cream-colored beads. Outside the front door there was a lilac bush that was just coming into bloom. She cut two small bunches and put them in water. By the time she was ready to fasten them into her hair, the lilac blossoms would be open.
When Catherine heard her mother arrive, she went downstairs. “Mother, I’m so glad you decided to come. Time away from your demanding Court duties will do you good.”
“I consider them an honor, not a duty, Catherine.” Her mouth tightened. “Your gown is far too low-cut for a maiden. I do not approve. Don’t let me catch you wearing it at Court.”
“Of course not, Mother.” I wouldn’t dream of letting you catch me wearing it. “Did you all come down together?”
“Yes, apparently Philadelphia is entertaining a guest from Carlisle. Lady Widdrington is a widow visiting London for the first time. Poor soul! I know what it’s like to be widowed. We must do our best to dispel her loneliness and make her welcome.”
Cat spotted Maggie and sent her a desperate signal.
With uncanny Scots intuition, Maggie discerned her dilemma. She greeted Lady Spencer and drew her toward the kitchen. “Come and see what Cook has baked. Perhaps ye could take some to Hunsdon Hall tonight.”
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Catherine ran upstairs to get her sketches. She would have to smuggle them next door. If her mother saw them, she would forbid her from designing for Philadelphia because it might displease the queen.
The first person Catherine encountered at Hunsdon Hall was Beth Spencer, her father’s plump, blond sister, who was married to George Carey. “Hello, Aunt Beth.”
“Catherine, don’t you dare call me aunt; it makes me sound positively ancient!”
Cat dimpled. “Sorry, Beth; it was Mother’s idea.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “She has more rules and regulations than the queen herself. I shall have a word with her.”
“Cat, darling, you look exquisite as usual.” Philadelphia kissed her cheek. “I warrant this is one of your own designs.”
“Yes, it is. I’ve brought you a dozen sketches. You can decide for yourself which you like.”
“How lovely. Let me introduce you to my friend Liz Widdrington. Liz, this is Lady Catherine, who has designed some of the queen’s most spectacular gowns.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, Liz. Please call me Cat. You have such beautiful hair. I’ve never seen that unusual shade before.”
“Why, thank you. I like to think of it as burgundy. I have to be careful about the colors I wear, so they don’t clash.”
“It’s evident you have a keen fashion sense and know exactly what suits you. Your jade velvet truly compliments your hair.”
“I am surrounded by beautiful ladies.”
Cat spun toward the familiar voice. “Robert! I had no idea you would be here. You look so ... rugged. Patrolling the Borders has given you a tan. You have quite lost your fashionable courtier’s pallor.”
“Thank God for that. At the English Court you can hardly tell the males from the females.”
“Oh, I think you underestimate our little Cat. I’ve taught her an infallible way to tell the males from the females, as well as the men from the boys.” Philadelphia’s laugh was most suggestive.
Robert kissed her cheek. “I think your bawdy sense of humor is the reason you are my favorite sister.”
“Ah, so Philadelphia is your favorite, is she?” Kate swept in and playfully boxed her brother Robert’s ear.
“My favorite sister, after you, Kate!” Robert said, laughing.
Cat looked at them all fondly. She always felt extremely happy when she was in the midst of this warm, loving family.
“Ah, here comes my guest now,” Robert announced. “I won’t tell you who he is—I want you to guess.”
Cat’s head snapped up and her mouth fell open as a tall figure stepped into the room. He was bathed and shaved, and a fine linen shirt had replaced the sheepskin, but the uncivilized brute male was still evident beneath the
When Catherine heard her mother arrive, she went downstairs. “Mother, I’m so glad you decided to come. Time away from your demanding Court duties will do you good.”
“I consider them an honor, not a duty, Catherine.” Her mouth tightened. “Your gown is far too low-cut for a maiden. I do not approve. Don’t let me catch you wearing it at Court.”
“Of course not, Mother.” I wouldn’t dream of letting you catch me wearing it. “Did you all come down together?”
“Yes, apparently Philadelphia is entertaining a guest from Carlisle. Lady Widdrington is a widow visiting London for the first time. Poor soul! I know what it’s like to be widowed. We must do our best to dispel her loneliness and make her welcome.”
Cat spotted Maggie and sent her a desperate signal.
With uncanny Scots intuition, Maggie discerned her dilemma. She greeted Lady Spencer and drew her toward the kitchen. “Come and see what Cook has baked. Perhaps ye could take some to Hunsdon Hall tonight.”
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Catherine ran upstairs to get her sketches. She would have to smuggle them next door. If her mother saw them, she would forbid her from designing for Philadelphia because it might displease the queen.
The first person Catherine encountered at Hunsdon Hall was Beth Spencer, her father’s plump, blond sister, who was married to George Carey. “Hello, Aunt Beth.”
“Catherine, don’t you dare call me aunt; it makes me sound positively ancient!”
Cat dimpled. “Sorry, Beth; it was Mother’s idea.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “She has more rules and regulations than the queen herself. I shall have a word with her.”
“Cat, darling, you look exquisite as usual.” Philadelphia kissed her cheek. “I warrant this is one of your own designs.”
“Yes, it is. I’ve brought you a dozen sketches. You can decide for yourself which you like.”
“How lovely. Let me introduce you to my friend Liz Widdrington. Liz, this is Lady Catherine, who has designed some of the queen’s most spectacular gowns.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, Liz. Please call me Cat. You have such beautiful hair. I’ve never seen that unusual shade before.”
“Why, thank you. I like to think of it as burgundy. I have to be careful about the colors I wear, so they don’t clash.”
“It’s evident you have a keen fashion sense and know exactly what suits you. Your jade velvet truly compliments your hair.”
“I am surrounded by beautiful ladies.”
Cat spun toward the familiar voice. “Robert! I had no idea you would be here. You look so ... rugged. Patrolling the Borders has given you a tan. You have quite lost your fashionable courtier’s pallor.”
“Thank God for that. At the English Court you can hardly tell the males from the females.”
“Oh, I think you underestimate our little Cat. I’ve taught her an infallible way to tell the males from the females, as well as the men from the boys.” Philadelphia’s laugh was most suggestive.
Robert kissed her cheek. “I think your bawdy sense of humor is the reason you are my favorite sister.”
“Ah, so Philadelphia is your favorite, is she?” Kate swept in and playfully boxed her brother Robert’s ear.
“My favorite sister, after you, Kate!” Robert said, laughing.
Cat looked at them all fondly. She always felt extremely happy when she was in the midst of this warm, loving family.
“Ah, here comes my guest now,” Robert announced. “I won’t tell you who he is—I want you to guess.”
Cat’s head snapped up and her mouth fell open as a tall figure stepped into the room. He was bathed and shaved, and a fine linen shirt had replaced the sheepskin, but the uncivilized brute male was still evident beneath the
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