**I don't own BATB, Catherine, Vincent or any other characters mentioned. I also don't own any places mentioned or any scenes that may be similar to another work.**
This time Catherine stopped as they heard the monastery bells chime four times.
"Gods, where has the time flown?" She then looked at Vincent. "It is already at the hour of four. Vincent, I really must be heading back to my father's manor." Vincent stood up before holding out his hand and helping her up. He then took the copy of the book he had taken for himself while Catherine kept hold on hers.
"The time must have escaped us to Neverland, my lady. Do you wish to keep hold of your book for the time?"
"I couldn't possibly." Catherine exclaimed.
"If you wish you may. I readily borrow from their library."
"Are you positive I am allowed?"
"Of course." Vincent said as he lead her to the bookshelf where he placed his back before leading her out to the carriage. He helped her in and told the footman to head for the Chandler Manor. When they arrived he helped her down before placing a kiss to her hand. She blushed slightly before dropping into a curtsy since her father was watching. "Lady Chandler, I had a wonderful day with you today and I am hoping you did as well."
"Sir, this day has been rivaled by no other. Thank you for your company. Shall I see you again?"
"I fear I am going to be held by my family for a short time within the week, but I will call upon you once again, at the earliest possible date. In the meantime I must be seeing my way back." He said with a bow before getting back into the carriage after watching her walk over to her father, with the book tightly wrapped in her arms. Then he took his leave. Once the carriage was gone Catherine looked at her father with a smile.
"So how was your day Catherine?"
"It was wonderful father."
"And Vincent...Was he being a gentleman?" Catherine instantly caught his meaning and scolded her father.
"Father, Vincent was a perfect gentleman to me. I do not believe he is the type of person to act so out of person."
"What did you two do and why is the backside of your dress dirty?" Catherine instantly spun the skirt of her dress to see the slight dirt marks and grass blades which she instantly wiped off.
"Oh, that. He took me to the monastery at Amboise to see their library for I let my passion of the written word slip."
"However did he manage allowance into the monastery?"
"He said it is due to his status. He also is a fan of Mr. Barrie's works."
"You are speaking of the story of the boy who never aged, I would assume daughter?"
"Yes. He even allowed me borrow of a copy. I haven't read this since the last time you read it to me when I turned twelve and Brooke didn't see fit for you to be reading to me. Once you left on journey she hid the books and I have not seen them."
"Is Vincent planning on calling upon you again?"
"I quite hope so. He said that he shall try upon his earliest free time." Catherine noticed her father laugh. "What is it?"
"I never thought I would see the day when you were enthralled over someone before."
"I am not enthralled by him father. I just enjoy the fact that to him I am not a common housemaid. He respects that I prefer the written word and he is very easy to talk with."
"I am glad daughter, let us go inside before supper is finished cooking." Thomas said walking inside with his daughter. Two days later Vincent called upon Catherine again. This time he accompanied her for a walk through the woods surrounding the Chandler Manor. When Catherine saw him approaching the manor on horseback she smiled before going down to get the door.
"Hello Lady Chandler."
"Hello Sir. Whatever can I help you with?"
"Pray tell that you are free today."
"The gods seem to be in your favor as I have no plans."
"Then could I trouble you to join me on a stroll around the property as I only have a short time period today."
"I would be honored to accompany you. Let me just speak with my father and confirm that I am truly free." Catherine said before she carefully shut the door and he heard her talking behind the door. After a minute the door reopened and she walked out with a smile.
"So, are you free my lady?"
"Yes, it turns out that I am free." Catherine said as she moved to stand next to him. He held out his arm to her and she hooked her arm into his before they walked towards the path around the manor. Once they were out of sight of the manor's windows the seriousness relaxed between them.
"So Catherine, how have the past two days been?"
"They have been well. I have spent most of it out in our garden reading. I haven't been able to set down -Peter Pan- since you handed it to me at the monastery. How have your past two days been?"
"Nowhere near as calming as yours. I have been stuck with my family while they start the plans for my eldest brother's betrothal."
"Daniel, right?" Catherine asked hoping she got the name right.
"Yes. It is Daniel."
"Your family cannot be as bad as mine."
"I do not know Catherine. I come from an extremely high class and my family takes that to head."
"That sounds equaled to my step family. The only difference is that they only believe they belong to an extremely high class. I fear I am not myself when they are around."
"Whyever not?"
"My step family does not agree with my father's style of upbringing. He raised me more as a father would a son. Until a year after he and my step-mother were married, he had shortened my name, but my step-mother believes that shortening a woman's name is demeaning and unbecoming."
"What did he refer to you as?"
"He used to call me his little cat."
"So revealed is the secret of your masquerade dress." Vincent said with a laugh. This caused Catherine to start giggling.
"Oh no. You have uncovered my secrets. Whatever shall I do now?"
"You will have to think of a newer façade to keep your cover."
"Luckily there are no upcoming masquerades for me to attend."
"Did you not get the invitation as of yet? There is another at the end of next week."
"Whatever for?"
"The royal family of York is leaving and you know the royal family of Nigera and their love for balls."
"Oh gods. Another royal ball? I do not believe I am wishing to attend."
"I was hoping that you would be in attendance for I return to York. I had a lot of pleasure with you during the masquerade."
"I also had a great amount of pleasure with you at the masquerade Vincent, but I do not believe that I really wish to attend another masquerade." Catherine said hoping he wouldn't be disappointed.
"Well, then we shall have to find another thing to do."
"Are you sure Vincent? I know you said your family is of high standing. Won't they require you to go?"
"With my standing, my family will not care. Everyone will want to see my brother anyway." Vincent said as they neared the front of the manor once again. "I am sorry that I cannot stay longer today, but if you would like, I am free tomorrow."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, if you have finished reading your book, I was wondering if you would enjoy accompanying me to the monastery to see the library."
"I would love to accompany you Vincent."
"I bid you farewell Catherine." Vincent said as they approached the manor's front door.
"Farewell Vincent." Catherine said before going in after he had rode off. Teresa was waiting inside the door for her. Once they saw each other they went to their shared room. Teresa took her seat on her bed while Catherine did the same on her own.
"Cat, you have it so bad for him. Admit it."
"Tess we are just friends. There is nothing else going on." Teresa just laughed before mocking Cat.
"I would be honored to accompany you.' 'Farewell Vincent.' " Teresa just started laughing once she had finished mocking her cousin.
"Obviously I am going to act the way Brooke would require. Can you imagine what the reprehension would be if she found out that I was not being respectful of a caller."
Oh horseshit. I know you Cat and you have it quite bad for him."
"Fine Tess. I concede, you cornered me. I do have feelings for him, but what happens when he leaves for York with his family? I will be forgotten and he shall end up with someone of a higher class whom lives in York. Besides, Brooke believes that I am enthralled with Lord Marks and she would never allow father to let me journey into York with him."
"Are you seeing him again?"
"Yes. We are going to the monastery's library once again."
"Well, tomorrow I shall help you ready so that you take his breath."
"You must not pick a dress of too extravagance for the last time we ventured to the library it saw us sitting beneath a tree reading. Father pointed out that there were dirt and grass markings in my dress afterward."
"Do you still have possession of that forest green dress?" Cat nodded slightly confused. "You shall wear that. The color will help blend the dirt and grass markings if you are to obtain any." Tess said before they both ventured down the stairs for their lessons. Heather took her's with a governess and Teresa and Catherine took theirs with Thomas.
Sorry the update took so long, holidays are always hectic.
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