Chapter 76

Mindful that her father was watching them Vincent gave her the briefest peck and promised to be waiting for them.

Handing her father a jacket, she slid into hers, grabbed her keys, and then held the door open for Charles so she could lock it behind them.

"Just where are we going Cathy?"

"Vincent had an access made to the tunnels in the basement. That way I can easily come and go as I want."

"You have to know how skeptical I am about all this don't you Cathy? How will you be able to live in a place like that, let alone with a crea…man like Vincent?"

Catherine stopped in her tracks and swung to face him, "Make no mistake Daddy! Vincent IS a man and I love him! As for his world you haven't seen it yet. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't love to live in a place like that!" Without giving him a chance to reply she started to move again and set such a brisk pace that it would have been hard to talk even if he wanted to.

As they walked through passageways of stone walls and dirt floors Charles knew that he had been right, his daughter could never live in a place like this. Every person they met was dressed in what looked like mismatched rags even though they appeared to be clean. The people also seemed cheerful and pleasant if a little wary of meeting a stranger.

Then suddenly they stepped into a large two story room that seemed to be filled floor to ceiling with books. There were candles everywhere and Charles was having a hard time taking it all in. Catherine was watching her father's face as he looked around and didn't notice that there had been a second person in the study with Father when they arrived. It wasn't until she heard a familiar voice exclaim, "Cathy, Charles? What are you two doing down here?"

"Peter?" Catherine gasped.

Charles was so engrossed in the room that he didn't respond.

Father turned to Vincent and said, "I believe that they know one another."

Vincent nodded as Peter began to speak, "Would you believe that the first time I saw Cathy she was stark naked?"

Her fiancé turned shocked eyes on her, but only sensed amusement through the Bond, not embarrassment or shame. Catherine laughed and scolded, "You might also have added that I was upside down and screaming at the time!"

"And ruin a perfectly good story?" Peter teased. Then turning his eyes to her father, he called out, "Aren't you going to say hello, Charles?"

At the second mention of his name, Charles finally looked around at the room's occupants rather that the conglomeration of books. "Peter? What in the world are you doing here?"

"I asked you the same question a few minutes ago and got no answer."

"Why don't we all sit down and see if we can get it all straightened out over a cup of tea?" Father suggested.

The three newcomers approached the other two and after their chess game was moved aside and tea was poured, Father started, "Peter, Catherine is the young woman that I told you Vincent had found in the park."

"But you said that woman was badly scarred!" Peter protested looking at Catherine's face.

"Plastic surgery took care of that. How do you come to know about the tunnels?" Catherine asked.

"Jacob and I are old friends, we went to medical school together and I have been involved here from the beginning."

Both Catherine and Vincent took the discovery of Father's name and put it away for later discussion, it would have to wait because Peter had more questions. "I can understand why Cathy would return then, but may I ask why you are here Charles?"

Vincent was the one that answered, "Because Catherine wanted him to see where we would be living once we are married. She also wants him to give her away."

"Married? That's fantastic! When did all this happen?" Peter exclaimed.

"Vincent proposed on Friday and we just told Daddy today, so he is still in a bit of a shock."

"How long have you known about this place?" Charles demanded of Peter.

To be continued….