Here it is! The next chapter!
Ella Raven: um… will you protect me if they cry for blood? Please?
Kitten: you got the quote right, but I'm not sure if you should get the sneak peek, after damning me and all… besides, if I don't have an email address for you I can't send it to you…
AKAFredandGeorge read and find out.
Starsplash: I just had to stop there, it was just waaaaay too tempting.
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Bright light suddenly assaulted her eyes and Katrina groaned and rolled onto her side, facing away from the light. And she could vaguely remember Elizabeth waking her and ushering her out to the governor's waiting carriage.
"Oh, milady, you must get up!" Kara's voice burst through the fuzzy edges of her sleepy conscious mind. "The little miss has been up for hours and is driving nurse mad! She won't stop asking for you!" the tone of voice told Katrina that Kara, although doting, was also at the end of her wits when it came to Sera.
Katrina sat up and rubbed her eyes free of sleep and yawning with a stretch. "Where is-" Before she could finish, Kara was already ushering a small lacy bundle into the room, which quickly ran across the room and nestled into Katrina's lap.
"Kitty." The girl simply said contented and hugged her. Katrina looked up at Kara, who had a relived smile on her face.
"Here is some breakfast for you when you want it, milady." Kara sat down a tray with food on a small table in the corner of the room. "And when you are ready, there is a young man waiting for you in the downstairs parlor."
Katrina's ears perked at this and she sat Sera on her bed while she got up and quickly washed her face, changed into a light morning dress and impatiently allowed Kara to arrange her hair while Sera was picking through her breakfast.
"There, Miss, your hair is finished, it would have been sooner if you stopped fidgeting, it's not lady like." Katrina was out of her chair and almost through the door before Kara uttered the last word. "Milady, don't run!" Kara called after her and turned around to find Sera's face sticky with honey from the piece of toast she was eating.
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Daniel was pacing the length of the parlor, waiting for Katrina and wondering how he was going to word the answers to the questions she was undoubtingly about to ask him. He could hear light foot steps hurrying down the stairs and the parlor door open, and paused before turning around.
"Daniel!" Katrina said from the doorway.
He smiled and turned to her. "Miss Katrina." He bowed. "You look very nice today. I had stopped by the Turner's, but Mrs. Turner told me that you had gone home the previous night."
Katrina stepped inside and closed the door behind her and stepped up to him. "What of Kipp?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his.
For a moment all Daniel could do was look into her concerned turquoise eyes, then took her hands, pressing a kiss in the palm of one. "He's fine."
"But for how long? I saw a military man take him. Is he in jail?" Katrina pressed for more information.
"No, he is not imprisoned, though anymore information you will need to get from him.."
"Daniel, what's going on?"
"Please understand, Katrina, I can say no more, orders." He replied though it seemed to pain him.
"Oh." She looked so dejected he wrapped his arms around her. When he pulled back and looked into her eyes, he acted without thinking, leaning down towards her.
Just then the door opened and the governor stepped in. Daniel had released and pulled away from Katrina, his face composed and looked calmly at the governor. Katrina on the other hand could only be grateful that she was not facing the door at that moment as her face was flushed bright red.
"Ah, Captain. I am sorry for the delay, I had some papers to finish. I trust my niece has been keeping you entertained?" Swann, thankfully, didn't seem to notice the awkward air.
"Yes, sir. " Daniel said.
"Good, good, do you have the reports for me?"
"Yes, sir." Daniel said again.
"I will need to look them over. Why not come to my study and you can fill me in on other goings on about the fort." Weatherby turned and headed down the hall.
Daniel flashed a quick apologetic smile at Katrina and brushed her brow with his lips before following after the governor.
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Sera was taking her nap and Katrina sat in a window seat in the nursery, absently petting the little gray ball of fuzz that had curled up in her lap while gazing out the window.
"Milady," Kara said from the door way, "the governor wishes to know if you would care to join him for afternoon visiting?"
"Tell him I will be down in a moment." Katrina got off the seat, placing the kitten into a wicker basket lined with soft fabric and positioned so the sun warmed it, then went to check on Sera, who, thankfully, was still sleeping soundly, her nurse contentedly sewing in a chair set near the bed.
Pausing at her door to collect the hat and parasol that Kara handed her, she moved down the stairs to join her uncle making afternoon calls.
At the Dutton's she was directed to the garden where there was tea set up for the young adults. Lady Michelle and Lady Claire were happily chattering away with Lady Raven when she got there.
"I'm telling you that it's true!" Lady Raven was insisting. "Some lawyer was talking to Papa about it!"
"And you still haven't gotten over your eavesdropping, is that it?" Lady Michelle smirked.
"That's not the point!" Raven pouted.
"Then what is?" Lady Claire put in.
"The manner of it!" Raven announced in a way that showed she knew more and was eager to share.
"Manner of what?" Katrina asked, coming to sit down across from Raven at the small round table.
"Why, the earl of Kent's death. Have you not heard of it yet?"
Katrina shook her head.
"Well I'll tell you. Raven leaned forward in a conspiral nature and lowering her voice. "Supposedly, he died of natural causes, but he was buried in a closed casket. They say the real cause of death was because he took another of the peer's wives as a lover, and the other man didn't take to it too kindly."
"What nonsense." Claire cut in.
"I am just telling you what I heard. Lawyers know these kind of things, it is their job." Raven insisted.
"Death is such a dreary subject for tea." Michelle interrupted. "Have any of you gotten an invitation to the Hawthorn's ball? It is only a few days away. They have the most lovely ball room…" she trailed off, obviously envisioning the room.
"It is lovely, is it not?" Briony asked also joining them at the table.
"It will be a costume ball, I so adore costume balls." Raven added.
"What are you planning on going as?" Lady Claire asked after a sip of her tea.
And once again talk was consumed by talk of dress fashions, latest style of fan and suitors. Which made Katrina grateful when a servant came to fetch her, saying the governor was ready to go. Katrina bade good bye to her hostess and accepted the parasol from the silent footman in the hall before following the governor to the carriage.
The ride back to the mansion was filled with useless but pleasant chatter. "Oh, I nearly forgot." The governor said, stalling Katrina from heading back upstairs. "We got an invitation from Sir Jeffery today. He is holding a masquerade in a few days time. Elizabeth said she would come by tomorrow morning to take you shopping so you could get a costume and mask."
Katrina hid a grimace and thanked him, then proceeded to her room to change into a riding habit. She needed to let out some pent-up frustration. If Kipp wasn't imprisoned, why hadn't he come to see her yet?
Instead of Lady, Katrina took Caramel, one of the extra horses and led her down a dirt trail to a large open field and gave her her head. The horse broke into a gallop and her stride was so smooth Katrina felt as if she were nearly flying, it was exhilarating.
Climbing a small hill, she turned Caramel to look towards the harbor. From here she could see almost the whole town and much of the harbor. She just sat there for a few moments, watching people going about their everyday business. It was an animated but tranquil sight. With a sigh, Katrina glanced at the position of the sun. she should head back, uncle didn't like it if she was late for supper.
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True to her word, Elizabeth showed up at quarter to eleven in the morning to take Katrina out shopping for her masquerade costume. Tanwen was happy to see them again and went straight to work, pulling out a few books featuring fanciful creations for the women to choose from. After much discussion, Elizabeth chose a medieval style dress that would have suited Queen Guinevere and Katrina picked out a flowy dress with wings, a fairy.
After the torture of first fittings Elizabeth and Katrina stopped at a small café for lunch where Katrina explained what Captain Norrington told her.
"He said much the same thing when he visited us yesterday morning when he came looking for you." Elizabeth confessed. "It is not normal for the navy to be so quiet about matters concerning criminals, or suspected criminals. It is most odd." Elizabeth took a sip of her drink while trying to figure it out in her head.
"But if he isn't in prison, he can't be a criminal, can he?" Katrina asked hopefully.
"I don't know, Katrina, it is strange, I've never heard of anything like this." Elizabeth told her just before their lunch was served and Elizabeth steered the conversation to safer waters.
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Kipp stared down at the papers spread before him.
"Is this it?" he asked glancing up at the man before him before lowering his head again.
"Yes." the judge told him. "Unless you wish to contest this?"
Kipp sighed and shook his head.
"Good. Then if you would sing your name here." The judge pointed to a line at the bottom of a paper which Kipp signed with a frown. The judge picked up the paper and looked at the signature then smiled with a glint in his eye that was almost predatory. "Thank you, Mr. Hunt. Mr. Murrdock will see you out."
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Katrina tugged at her corset making it as comfortable as possible before Kara slipped her dress over her head. The fabric was light and seemed to float and flutter with each step she took. The wings were attached to the back and were of the finest china silk stretched over a thin wire frame the silk so fine, the wings looked nearly translucent and shimmered in the light.
"Oh, miss," Kara breathed as she clasped the dainty diamond necklace around Katrina's neck. "you certainly look like you belong in a fairy tale, like the ones me mum used to tell me."
"Thank you, Kara." Katrina said and turned. "I feel rather silly dresses up like this." She took a few steps and twirled, her skirts flaring out around her. "Though I do love how it does that." she added with a twinkle in her eye and a slight giggle.
A knock sounded at the door. "Katrina?" Elizabeth's voice asked, "Are you ready?"
"I just have to do her hair, miss." Kara told Elizabeth as she let her into the room.
"Elizabeth, you look amazing." Katrina told her as she herself was led to the vanity so Kara could work on her hair.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said, turning around so Katrina could see her whole gown. It was purple brocade with wide gold embroidery along the edges and done in emperor style with a slit down the front of the gown to reveal the second purple skirt underneath. :You look splendid yourself, quite ethereal, I would say."
Katrina flashed her cousin a thankful smile as Kara wove a small plait from each side of Katrina's head and secured them with a diamond clip, allowing the rest of her hair to fall in curls and waves down her back. "There, milady, you look truly like a fairy come to life." Kara commented as she stepped back.
"Come, Katrina, Will and father are waiting for us." Elizabeth said as she tied the ribbons of Katrina's mask behind her head.
At the bottom of the stairs Katrina spied them, Will was dressed elegantly in black and fit the role of a knight of the round table, while the governor looked decidedly uncomfortable in a maharaja's tunic and turban. The each offered an arm to the ladies and escorted them to the carriage waiting outside.
Once in the carriage the conversation was light, until the governor said the new Earl of Kent would most likely be at the ball tonight. And Elizabeth spent most of the rest of the ride trying to figure out who it was, as the former earl had no children.
They climbed the steps up to the Hawthorn's entryway and were greeted by the masked hosts and hostess then announced by the concierge. He pounded his staff against the floor. "Lord Swann, Lady Ellis, Mr. And Mrs. Turner!" he called out as they descended into the thickening crowd of partygoers.
Nearly a quarter hour later, Katrina was having a wonderful time as Jack, in full costume and mask spun her about the dance floor, for a pirate, he was a remarkably well dancer.
The concierge struck his staff against the floor, gaining some attention as he announced the next guest arriving. "Twelfth Earl of Kent!"
Many of the guests had heard the rumors and many conversations quieted while others stopped dancing to get a look at the newest member of the peerage.
He descended the stairs in his costume of warrior king and moved his way through the crowd. And stopped in front of Katrina with a flourishing bow. "Will you honor me with the next dance, milady?" he asked as he straightened, a wickedly familiar grin flashing beneath his mask.
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Hehehe, I bet there are a few guesses about who our new Earl is… but, let me ask you this, is he even a character we've met before?
Reviews are as good as black bottom cupcakes, YUM!!!
QUOTE:
"Perhaps, now we will never know."