The Devil's Good Intentions (47 page)

She placed a gentle hand and lovingly stroked it with her thumb as she let her thoughts wander and her food settle.

“
Lady Katherine?” A gentle voice came from behind her.

She turned her head and saw the outline of a male standing behind her.

“
Who goes there?” she asked reluctantly.

“‘
Tis I, Henry.”

“
Oh - hello Henry. It’s late; I thought that everybody would be sleeping.” She responded as she pulled her robe closer together.

“
Yes well, I am an old man and most of my nights are restless.” He admitted sheepishly.

“
Forgive me for intruding but shouldn’t you be in bed?” He asked with a fatherly tone that made her smile.

“
I think I have slept my share for the night.” She responded with a light chuckle. “Do you care to join me?” She asked hopefully.

She really did like her husband’s steward, now that she knew him better.

“
Thank you, but only for a bit.” He responded in kind.

Henry settled himself beside her and she saw him grin when he spotted her empty plate of food.

“
I missed dinner.” She admitted.

“
The laudanum hit you pretty hard, Salvador tried to wake you but you were sleeping like the dead!” he chuckled.

Katherine was relieved to know that it was the relaxant that made her sleep so much and not her condition.

“
It was probably for the best, a woman in your condition needs as much rest as she is able.”

“
So you know…” she trailed off.

“
Yes I know. Now that you had been informed of your condition, Salvador made sure that the rest of the staff knows as well.”

“
Why?”

“
So they can keep an eye out for you no doubt.” He responded gleefully.

“
Oh God…he’s going to be over bearing isn’t he?” She realized out loud.

“
He most certainly is and I can guarantee that you will both butt heads over it, but try and remember Katherine that he is your husband and has nothing but your safety and the best of intentions in mind.”

“
I know - I’m just not used to being coddled.”

“
I’m sure he will rectify that shortly.” He chuckled out.

“
Do you think he will still go on his hunting trip knowing that I am with child?”

She didn’t really want him to go, even if he threatened to be over bearing. She liked having him around and already felt empty knowing he would be gone for so long.

“
I’m afraid he will. You are still in the beginning stages and so therefore are in no danger, just as long as you relax and don’t over exert yourself. The mid-wife he hired is a doting hen and will most assuredly see that you are off your feet more than you are on them.”

“
I’m sure that was the quality that got her hired.” Katherine stated ruefully.

“
That was part of it. She’s a widow and a mother of six. All of her children have grown up now and she has no ties to the city. She was also highly recommended by one of his business associates whom had hired her for his wife’s birthing.”

“
He’s very diligent.” She commented absently.

“
Indeed he is. Salvador would move mountains for you Katherine just to see you happy. Please don’t be so hard on him and fight against his protective nature at every turn, you’ll lose every time no matter what and cause nothing but strife in the process.”

“
I see that and I know. Sometimes I can’t control my temper and my tongue lashes out before I’ve had time to think my comments through. I feel horrible afterwards for it, but I suspect he knows that.”

“
He does, which is why he humours you most of the time.” Henry said with a knowing smirk.

“
He’s quite young for a man to be so successful and feared in the community.” She commented offhandedly.

“
He’s twenty-six years old. Salvador had to grow up quicker than most children and even when his parents were in the picture they used to tease him saying that he was born a grown man. He hasn’t had an easy life either and learned to harden himself against the world in order to survive while the other children his age were playing pirates.”

“
That’s so tragic!” She commented with a frown on her face.

“
Yes well, his parents weren’t directly abusive towards him, but theirs was a marriage no man would envy if they had but known.”

“
Tell me about it.”

“
No, Salvador will tell you when it’s the right time.”

“
Fair enough.” she replied, gaining another notch of respect for her husband’s steward.

She could tell that Henry was very fond of her husband and she was grateful that he had someone to look over him like Henry.

“
Are you pleased that you will be having Salvador’s child?” He asked suddenly.

“
Of course! In fact I wish I was further along just so the wait for our child’s arrival would come quicker!” She exclaimed cheerfully. “Why do you ask?”

“
It’s just that I know that in the beginning you were not such a willing bride, I only wanted to be sure that this wasn’t coming on too quickly for you.”

She was surprised that Henry would bring that up. Like Sarah, he too was bold in his opinions and again she found no fault in that.

“
I must confess” she started reluctantly. “I feel as though Salvador and I have been married for much longer than we have.” She chuckled out.

“
Is that a good thing?”

“
Indeed it is. If I had known what kind of husband Salvador would be to me, I would have welcomed him with open arms back at that cottage.” She admitted without embarrassment.

For some reason she felt very comfortable around Henry. He did remind her of a fatherly figure and was grateful for that.

“
You could not know how happy I am to hear that, child.” He said with a look of fatherly affection on his face. “Does your husband know the way you feel?” He asked more hesitantly.

“
Surely he must. I haven’t run from him like I was most certain I would and I believe I have been open with my feelings towards him. It’s not like me to hold anything back.”

“
Do you love him?” He asked with an uncertainty in his tone.

“
I think I do, but then again it’s very strange since I have not known him for too long. Love would be a foolish emotion would it not?” She asked with genuine curiosity.

Henry chuckled.

“
Love could strike you within a mere moment of knowing a person. There is no rhyme or rhythm to its madness. Tell me why you think you love him.” He prompted.

“
Well, I miss him when he is not around and always look forward to seeing him. He makes me feel like no other man has, but then again I have been secluded for so long that I wouldn’t be able to compare him to anyone else. But he truly makes me happy and I can’t picture being married to anyone but him.” She confessed.

“
Well if that isn’t love, then I would say you are well on your way.” He said affectionately as he patted her arm.

“
Henry?”

“
Yes?”

“
Do you think he loves me?” She whispered out, fearing his answer.

“
Lord Salvador has never spoken his affections with me.” He answered honestly and she felt her heart slump.

“
But with that being said, I have known him for most of his life and I have never seen him react to anyone the way he does with you. My opinion is that he does, but Lady Katherine it would have to be your husband to declare it.”

She felt another surge of hope swell from within her and she could see that Henry saw that hope within her eyes.

“
You’re a good woman and you deserve a life of happiness, Salvador will go to the ends of the earth to make that happen.” He concluded before taking her plate, standing up and stretching his back.

“
Now My Lady, you must return to your chamber before Lord Salvador wakes up to find you missing.”

With that he held out his hand for her and helped her up.

“
Thank you Henry for your company.” She smiled brilliantly at him and then to her chagrin let out an un-lady like yawn.

Henry chuckled and bowed over her hand and wished her a good night.

~

Salvador had indeed woken up to find his wife missing. Luckily he only had to wander to his window to find her. He could see her below, sitting with another figure but could not make out who it was through the shadows. He watched them intently and cursed his jealousy. Why couldn’t he trust her? Why couldn’t he accept that she was nothing like his Mother? It only appeared that she was in conversation with this other man and it looked harmless enough, only who was he? And had she planned this late night meeting? He had been reacting like a raging bull every time he suspected her of cheating on him and she had always turned out to be innocent. This time he would swallow his jealousy and give her the benefit of the doubt and allow her to explain before flying off the handle. He owed it to her.

When Katherine had quietly entered their chamber, he was already seated in front of the fireplace.

He watched her pause and then the look of confusion when she didn’t spot him in bed.

Then her eyes moved to the seating area where he was waiting for her.

“
Salvador, I hope I didn’t wake you when I got up.” She said sheepishly as she made her way over to him.

She didn’t look guilty as she gave him a warm smile and settled into her chair.

“
No Love, I’ve grown so accustomed to having you in my arms at night that the emptiness beside me stirred me awake.” He responded.

He inwardly cringed at the sound of the bitterness and accusation in his tone. He was trying to be a trusting husband.

“
Oh” She whispered and then lowered her eyes. “I woke up and was hungry so I went downstairs to fix myself a snack.” She started.

He could understand that. Sarah had informed him that she ate very little breakfast and skipped lunch all together. Being that she slept through dinner, he would be surprised if she wasn’t hungry when she woke.

“
I had slept for so long that I really didn’t feel like I could go back to sleep right away so I took my snack outside on the patio and relished in the night air.” She continued to explain.

Again he could see that as well.

He watched her as she covered her mouth with one of her dainty hands and tried to stifle a yawn. Then he wondered if she was going to tell him about the man. If she didn’t mention him, he most certainly would.

“
Has Henry been your steward for very long?” She enquired innocently as she snuggled up to the arm of the chair.

Henry? Where did that come from?

“
Yes. He was my Father’s steward and then followed me when I left home to become mine.” He answered flippantly as he started to get more agitated that she wasn’t coming out with the rest of her story.

“
He’s a very nice man.” She said sleepily as her eyes began to drift close.

“
I’m glad you approve.” He bit out.

Her eyes flew open and he could see her gazing at him speculatively with a frown on her face. It was probably in reaction to his tone, but he was beyond the point of caring.

“
Who was he?” He finally bit out his accusation.

Katherine’s brows scowled and she suddenly looked more awake. Did he really want to know? Yes. Yes he did. He was not his father and would never turn a blind eye.