Page 18 of Kismet

This time, Catherine allowed a small laugh to escape. “Yes, I certainly have a surfeit of sisters. You may barrow one if you wish on occasion, as I have plenty to spare.” With the way they were getting along so well, Catherine couldn't wait to introduce Miss Burgess to her sisters. She had a feeling that they would hit it off right away.

Arranging the pillows on the settee for what was probably the fourth time, Catherine huffed in frustration. She was hardly ever this nervous, but Elizabeth had said she could preside over the tea as it was her friend they had invited. She wanted everything to be perfect. Gaining friends was hard for Catherine. For so long, she had tried to always blend into the background, letting others speak for her.

She had since found her voice, but that did not mean she was always ready to plunge forward, as some of her sisters did. Elizabeth and Lydia were both the sort to jump in feetfirst and hang the consequences. Catherine did not think she was born with such flair.

Catherine had resisted the urge to do a little dance when Miss Burgess agreed to come to tea. She would enjoy having someone who she could talk with at the balls and whatnot. She had her sisters, but it would be nice to have her own friend—someone to talk with without watching what she said so strictly or having to watch her back. Debutantes could be so catty.

“Everything will go splendidly; you do not have to worry so.”

Catherine was startled by Mary’s voice coming from the doorway behind her. Dropping the pillow in her hands, she swirled around to see Mary smiling kindly at her. “Only recently did I realize that I have always looked to you or Elizabeth or Jane or Mama to take the lead in social endeavors. But I have to do this on my own eventually, and I suppose now is the best time to start. Miss Burgess has earned my respect, and I want to make sure that I perform this task adequately.” With a small smile, Catherine gathered the courage to voice her hope. “I feel that we have the potential to be friends.”

Mary watched Catherine interact with Miss Burgess, who had given them all permission to call her by her given name, Selene. She wished she had seen Catherine’s need for friends sooner. They had all been so relieved when Catherine had begun to come out of her shell after the whole debacle with Wickham. She had come a long way, but it had never occurred to her that Catherine rarely attempted to make friends. She spoke more often and interacted more freely when at gatherings, but she was never the one to start anything. Here she was hosting a tea and making friends. Mary was so proud of how far she had come.

“So, you have another sister who is not in London for the season?” Selene's kind voice flowed effortlessly, and she wore a warm smile as she addressed the ladies present.

Nodding, Lizzie responded. “Yes, Jane only recently left childbed, and is at her estate in the country.”

Selene started to stir her tea contemplatively, as if judging whether to something. “I am glad she came through the ordeal well. So many do not make it through. We lost my older sister when she was brought to childbed too early.”

“I know you mentioned losing your sister at the ball, but I did not want to force you to elaborate in such a setting.” Catherine said, placing a comforting hand on Selene’s shoulder. “Would you like to talk about it?

Eyes misty, Selene seemed to remember a not-so-distant pain. “It was not a very resent loss, but still only a few years ago. Her babe survived, so at least that is something. I have only had the opportunity to see her a handful of times, but she was a marvelous little thing.”

“All babies find a way to be marvelous, though some struggle with it more than others.” Lydia smiled widely as she spoke from her spot next to Mrs. Ansley. Though she was not out, she had been allowed to attend. At seventeen, she would be out the next season and would do better for the practice.

Her sisters well knew Lydia's love for babies, and they smiled at her comment. The last couple of years had been marked by a series of births in the family, which had left Lydia feeling thrilled beyond words. Mary looked at her youngest sister and couldn't help but think that Lydia's true contentment lay in being surrounded by babies. She would not put it past Lydia to marry a widower just because he had children she could love.

“In her last letter, Jane said things are going well and little Charlie is growing at a remarkable rate. While she is not fully back to her old self, she has every confidence in her complete recovery.” Lizzie seemed to want to reassure those in the room that Jane was fine.

“Do you ladies mind sharing some of your treats?” That voice came from William as he peeked his head into the room. Walking over to his wife, his eyes softened as he gazed upon her lovingly.

Mary loved seeing the happiness that they still brought each other. She suspected her sisters felt the same for it meant the rest of them could hope for such love in their own unions.

“I am sure Catherine arranged for more than enough.” Lizzie gazed up at her husband with just as much love. If Selene was not there, Mary knew she would have told him he could have the treats in exchange for a kiss.

“Is there enough for two?” The colonel’s voice came from the doorway.

“Colonel Theodore, I did not know you would be visiting today. Please join us.” Catherine stood to greet him and gestured him over to an empty chair near where she had been sitting. “Would you like tea?”

“If you do not mind us complicating your tea, a break would be nice. Going over ledgers has proven more taxing than marching through the mud on a summer campaign.” The colonel sat, revealing his gratitude with a soft smile. “Hello Miss Burgess, you seem to be fitting in well with everyone. What do you think of the company of so many sisters?”

Mary let the conversation wash over her as she focused on the new development unfolding in front of her. As the conversation continued, both Catherine and the colonel continued to glance at one another. They attempted to be surreptitious, but if you watched them both, it became obvious. Smiling to herself, Mary decided she would not interfere, but instead wait and see if it developed further.

Catherine rose to serve tea to the two gentlemen. Despite knowing how they both took their tea, she struggled to keep her hands steady as she prepared it. Seeing Theodore suddenly at the door had unnerved her. She had to clench her hands to get them under control. Handing William his cup, she moved on to making a cup for the colonel.

The act of handing him his tea almost scalded her. His touch was electric, sending a wave of heat through her body as she held the teacup steady. His hand enveloped her own when he took the teacup, and she had somehow felt it down to her core. Sitting down, she placed her hand over her heart, willing it to settle. Chastising herself for becoming distracted, she forced her mind to the conversation. She would think about her reaction at a later time, when she was alone. When Catherine could finally pay attention, Lizzie was speaking to Theodore.

“How do you find the ledgers? I know paperwork is not something you exactly enjoy. Was everything in order?” Speaking from where she was snuggled into William's side, Lizzie questioned Theodore. Catherine knew her sister was always delighted to have her husband with her, even though society did not fully approve of their constant need for touch.

With a wry smile, Theodore reached for a tiny scone. “I was just reviewing a few things with Darcy.”

“I am surprised that Cedric did not have a man of business who handled things,” Mary chimed in.

Theodore took a sip of his tea to wash down one of the scones before responding. “He had someone who handled business ventures who I have been in contact with, but it seems that he handled a lot of things himself.”

“I can attest to how difficult it can be to take over things when you suddenly inherit, and Theodore has done remarkably well.” William spoke fondly of his cousin’s efforts, smiling at the man he had always been close friends with.

Catherine had been watching Theodore and noted how uncomfortable he seemed. Rubbing at his eyebrow, he stared down at his teacup, his lips curved downward instead of the usual easy smile he wore when conversing with the group. Was he embarrassed by the attention he was getting? Or perhaps he did not enjoy the reminder of his brother's death? Catherine felt the need to reach out to him, but instead decided it might be best to divert everyone’s attention. “I am sure that you did not come in here to talk of business matters. I suggest a change of subject. There's talk of a new music repository being built on Bond Street. What are your thoughts?”

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