“Yes. A man almost as old as my father, with no hair, shorter than I, and a large belly. I am younger than his children.”
Francie shuddered.
“I’ve almost resigned myself, Francie. I might have to become like those aristocratic women who join a nunnery because no one will have them.”
“No, darling,” Francie said as she walked beside her. “You are so lovely and intelligent. Many men want you. And you and I are only 17.”
“Yes, they want me for all the wrong reasons, like a rich dowry. Once they realize that I can speak several languages and have studied almost as much as they have, they recoil. ”
“Nonsense.”
“Yes, and I don’t want to marry a man for a title. I…”
“Yes?” Francie asked her to continue.
“I want a man who wants me and loves me for me. Am I mad?”
Francie shook her head. “No, dearest,” she said. “You are not mad.”
Hands clasped between the two close friends, they headed back to the house.
***
Anne watched as the neighbor girl Frances Maxwell walked into the small woods looking for Katharine. Her daughter was becoming a wild, headstrong girl and Edward refused to see it. Anne had been setting forth proper suitors for a year now, hoping Katharine would warm to one of them, but she hadn’t. Worse still was the fact that Edward had told her to leave Katharine alone and that she would marry in good time.
Good time? Bah! If left alone to her own, Kat would soon be 25, an old maiden and good for only embroidery.
Why was I given this last child? Anne wondered. Charles was married, happy and settled in London, ready to be given the reins of the family. Her lovely daughters Mary and Eleanor were both good girls, married and living on their own estates. And Katharine? Katharine was the bane of Anne’s existence, set upon to irritate her as a rough hair shirt. Defying her at every turn, Katharine was a willful brat.
Anne blamed Edward entirely for Katharine’s behavior. Edward had coddled and pampered her until the chit thought herself above everyone. Well, her time would come. The Earl of Benton seemed intent upon having Katharine as his own. She must marry, and Anne thought he was as good as any man.
Edward Fairfax settled down into his comfortable red leather chair, musing over the conversation with his wife over his daughter Katharine. The animosity between his wife and his youngest daughter was palpable. He and Anne were also at an impasse. He was of the belief that time was on
their side. Katharine was only 17 years old, young and impetuous, but certainly no old maid. She could wait to marry. There was also the fact that she would come to any marriage with a large dowry and that she was lovely. All of these things were in her favor.
However, his wife thought that Katharine’s beauty and dowry were her only saving grace, as her mind was too finely tuned and would frighten away lesser men. She also felt that in this one instance that Katharine should bow to her family’s wishes and marry the husband chosen for her.
Edward did not agree. He wanted Kat to be happy and felt that a rushed marriage would not be wise. He sipped his sherry and looked longingly into the fire. He would not have her harmed. He wanted her to be settled with a man who understood her mind and spirit and who would match both, not break, his beloved daughter.
Then, a thought struck him. He would send her to London to visit her brother Charles and his wife Sarah. She would be able to spend time with them, enjoy the season, and come home refreshed and ready to face what the future held- whatever that would be. Satisfied with his decision, he took up his quill pen to write the necessary letter to his son.
***
Katharine was thrilled to be in London. Though she missed her friends and father at Willow Manor, the city was alive with a pulse and beat.
Charles and Sarah, a thriving young couple, delighted in showing Katharine the sights and taking her to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Kat shopped and went to many balls and parties. She was admired wherever she went; her lively nature, wit, and intelligence attracted men.
Sarah was happy to have married into the Fairfax family and readily accepted her new role as wife to Charles, but she was secretly envious of Katharine’s beauty and charm. It irritated her that Katharine seemed to conquer men’s hearts wherever she went, and the Earl of Benton seemed to follow her around in a most annoying fashion.
It irked Sarah. She went so far as to mention the Earl’s obsession to Charles, but Charles didn’t seem to mind Katharine’s presence or the following that she had among London’s most eligible bachelors. Rumor had it that several married men had vowed to conquer Katharine’s headstrong spirit and one outwardly wanted her as his mistress.
Katharine ignored the overtures and settled into London society. She saw her father more, as he tended to be in London and live at their townhouse, though she was with her brother and his wife.
Though Katharine saw no wrong in avoiding and even ignoring several of the more aggressive men, they were men used to the power and prestige of their positions and thought a mere woman could not deny them.
One older baron named Horace Adams was known amongst his group as arrogant, greedy, and wealthy, though not extremely so. He had married an older woman though it was her first marriage, but she brought with her a hefty dowry for which he was very grateful. He used the money to increase his holdings and spent many a night in the local brothels where he was well known.
On the outer circle of polite society, he enjoyed the theatre and gaming rooms and spotted Katharine with her newfound friends at one such event. Katharine paid him scant attention and was more interested in the newest play.