Blame It on Bath Page 0,103

I do wish you would come with me to Cobham. It would do you a great deal of good to get away from this foul air. Your husband won’t mind—he’s not even here to miss you.”

“Is Lucien leaving Bath as well?” She tried desperately to turn the conversation away from Gerard’s absence.

“No, he refuses to go. He’s grown so hard-hearted since you disappointed him.” Mama sighed piteously. “It will be such an arduous journey alone. I thought my only daughter would take more pity on her mother.”

“The captain is coming home soon,” said Kate again. “Would you have me leave my husband?”

Mama’s eyes opened wider. “But he’s already left you. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you came with me.”

Kate felt it like a physical blow. “I’m sorry, Mama,” she murmured. “No.”

For two days she withstood her mother’s fretting. For two days she waited in vain for any word from Gerard. Anything at all would have been enough. But without his presence, she fell slowly back into her old habits regarding her mother. The longer her mother pressed her to leave Bath, the more she felt herself weakening. Too many years of giving in had taken their toll, and now Kate felt so battered by Gerard’s departure and silence, she couldn’t take her mother’s constant faint pity. Mama thought Gerard must have found another woman by now, and as much as Kate didn’t want to believe it—as much as she didn’t believe it—it rubbed her heart raw to hear it suggested every day.

Finally she couldn’t stand it anymore. If Gerard could go off without a word and not come back, so could she. She was going mad, waiting for a note he couldn’t be bothered to send. Going to Cobham wasn’t ideal, but it was the only avenue open to her. At least at Cobham she wouldn’t lie awake at nights, straining her ears for the sound of his horse or the tread of his foot outside her door.

“Very well, Mama,” she said at last. “I’ll come with you.”

“Oh, darling.” Her mother gave her a misty smile. “I knew I could count on you. Cobham will be so good for you, too. Your nerves were always delicate. I vow, you look so pale; this shade of blue quite overwhelms you, Katherine.”

She smiled resolutely. She was keeping her new dresses, whether Mama approved or not. “Only for a visit. I can’t stay longer than a fortnight.”

“What! Only a fortnight! But dearest, you shall hardly be settled back in before a fortnight is over. You must stay a month at least.”

“A fortnight,” Kate repeated. “Less if my husband sends for me.”

“My poor child.” Mama folded her gently into her arms. “Yes, of course, if he sends for you, you must go. But surely he won’t tear you away from me again—Oh, but I must have you both at Cobham! Yes, if he comes, he must stay as well, now he is part of the family.” She gave Kate a bright smile. “You’ll feel better away from Bath. We’ll leave in the morning.”

She went to say good-bye to Cora while Birdie packed. When she said she was leaving Bath, Cora gasped. “But you will come back, won’t you?” she cried.

“Of course,” Kate assured her. “I just feel that some time away will restore my equilibrium.”

Cora sighed in relief. “That is very reasonable. Do you want to leave a letter for Danny to carry to Captain de Lacey?”

“No.” Kate gave a firm shake of her head. “I don’t think I shall. We aren’t much for writing letters, the captain and I.”

Her friend’s lips parted. “Oh,” she said softly. “I see.” She regarded Kate somberly for a moment. “Yes, perhaps you’re right. What are letters to a man anyway?”

“Nothing much, I understand.”

“And he would hardly keep you from going with your own mother.”

“No man likes to thwart my mother’s wishes.”

“And he can always fetch you home if he misses you too desperately.”

“He can,” Kate agreed.

“Well.” Cora nodded slowly. “All in all, I agree: you must make a visit to your mother.” Then she heaved a sigh. “But I shall miss you!”

“And I you.” Kate squeezed her friend’s hands. “May I write to you?”

“I require it,” declared Cora. “And I shall write you. I expect there will be something of great interest to report when Danny and the captain finally return to find you gone.”

“Be that as it may, I am done sitting at home waiting.” She squared her shoulders, trying to ignore the ache in