Chapter 13

William was the first to accost them as they went through the buffet line. "Where have the two of you been the last three Friday nights? Were you Above at Catherine's apartment? You know Catherine, if you would like cooking lessons I would be glad to teach you," the big man offered.

A bit affronted by his assumption that she couldn't cook, Catherine demanded, "What makes you think that I need cooking lessons William?"

"It was something your friend Jenny said at your wedding reception," he told her.

"What was it she said?"

William began to realize that he might be stepping on toes all of a sudden and stuttered, "Well…ummm…she mentioned that it was a good thing that I was a good cook…" he trailed off.

"Yes?" Catherine encouraged him to go on with a mild glare.

"Ummm…" his voice lowered to almost a whisper as he repeated Jenny's comment, "Because that way Vincent wouldn't starve."

With a stomp of her tiny foot, she took her half filled tray and turned out of the line to go to their table. Vincent quickly got a few more things for her and followed. When he arrived, he found Father questioning her about their Friday night absences as well.

"Surely the two of you were not Above were you?"

"It was my fault Father," Vincent said putting his tray down and taking a seat. "You see Catherine has been bringing home Chinese food for us. She found out I love it and has been indulging me."

"How in the world did you discover you liked Chinese food?!" Mary, who had been silent until then, asked.

"That one is my fault," Catherine admitted. "I was craving sweet and sour shrimp and picked up some on the way home three weeks ago. It has sort of become a tradition for us now."

"How lovely!" Mary exclaimed.

"I didn't know it would cause so much upset though," Catherine apologized.

"Oh don't worry, my dear!" Mary assured her. "Everyone just seems to need to know everyone else's business around here. It is almost impossible to keep any kind of secret down here," she finished with a light blush coloring her cheeks.

Seeing that, Father admonished, "Mary!"

"I am sorry Jacob," she almost whispered.

Both Catherine and Vincent were in shock, neither one of them had ever heard Mary call Father anything but Father! Something was clearly up here!

FLASHBACK: Two months earlier.

After Vincent and Catherine had made their exit from the Great Hall, Father said to Mary, "Catherine is looking a little peaked, I should probably follow them to check on her."

Mary replied with an astonished gasp, "Jacob Wells! Don't you dare! They are a newly married couple. If Catherine had needed your care, I am sure Vincent would have told you before they left, and if she needs you before morning I am sure Vincent will call for you on the pipes! Let them enjoy their wedding night!"

"But he is just a boy!" Jacob protested.

"Sheltered yes, but hardly a boy at thirty five! You are not going to try and stand there and tell me that you were…ummm…inexperienced at thirty five now are you?!" she demanded.

"Well no, but that is different!"

"Oh and just how is it different?! Because of the way Vincent looks? Have you seen the way Catherine looks at him? Do you really think the way he looks would keep her from making love to him?! I am pretty sure that his looks are a great part of her attraction to him!"

Father contemplated her words for a moment and then said, "I guess I still live in fear of what the world Above would do to him if they discovered him and Catherine has certainly brought much of that world here to our tunnels!"

"Now you stop thinking like that! That young lady, that happens to be his wife and your daughter-in-law, would protect Vincent with her life, just as he would her!"

With a rueful grin he asked her, "Do you think all parents have as much trouble letting their children go?"

"To some extent yes, but Vincent is a very special case. You just have to remember that you didn't lose a son, you gained a daughter-in-law."

"I guess so," he sighed. "I think I will return to my chamber now. It has been a long day."

"I will walk with you and maybe we could share a cup of chamomile tea in your study before we retire," Mary suggested.

To be continued…..