nephew home. Turning back to Ormsby William said, “I'd rather you not wake Aunt Regina... since I'm not planning a long stay. If I'm still here in the morning I'll pop in and announce myself,” William clarified.

 

“Of course, Sir,” Ormsby nodded.

 

“Lady Catherine,” Uncle James nodded in her direction while the dogs seemed to intercept his ability to give her a proper greeting. She weakly smiled back politely but didn't say anything. She looked positively drained he was thinking.

 

“This isn't a pleasure visit I'm afraid,” William said right away. “We need to speak with you in your office at once.”

 

“Well right this way then.” His Uncle led the way down the hall.

 

Ormsby with two hands on the lapels of his black crisp jacket leaned down to Benjamin as the adults abandoned him at the door. “How about milk and cookies for you in the kitchen?” Benjamin grinned and followed the butler. William turned and gave a grateful look to Ormsby who nodded a knowing look in his direction that told him he had the situation fully under control.

 

Once they were seated in the cozy office, Uncle James behind his rather large cherry wood desk and Lady Catherine and Hartford in the two brown leather chairs across from him, William felt he could breathe a little.

 

“What can I do for the two of you? Have the two of you finally decided to marry?” Uncle James queried.

 

This question seemed to fall on deaf ears and William decided he'd best get some things out in the open immediately. “Lady Catherine seems to think there is a marriage contract of some sort that allegedly states I will marry her. We came to you, hoping you could shed some light on this discussion.”

 

Uncle James cleared his throat uncomfortably and looked at Lady Catherine, who had managed to walk the length of the hall on her sore ankle without too much wincing. She now faced him in the leather chair in front of his desk. She was tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair looking rather annoyed with the whole situation. It looked as though William had dragged her there kicking and screaming.

 

Then he looked at his nephew. They would have made a handsome couple he thought, but he could see a marriage between them seemed to spell certain disaster. Neither of them looked the least bit happy. His nephew was determined to choose his own bride, even if it meant losing his inheritance.

 

“Contract? Who claims there was a contract? There was never any contract...” Uncle James said firmly. Turning to Lady Catherine he said, “If your father has led you to believe that this was the case then I'm afraid he's under a mistaken impression. There has been no verbal or written contract of any sort. Of course, we all had our hopes...”

 

Finally, William felt he could breathe a full breath of air. He turned to the woman seated beside him. He couldn't read one shred of emotion from the blank look on her face. “I think we need to talk, outside.” Uncle James nodded and William stood up as Catherine did, took her firmly by the elbow and slowly but surely, escorted a silent and slightly hobbling Catherine out of the office. They turned to the left down the grand hall and he led her out a set of French doors leading to a terrace. They were in a three sided courtyard with gardens situated beyond them. She was hobbling again and wincing with every step but she didn't seem to want his help and pulled away from him to sit on the nearest stone bench.

 

Neither of them said anything for a few moments. He could tell she was simmering and still trying to absorb the information his Uncle James had put forth. It was a warm and quiet summer evening except for the crickets chirping.

She broke the silence first. “Well, at least we both know the truth now. There never was any engagement or any contract.”

 

He listened. He wanted to give her the space and dignity to withdraw her conclusions. He was afraid if he tried to slam the facts of the situation down harder by repeating them, things would backfire again.

 

“You have your new wife and obviously you are in love with her,” she said.

 

He nodded and said gently, “Yes, yes I am.”

 

“Well, William Hartford, I wish you happiness. If there wasn't a contract then you haven't really done me any injustice. I just had to be certain, one way or the other. I guess my father just had his hopes too high... so high he believed there was a contract. He's getting older, you know... ” Her voice trailed off.

 

“I understand,” he said. There was an awkward silence but she was stoic.

 

Finally he said, “I think we've had enough excitement for one day. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. I'm going to get some rest.”

 

She was silent, still taking in his uncle's words.

 

He continued, “Catherine, I do wish you happiness. I'm sure you'll soon be swept off your feet by someone more interesting than myself. Let us part friends, with no ill will toward each other.”

 

She hesitated, then shrugged and nodded slightly, then finally smiled a little and held out her hand to shake hands. “Friends.”

 

They shook hands and William said, “Friends.” He stood up and put his hands in his pockets, “I'll have Ormsby make up a room for you. I'll also have a word with my Uncle to be sure he makes arrangements for your safe return. I only ask that you don't mention my wife to my family. I'd like to introduce her myself, when we're ready for that. It's a great responsibility she's facing. I haven't told them about her yet. It all happened so fast... we need some time, to get to know each other more.”

 

“Yes, I suppose you do. Don't worry, I won't mention it,” she said, a tear brimming in her eye. “Go! Go back to her as soon as you can. It will be easier on me. And really, I do wish you well. I just need some time... like you; I just need some time...”

 

He could see that she did. He turned and left her there dabbing the corners of her eyes with a lace trimmed handkerchief to gather her wits. He went in search of Uncle James first, then Ormsby and finally, Ben-- and made good on all of his promises to see that she was given both a place to rest and a ride home with an escort. He found Benjamin in the kitchen looked sleepy. He picked up the boy and deposited him in an empty bedroom across the hall from his own chambers, covered him with a quilt and managed not to wake him. By the time his head hit his own pillow across the hall, he was asleep within minutes.