Chapter Six
She was walking down a long darkened corridor. At the end there was a door, a sliver of light was visible around all its edges. And still she kept walking towards the door, never getting any closer, just walking on and on through the blackness.
Catherine shuddered awake. The sun was shining outside, she glanced at the clock on the mantle piece across the room and saw that it was almost nine in the morning. She rolled over onto her side and wrapped the covers tightly around her, staring despondently straight ahead at nothing in particular. It had been one week since her mother's funeral and she still felt empty inside. Perhaps it was the knowledge that she was now an orphan, or maybe it was because the words of those awful old women at the funeral were still ringing in her ears. With a sigh, she decided that she really should get out of bed and so she regrettably untangled herself from her cocoon of covers and padded across the room to put on her robe which she had left on the back of her dressing table chair.
Half an hour later, after bathing, Catherine drifted barefoot downstairs, still swathed in her silk robe. Benjamin was sitting at the dining table already eating his breakfast. To her horror she saw that he was wearing a grey-blue frock coat and an inky blue velvet waistcoat with a blue cravat tied haphazardly about his throat. Colour, Catherine thought, he is wearing colour!
"What…what are you wearing?" she cried. Benjamin glanced down at himself and shrugged.
"You aren't wearing mourning clothes!" she hissed.
Benjamin sighed and put down his fork, "Catherine, it has been a week since the funeral. How long do you propose is the correct length of time one should wear black?"
"A year?"
"Do you remember how long mother wore full mourning clothes when father died?"
"A week." Catherine croaked.
"A week. Did she care about protocol? No. She was too interested in wearing her fine clothes and going to parties and being beautiful."
"But-"
"Mother wouldn't mind if you stopped wearing black for her." Benjamin said gently, "Besides, this is the country. The mourning period isn't half as long here as it is in London."
"Oh." Catherine said, turning to leave.
"Aren't you going to eat something?"
"No, I'm not hungry." she said in a faint voice.
Benjamin stood up and strode towards her, "Catherine, I really must insist that you sit down at the table and eat something. You haven't eaten properly in days. It isn't healthy. Sit." He steered her towards a chair and pushed her forcefully down by her shoulders to make her sit.
"Very well." she said, in that same faint voice. Digweed came and placed a plate of poached eggs and toast in front of her. As soon as she caught scent of the food, she realised how hungry she truly was and began wolfing it down. Satisfied that she had found her appetite, Benjamin returned to his breakfast.
"Another thing which isn't healthy, Catherine, is you spending all your days cooped up indoors moping about the house. As of today you will spend every day outside as much as you possibly can, and will have four square meals a day." Benjamin said.
"Yes, Benjamin." Catherine said happily, through a mouthful of toast. She considered how amazing it is that a good meal never fails to improve a person's mood.
"As a matter of fact, I have something for you which I bought to encourage you to spend more time outside."
"A present?"
"I suppose so. I will show it to you as soon as you have dressed-" Benjamin didn't even get to finish his sentence for Catherine was out the room in a flash and bounding upstairs to dress. If there was one thing Catherine loved most in the world, it was being given presents.
Catherine burst into her room and threw her robe upon the bed, underneath it she was already wearing her chemise and she began to furiously dig around in her wardrobe for clean petticoats and a dress to wear. Her hand lingered for a moment on her black mourning gown but she changed her mind and chose instead a dress of pale jade green. The dress was light and summery, with a square neck and a skirt which rippled to her mid-shins and a red sash at the waist. Catherine sat at her dressing table and hurriedly put on pale stockings and buttoned her white ankle boots. She then combed her hair, letting the ink black curls cascade freely down her back and tying a green ribbon amongst them. In a moment of inspiration, she opened her jewellery box and began to hunt for one particular thing. Two days before, Benjamin had came to her room and presented her with a carved wooden box, inside turned out to be her mother's prized jewellery. He told her that everything now belonged to her. Catherine had emptied the treasures into her own Rose Quartz jewellery box before returning the empty box to her mother's lonely room.
Now, as she opened her jewellery box, she couldn't help but feel momentarily dazzled by the items inside and the memories they held; a string of creamy pearls, handed down from mother to daughter for as long as anyone could remember; a diamond necklace, the chain so thin that when worn, it was almost invisible, giving the impression that the jewels had been scattered at random like water droplets across the wearer's throat; a set of bangles fashioned out of ivory which Catherine's father had brought back from India; a pair of pearl drop earrings which her mother had worn for the family photograph; a golden pocket watch carved with the image of a unicorn, a gift from Catherine's father to his wife on their wedding day; dozens of rings, rings of diamonds and of topaz, of opals and emeralds and blood red rubies.
Finally, she found what she was looking for: a silver brooch which sparkled with diamonds and emeralds, Catherine pinned it with pride to the front of her dress.
Downstairs, Benjamin was just finishing of his breakfast when Catherine hurtled back into the dining room, "Hurry up! Hurry! I'm dressed, I'm ready for my present! What is it?" she cried, tugging at his arm.
Benjamin led her out of the house and outside to the stables. The stable yard was cobbled with smooth, rounded stones with tufts of moss growing in-between them, a dovecot stood in one corner and a stone well in the centre. Inside the stables, it was dim and slightly chilly, the morning sunlight hadn't reached this side of the house yet. They walked past the stall of Benjamin's own black stallion Hercules, and to the last stall in the row. As Catherine approached, a pink nose stuck out over the stall and she cried out in excitement, when Benjamin had led her to the stables she had immediately guessed that he had bought her a horse, and now her suspicions were confirmed.
The mare was tall with long graceful legs, she was completely pure white with a pink nose which snuffled inquisitively at Catherine and Benjamin. Catherine was struck dumb, she reached out and patted that twitching pink nose and then ran her fingers through the smooth snow-white hair of the horse's mane.
"What will you name her?" Benjamin asked.
"I was thinking perhaps 'Artemis'." Catherine murmured.
"Goddess of the hunt and the Moon. Very appropriate."
"But I shan't be doing any hunting on her. I hate blood sports." Catherine said vehemently, "Oh, Benjamin, this is wonderful! She's beautiful! Thank you! Thank you ever so much!" She threw herself at her bother and embraced him, holding on tightly for as long as she could until he coughed embarrassedly.
"May I ride her now?" she begged.
"If you wish. But do not ride near the forest." Benjamin replied. He showed her how to saddle the horse, which stood patiently as they worked, and soon Catherine was riding out of the stable yard and across the fields of the Merryweather estate.
Catherine rode around the outskirts of the estate until she came to the gap in the stone wall which had been left open for access to the forest in a time when her ancestors has frequently hunted there.
"He told me I wasn't to go in the forest." Catherine murmured, half to herself and half to Artemis, "But what's so special about the forest? Why is it forbidden?" She stared for a while at the trees which loomed up above her, their branches rippling in the wind.
"Oh well," she said, slipping down from the saddle, "There's nothing for it, Artemis, I shall have to explore. Rules were made to be broken, after all. I shan't be away long, girl." she said, kissing the horse's nose.
Catherine strode determinedly into the trees and stopped, gazing about herself proudly. There was nothing really spectacular or scandalous to see, only endless trees, trees of varying colours and sizes, and a patch of wildflowers growing a little way away, their colours lavender and periwinkle. She decided that she would go and pick some and take them home to place in her room. The only reason that Catherine was disobeying Benjamin by entering the forest in the first place was because some strange whim had took over her and forced her to rebel against his warning, now she decided that she would certainly be breaking the rules if she took a little piece of the forest with her.
She knelt among the flowers and began to pick the prettiest, gathering them into a bundle. As the did so, she looked around her and smiled, the only sounds to be heard were the trees moving in the soft breeze and the birds singing their mourning chorus, somewhere nearby a piercing screech erupted from a bird of prey. When she was satisfied that she had a big enough bundle of flowers, she stood, dusted off her dress and began to make her way back to where Artemis was standing at the border where the two lands met.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." a voice rang out from behind her. Catherine jumped and swung around to find a strange boy had appeared behind her, leaning against a tree. He wore a black piece of cloth tied across his nose so only his eyes and his mouth showed, thus hiding his identity. His outfit was oddly mismatched consisting of a bowler hat; a leather jacket with all manner of feathers, buckles and other trinkets attached to it; black trousers with numerous pockets and tall black boots.
"It seems a silly girl has wandered into our forest." he continued, smirking.
Catherine bristled, "I am no silly girl, boy. And I may walk wherever I choose."
"Oh, really? Well, the last time I checked, we De Noirs owned this forest." the boy said, taking a step towards her.
He took in her blank expression and suddenly began to laugh, "I do believe you have no idea who we are or how much danger you are in! You silly goose!" Catherine took a step backwards only to find her path blocked by another ragamuffin boy who had appeared just as soundlessly as the first. Soon they were joined by two more who had been hiding amongst the surrounding thicket. Catherine glanced quickly at each of the boys who had now surrounded her and began to panic, who on Earth were they and what did they want?
"You understand now don't you, silly girl?" the masked boy laughed, beginning to slowly circle her, "We're the people that your parents always warned you about! The people whose names the villagers will only utter in terrified whispers!"
"Please, I didn't mean any harm! I was just curious!" Catherine stammered in desperation.
"It's too late for that now! You're our prisoner!" the masked boy snapped.
Catherine mustered what little courage she had left so that her voice wouldn't tremble then drew herself up to her full height and glared down her nose at the boy, "My brother is Sir Benjamin Merryweather, if you lay so much as one finger on me then he will track you down and have his revenge." Even as the words were leaving her mouth, she knew how ridiculous they sounded. The group of boys began to laugh and their masked leader looked all the more delighted.
"Well, look at that!" he addressed his gang, "We've only gone and caught ourselves a Moon Princess! Lady Catherine Merryweather has finally returned to Moonacre. Welcome home, princess." His gang of idiots were shaking with laughter by now as he gave her a mocking bow.
Catherine was so overcome with rage that, without even thinking, she raised her hand and slapped the boy hard across the face. She had never struck anyone before in her life - not even her brother George when he used to torment her - now, as she slapped this awful boy, she experienced something new: the cracking sound that came from abrupt contact of skin upon skin, the sting and rising warmth upon her palm, the feeling of satisfaction that she felt afterwards, but also a feeling of utter dread as to what he might do now that she had struck him.
"Looks like the kitty has claws!" one of the boys laughed. The masked boy stared at Catherine for a moment, his eyes alive with fury, then he lunged forward suddenly, grabbing her chin and squeezing it tightly.
"Don't you ever do that again. Understand?" he hissed, putting his face close to hers. At such close quarters, Catherine was able to get a better look at the features which were not masked by the strip of black material: his eyes were a deep chocolate brown colour and had a somewhat smoky quality about them and his lips were curiously feminine and curving.
He released her chin with a sickly smile and stepped back, composing himself from his sudden outburst, then pushed his hat onto the back of his head and eyed her thoughtfully.
"Considering you've been such a bad girl I shall have to punish you." Hearing these words, Catherine felt sick.
"I think I'll have that pretty brooch you have there." he continued, gesturing to the diamond and emerald brooch pinned to the front of her dress.
"Hand it over and we will deliver you to my father without hurting you. Your choice, princess." he said, holding his hand out expectantly. Though Catherine was glad that his "punishment" wasn't half as bad as she had first feared it would be, she was still angered to have to hand over her mother's brooch to this ruffian. Reluctantly, she unpinned the brooch and placed it in his gloved palm.
"Good girl." he smirked, pocketing it, "You hold her." he pointed to the boy behind her who obligingly took hold of Catherine's arm and tugged her after his masked leader.
Catherine was dragged deeper and deeper into the forest by the boys who strolled at a leisurely pace. As they walked Catherine tried to tug her arm from the boy's grip, but he only held on tighter. After the he had grunted at her a couple of times to stop, the masked boy rounded on her.
"You'd better stop struggling, kitten. Or else I'm going to loose my temper again." he said, chucking her under the chin.
They came to a path where the ground dropped off into a deep ditch on their right. Catherine looked at this and sighed, she knew what she had to do. They had all moved into single file so as to walk along the narrow path, it was now that Catherine chose to act. Using her free arm she jabbed her elbow hard into the chest of the boy who held her, the boy let go of her immediately and doubled over gasping for air, Catherine swung around and kicked him hard in the shins. The other boys had turned around by now to see what the commotion was, Catherine merely gave them a contemptuous glance and flung herself into the ditch.
As she fell, Catherine saw the indignant face of the boy with the mask. She landed painfully with a dull thunk, her left arm was bent awkwardly under her and when she flexed her fingers tentatively, the pain shooting up her arm was excruciating but luckily it didn't seem broken. She heard the boys stumbling down the slope after her so she hauled herself to her feet and took off haring in the direction of where she had first entered the forest.
Catherine didn't know she had it in her to run so fast - probably because she had never before found herself in a situation where she must run for her life. She dodged between trees, leapt over fallen logs and wrenched violently at her dress and hair when they caught on bushes and yanked her backwards. All the while the boys chased her they yelled after her, calling her names and shouting threats.
"It's pointless running, princess! We know this forest like the backs of our hands! We were born here, remember!" the masked boy's silken voice rang out.
"Get back here you little witch!" another shouted.
Everything was silent where Artemis stood, that is until Catherine broke through a thicket of brambles with a scream. She threw herself over the horse's back - nearly falling headfirst over the other side - then took a moment to alter her position and sit up straight in the saddle and look triumphantly over her shoulder - surely the boys wouldn't dare chase her on Merryweather land? She was wrong. The boys broke through the brambles a second later with screams to match her own, their faces were flushed with the exertion of chasing her and they looked utterly furious. Catherine shrieked and dug her heels in Artemis' sides who immediately took off at a gallop. As she rode closer and closer to the safety of the Manor, Catherine kept glancing over her shoulder to see whether her attackers were still perusing her; they did, so far that is, until the gap between them and the horse grew too wide and they gave up, stopping doubled over with their hands on their knees, Catherine saw their bodies rising and falling as they struggled to get their breath back. Only their masked leader kept running but eventually he too gave up, with a scream of pure rage he threw his hat to the ground.
After putting Artemis safely back in her stall, Catherine returned to the Manor. She tiptoed from pillar to pillar in the Entrance Hall, hoping to God that she wouldn't bump into Benjamin. She was just about to scuttle upstairs when someone coughed pointedly behind her. Catherine froze then turned slowly. Benjamin was sitting in the armchair by the fireplace with a quizzical expression - she hadn't even noticed him.
"What are you doing?" he asked bemusedly.
"Going to my room." she said, trying to sound calm.
"If you don't mind my asking, how did you get in such a state?" Benjamin said in a voice which held no emotion but curiosity. Catherine spotted her reflection in a mirror across the room; the entire left side of her dress was smeared with mud from where she had slid part of the way down the slope into the ditch; the green material of her skirt was torn, revealing in some places her white petticoats underneath; her hair was in tangles and littered with all manner of leaves, twigs and thorns and a red scratch ran across her cheek from where she had pushed her way through the brambles.
"I tripped." she said simply then ran upstairs before Benjamin could say anything.
