Unveiled (31 page)

And to hide a child from him! It wasn’t so much that she had a baby out of wedlock. Christopher was enough of a sophisticate to understand that these things happened. But that she’d never told him, that she’d hidden all of this from him…it was that which he couldn’t forgive or forget.

He didn’t want to think about it, or about her. In those two days he had made a decision. In some small part of his mind, he hoped that she would fight him on this, but the stubborn part of him, the hurt part, insisted that he say it anyway.

“Katie.” She continued to stare at him like a little girl, trusting and yet afraid.
Damn her!
“Katie, I have come to a decision. I can’t adjust to this. You have a son which you’ve told me nothing about, I have a house full of your family…my God, what are you doing to my life?”

“But—”

“No. No more explanations. No more assurances. This time I’m taking control. It won’t work—it hasn’t from the beginning. Kate, I think it’s best if we separate for a while.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she looked quickly away, hiding her expression in the shadows. “Is it just because of Sean?” she asked quietly.

“No.” Christopher found himself choking. “No, it’s everything. Katie, I can’t believe in you anymore. This isn’t a little thing you kept from me. How can I trust you ever again?”

“But I tried to tell you! I did—”

“Maybe you did. But Kate, if you really wanted to tell me the truth, you would have. I know you don’t have money, nor does your family. I’m not proposing to throw any of you into the street. I’m going to stay at the club temporarily. In the meantime I think it wise if we both start to see other people.”

“What?” Katie’s head snapped up and she stared at him, incredulous. “Do you mean…courting?”

“Yes.” Christopher regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. The pain on her face was open and raw, but then it was gone in a moment. Determinedly he went on. “Look, Kate, what I’m saying makes sense. Every gambler knows when to throw in his hand. We married for money and we both lost. I think we have no choice but to go back to our original scheme.”

Katie looked down at the ground. “I see. And what do you have in mind?”

“I suggest we give a party. You know, a housewarming. Somehow I’ll have to find a way to buy some secondhand furniture. We can meet prospective people there.”

“And what of society?” Katie asked softly. “Won’t people wonder?”

“By the time word gets out, we’ll have this marriage annulled. But I don’t have the luxury of time, and neither do you. We’ll just have to make the best of it.”

“I see.”

“Dammit, Kate! Can’t you say anything other than that?”

She stared up at him, looking absolutely stunning in the moonlight. Christopher waited for her to contradict him, to cry in outrage at his suggestion, but she didn’t seem in the least disturbed. There was nothing in her manner or expression that gave him any reason to hope that they could work out their problems. Instead she simply nodded.

“If that’s what you want. I know many society women now—I could help you find someone else.”

“And I you,” Christopher said, more furious than ever. “I’m glad we were able to come to such a reasonable decision. I’ll get my things and meet with you later in the week to make the arrangements. Is there anything else?”

Katie shook her head. Christopher turned and strode into the house, slamming the door behind him. This wasn’t turning out the way he’d expected.

And this time he had no one to blame but himself.

Nothing had ever hurt as much as this.

Crumbling in the garden, Katie sobbed endlessly, unable to stem the flood of tears that welled up as soon as Christopher stormed away.

How could he do this? How could he suggest such a thing? Pain enveloped her as she pictured Christopher with another woman, laughing as he did with her, sharing secret jokes and charming presents, then holding her in his arms and making her cry out in ecstasy. She had to close her eyes, the image was so agonizing.

Didn’t their relationship mean anything to him? Katie could have sworn that it did, that he was beginning to care for her. But what did she know? My God, it wouldn’t have been the first time she made such a mistake. Tears flowed more freely now and she hugged herself beneath the oak tree, wishing there was some way she could change things.

It wasn’t meant to last. Happiness never was for her.

“Mama?” a small voice called out. Katie quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and tried to appear normal.

“What is it, Sean?”

“Mama, what’s the matter?” Her little boy took one look at Katie’s tear-streaked face and ran into her arms. “Did something hurt you?”

“No, it’s nothing for you to worry about.” Katie hugged him fiercely. It seemed as if it was just the two of them again. His small body pressed comfortingly against her and she was reminded of how desperately she loved him.

No matter what, she’d never regretted him. In spite of the hardship, the names, the difficulty in finding work, and the struggle to survive, he’d always been an addition to her life. She knew that was hard for people to understand, but truthfully she found them hard to comprehend. How could anyone look at this child and not love him?

His presence helped her with the pain, as it always did. She ruffled his hair and managed to smile back at his grin. Somehow she’d find a way to protect him, even if she had to do it alone….

“Sean? Get yourself into that house! ‘Tis chilly out here,” Moira called from the doorway, then emerged when she saw Kate. “Go on, get inside.”

Sean looked from his aunt to his mother. Katie nodded, then Sean ran into the house while Moira remained.

“What’s the matter, girl?” Moira soothed Katie gently, her perfume clinging to her in the evening air. “Is he very angry?”

Katie nodded. “He’s more than angry. Moira, he wants to give up on our marriage. He even wants to start seeing other people and wants me to do the same.”

“What?” Moira stared at her as if she were addled.

“That’s what he said. He wants to have a party so that we can both meet suitors…oh, Moira, how can he even think of such a thing?”

“Men,” Moira said in disgust, wrapping her glittering shawl more closely about her. “At the first sign of trouble, all they can think about are greener pastures. Don’t cry, lass. They just don’t think the same way we do, nor love the same way.” She peered at her niece with an oddly wise stare in spite of the ridiculous outfit she wore. “Did you tell him how you feel?”

“No.” Katie faced her defiantly. “I won’t. I should have told him about Sean—I was wrong for keeping that from him. But I won’t apologize for him! I love my son, and he is a wonderful little boy. If Christopher can’t see that, then he’s not the man I thought he was.”

“There, there,” Moira said consolingly. “Ye have pride, lass. I’m glad to see that, for in the end that’s all that matters. Yet you can’t sleep with your pride. Now don’t look at me like that,” Moira scolded. “You know what I say is right. When is this affair?”

Katie shrugged. “Sometime within the next week or so, I imagine.”

“Good.” Moira nodded. “Don’t you worry. I think he’s angry now, and rightfully so. But sometimes the best thing to do with a man is to give him enough rope to hang himself. Let him have his way and let him find someone else. She won’t compare with you, Katie. Perhaps he’ll see that for himself.”

She followed Moira back into the house. Sean played with Eunice on the floor while the kitten marched amid a tangle of yarn, Patrick and Tom were still arguing over the checkers, and Moira took a seat at the piano. Everything seemed so normal and yet…

She heard the door slam as Christopher left. He wouldn’t be home tonight. Her bed would be empty, and as Moira said, she couldn’t sleep with her pride.

She had to stop this, she had to do something positive. Instinctively she knew that if she confronted Christopher now, when he was still so angry, she would only push him away from her. She had to change his mind, had to make him see what he was doing. And she had to make him want her back, and accept her child.

It was a formidable task and Katie knew it. But the thought that had occurred to her when she talked to Moira kept coming back to her, nagging at her as if it contained an answer….

Christopher wanted to meet someone else, someone without a past, without a flaw, who had nothing to hide from him. Someone of the same societal stature, no doubt, and who would have an income that could solve his financial problems.

A slow smile came to her face. No, she couldn’t. It would be too…impolite. But the alternative, living without Christopher, was much worse. Katie bit her lower lip, wondering if she had the courage.

Christopher wanted to meet someone else, someone who had all of his qualifications.

And Katie thought she knew just the girl.

“La la la la la,” Gertrude bellowed, her voice loud and without the slightest interest in tone or beat. Katie winced, then stopped the music.

“Let’s try again,” she said patiently, aware of Gertrude’s sigh of disgust. “I’ll play the notes, like this, and you try to sing them the same way.”

Katie lightly struck the keys of the beautiful grand piano and the air was filled with the lilting song. “Now you try,” she said encouragingly.

Gertrude frowned, her unattractive face looking even rounder and fuller. It wasn’t that she was downright ugly; it was just that she went out of her way to neglect herself, making her plain features seem worse. Her hair, a coarse brown, was pulled into a simple braid that made her face look moon-shaped, while her thin lips and hearty complexion drew unwarranted attention. She was burned from too much sun, and her aunt had spent the last few weeks using milk compresses and cucumbers, trying to minimize the unfashionable effect.

“La la la la la…This song is boring,” Gertrude said, flopping down on the sofa and reaching for a tin of bonbons. “Can’t we go outside and feed the ducks?”

“When we’re done,” Katie said, trying to maintain her patience. “You know your aunt wants you to learn music. And you’ve made so much progress.” Instantly Katie wondered if God had heard that lie, and wished that He hadn’t. “Let’s just give it another chance.”

Gertrude groaned, then clapped gleefully as her aunt Isabelle entered the room, carrying a lunch tray.

“You two have been working so hard, I thought you could use a break. Thank you so much, Kate. Gertrude sounds lovelier every day.”

Gertrude beamed, then without the benefit of a napkin or silver, devoured the lunch with her hands. Katie swallowed hard as the young girl picked up a chicken leg and gnawed on it like a dog with a bone, then tossed it casually onto the plate and reached for another.

Isabelle forced a smile and spoke softly. “You know, Gertrude is from the country. She hasn’t been exposed much to life in the city, nor to society people. I’ve been trying to teach her the social graces, but without much success.”

Katie nodded. Gertrude’s eating habits were the talk of the town. She had to turn her head when the young girl gulped three helpings of potato salad, then drank a full glass of milk to wash it down.

“That’s why I’m so grateful to you for the lessons, and so pleased that you will accept some remuneration. I couldn’t possibly have a real tutor like the maestro; he just wouldn’t understand.”

“No, I can see that.” Katie suppressed a giggle as Gertrude wiped her hands on her dress and then reached for a slice of chocolate cake. Smearing it liberally over her face, she devoured the cake, smacking her lips as the last crumb disappeared. Katie was fascinated. Then, finishing it all up with more milk, the girl belched loudly and contentedly.

Isabelle forced a smile. “Now, Gertrude, I’ve told you that isn’t polite. Young ladies don’t…belch in public.”

“Then what do they do?” Gertrude asked, looking puzzled.

“They eat slowly, and sensibly. When one is wearing stays, one cannot gulp down food. One must take little bites. Men like women who eat like birds. It makes them seem…delicate.”

“Rubbish,” Gertrude said, belching again. “It’s a good thing I don’t wear stays then. Contraptions, that’s what I call them. Keeps a body from enjoying good food.” Getting to her feet, the young girl yawned. “I’m ready for a nap now. Good-bye, Kate.”

Gertrude bounced from the room while Isabelle sighed. “She really doesn’t want to fit in here. Her mother was hoping that she would meet a nice young man, but I’m afraid none of them will look at her.”

“She’s not unattractive,” Katie said thoughtfully. “If you dressed her hair, and she wore a pretty gown—”

“That’s just it,” Isabelle said softly. “Gertrude has her heart set on a young farmer who lives out in the country. Dorothy, my sister, married quite well, a country gentleman. They have so much money, but that isn’t enough. She wants better for Gertrude and is trying to impose a life that doesn’t suit the girl. I know eventually Gertrude will return to the farm and everyone will be happy. But until then…” Isabelle looked helplessly at Kate. “It’s like trying to make a silk purse…”

Katie smiled. “Isabelle, we are having a housewarming party this week. Why don’t you let Gertrude attend? I can watch out for her and see that she meets people.”