Page 2 of A Season for Christmas

More disappointment. But Priscilla did sit, which meant she would stay for a short time, breaking the tedium of Catherine’s morning, which was appreciated. She would take what she could get.

“Well, I am glad to see you, regardless,” Catherine replied, taking her own seat on the couch next to Priscilla. “You are in town for the whole holiday?”

“I believe we’ll remain in London until the end of the upcoming Season,” Priscilla replied, folding her hands on her lap. She seemed rather cheerful about the prospect, and hearing it cheered Catherine. Having a friend about during the winter months in the city was a boon. “The whole family is coming in to celebrate the holiday. Evie and Anthony never left, of course, but Josie and Elijah arrived yesterday, and Adam is due to return this morning. Rex and Mary have also been invited to spend the holiday with us.”

Well, that was very interesting and caused another pang of envy. It was well known, though not much talked about, that Lady Mary Hartford’s parents were rarely in the country, much less in the same hemisphere as their daughter. They were intrepid explorers and preferred far-flung countries to their own. But she was close friends with Mrs. Browne, formerly Miss Evangaline Stuart, and Lady Josephina, who was married to the marquess’ heir. Apparently, the lack of parents did not affect the Hartfords as they had close friends they could rely on for company.

Catherine did her best to be glad for them rather than envious.

“How lovely,” she said, because it was. “So then, what brings you here?”

To her surprise, Priscilla fidgeted, clearing her throat.

“Well, I was rather hoping you would come to tea this afternoon. If you are free.” Her chin jerked upward before lowering again. “Lily is coming over as well.”

Lily was the Countess of Talbot and also a very close friend of Lady Hartford, Mrs. Browne, and Lady Josephina. Catherine understood that the four of them had grown uptogether. They were all also members of the Society of Sin, though they had a very different relationship with their husbands than Priscilla had with hers.

Sudden understanding hit.

Priscilla was hoping Catherine would come asherfriend. Though the other women were very kind and very open, they had a history Priscilla was not a part of, a connection Priscilla would likely never be able to match. And Priscilla was hoping for a friend to be there for her while they all gathered together.

“Of course.” The enthusiasm in her voice was unmistakable. Rather than having to fake any, she had to try to tamp hers down, so as not to appear overly eager. “I would love to.”

“Wonderful.” Priscilla lit up, both with enthusiasm and relief, her blue eyes shining with emotions. “Diana will be there as well, of course, but we are keeping it close.”

Very close. Warmth touched Catherine as she realized the invite was not only because she was convenient and Priscilla’s friend, but that Priscilla considered her such an intimate that she would be invited to such a gathering. Diana had recently married the Marquess of Camden only a few months earlier. This tea would be family and their closest friends.

“I’m honored to be invited.” Her heart actually strained a little at how honored, how touched she was. Though she considered Priscilla one of her closest friends, one never really knew how someone else felt. There had been times in the past when she had felt close to someone, only to discover they did not hold her in the same regard.

Priscilla beamed at her. They chatted for a little longer, catching up on the very light gossip that was available able this time of year, before she made her goodbyes. Feelingbuoyed by both the visit and the invitation, when Priscilla left, Catherine found herself wandering to the music room to practice her harp rather than staring moodily out the window again.

Samuel

Shrugging off his greatcoat, Samuel heard the sound of feminine laughter echo down the hall. He raised his eyebrows at Stims, the butler for Camden House.

“The ladies are having tea, sir,” Stims said, draping Samuel’s coat over his arm. “If you would follow me. The marquess and Captain Browne are waiting for you in the library.”

Nodding, Samuel followed the butler to the left, in the opposite direction of the laughter. He was not loathe to avoid the ladies of the house. Returning to London had made it clear to him that he was now a desirable target for the intrepid matchmakers of theton. He might not have a title, but he had plenty of money now, and he was young enough and handsome enough, the debutantes were as eager as their mamas to catch him.

Unfortunately for them, there was only one lady who had caught his interest. The same lady he’d fallen for when he’d been younger and much less wealthy. Now she was older, a widow, and free to court again… but very different from the young woman he’d known.

His mind flashed to the last time he’d seen her—at a private event for a secret club—when she’d been flogging a duke.

Yes, his Catherine had changed greatly since their youthful declarations of love and devotion. Had it been hermarriage or her husband’s death that had done the trick? Did he really want to know?

What was he prepared to do to make her his?

The questions had been turning in his head for weeks now, driving him batty and leaving him wavering. He wanted Catherine. He did not know if he could give her what she wanted. Not once he’d witnessed her in action at the Society of Sin. So, instead of pursuing her, the way he’d planned, he’d… hedged.

Taken the time to think.

And he still had no answers other than acknowledging that avoiding her was not helping him at all.

“Mr. North has arrived,” Stims said, jolting Samuel out of his thoughts.

They’d made the passage from the front door to the library without him really noticing. That was how twisted up Catherine had him. Stims stepped back, gesturing Samuel forward. He entered the well-lit, well-stocked library, nodding his greeting to the two men already inside.

Both of them stood, looking down at a large table with a map of England spread out on it, eight identical little black stones laid out upon it and one red stone on the location of London. Oliver Stuart, the Marquess of Camden, looked up and smiled.

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