- Chapter 11 -

Katherine had never seen an expanse of water greater than that of the small river that ran through Compton Village. Lady Compton informed her the town of Chatham was on an inlet, and not actually on the sea; but Katherine still found herself struck with awe at what was called River Medway. Water so deep and wide it easily held multiple ships! The waves on the surface were mountains compared to the ripples the wind made on the river through Compton; and yet, her current companions laughed, saying the sea was ten times greater. She could not fathom there could be such expanse and depth to the Earth.

It was the third day since their arrival that Katherine dwelt on such thoughts. She, Lady Compton, and Lady Lestrand walked along River Medway, near Upnor Castle. Across the river, they could see the Chatham dockyards, which was now the current topic of conversation. Katherine followed three steps behind the two older ladies, gazing upon the great ships and tiny people milling about on the distant docks.

She considered, absent-mindedly, that this was where Brandon Routley was continuing his apprenticeship for the navy. He had expressed, in those happy days when they were often in each other's company, that he had settled on giving up that particular pursuit; for his mother's sake. Mrs Routley wished him to remain on land, make a favorable match, and produce an heir before running off to battle 'to be killed'. He, on the other hand, now seemed to find it preferable to dodge any match, produce no heirs, and run himself deep into the nearest bottle of port or ale. All that was left in acknowledgment of Brandon Routley was pity, and perhaps regret. Pity that he was raised so coddled, spoiled, and protected, that he built no manly character; he became spiteful and petty when scolded or wronged, and gave up in immediate despair when life strayed from what he thought it ought to be. Regret that he had not acted his age of four-and-twenty and refused to oblige his mother's dictatorial spirit. But he was his mother's boy, and could not stand fast by his own decisions. He should have pursued his ambitions while he still had respect and honor to his name; instead, he was now running to the navy only later than sooner, with naught but a broken heart, and debts awaiting his return.

"Katherine?"

"I'm terribly sorry Mrs Lestrand! I'm afraid I was entirely lost in thought. Was something asked of me?"

"It is alright dear," the pudgy elderly woman assured kindly. "I was just suggesting Mariah and I take a spell on a nearby bench. My heart isn't as immune to exertion as it once was. If you like, you may walk the remainder of this loop, and we will continue back to the carriage once you return."

"I shall, Madam, thank you, it is a beautiful walk and the weather is fine! My feet long to wander further." With a smile, Katherine continued on. Just out of sight of her companions there was a convergence of paths; and as she reached it, so did another small party; two ladies and a gentleman. Pausing to let them pass, she found, with pleasant surprise, that the gentleman of the party was well known to her.

"Why, Mr Gray! What a surprise!"

Benedict Gray stopped and looked her over blankly. She noted, with added astonishment, he was wearing a naval uniform! The two voluptuous ladies on his arms looked between them expectantly as the silence drew on. Katherine observed that both the ladies seemed to have let their lace slip atrociously; though she thought it very likely (considering their manner and overabundance of rouge) that it was done intentionally.

"I did not realize you had entered into his majesty's navy." She broke the silence hesitantly. "I thought you were still at Grandhill?"

"Ay, I have." He gave her a saucy smile "It was a sudden notion, but an honorable one wouldn't you say?" The ladies grinned at him and laughed flirtatiously.

"You are all honor and bravery sir!" agreed one, clutching tightly to his arm.

"And so handsome in a uniform!" The other giggled. This lady observed Katherine from tip to toe and offered her a simpering smile. "And you are? How is it you know our Mr Gray?"

"I am Katherine Wheaton. I met Mr Gray in London and have become great friends of his family these three months." She looked to him for confirmation; confused, and wondering, with a little pain, at his pretense of their being strangers.

A slow smile spread across his face and his eyes brightened with what Katherine warily viewed as mischief. "My dear Miss Wheaton. I am teasing you. How could I not recall so dear a friend? I did not know you were in town! Allow me to call on you sometime this week."

Katherine laughed in nervous relief and handed him a card "Oh yes, here is our address. We leave on Saturday, in five days' time."

Gray studied it and, with an examining glance at her, tucked it away. "Miss Wheaton." He bowed, and directed the ladies onward, leaving her on the path quite suddenly and without so much as an introduction or 'good day'. Katherine stood watching them leave, bewildered and offended by his abruptness. One of the ladies commented in a carelessly audible tone, "How dull and proper she seems, no wonder you left London, with such ladies to entertain!" and was joined in laughter by the other two.

What was wrong with him! And after she thought they'd grown so close over these three or four months! Tears pricked her eyes as she hurried back the way she came, distraught, and in too ill a humor to enjoy the scenery and pleasant weather any longer.

~~~

Four days passed as Katherine waited in anticipation for Mr Gray to call. Determined to still think the best of him, she endeavored to put aside his recent behavior and think of him as she ever did. As the days passed however, Katherine's anticipation turned to disappointment. Proper calling hours were all but over that Friday evening, when a rap finally sounded on the door; causing her nearly to jump out of her skin in haste to greet her caller. "Mr Gray! I was beginning to believe you wouldn't come!" She cried with forced composure.

"Forgive me Miss Wheaton, life is busy at the barracks." He explained. They retired to Lady Lestrand's sitting room with the Lady herself, and Lady Compton.

The four of them had easy conversation over the next quarter hour, and she happily felt that they were once again their comfortable selves. That is, until he rose to leave, and Katherine walked him to the door.

"Lawd it is good to get out of that stuffy room and be done with all that fagging conversation. You don't know my dear," He flashed her a charmingly seductive smile, "how excessively pleased I was to chance upon you at Upnor." He stepped close and rested a hand on her waist, his head bending close to hers as he added "I've grown quite wild for you in our time apart."

Katherine's eyes and mouth dropped open wide as her face colored in embarrassment. What on earth is he doing? This is too forward I'm sure! As his fingers then brushed along her chin, tipping it up towards his face, her eyes widened further. She quickly pushed back in a struggle escape his grasp, but found herself well trapped! "Mr Gray stop at once!" she whispered fiercely, solidly connecting a fist to the arm that ensnared her waist. "This is entirely improper!"

His brow lifted and he released her with casual indifference. "It appears our acquaintance has, unfortunately, not improved to the point of much affection. How droll." He tipped his hat to her, stepping out the door with a chuckle, and was gone.

Katherine stood a moment, shaking with shock and rising indignation; then removed herself to her room (to the astonishment of her companions, as she stammered out a nearly unintelligible excuse of a sudden headache before flying out of the room as pale as a ghost) and sat therein, mind whirling in confused contemplation. She could not comprehend the cause of Mr Gray's strange manners and conduct; nor fully process the intimate discourse, though chiefly one-sided, that had just passed between them. An ache settled in her heart at the unfairness of his comment that their acquaintance had not any growing affection. She had felt, in their last meeting together at Rosforte, that a great deal of real affection had begun to develop between them; but for him to determine that an inclination towards anything such as love would leave opening for such forwardness and impropriety... It was too indecorous to excuse.

How is it possible I could have so greatly misjudged his character? Is it possible someone could hide a truly reprobate nature so well for so long? Or perhaps it is not an error in judgement on my part, so much as a vast distortion of character on his? Is it possible for someone to go through such a severe reversal of attitude and manners in such short time? But, she wondered further, thinking again of her conversation with him at Rosforte a month past, when did he arrive in town? I don't understand why he would have failed to mention his plan to enter service when we were together last. Surely that is a monumentous enough decision to communicate to a friend. She then recalled her most recent letter from Eloise. In it, her friend had expressed her and her family's great anticipation for Kat and Lady Compton to come this month for their harvest picnic; and had included a sincere greeting directly from her brother within. But that letter was sent not a week before we arrived in Chatham, and he could not have sent a greeting if he was not at home. This makes not a whit of sense to me! I must speak to Eloise at once!

Katherine brought herself to the ladies sitting room and begged Lady Lestrand the use of her writing table and ink. Lady Lestrand readily gave permission, with wonder at her young guest's hurried and off-put manner, and Kat determinedly set herself to the task of accounting Mr Gray's behavior to his sister, begging an explanation. She informed Eloise to direct her response to Rosforte as they would arrive home the day after next; then signing the letter with love, sent it off. She awaited Miss Gray's letter with great trepidation the day after they arrived home at Rosforte; but no letter had come Sunday, nor did one arrive Monday. Katherine began to despair.

~~~

Miss Eloise Gray had received Katherine's letter with the usual great pleasure her letters incurred, and settled down in the sitting room with the rest of her family; informing them cheerfully of the identity of the sender. She was compelled, by those others in the room, to indulge them with the contents of the letter as had become the custom with Katherine's letters. Their demands for Miss Gray to share became more serious as the silent reader's expression grew increasingly dismayed. As the contents of the letter were of a personal nature, Miss Gray divulged all she could with respect to her friend. She looked across the room where the others sat listening; their faces a mirror of her own distress. It was decided between the four of them that an explanation, and apology, must be returned with utmost haste; but that it would be best done in person. So it was that two visitors from Grandhill trundled up the gravel drive to Rosforte Castle unannounced in a small barouche, early Monday afternoon; passing Katherine on the gravel walk, who was arriving at the residence at the end of a heart-heavy and contemplative stroll.