she’d ferret out what was wrong in an instant.
“You’re not fine if you’re sitting here. You’re normally at work by now. A team of horses can’t keep you away from the workshop. Now, look at me, Kat.”
She propped her chin in one hand, then slowly turned to Willa.
After a quick but worried inspection, Willa’s eyelids snapped open. “Are ye grieving?”
She shook her head and tried to smile. “A late start to the day. Help me dress?”
With her usual efficiency, Willa walked to the small cabinet where Kat kept her work clothes. In seconds, she was before Kat and had slipped a chemise over her head. Next came the pretty floral stays Kat had made for herself when she lived in York. After tying them tight, Willa placed a work gown, one that had been died mauve for mourning, over her head.
“Ack, I’ll be glad when you’re out of those widow’s weeds.” She took Kat by the shoulders and led her to the modest dressing table. “I’m worried about you, lass.”
“As am I.” Kat sat so she could face Willa. “At Helen’s party, men smiled at me. I felt pretty. Like a princess at a ball.”
“Must have been some party.” Willa chuckled. “Any one in particular?”
“It doesn’t make any difference.” Kat turned back around and faced the mirror on the wall, watching her companion’s reaction.
Willa raised an eyebrow. It was the look she gave when she collected confessions.
“The duke.” She looked down at her lap, hoping to find the courage to explain. She released the pent-up breath she held. “I had on Beth’s blue silk dress. He looked at me as if I were the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.”
“The duke is a smart man.” Willa bent down and took Kat’s chin in her hand. “You, my love, are stunning.”
“You’re partial.”
A grunt was Willa’s answer.
“The duke wanted to kiss me at Helen’s.” Kat’s voice broke, but she forced herself to continue with the story. “But he didn’t. A cat chasing a bird interrupted us…”
Willa’s face softened. “Did you want to kiss him?”
She nodded. “For the first time in my life, a good, decent man wanted me.” Hoping for a distraction, she picked up the small pillow again. Lightly, she traced the embroidered heart in the pillow’s center and remembered her mother’s words. When we’re apart, remember this heart represents mine. All my love for you resides here.
What Kat wouldn’t give for her mother to be with her now.
Willa gently brushed her hair, the simple routine soothing the tempest that had her heart twisted. “You play with that when you’re unsettled.”
She pushed the pillow away. “Do you know what else I wanted?”
“No.” Giving Kat her undivided attention, Willa lowered the brush to her side.
“I wanted to be someone else. Which would be easy for me. I’m an expert at pretending to be a lady when I’m not.”
“Katherine”—Willa squeezed her shoulder—“any man would be lucky to have you.”
Kat shook her head.
“Look at me,” Willa commanded.
Kat raised her gaze until she could see Willa’s determined face reflected in the mirror.
“You can accomplish anything. Look what you’ve done already in your short life.” Her eyes blazed with affection. “Fate works in mysterious ways, lass. If you hadn’t married your husband, you never would have met the duke.”
“Perhaps.” She blinked to keep her tears in check. “I just want to love someone and have them love me in return. I’ve jeopardized that dream with all the fanciful tales I’ve built my reputation around. If the truth ever spilt free…”
“The truth is, you made a mistake,” Willa said, patting her shoulder in comfort.
“A mistake? It isn’t that simple. No one would have seen past my true circumstances if I hadn’t left York and told the story about a pretend father,” Kat argued. The taste of bile threatened, but she swallowed. If only she could swallow the bitter memories as well. “Because of that, I have my own business. Who knows where I’d be if I hadn’t? Probably still hanging my head in shame, or worse.”
“Lass, you’re here because of your hard work. A good man who loves you will see the truth.”
“Do you think a man will love a thief?” She didn’t hide the challenge in her voice as tears stung her eyes. “That’s who I am.”
“You’re not a thief.” Willa cupped her cheek, forcing Kat to hold her gaze. “A good man will understand your story. And I reckon you’ll find him someday. Sooner, rather than later,” Willa soothed.
“Did you ever want someone for yourself?”
“Aye.”