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Chapter II – I am me

He wondered to his room quite distracted, completely forgetting that he had promised Sheldon to show him around the house. By the time he laid on the bed, all of his clothes were soaking wet but he didn't even notice. He took his coat off and cravat and just sat down in disbelief.

"Who was she?", was the question that lingered in his mind. If he didn't know himself better, he would have thought it was a dream. "A fairy, a siren. She could hardly be called earthly". He could not stop remembering the body dancing in the rain, hands extended , head raised towards the sky, as if in prayer, bare feet touching the grass … and then she turned around to find herself taken out of the spell by him … He almost felt sorry he had interrupted …

"Almost, but not quite!", he said out loud with a half smile blooming on the left side of his lips.

Her hair tamed down by the rain , those eyes, those wet lips … It was obvious to him now that he had startled her, but at the time he was hardly conscious of anything else, besides her… "What a creature!", he thought and wondered if he would ever see her again …

-oOo-

Catherine was furiously trying to dry her hair, change her dress and hide that one away … anything to try and erase what had just happened. As she was rubbing the towel over and over on her hair, she was completely oblivious to the fact that she was tangling it more and more, until it had become a frizzled mass.

It was not in Catherine's character to feel ashamed by anything, especially when she knew she wasn't doing anything wrong. But she also knew how easily people judged, how violently they would behave against anything that seemed the least bit out of the ordinary, and she felt awkward. She was alone in a place she had never been in before, with people she had never met before and the worst part was Beau was in love with one of them … she did not want to think that what had just happened could in any way damage his chances with Charlotte Watson … She would never be able to forgive herself. And there was something else …. Something else that Catherine could not explain even to herself.

"He was a quite handsome man", she found herself thinking. Of course, he was nothing compared to William, but still those piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight into your soul… "Yes, there was deffinatly something to say about those eyes" … She suddenly realized that she could hardly remember anything about that man except his eyes and a sensation that he had left in her.

The best she could hope was that he was just passing by and that he wasn't a guest of the Watson's, but somehow she knew that to be untrue.

An hour later, she had finally been able to tame her hair and pull it up in a simple yet elegant loop. She had had to make her hair and put her corset on herself for she did not want the maid to know where she had been. "One viewer is quite enough for one night". She put on a creamy-white dress that accentuated her figure and the color of her skin and the emerald her father had given her on her 15th birthday, around her neck.

Catherine looked in the mirror and could not help feeling quite pleased with the results.

"Cat! Are you ready? The Watson's are back and we're having tea in the parlor."

It was Beau. He seemed anxious. She could not keep him in that tortured state. She opened the door.

"My God, Cat! What are you planning on doing? Give every man in the room a heart attack?". Beau and his remarks. Most of the time Catherine found them amusing, but tonight his face was so serious, she could not help feeling a bit flattered.

"I promised you I would protect you from any evil dragon, but I see you intent on making me break my promise. But do not fear my lady", he continued with a official tone in his voice, "I shall protect you from any English dragon that might want to steel you away". He smiled and offered her his arm.

Through the cries of laughter, Catherine took his arm and they went downstairs.

Even before reaching the parlor, in the little hallway that led to it, Charlotte was waiting. She was obviously impatient.

"Ah, there is Miss Charlotte", Beau said adding tenderness to his usual cheerful voice, "Miss Charlotte, I would like to present my friend…. My sister, I should say, Catherine Butler".

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Catherine. Mister Wilkes had told me so much about you. I feel we are friends already!", she said smiling and stealing little glances of Beau now and again.

Still moved by Beau's description of her as his sister, Catherine replied: "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Charlotte."

"You must bring the guests in here, Charlotte. Otherwise they should think we are quite the savage kind". A sudden high pitched voice broke the recently formed acquaintance. It was, without a doubt, Fanny Watson.

They followed Charlotte in the parlor, where Fanny was sitting on one of the couches with what, Catherine guessed, was the other Miss Watson, Eleanor.

The Watson girls were not without charms. Catherine had liked Charlotte from the first moment. She had an openness and ease about her. She still looked like a child, although Catherine guessed she was about seventeen. Her pretty blue eyes, blond hair, beautiful smile and milk-white skin gave her a fairy like appearance that made her seem very sweet. "Yes," Catherine thought, "I should like her as a sister-in-law very much indeed".

Eleanor, on the other hand, although shared her sister's blond hair and blue eyes, was obvious quite different in character. She was sitting next to her mother, with her back as straight as she could manage and her neck fully extended. Barley moving from time to time.

"She is practicing for her role as countess, no doubt", Catherine observed amused.

As she was making her way to the couch where the Watson's were sitting, she couldn't avoid looking for Billy. She hadn't seen him since they got off the coach in the morning. Finally, she spotted him in one corner of the room, obviously engaged in a deep discussion with two other gentlemen.

"Oh, Miss Catherine. Do sit down and have some tea!", Fanny urged her. "It is fascinating to meet someone from America. I have always found it to be a quite peculiar place".

Catherine did not like the word Fanny Watson had used to describe her country, but she said nothing. Not like her at all but she had promised Beau to like all of the Watson's.

"Although,", she continued in the same over pretended way she had of speaking, "I do find Berlin to be the most interesting city I have ever seen".

This draw Eleanor Watson right out of her meditative state. "Oh, yes! It is the best place on Earth", she replied with eyes wide open.

"Ah ….. so the groom to be is from Berlin", Catherine concluded.

"Are you familiar with Berlin, Miss Catherine?", Eleanor asked, and it was the kind of trick question where the expected answer was "No" and the commentary that would follow would be one of complete disbelief and self-righteousness.

"Yes …", Catherine answered slowly, "I lived there with my parents for three years when I was younger".

This was not the expected answer. Eleanor's face suddenly dropped and a very thin "Really?", came out.

Just as Fanny was about to say something, Billy approached them.

"Will you excuse me", he said, "Catherine, I shall like to introduce you to my client and his cousin, if you don't mind.".

Catherine was grateful for the intervention. She was quite sure nothing could be worse then talking to Eleanor Watson at this point.

They crossed the room and stopped in front of the two men that were obviously still not aware of their presence.

"Catherine I would like to introduce you to Mister Sheldon Lennox and Mister James Thornton … This is my sister, Catherine Butler".

As she got ready to extend her hand to greet Billy's friends, Catherine froze. It was him, the man … the man from the garden. She was sure of it. Even if she could not remember his face earlier, being so close to him made her sure of it. And it was obvious that he knew it as well from the way he was looking at her. She wondered if he would tell everyone right then and there…

"It is an honor to meet you, Miss Butler", he said in a soft, deep voice, looking extremely serious.

She straightened her back and looked him in the eyes, smiled, took his hand and shook it confidently, "Likewise, Mister Thornton".

"Bill had told us of your beauty, Miss Catherine, but I'm afraid he did not do you justice". Catherine directed her attention towards Sheldon Lennox and was pleased to see a large smile on his face. It made her a little bit more comfortable.

"You are too kind, Mister Lennox", she replied.

"Miss Catherine …". The high pitched voice was back. She excused herself and went closer to the couch once again.

"Do you play the piano, Miss Catherine?", Fanny asked, "I find the piano to be one of the necessities of life. I, myself, am a great lover of music and playing the piano is one of my greatest pleasures",

"Yes, I do play the piano, Mrs. Watson"

"Well then .. you must play for us … I think we can all do with a little bit of entertaining."

That drew the room's entire attention on Catherine, including the serious man in the corner. It was the last thing she needed.

"Oh … no …", she tried to excuse herself, "I haven't played in weeks and I think that I am still quite tired after my journey. I do not think I would make for very good entertainment tonight".

But this seemed to only fuel Fanny even more: "Nonsense. We shall like to hear you! We have never heard an American play the piano".

"Mrs. Watson", Catherine tried to hide her aggravation," I can assure you, the piano is played in the same way around the world. And I am not being modest when I say that my playing tonight will not be good …"

"Come, Catherine", Beau interrupted with a pleading voice, "please, we shall very much like to hear you play. Mrs. Watson", he underlined, "shall very much like to hear you play".

This put an end to Catherine's explanations. Beau had betrayed her. Passing him on her way to the piano, she gave him a look that made it perfectly clear just what he should expect on the first opportunity.

As she sat down in front of the piano and started to prepare, she could see Mr. Thornton and his cousin leave the room. Where, she did not know…

"I'm afraid my nephew is not very fond of music", she heard Fanny Watson say, "It's his mother, you see. She could never play the instrument", she added whispering.

Catherine started playing. She choosed "Fur Elise". It was one of her favorites and it was what she considered a "safe piece". No one could think badly of Beethoven. As she touched the piano with the first notes, she couldn't help remembering an old, black man from New Orleans that had impressed her with his piano playing, in both skill and style. She remembered the hours she had spent with him and the things she had learned: theme variations, as he had called it. A naughty look appeared on Catherine's face as she started bending and twisting Beethoven's piece with rhythms that were not at all conventional, and least of all safe. She alternated between the original theme and her own variations and gave a very dramatic finale.

Then she turned around to face her audience and was very pleased to see Fanny Watson and her daughter almost passed out on the couch.

-oOo-

James Thornton had retired to one of the studies, to be able to get way, at least for a while, from his aunt Fanny. Most of the time he was able to ignore her but tonight she just got on his nerves. He had a vague suspicion it had something to do with her attacks on their American guest, although he was not ready to accept that.

He still couldn't believe it was the same woman. One moment she's a water nymph, the other a well brought-up young lady. But there was no mistaken that face. It was her. Besides, he could smell the rain on her.

"Perhaps, she is a witch that can change at will". The thought brought a smile to his face.

"I'm willing to bet I know what has made you smile just now", his cousin interrupted his thoughts.

He raised his eyebrows expecting the punch-line.

"It must have been Miss Catherine Butler. Who else?", Sheldon replied quite convinced of himself.

"Not at all", he dismissed the thought straight away.

"Oh, come James. You mean to tell me you do not find her to be the most beautiful and fascinating woman you have ever met?"

"I suppose …", James began slowly, "if you like the completely ungraceful, farm girl kind. Did you notice her skin? It looked like she had been planting in the fields. And that white dress just made it more evident" … He did not know why he would say something like that. It was not in his nature to speak badly of a woman in any circumstances and to anyone. And more so when it was not true. He regretted it instantly.

He regretted it even more when he turned around and saw Catherine standing in the doorway.

"Excuse me", she said smiling and quickly made her way towards them. "Charlotte was looking for a sheet of music. She said it would be in here. Ah … there it is …", she said pointing at the table the two men were sitting in front off and extended her hand to take it, making them both take a step backwards.

She did not seem offended or angry at all, which only made the men feel more uncomfortable. She gave them an other quick smile and with that she was out the door.

After a good 3 minutes of silence, Sheldon turned to his cousin: "Well, it's a good thing you didn't like her, cousin ". James Thornton's face had turned to stone. They made their way back to the parlor only to find Miss Butler playing a duet with Charlotte. She seemed quite at ease

But this was not the case. Under her apparent ease and enjoyment, Catherine had to admit she was quite hurt. Even more so, when she remembered thinking he was "a quite handsome man". The worst thing was, she still thought that and she felt a sudden urge to change dresses.

-oOo-

Soon enough, it was time for dinner, so they made their way into the dining room. It was a large room, that had been decorated recently. James was heading the table.

Catherine could feel his eyes on her, but as she turned her head to face him, he quickly looked away.

They were well through the second course, and Fanny was explaining why she and her daughters hadn't been there to greet them in the morning. A wedding dress emergency!

"Well, as you might understand, we immediately had to go there. Thank God, it could be resolved because otherwise all that French lace would have gone to waste … And just two weeks before the wedding … Can you imagine that? What would have Eleanor worn then?", she said laughing, "Poor thing .. we would have resulted to make her dress out of cotton", she concluded still laughing but as her nephew looked at her, she realized what she had said.

James looked at his aunt, briefly closed his eyes, sighed and then looked away. "What was the point?", he thought.

"Anyway, ", Charlotte stepped in to try and mend an awkward situation, "as we were returning the most dreadful rain started …"

"Oh, dear God! Not the rain!", Catherine thought

"Oh, yes … I hate the rain", Eleanor added …

"What about you, Miss Butler? What are your feelings on the English rain?"

Catherine, once again, turned her head towards that deep voice that was now taunting her …

"I'm not quite sure I understand the true meaning of your question", it was her turn to taunt, "but I, deffinatly, don't run from it, if that's what you're asking. I've found that a little bit of water never harmed anyone …"

"Yes,", he added with a look of mischief in his eyes, "but you should be careful … most young ladies, from what I understand, do not enjoy to be completely soaked", and gave her a smile that seemed more of complicity …

Catherine raised her head higher so she could look at him better. "I am not most young ladies. I am me, Mister Thornton, and I make no apologies about that".

Her eyes sparkled and he felt a sudden blow to the stomach.

ok, yes! Little scene from Pride and Prejudice .. but I love that scene ...