husband in town long enough to satisfy everyone’s curiosity.” She gave Kate a vaguely admonishing glance. “It was a trying journey, you know, and my health hasn’t been all it might be. And now you’ve not got even a kind word of welcome for your mother.”
“You are very welcome to Bath, of course,” Kate said after only a slight pause. She stepped forward to kiss her mother’s offered cheek. “I just didn’t expect you to come all the way out to Somerset and miss part of the Season in town. I know how you look forward to it all winter.”
“For my only child, I shall bear the sacrifice.” She smiled, her gaze wandering toward the stairs. “And where is your husband, dear? I am ever so anxious to know my son-in-law better.”
“He’s not at home now.” She stepped back to allow Bragg and the footman to carry in her last trunk. As pleased as she was to have her things again, they came at rather a high cost. Lucien followed, slapping his gloves against his palm. He looked thinner, and there were shadows under his eyes. Kate avoided his gaze as she dipped a curtsey. “Welcome to Bath, Lucien.”
“Thank you, Katherine my dear.” His voice was as cool as ever. “I trust you are well.” It didn’t sound as though it would give him any pleasure.
All her wariness of Lucien rushed back. For a moment her muscles instinctively slid into the lax expressionless pose she had found such safety in during her years as a member of the Howe family. Everything inside her recoiled into the small, safe place inside her where she had learned to hide her emotions and thoughts, to make herself almost invisible.
Then she stopped herself. What was she doing? Marriage to Gerard had saved her from this. She was no longer subject to Lucien’s disapproval, and she no longer had to hide behind a mask. She lifted her head and looked directly into his frosty blue eyes. “Yes, thank you, I am quite well,” she said. Compared to what her life would have been with him, she was splendidly, brilliantly well. For a moment Gerard’s lazy, seductive grin flashed across her mind, and she even smiled. “Very well indeed.”
His mouth turned down. “I am glad to hear it.”
“Do you plan to stay long in Bath?” she asked, when an awkward silence descended.
“Why, goodness, I don’t know,” exclaimed her mother. “I suppose we shall see how it suits us.”
“A week,” said Lucien at the same time.
Mama looked at him in unhappy surprise. “Oh no, Lucien dear. A week is far too short a time. I must see my daughter again and become acquainted with my new son-in-law. It is a mother’s duty to see that her child is settled, you know—you would understand if you had children of your own. Really you must look for a bride. Perhaps a lady in Bath will accept you since none of the London gels took your fancy.”
Lucien’s eyes flashed with fury even though his face didn’t change. “I cannot think of marriage at this time, madam. You may remember the reason why.”
“Well, it was very hard of Katherine to disappoint you so, but you certainly would have done the same in her shoes. A Durham!” She sighed happily. “Where is he, Katherine dear?”
“He is out, Mama,” Kate repeated.
“Oh.” Her mother finally seemed to accept that she was telling the truth and quit peering around the hall. “Well, he will surely be home for dinner, and we shall see him then.”
Kate gazed at her. This was always the way with Mama; when she wanted something, she kept at it until Kate wore down and gave it to her, no matter how reluctantly. She felt the old ingrained instinct to do it now, in fact. But she didn’t want to dine with her mother fawning over Gerard and Lucien glowering at them all, and luckily they’d already promised to attend a dinner party with Cora and Lieutenant Carter. She kept her head up though her clasped fingers tensed around each other. “Yes, he will return home before dinner—”
“Lovely.” Her mother turned a bright, almost proud smile on her. “What time shall we arrive, Katherine dear? I’m so accustomed to town hours, I’ve no idea how people live out in the country anymore.”
“Unfortunately we are already engaged for dinner this evening and cannot dine with you,” Kate finished evenly. “I hope you will be able to join us tomorrow evening.”
The hall fell silent.