- Chapter 10 -

Warm late-summer breezes tumbled into Katherine's room in Rosforte Castle, playfully lifting the airy curtains around the open windows and bed canopy. Katherine, sitting at her writing desk busily writing replies to those she befriended in London, dripped wax on a completed letter to seal it. Setting it aside with one other, she eagerly dipped her pen and started the next.

Dearest Eloise she began, I was so thrilled to receive your letter! I am glad you and your parents have arrived home safely. We can be thankful that your brother is to arrive home shortly as well, for I'm sure he is the only one who can keep your father off his leg until it is healed! Oh how I do miss you all!...

It wasn't far into her letter that Katherine paused, hearing the faint sound of hooves on gravel drift through the open windows. She carefully set down her pen and blew on the ink, before quickly moving to lean out the window and see who had come to call so early in the afternoon.

A single visitor trotted leisurely up the path on a white horse, too far away from her second-story window to recognize who it was; only that it was a gentleman.

He stopped his horse and hopped off gracefully, wrapping the reins loosely around one hand to lead it to a post. As he drew nearer to the castle he caught sight of her and lifted a hand

"Miss Wheaton! Good day!"

"Mr Gray!" She called out exuberantly, stretching out an arm to return his wave. "I'm on my way down!" She flew from her room and down the stairs, greeting him with a bright smile as he entered the main hall. "What a pleasant surprise! I was just writing your sister! How is the ride so far? Pleasant enough I hope?"

"Quite, thank you." He passed his hat and gloves to the footman.

"Will you be able to stay for tea? Though Miss Compton stayed in bed today with a headache so we would be very much alone...oh heavens!" Katherine mentally chided herself as she stuttered and blushed. She quickly added in embarrassed tones "I don't mean...that is...perhaps I shouldn't have asked."

Benedict Gray was unconcerned, and his mouth turned up in humor. "I'm sorry to hear of Lady Compton; and no need to fret so Miss Wheaton, I know what you meant. Unfortunately, I cannot stay long. I must be off again in a half hour at the latest. I confess I nearly didn't stop, for I aim to be home before dark; but after seeing so much of your lively character in London, I felt the past few weeks since you left quite empty, and I couldn't pass by when Rosforte is such a short detour." He smiled.

"Oh...well then...I.." Katherine faltered, feeling suddenly shy and unnatural. "I'm glad you did stop by. I love Miss Compton's company, but I find I too have been dearly missing my friends from Town."

There was an awkward moment of silence and Katherine fiddled uncomfortably with the fabric of her thin shawl. She glanced up to see him looking at her, his deep hazel eyes meeting hers. She quickly looked away. "Would you care to sit! The conservatory is beautiful today!"

He blinked, as if waking from a mild trance, then replied quickly, "Ah, Yes thank you."

Katherine led the way. "We have some lovely fruits ripening now, I especially love the strawberries, and cherries. I hadn't tried them before last month. Do you have any particular favorite?"

"I wouldn't say I have a favorite; although, perhaps, I am partial to the humble apple. We have a large orchard at Grandhill and often picnic under the trees. You and Baroness Compton must come this September when the apples are ready for harvest. A picnic is more fun with larger parties."

"Oh what a lovely prospect! I would be delighted, as would Miss Compton I'm sure! Apples are a favorite snack whenever I read."

"You read often?" Mr Gray seemed surprised "You acquired an education then?"

"Well not entirely." Katherine admitted quietly, uncomfortable with the reminder of what their family was unable to afford. "Mama taught us to read, and write a little, she was a ladies maid you know; but Miss Eliza Ritewood helped me become proficient. I love to learn new things, so I caught on quickly."

"Then I have an endeavor for you. Eloise has compiled a list of books she wishes to read by the end of the year, and has expressed the wish to share it with someone - in order to read and discuss them together. Shall I tell her you would join her in her pursuit?"

"Oh most definitely Mr Gray! Tell her to send me her list, and what book she has begun, so I may catch up and include my thoughts on it in my next letter. Oh what fun! Oh but Miss Compton is taking me to Chatham two weeks from now, so my reply may be from a different address." Benedict Gray smiled at her enthusiasm and assured her he would convey her request.

They had, by this time, reached the strawberry beds in the conservatory, and Mr Gray knelt to pluck some of the fruits therein.

"Oh look." Katherine said with delight, kneeling down beside him "So many have ripened since just yesterday!"

"Here you are. This one looks particularly delicious." He said passing her a large, swollen berry, dark with juice. She accepted it and bit in eagerly, eyes closed in rapture. Gray watched in amusement, with a grin on his face, as a great drip of berry juice slid over her lip and down her chin; threatening to drop onto her cream muslin day dress and do irreparable damage. Her eyes popped open as she felt its wet path on her skin, and she moved too late to catch the drip before it stained her dress. She let out a small wail of despair, then laughed as she saw disaster had been averted by a deft move on Mr Gray's part.

"Oh, sir, you've saved my gown but now your white handkerchief is beyond repair!"

"It cannot be helped." He said, chuckling with her, utterly unconcerned "You may keep it; it shall be used henceforth only to hold strawberries."

"Well I thank you. That was most graceless of me." She said, a little contrite. Embarrassed, she stood and wiped off the remaining berry juice, chiding herself for unladylike behavior.

They ate in silence for a minute before Benedict began to speak in a suddenly serious manner, but with a gentleness in his voice. "I hope this is not too forward of me; but I wish you would not so often apologize for your character. I have heard you call yourself, on a number of occasions, graceless, plain, strident, or unrefined. You seem to think you must be always reserved and silent; when it your impulsiveness, your unpretentious sincerity, that stands you out so brilliantly from the rest. You don't have to try so hard to be something you are not, Miss Wheaton." He had been focused on berry-picking as he spoke the thought that weighed in his mind; and with the thought now spoken, he looked up at her. During his earnest speech, Katherine (to her bewilderment) had rapidly become overwhelmed with emotions; gratitude and relief being the only ones she could put words to. She felt her lip tremble and a tear run down her cheek.

His expression now turned to one of alarm and panic and he immediately set aside his small harvest and stood. He reached involuntarily to comfort her, gently touching her arm. "Kath..Miss Wheaton I've upset you!"

Before he could say more she quickly cut in with a shaky little laugh. "Oh no not so Mr Gray! Excuse my dramatics, I believe these are tears of relief. I feel as though you've lifted a burden of sorts, and I thank you for your sincerity!" she quickly swept away the ridiculous tear and smiled at him.

"I am relieved!" he expelled "I thought I'd distressed you and it quite shook me to the core. I have never been particularly brave when tears are present; my sister used to use them to her advantage when we were younger."

"Oh badly done Eloise!" Katherine laughed

"Yes well bully for her, for I am immune to her tears now." They shared a knowing grin, Katherine having seen such scheming applied unsuccessfully by the saucy Miss Gray a time or two. "Well. I am glad I was able to ease your mind a little Miss Wheaton. It pains me...it pains Eloise and I...to see you judge yourself so harshly."

Katherine, not knowing quite how to respond, chose not to, instead turned and stepped toward a peach tree. She plucked one and offered it to Gray. Finding a nearby bench beside the conservatory's brook, they rested there. Mr Gray flicked out a pocket knife and cut the peach into slices, offering her a piece. They snacked in contented silence, the brook cheerfully tumbling past them. Here and there, leaves and flower petals played along the surface of the water, and soon, carried along by the cheeky bubbling stream, appeared a solitary iris blossom. Gray scooped it up and examined it; before handing it to her in an open palm. She took it up and placed it on her lap, tracing the petals. "It's beautiful." she noted, smiling over at him and finding him already looking at her. A thoughtful expression rested on his face.

"Yes." he agreed. She enjoyed, for the moment, how the light danced through the glass ceiling and leaves above, to caress his features and cause his wavy chocolate-brown hair to glow with a halo of blond. He pulled his eyes away from her to study the surrounding foliage with a clearing of the throat. "I fear I've stayed too long, Mother and Eloise will worry if I am too late."

"Of course!" Katherine stood "I will see you to the door. It really was a pleasure to see you again Mr Gray, thank you for taking your time."

"It was time well spent. I'm sorry I didn't see her ladyship. Give her my greeting when she is well."

"I will." she assured as they reached the door. He donned his hat, and slipped on his leather riding gloves as they stepped out onto the veranda. "Until we meet again then Mr Gray." she said, feeling oddly lonely even as he started down the stairs.

He stopped and turned to take a step back up towards her - hesitated and nearly turned back to his waiting mount - then looked to her again and spoke. "Would you...we are comfortable enough with one-another, I think...you may call me Benedict. If you wish...when we are among friends."

Katherine felt her cheeks warm in a flush. "I suppose it would only be fair then, as a friend, for you to call me Katherine."

His lips curved into their usual easy smile, then he stepped quickly down to the driveway. Katherine leaned over the balustrade a few feet above him, as he mounted his horse. Once ready to be off, he looked up at her and tipped his hat. "Good day then...Katherine."

"Goodbye for now Benedict." She had great difficulty in reigning in her silly grin as she watched him go, and wasn't entirely successful. Once he was out of sight she flew to her room. Acquiring her diary, she opened it to the last page and laid the iris Mr Gray had gifted her therein, preserving it between the pages. Then, setting that aside, she busied herself with applying her skills to the task of working pesky strawberry stains out of Mr Gray's handkerchief. She saw Benedict Gray not at all over the course of the next month; and the first week of September was taken up with a trip to Chatham to see a sickly friend of the Baroness. It was there Katherine saw him again, and it began as the oddest experience in her life.