Thomas had paused and sat down beside her on the settee and held her cold and clammy hand in his. “Katie, you know as well as I do that Wendel was not a man of action, nor did he have the skill to defend himself against three men.”
“Stop it! Please stop saying those things,” Katie had shouted. “You’re being unfair to Wendel. It was my fault! It was all my fault. I didn’t want to part with Nana’s pearl necklace and Wendel bravely protected me. He died protecting me!”
“Katie, please do not distress yourself,” Thomas had soothed, wrapping his arms around her. “What happened was not your fault. Please do not blame yourself for Wendel’s death. And you’re right, he did die bravely. It was a courageous act that he did all that he could to shield you that night.”
Katie had sobbed into Thomas’s shoulder, unable to shake her guilt over Wendel’s death.
She couldn’t burden her family with her latest dream, not after the year she had put them through. Thomas and Frankie were expecting the birth of their first child. Frankie was near her time. Thomas didn’t need this additional stress. She would work through this herself.
Katie had taken longer than a few minutes to make her way down to the breakfast room. She’d just greeted her family and sat down when a light knock on the door sounded. The butler entered, carrying a note on a silver salver.
“Miss Katie, this card is for you. It was delivered with a bouquet.”
“Thank you, Dalton,” Katie said with a smile.
“How wonderful!” Frankie commented.
“The delivery boy handed the note to me separately. He said I was to give it directly to you.”
A footman stepped in behind Dalton with a bouquet of pink roses in a vase and set them down on the buffet.
“They are beautiful!” her mother and Frankie exclaimed at the same time.
Words caught in Katie’s throat. The flowers were stunning. She accepted the card, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. It had been more than a year since she’d received flowers after a social engagement.
Wendel had always sent her white roses after every one of their outings, whether it was a simple ride in Hyde Park or the most anticipated ball of the Season. Wendel had always been thoughtful and romantic that way. She missed those sweet gestures. She missed Wendel. He’d been her best friend as well as her fiancé. Truth be told, she’d considered Wendel a friend long before she’d had any romantic feelings about him. Their relationship had been slow to build and evolve. Their friendship had increased and strengthened over time to the point where it had seemed natural that they would marry.
As bittersweet as those memories were, Katie could not help the spark of delight stirring within her as she opened the note.
Thomas stepped inside the room and bent to kiss his wife on the cheek. “What’s this? Flowers?”
“Yes! Katie received flowers,” their mother said. “Who are they from, dear?”
Katie cleared her throat. “They are from Lord Soren.” She stood and walked to the buffet, touching a delicate pink petal of one of the exquisite blooms.
Katie wiped away a rogue tear. “I confess, they are beautiful. It’s just a change seeing flowers and being reminded that Wendel didn’t send them.”
“Darling,” her mother said, rising from the table and walking over to her. “I know this is difficult. But I believe Wendel would want this for you.” She hugged Katie close.
“He would be happy for you,” Frankie added, dabbing at her own eyes. Thomas sat beside his wife and reached for her hand, placing a kiss on the palm.
“He would,” Katie croaked. “And they are lovely flowers.” She turned away and wiped another stray tear. “I should get my chocolate.”
“I, for one, am famished!” Thomas declared. “I expect to need additional nourishment for my exercise practice at En Garde later this morning, and I delayed breaking my fast so I could spend time with my lovely wife.”
Frankie smiled up at her husband as she lightly touched her stomach. “I think we are famished as well.”
“Well, that comes as no surprise, my dear. You are eating for two!” Mama said, sipping her tea, her lips curving up into a smile. “I cannot wait to meet him…or her.”
Katie was grateful for her brother’s adroit change of topic which gave her a quiet moment to enjoy the flowers and re-read the note with no one commenting. Biting her bottom lip, she contained a smile as she read:
My dear Miss Latham,
I enjoyed our waltz at the Duke of Clarence’s ball, and I look forward to spending time with you soon.
Your servant,
Lord Soren
