The Lord's Forced Bride. Anne Herries

Catherine.’ Rob smiled as he saw the pleasure on his lovely daughter’s face. She was very like her mother in some ways, though her hair was much redder and darker than Melissa’s, and her eyes were a deep green. At times like these when she was emotional they were almost the colour of emeralds. ‘I understand that this is a disappointment for you, Catherine, but your mother must stay with Richard and I am not yet well enough to travel.’

      ‘I know that, Father,’ Catherine replied. ‘I should have liked Mother to come with me, of a certainty I should, but I know she could not leave my brother or you. She would never leave any of us when we were ill.’

      ‘You are a good girl,’ Rob said giving her a fond look. ‘Your mother thought it might upset you to know that you must be chaperoned by our friends when you expected to have your family about you, but you have taken it sensibly.’

      Catherine smiled at him. She would not let him see that she was nervous and disappointed with the arrangements, because she knew he would think her ungrateful. Robert Melford could sometimes seem harsh and stern; it was something in his manner and perhaps the terrible scar that marred one side of his face. Catherine had often wondered about the scar. She knew that it no longer gave her father pain, though occasionally she would see him tracing it with his forefinger, and when he did so there was such an odd expression in his eyes.

      Catherine adored her father, even though she sometimes felt he was unapproachable. She would never have dared to ask him about the scar or how he came by it. She had once mentioned it to her mother, but Lady Melford had just shaken her head and said it was something best forgotten.

      ‘It is so good of you and Mother to arrange this for me,’ Catherine said. ‘Are you sure it will not inconvenience Lady Anne?’

      ‘As you know, I was summoned to the celebrations for the betrothal of Prince Arthur, and therefore at least some of the family must go,’ Rob said. ‘I had planned that your sister, Anne, should accompany us, but she is too young to be presented at court and will do better here with your mother. You will have your brother and your friends, and that must be enough for you, Catherine.’

      ‘I shall do well enough if I have my twin.’

      ‘Yes, there has always been something special between you two. Your mother remarks on it.’

      ‘When he is not here I feel as if a part of me is missing, but I know that Mother feels much the same when Harry is away.’

      ‘Harry was our first-born,’ Rob said. ‘Your mother holds a special place for him in her heart, as she does for all of us—but he was the first to fly the nest. She is proud of him, because he is making his way in the service of the King and he brings nothing but lustre to our family’s name, Catherine. I too am very proud of him.’

      ‘Yes, Father. I know,’ Catherine said a little wistfully. She had often wished that she might have been born as a son so that she too could add to the wealth and lustre of the family fortunes, but as a woman she could do nothing other than as she was bid. She understood that her part would be to wed to advantage, and she had recently overheard her parents talking about her marriage, though she did not as yet know the name of the man they had selected to be her husband. However, she was an obedient girl, for she had no reason to be otherwise, and she believed she would be happy to obey her parents’ wishes in the matter. ‘I am proud of Harry, too.’

      ‘That does not make me less proud of my lovely daughter,’ Rob said, understanding her change in expression better than she might have guessed. ‘You will please me by making a good marriage, Catherine.’ He nodded his approval. ‘Your mother and I wish you to be happy and we have decided that you might be suited with Lady Anne’s second son, William.’

      ‘Oh…’ In her surprise Catherine was unable to mask the shock her father’s words had given her. She did not know William Shearer well, but she remembered him as a boisterous youth who had pulled her hair the last time they met. For some reason a picture of another man flashed into her mind—the man she had first seen wrestling at the fair. ‘If it is your wish, Father.’

      Rob frowned as he saw the expression in her eyes. ‘It is not decided, Catherine. Your mother would never agree to a forced marriage, but we have cherished the idea that our two families might be joined. However, you will meet him in London and we shall see what you feel then.’

      ‘You are so good to me!’ Catherine said and ran to the bed, bending down to embrace him.

      Rob patted her back and put her from him. ‘None of that, girl! Go to your mother now. I believe she has some work for you.’

      Catherine nodded and left him, making her way through the Hall to the stair that led to her mother’s favourite day chamber. As she expected, she discovered her mother working at her needlework, her sister, Anne, already sitting on a stool close by. Catherine believed her youngest brother to be upstairs in bed, and as she entered, Lady Melford got to her feet, clearly impatient to leave.

      ‘There you are, Catherine. Your father has told you the news. I hope you are not too upset?’

      ‘I wish you could come too, dearest Mother,’ Catherine said. ‘But I know that you must stay here with my brother and Father.’

      ‘Yes, I must. However, I did not wish you to give up your treat,’ Lady Melford said, smiling at her. ‘Now sit with your sister and help her with her sewing while I go up to Richard.’

      ‘Yes, Mother,’ Catherine said and moved her stool to her sister’s side. She reached out for the piece of needlework her sister had been working on. She saw at once where the stitches were wrong and used the little knife that hung from a silver chatelaine at her waist to cut the silk and remove it. ‘You make your feather stitching this way,’ she said, showing her sister how to work the intricate stitch.

      Anne was looking at her oddly. ‘I heard Father say that you are to marry Will Shearer,’ she said. ‘Is it true, Catherine?’

      ‘I believe it is what Father wants,’ Catherine said, a slight frown coming to her face. ‘But I am not sure. I was hoping…’ She shook her head, because her dreams were fanciful. She had seen the stranger only briefly at the fair, again in the village when he had spoken to her, and leaving their house. She was unlikely to see him again, and yet she could not help feeling that she would like to meet a man who was as strong and handsome as he had been. But she did not imagine he was truly interested in her—he had merely been flirting. Besides, his visit had seemed to distress her mother for some reason. She must put him from her mind. ‘If it is my father’s wish, I shall try to obey him.’

      ‘I wish it was me going to London,’ Anne said, an envious note in her voice. ‘I should like to be married…’ Something flashed in her eyes and for a moment she stared at her sister as if she hated her.

      ‘In two years Father will think of arranging a marriage for you,’ Catherine told her.

      ‘It might be too late by then,’ Anne said, and, jumping up, ran from the room.

      Catherine stared after her. What was wrong? Anne was always an impulsive girl, but she did not normally behave in such a way. Something must have upset her. Catherine finished unpicking all the bad stitches her sister had made and then replaced them, because her mother wanted the cover for a cushion she needed for her chair. She would talk to Anne later and see if she would tell her what was wrong, but for the moment she wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

      Marriage was such a big step. It would mean that she would no longer be able to spend her days with her mother, sister and brother…instead she would be the mistress of a large house with all the cares that entailed. Her mother had taught her all the things she needed to know to perform those duties, but no one had told her what it was really like to be married.

      Catherine had some ideas about how babies were made, for she had seen the yard dogs mating, and watched puppies come into the world…but surely there must be more? Lady Melford was very contented; sometimes when she and her husband were together her eyes would shine with happiness. If only Catherine could be as happy when she married! She had listened to the storyteller