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marry a member of the peerage. For, a return to her uncle and a forced marriage to Cedric were unthinkable. Yet, if she did not please Lady Charlesworth, her only other choice was to spend her life as a parlor maid. And she did not wish to spend her life as a parlor maid.
     
    Lady Charlesworth rose and said, “I wish to take a turn about the garden. You may come with me and tell me all about the Kirby estate. I wish to know all that went on there before Lady Katharine began her journey.”
     
    Katharine followed her mistress to the row of hedges near the greenhouse where Philip had been tending roses that very morning. The memory made her blush. If only she had known him, she would not have uttered such careless words. Yet, how could she ever have guessed that he would change so dramatically in manners and appearance.
     
    She harbored little doubt that he would have any difficulty capturing the interest of any young heiress upon whom he set his sights. The thought gave her a twinge of melancholy. Her hasty action had forever stolen the possibility that she would be his choice. She brushed aside her self-accusation. Why should she care who became his bride? She barely knew him and, should she get to London, there would be plenty of eligible bachelors there.
     
    Lady Charlesworth gave her a disapproving frown. “You have not said a word. I hope that I shall not find you close-mouthed and un-engaging, for I do not like dull young women, indeed I cannot stand their company.”
     
    Katharine shook off her remonstrations, amused by the knowledge that, should she confess, Lady Charlesworth would find them of much greater interest than what she was about to tell. She strode in step beside the lady, pausing as Lady Charlesworth stopped to take a deep breath of the cool cedar scented air.
     
    “ As you probably know, Lord Graynor arrived just after Lady Katharine’s father died. Have you met Lord Graynor, my lady?”
     
    Lady Charlesworth stood up. She gave Katharine a severe look. “I have. I understand that he gave your father, bless his soul, much cause for concern when he was a young man. I trust that age has improved him.”
     
    “ I fear it has not. Lady Katharine wanted nothing to do with staying, even in her own beloved home, if he were there. He offered that she might stay, but only on the terms that she marry his son, Master Cedric, who was soon to arrive.”
     
    Lady Charlesworth turned all of her attention to Katharine. “She was wise to decide upon coming here. I have not met the son since he was a child, but I cannot believe he is any match for my Philip.”
     
    “ Indeed not. He is exactly like his father.”
     
    Lady Charlesworth focused all of her attention upon Katharine as she continued the tale of how Lady Katharine had bravely refused him and set out to meet the young Lord Charlesworth, whom she held in fondest memory. By the time she finished the tale of the brave lady, tears shone in Lady Charlesworth’s eyes. She tucked her arm with Katharine as she dabbed a spotless white handkerchief at her nose.
     
    “ It is too much to be borne. You must have loved your mistress deeply.”
     
    “ We were very close, my lady.”
     
    “ For her sake, I shall keep you on for the present, for I have discovered that, like myself, you are capable of deep feelings, and beside you have proved quite diverting. I shall go upstairs now and take a rest until luncheon. You may do as you please until I ring you.”
     
    Katharine escorted her mistress back to her chambers. Then, with a sigh of relief, she looked for Lizzy. She was in need of a willing victim to practice her hair skills and she felt sure she could talk the young girl into sitting for her.
     
    She found her in the downstairs parlor, dusting the vases and tables. As there was no one else about, she was free to explain her need. “I was never required to attend to Lady Katharine except as a companion. I do not know a thing about caring for Lady