As the giant door loomed before her, an overwhelming, sinking feeling she couldn't shake began to take hold of her.
"This isn't going to end well."
Ichabod's hand tightened in hers as he gave her a reassuring smile that didn't reassure her in the least. "Perhaps. Perhaps not."
Desperation clung to her as she turned to her husband. "Ichabod please, let's just go home."
His gaze came to her, a frown creasing his face. "Katrina, what's wrong?"
She opened her mouth to answer when the door opened, cutting off her response. "Mr. and Mrs. Crane, you're expected in the sitting room."
The young maid held the door for them to enter.
Sighing, Katrina made to step inside, but Ichabod's hand tightened in hers to hold her back. "I'm afraid my wife isn't feeling well," he said apologetically. "Please give our regrets to the von Brunt's."
He began to step back onto the porch when Abraham appeared in the doorway, much to her chagrin. "Ah, you came."
The broad smile upon his face actually made her feel ill.
"Yes," Ichabod answered, clearing his throat. "But I'm afraid we can't stay."
Abraham's smile waned. "Why ever not?"
"Katrina's not feeling very well..." he responded as he shifted his feet back and forth before quite clumsily adding, "The baby."
She did her best to hide her smile at Ichabod's awful delivery. He was still a terrible liar.
Abraham's gaze immediately fell to her belly. "Oh, well...I'm sure we have something that will aid you in your recovery."
Katrina gave a tight smile. "It's not something that can be aided."
With a sigh, Abraham nodded, "If you must leave, very well. I was simply looking forward to your company, Ichabod. It's been a long time."
The narrowing of her eyes could not be helped as she took in the fact that Abraham's eyes had remained on her as he spoke, something missed by Ichabod as his eyes were also fixed on her. Her own sigh had to be suppressed as she considered how much she knew Ichabod wanted to stay.
"I suppose we can stay for a while, though, I can't promise we won't leave abruptly should I feel the urge."
Catching her husband's eyes, she made sure he knew the meaning of her words. Any annoyance on her part would result in their immediate exit from this house.
The slight raise of his eyebrows gave answer to his knowledge of her hidden meaning, but that didn't stop him from turning fully toward her.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes latching onto hers in question. "We can do this another day."
Gently squeezing his hand, she gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine." At his doubtful look, she added, "I promise."
Abraham clapped his hands together. "Well then, shall we?"
Doing her best to cover her reluctance to step foot in the von Brunt home, she followed as Abraham led them into the house. Upon rounding the corner to the sitting room, however, Katrina froze, disbelief coursing through her. Not only were the elder von Brunt's present, but her father and step-mother as well.
"Katrina, darling, how wonderful to see you."
Her father's expression seemed one of genuine delight, but, then again, she never could read him well. Her ability at lying rather adeptly had most certainly been inherited from him.
As she attempted to process this turn of events, Ichabod's hand reached for hers giving her the strength to finally speak. "Father, I wasn't expecting you to be here."
He gestured to Abraham's father. "Howard asked us over for dinner last night at the festival. It would seem the idea of having all the van Tassel's in the same room was in the air last night."
Katrina bristled. "The Crane's. As I'm a Crane, the appropriate way to phrase that would be the van Tassel's and the Crane's."
Her father's facade slipped slightly, though recovered just as fast. "I suppose if you wanted to be detailed about it."
The urge to leave was already entering her.
"Yes, well," Abraham began, "I think it's simply wonderful that we're all together again, just as we used to be."
His eyes were once again on hers sending an uncomfortable sensation through her.
Her father smiled. "Yes, it's as if nothing has changed at all."
"I need to sit." Gripping Ichabod's hand, she led him to a small sofa doing her best to hold her tongue.
"Ichabod," started Abraham, "Tell us how things are progressing with our General."
The conversation fell into politics, thankfully retracting from some of the tension in the room. As the men conversed, her thoughts began to wander as she glanced about, a rush of memories flooding her. Uncomfortable dinners. Overly extravagant parties. Attitudes of superiority. She'd hated this house. The only bright spots had been the stolen one's she and Ichabod had found when she was avoiding Abraham.
"Ms. van Tassel."
Nearly jumping out of her skin, she turned to find Ichabod entering the kitchen.
"Forgive me," he quickly said, his face apologetic.
"Oh, no," she said, holding up a hand. "I was just..."
"Hiding?" he offered with a small smile.
Releasing a light laugh, she shrugged. "You caught me." She gestured to the bottle of wine she'd been consuming. "Join me?"
He closed the distance between them before picking up the bottle. "Hmm, I didn't realize you were a lover of wine."
"I'm going to be a von Brunt soon. That's more than enough reason to dull my senses."
His eyebrows rose slightly, causing her to sigh. She hadn't meant to sound quite so resentful.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not in the best of moods tonight."
He shook his head. "It's alright. You've dealt with more than enough of my moods. I suppose it's only fair that I should return the favor."
Smiling, she poured him a glass and handed it to him. "You haven't seen anything yet. I can have quite the temper."
He chuckled. "I've heard."
"Really? From who?"
"Your father." His head tilted. "Your step-mother. Abraham. Mrs. von Brunt. Mr. von Brunt."
She flexed her jaw. "Is that all?"
He smiled. "Mary. Reverend Knapp." He frowned. "The postmaster."
"Mr. Taylor said I have a temper? When?"
Mr. Taylor was the sweetest man in town. She couldn't imagine him saying such a thing.
"This morning. I must have come in just after you left. He was quite flustered."
"Oh," she whispered, slight embarrassment filling her. "I might have received a letter from Abraham informing me that I was to behave tonight." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently, he doesn't like it when I state my opinion. The little man was too cowardly to tell me to my face."
Ichabod nodded knowingly. "So, that's why you broke Mr. Taylor's inkwell."
Guiltily meeting his eyes, she bit her lip. "Perhaps."
With a chuckle, he poured her another glass. "How is your attempt at behaving working out for you tonight?"
Shrugging, she brought the glass to her lips. "I'm hiding in here in an attempt to hold my tongue." She raised an eyebrow. "And what are you doing in here?"
A slight blush crept along his collar as he fiddled with his glass. "I...may or may not be fleeing from Ms. Ross."
Her head fell back as she laughed. "Betsy Ross? Is she fancying you?"
His eyes slid to her. "I'm not sure."
Frowning, she asked, "What do you mean?"
He glanced to the kitchen door nervously before turning back to her. "She..." He shook his head. "I can't."
"Oh, no," she said, stepping closer to him. "You can't stop now. Tell me."
He tilted his head from side to side before sighing. "You can't repeat this."
Quickly nodding, she waited with overwhelming curiosity.
"She propositioned me."
Eyes popping wide open, she whispered, "No, she didn't. How?"
His blush was now fully covering his face. "She cornered me in the parlor and..."
"And...?"
"She slid her hands inside my coat and informed she knew where all the dark corners in the house were."
Riveted, as well as slightly annoyed, she prodded, "What did you do?"
She prayed with everything within her he didn't venture into any dark corners with that woman. The thought of anyone touching him set her on edge.
"Well, I fumbled out an excuse about how I saw someone I knew before escaping in here."
Releasing a relieved breath, she chuckled, "I bet she's waiting for you to make your exit."
He threw another glance to the door, a slight look of terror coming to his face. "You don't really think so, do you?"
"I'm surprised you don't know how to handle this by now. The women of this town have been after you for years."
His eyes came back to hers. "One would think. Your father informed me I should pick one and marry her sooner rather than later."
"My father?" she asked with a frown.
He nodded. "Yes. It was a rather odd conversation. He almost seemed desperate for me to find someone."
"He did?" she whispered, dropping her gaze to her glass, as she considered his words. It was no secret in her mind of how she felt about Ichabod. The only person she was aware of knowing her secret feelings was Mary and even then she still denied it to her friend. The idea that her father might know and was attempting to snuff out any possibility of her feelings reaching fruition began to kindle her temper.
"Are you alright?"
The concern in his voice prompted her to glance up. When she caught his eyes, she felt her breath hitch. All she'd ever wanted was contained behind his blue orbs, his feelings toward her right there shining, just waiting to be seen.
"Yes," she answered, shaking her head. "I'm just curious."
"About?"
"If you've found anyone you might consider marrying."
It's not that she actually wanted to know, but rather that she needed to know. She needed to know if she was imagining things or not, if his mutual feelings for her were real, or just a figment of her imagination.
He swallowed, his eyes falling to her mouth for a moment before returning to her eyes. "No, at least...not anyone within my reach."
The intensity with which he was gazing at her was causing her breathing to become heavy.
Deciding to change the tone of the room, she dropped her eyes.
"You're not talking about Mary, are you? Because I'm afraid there's no changing her mind about you."
His chuckle was a welcome reprieve from the tension in the room.
"Mary...no, I can't imagine that."
With a smile, she held out her glass to him for a toast. "Here's to hoping you acquire the woman of your dreams."
He stared at her glass for a moment before touching his to it and catching her eyes. "If only in my dreams."
His words sent a shiver down her as she brought her glass to her lips.
If only in my dreams.
"When are you due, Katrina?"
Slightly startled to have been addressed by Mrs. von Brunt, a woman she was well aware disliked her intensely, she hesitated before replying.
"About another two months."
The woman gave a tight smile. "You must be thrilled."
Threading her fingers through Ichabod's, she answered, "I am. Ichabod and I are very excited to welcome our first child."
"And nervous," added Ichabod. "The idea of fighting in a bloody battle is more soothing that being responsible for another life."
Abraham chuckled. "Yes, I imagine it would be quite terrifying."
"You have no idea," Ichabod answered.
"He wouldn't, would he?" spat Mrs. von Brunt.
At her words, Katrina's jaw clenched. "If you have something to say, just say it. Otherwise, do us all a favor and keep your little snide remarks to yourself."
"Katrina..." Ichabod whispered admonishingly, but she paid him no mind as she continued glaring at the woman across from her.
"I have nothing to say to someone who would betray all she had been given in such a way."
Livid, Katrina stood. "I did not betray anyone." Throwing a finger at Abraham, she continued, "I broke my engagement to your son because I did not love him, nor did I wish to become another run of the mill housewife who has nothing better to do than look pretty for her husband." Sighing, she looked at Abraham. "I know you must think Ichabod and I were sneaking about, but we weren't. He did not even know of my true feelings until the day I informed you of my decision."
Abraham shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Mother, let us leave Katrina be."
Mrs. von Brunt stood. "I will not tolerate this! How can you stand there and allow her to flaunt her lover in front of you? A man beneath your station? All the while full with the child that should have been yours?"
Before Abraham could respond, she stepped forward despite Ichabod's grasp attempting to stay her. "I am not flaunting, Ichabod. It was not my decision to come here. To be honest, I begged him not to come because I knew you people were too conceited and prideful to treat him as he deserves."
"Katrina van Tassel, you will hold your tongue!"
Her glare turned to her father. "Do not begin to even attempt scolding me. I told you that until you respected my marriage, I was finished with you. And my name... is Katrina Crane."
Abraham stepped forward. "Perhaps, we should all take a moment to collect ourselves." He glanced at her before turning to his parents. "I harbor no ill will toward Ichabod and Katrina. They are my friends and I asked them here to enjoy a meal with the people I care about most. Now," he said, conjuring a smile. "I believe dinner is ready. Shall we venture to the dining room?"
The others hesitated before moving to do just that. Once they were out of the room, just Abraham, along with she and Ichabod, was left.
"I'm very sorry for my mother's behavior." He smiled. "She has a tendency to hold onto perceived wrongs, well...forever."
Ichabod chuckled. "It's alright, Abraham."
"It's not alright," she whispered tiredly. "This was a mistake." She turned to Ichabod. "We should not have come here."
He sighed. "Katrina-"
"I came here for you, now I'm asking you to leave for me. Please."
His eyes softened as he threaded his fingers through hers once more. "Of course, my love." Turning to Abraham, he continued, "I'm very sorry, Abraham."
Abraham shook his head. "Oh, it's quite alright. Perhaps, we can catch up some other time, in a less hostile setting."
Ichabod nodded. "That would be lovely."
As they made their way to the door, Abraham bid them farewell and they made their exit.
"I'm sorry I made you come."
She laughed lightly. "Since when have you ever made me do anything?" She stopped at the gate and leaned up to brush her lips over his. "You and I both know there's no making me do something I don't want."
He raised an eyebrow. "True."
Chuckling, she took his hand. "Now, your child and I are starving." She threw him a glance. "You're fixing dinner."
He shook his head with a smile. "Of course, my love."
