Page 1 of Whiskers and Wiles

Prologue

OXFORD UNIVERSITY, MAY 1796

There wasno feeling in heaven or earth better than rushing through a sunny, spring morning to meet one’s lover, knowing that today was the day he would ask the question that would make your life complete. Lady Katherine Balmor could hardly contain her excitement as she left the ancient, stone building within Queen’s College where she’d taken her final exam, and done brilliantly at it, she was certain, to make her way toward where Lord Waldorf Godwin was waiting for her.

There was a rush of other students around her, all of them laughing with relief or chattering away about examination questions, which required Kat to dodge and duck out of their way. Everyone was giddy with joy, now that they were free to go on their way, enjoying the summer, and for most, beginning the next chapter of their lives.

A few of the women Kat had attended classes with were returning to their home kingdoms to enter into marriages or other domestic duties, but some, like Kat herself, were about to embark upon rare and magnificent careers. Kat’s own summonsby Queen Matilda of Mercia to discuss positions within her government for which Kat might be suited, was set for two days’ time.

That audience, which Kat knew would decide the trajectory of her life, seemed outrageously unimportant compared to the conversation she knew awaited her when she reached her lodgings across the Magdalen Bridge. Waldorf was her everything, and after their beautiful days together while studying, they would finally be able to make a life together.

“Kat!”

Kat paused and turned to find her dear friend, Lady Muriel Grouse, striding down the path from the examination building, a bright smile lighting her face.

“Muriel!” Kat called in return, stepping aside to let a few other students pass, then hugging Muriel tightly once they met. “What a glorious day today is,” she laughed as she held her friend.

Muriel laughed with her, but looked astonished when she stepped back. “I assume you did well in the examination,” she said, “but ending your Oxford career well hardly warrants this sort of exuberance.”

Kat laughed again, then handed her small stack of books to Muriel so that she could unbutton her scholar’s robes and shed them to reveal her stylish, sprigged muslin gown beneath. “Today is far more than a matter of examinations,” she said, grinning as she draped her robe over her shoulder, then took her books back from Muriel.

“Is it now?” Muriel asked with a teasing smile. She hooked her arm through Kat’s and the two of them walked on toward the High Street.

“I have it on good authority that a certain someone is waiting for me at my lodgings,” Kat said, brimming with joy and certain her face had gone as pink as her gown. “He intimated that heshould like to ask me a certain question when we were together the day before yesterday.”

“Together, you say?” Muriel asked, mischief glittering in her eyes. When Kat only laughed and blushed in response to the cheeky question, Muriel went on with, “Then he better had ask you a certain question to avoid embarrassment in several months’ time.”

“Shush!” Kat bumped her friend playfully. “I took precautions. All is well.”

In fact, she and Waldorf had become so utterly mad for each other that she was not certain those precautions would be enough. They were both young, passionate, and impulsive, which made for blissful nights exploring the forbidden mysteries between men and women. There had been no accidents as of yet, but that was not a guarantee for the future.

“Well, I am deeply happy for you,” Muriel said, pausing as they reached a crossroads. “I demand to be invited to the wedding.”

“You shall serve as a maid of honor,” Kat told her. “Minerva and Bernadette will join you, of course.”

“Of course,” Muriel said, her smile wide and genuine. “I look forward to your happy announcement. But for now, my brother just arrived in town last night with the intention of sweeping me home to Nailsea the moment our commencement ceremony is complete. I need to go find him and entertain him before he lands himself in more trouble than he likely already has.”

“Yes, you must keep Arnold out of trouble,” Kat laughed, hugging Muriel again. She knew she was laughing too much and at everything, but her heart was too full of joy not to express it freely.

She parted ways with Muriel and started happily down the High Street toward the Magdalen Bridge, hugging her books to her breast with a sigh. Everything was so beautiful and perfect.She was convinced that she’d been blessed with a charmed life. She had a rare man that she loved who respected her and would allow her the freedom to work. She had the promise of an important position with Queen Matilda that would, no doubt, place her in the center of the exciting turns the world and Britannia were about to take, and she had?—

“Lady Katherine!”

Kat nearly tripped over her own feet at the regretfully familiar voice calling after her. She put on as much of a smile as she could as she turned to find Lord Anthony Headland hurrying toward the pedestrians on the busy street to meet her.

“Lady Katherine,” Lord Headland—who was from the Kingdom of East Anglia, and therefore addressed by his surname, rather than the much more personable styling of Wessex that allowed Waldorf to be addressed as Lord Waldorf—repeated his greeting. “You are looking particularly lovely this afternoon.”

Inwardly, Kat sighed and rolled her eyes. Lord Headland had singled her out at the beginning of the year. He had declared to anyone who would listen that he would woo her and win her and install her as his wife at his estate near Norfolk by summer.

Of course, he failed to take into account that Kat already loved Waldorf. Lord Headland barely deigned to acknowledge Waldorf. He considered Waldorf an insufficient match for Kat because he allowed her so much autonomy and license. Lord Headland failed to realize that the very things he disdained about Waldorf were all the reasons Kat loved him so.

“Thank you, Lord Headland,” Kat replied with a stiff, formal nod. “If you will excuse me, I am on my way to a prearranged meeting.”

Kat turned to walk on, but Lord Headland fell into step with her anyhow.

“Here,” he said, reaching for her. “Allow me to escort you.”

“No, thank you, Lord Headland,” Kat said, pulling away from him when he tried to grab her arm.

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