Chapter 12
Today was Caterina's final day of freedom, for tomorrow in the early afternoon she would become Mrs. Caterina Fitzgerald... or so everyone thought.
Yes one more day to figure out what she was going to do tomorrow; there really was no other option but to elope. She would leave in the early morning and return two weeks later... without her husband.
She had risen today by herself, Tori was nowhere to be found. She hadn't seen her since the night before when she informed her that she was with child. The thought astounded her, Victoria her childhood friend was going to be a mother and before herself. Slinging her dressing gown around her she went in search of one of the maids to run her a bath.
She glanced in her mother's bedroom as she passed and saw her perched up on the bed with a tray of food. A damp cloth was placed over her forehead, giggling at her mother's conduct last night Caterina stepped into her bedroom and sat on the sofa at the end of the bed.
"Good morning mother." She cheerfully greeted, "Sleep well?"
Her mother groaned, "You know very well that I did not. Caterina take this tray away from me, I cannot stand the smell. It is making me feel ill."
Caterina grinned as she lifted the tray and placed it on her mother's dresser, "Yes mother it's just the food that is making you feel ill, not all the sherry you drank with Aunt Sybil. She fell asleep on the chaise lounge, it was so funny."
Lady Rebecca flopped back on her bed, "Close the curtains Caterina, I need more sleep." Placing the cool cloth over her eyes she sighed contently as she sunk into her comfortable mattress. Before Caterina she shouted over to her daughter, "By the way, Sir Robert will be arriving at three sharp and your dress is going to be delivered today."
Caterina paused, her hand tapping against the wooden door panel, "Why is Sir. Robert coming over?"
"I asked him to come over." Lady Rebecca answered, revealing nothing, "It is for me to know and for you to find out my dear. Now please let me rest more."
Caterina left her mother's room promptly after that, smiling to herself contently as she skipped back into her room to put on one of her lighter dresses. This was going to be the most relaxing day that she had experienced all week. Finally her mother was bed-ridden which meant that Caterina could finally go back to her woods... at least until three.
Racing down the staircase she skidded across the polished floor towards the door. Opening the door she revelled at the surprising warm sun that was embracing her pale skin. Spotting Beck she called out his name and rushed over to him.
He bowed respectively, "Miss Caterina."
Cat dismissively waved her hand at him, "Beck you don't have to bow at me like that, we are old friends! Now where is Tori I need to speak to her immediately."
Beck grimaced slightly, scratching the back of his neck in discomfort, "She is unwell, she remained at the cottage today."
Caterina grinned widely before inappropriately hugging Beck, "She is so unwell! Isn't it wonderful!"
Before Beck could figure out what had come over the young maiden she had already skipped off towards the stables, humming as she rounded the corner and entered the stable.
"Hey boy!" she said as she opened the paddock, "We're going to visit Tori, sound like fun?"
He spluttered and Cat took that as a yes, placing his saddle over him she attached it securely and jumped on him.
It took her only ten short minutes until she was outside Tori's cottage, smoke was rising out of the chimney and the front door opened to reveal a weakened Tori, she looked sickly pale, her hair was pulled out of her face accentuating her cheekbones. Tying Peppermint to the fence she walked up the path to greet her friend.
"Tori you don't look at all well. Do you want me to call the doctor, is it because of the baby?" Caterina asked as Tori slammed the door shut.
"No, no. It's not that at all. I saw you and Lord Shapiro last night." she admitted.
Cat tried to suppress a smile but she couldn't, "Is that a bad thing? We were only dancing."
Tori shook her head, "No you don't understand, I wasn't the only one who saw you. Lady Trina did too. I was holding the sketch and she was so angry she ripped it up. She was so vicious Cat, she pulled me away and forced me to answer questions about your relationship with him. She blackmailed me."
Cat mouth fell to the floor, "She blackmailed you? What did she say?"
Tori took a seat on the lumpy sofa, she was nervously wringing her hands, "She told me that I had to ensure that you never spoke to Sir. Shapiro again or she would tell Lady Rebecca about my affair with Lord. Fitzgerald. I have to report to her and never speak to you again."
Caterina rushed to her friend's aid; placing an arm around her she held her close while Tori silently cried on her shoulder. Caterina couldn't imagine a life with Tori, they were best friends, they would always be best friends. She was causing her such angst, hurting her so much.
"There is something else too." Tori added, her body shaking from the tears that were spilling out of your eyes, "She told me I had to break you. She told me something and I don't think I can keep it from you Cat, it's horrible."
"Tell me Tori." Cat clenched her hand, "If you think I need to know then tell me."
Tori wiped the tears away from her eyes, trying to be strong for her friend who in no doubt would need her support in a moment, "Sir Shapiro doesn't feel anything for you." She told her, "He placed a bet on your virginity."
Caterina's face shattered, her lip wobbled as her eyes began to brim with salty tears, "What?" she whispered.
"I'm so sorry Cat."
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Lady Jadelyn was bored, it was a serious problem her. She had a short fuse and she needed to constantly be entertained. Picking at the food in front of her she scowled and she slammed her fork down. She wanted Robert to make an appearance this morning, she needed to know about what had happened last night.
She had tried to warn Caterina, she really had. Honestly it bewildered her why she had, normally she loved to watch the drama unfold but she felt something towards Caterina. Maternal instinct, she was a little dove that needed to be protected. She disliked Lady Trina, so much that she had envisioned her death several times. Her favourite scenario of the moment was pushing her in front of the steam train, that would be so satisfying, one second and then she would be dispelled from all of their lives.
Why had she returned after seven long years, everyone was trying to move on, including Robert. That was part of the reason why she had suggested the bet. Sir Robert was a gambler and a womanizer so there was no possible way he could resist. Jadelyn had thought that if she had set him an impossible task maybe, just maybe he would realize what was staring him in the face.
Love.
Yes Jadelyn believed in love and she thought it was completely ridiculous that Robert didn't. So she had set him this bet in the hope that the more time he spent with Caterina, the more his feelings would have developed. Of course this would be a star-crossed lover's tale, she was engaged so they could never truly be together. But if Jadelyn could get him to feel something, anything... maybe he would understand that he was not incapable of loving.
Plus she really wanted his car and chauffeur.
Okay so it was partly selfish but she was Lady Jadelyn West, that was how she was programmed.
"Good morning." Flicking her eyes over the newspaper she had resorted to flicking through she smiled at Lord Shapiro who had stolen a piece of toast from the middle of the table.
"How was your night last night?" she asked as she rested her eyes back on a mundane newspaper article about tax rises.
"It was wonderful, aside from the Lady Trina appearance. I think I am one step closer to having Lady Caterina."
Jadelyn grinned behind the newspaper, "Really? Well you only have today so you better get a move on."
"Yes well Lady Rebecca has requested that I go to Blackwater at three."
Lady Jadelyn was about to reply when the butler entered the dining room, he cleared his throat, "Lady Trina Sikowitz."
Jadelyn and Robert both exchanged furtive glances as Lady Trina strode into the room, beaming only at Lord Shapiro.
"Sir Shapiro." She greeted him warmly, "I wondered if I could have a quick word."
Chucking down the remainder of his breakfast, the chair screeched across the floor as he pushed it back and stepped outside with Lady Trina. As soon as the door shut Lady Jadelyn scrambled to the door and pressed her ear to the crack between the door and the frame, determined to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Lady Trina was the last person that Sir Robert wanted to see today, she leaned up to kiss his cheek her gently pushed her back.
"Why are you here?" he asked, ensuring that his voice was cold.
"I missed you." She admitted, her voice sickly sweet, "I haven't forgot about you after all of these years Robbie."
"Do not call me Robbie." He said quickly, "and don't lie to me Trina. I want you to leave; you shouldn't have come back for me. I don't want you."
Lady Trina laughed slightly before realising that he was deadly serious, "But Robert, we are meant to be together. " she placed a hand on his cheek, the same way she had seven years ago, "We are the same, you and I."
Once again she leaned into kiss him and Robert almost let her, but then he remembered what Caterina had told him the night before. Her lips a mere centimetre away from his, he stepped away from her abruptly.
"No." He shouted, "We are not the same. I am a better person than you."
Lady Trina began to convulse from rage, her cheeks flushing red with anger.
"She is filling your head with lies Robert!" she screamed, "Don't let her weave her way in! She is no good for you."
Robert shook his head sadly at Lady Trina, "She was right. You were the worst mistake I ever made."
Lady Trina stumbled back as if she had been struck across the face, she could not believe what she had just heard.
"She will never make you happy." She replied acidicly, "You will never be content with just her."
Sir. Shapiro laughed out loud so hysterically that it unnerved Lady Trina, "Jadelyn!" he called, "Come here."
The door opened instantly and Lady Jadelyn stepped out, "You called." She innocently replied.
"This feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach, it like churning but it's pleasant. It happened when I saw Lady Caterina last night. It made you feel warm all over; I had never experienced it before... I was profoundly happy for a change. I've told her things that I have never admitted to anyone, for some reason I knew she would never tell anyone, she makes me feel safe. I'm horribly jealous of Lord. Fitzgerald, I hate him... But it's irrational, I really shouldn't."
Finishing his lament he glanced back at the two women, who were both astounded by his speech.
"What does this mean?"
Lady Jadelyn beamed at her cousin, "It means you are in love Robert."
Trina stammered, "Robert you told me you cannot love!"
Sir Robert ignored her, instead he bolted for the door and rushed down the path, unable to wait for the carriage. He had to find Lady Caterina, he had to tell her now while he still had the chance.
She had to know before she became Caterina Fitzgerald.
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He was completely out of breath by the time he reached the Blackwater Manor, rushing up the drive he banged on the door.
"Lady Caterina!" he screeched, "I need to speak with you!"
The door opened and there she stood before him, looking astounding beautiful despite the fact her eyes were puffy and red. She smiled warmly at him.
"What?" she asked, "What did you want to say?"
"I've never said this to anyone before so I am just going to come out with it. You need to know, I have to tell you before you marry Lord Fitzgerald. " Robert took a deep breath, "Caterina Valentine, I love you."
He wasn't entirely sure what to expect when he told her those words, maybe she would cry from joy, say it back, throw her arms around him.
He was not expecting a slap, the slap that was so forceful it made his eyes water.
She snarled at him like a wild animal, "I suppose Jadelyn bet you to say that." She spat out, "You sicken me Robert Shapiro. I never want to see you again."
Oh the drams... the constant drams!
Plus double update because I love you all so much! ;)
Awhh shittttt! They have no luck, but at least Robbie told Trina where to go!
Love xoxoxoxo