Chapter 16

The more Fogg thought about what Robertson had goaded them into, the more he disliked it. It was not just the direct approach; it was having the three of them interrogating her. She would end up heavily pressured, and that would not get them anywhere.

Fogg sent a note to the countess's home the next morning requesting an early interview with Eleanor herself. Appearing before Eleanor just after her breakfast, Phileas stated his business. Arrangements were then made for him to escort Katharine to a luncheon without others about. He did not tell Eleanor everything, just that he wanted to know her reasons for seeking him out back then and how her present affections, if any, stood toward him.

Eleanor still harbored hopes. She agreed to a point. "Mr. Robertson will still have to be on the premises, if not at your table. You do know however, that Lord McCollum has declared himself," Eleanor said. "He has a deep affection for her. Katharine has returned them. I would still prefer a marriage to you for her. I wish you luck, Phileas. What you have told me doesn't give me great hopes for you. That incident happened five years ago. If you had met her as I had wished, you might already be married."

"That was a distinct possibility," and was why I never came.

At noon, Fogg came back to the house and carried Katharine to a restaurant. It was used often by the service for business rendezvous. It was discreet, quiet, and would afford them privacy. The tables were set up in small cubicles decorated like little tearooms. Phileas escorted her to their table and ordered for them. He was about to start his plan of attack, only to have his quarry beat him to it.

"Phileas, why have you brought me here?" Katharine said. "You know Andrew is courting me."

"If I abandoned the field to the Earl, what chance is there for me to have a time later? Lord McCollum has the advantages of rank and longer association, after all."

"You have never shown an interest in me," she said. "This seems particular."

"Oh, but that is not true. I have declared my affections to you," He said, tripping the trap. "And you instigated the incident. Do you know, I looked for an invitation from you for weeks after that ball? Had you been less vague, I would have gone straight to your aunt the next day. Rebecca was at the ball as well. When she saw the costume at your residence last week, she came right away to tell me."

"Oh, bother," Katharine said under her breath. She looked down at the napkins and shifted in her seat, distinctly uncomfortable.

Phileas expected no less. "Would you like to explain yourself?"

"No, I would prefer you forget the whole incident."

Katharine felt her world sink and wished the floor would swallow her. Why did this have to happen now? That bit of nonsense should have been completely forgotten.

"That is not an option," Phileas said. "You sought me out that night. Of that, I am certain. To do so, you must have had some idea of what my reaction might have been."

"Katharine," Phileas said, dropping all formality, "You wanted me to develop an attraction to you. You succeeded. I have thought of that night often. When Rebecca informed me who my lingering affections have been for all this time, you cannot have expected me to just walk away from the knowledge. I have obtained permission from your aunt to pursue the matter. Are you trying to say you were just playing with me?"

Me playing! What?

"All I did was enlist you in conversation and a few dances. My intentions were to establish a meeting to build on once Aunt Eleanor's introduction had been made. As I recall, it was you who started declaring undying devotion after a scant few hours. You were the one that fed me all that wine. I was not there to set up an affair décor. That was wholly your idea."

"Oh, enough of this coy nonsense," Phileas gently protested. He smiled at her gamely and added a touch of roguish intent to his voice. "I admit to being five years late, but better late than never. You really expect me to believe that you went to that party alone to set up a covert introduction to an older man and did not intend to see the matter to its natural conclusion?" He let that last question hang in the air between them. "Are you sure you are not still interested in seeing your actions through?"

She might have been nineteen and naïve then, but she isn't now. Phileas knew by her stricken expression Katharine knew exactly what he was implying and what he was now suggesting.

Katharine examined the napkins again, carefully considering her reply.

If she relents and agrees to an affair with marriage in the offing, I have her.

On the other side of the table, Katharine considering whether she had ever been so embarrassed. She could see what she and her cousins had done from his point of view. Katharine knew exactly what Phileas was suggesting and knew it was her own fault. How could I have been so stupid as to do something so reckless? I have to clear this up, now.

"Phileas," she said after a long pause. "You are mistaken, very much mistaken. First, I did not go to the ball alone. I went with two of my cousins and was escorted there by Penelope's husband. They will tell you so if you wish to confirm. Penelope's husband was the one who arranged for us to sit together. We were never out of their sight," (need not admit they lost track of us). "When you kissed me, they called me back with the note I received. You remember that? They called me away and took me home immediately."

"If you had accepted Eleanor's invitation back then… If the Earl had not had a second seizure…" she said, more to the fates than Phileas. Shaking her head, Katharine cast her list of what ifs aside.

"That was then, and this is now. Phileas, I am sorry, but that incident is in the past and buried. You cannot bring it and the reasons behind it back to life. I am sorry if you feel I led you on. The affections I once had for you have long since disappeared. I have turned them to Lord McCollum now. I intend to marry him before the year is out. As such, I will not accept your affections or interest. Now please, take me back home and be good enough never to speak of this again."

Katharine spoke the last as a demand, hoping she was making her point. She would have begged him to keep silent if necessary. What would Andrew think of all this? I never knew he was a very jealous sort. Could I lose his love over this, or worse, lose his respect? How much further is this to haunt me? The man had her future in his hands.

With her full explanation spoken, Fogg had no recourse but to relent. The woman before him had answered all his questions and vindicated herself. It had been a silly schoolgirl thing to do, but quite innocent. I probably asked for it the way I was avoiding her.

Phileas felt like the cad he had been acting. He had upset her and was quite sorry for it. She stood, but Fogg bid her to sit down again and wait for his return. He collected Rebecca and Robertson from their place and quickly returned. Her surprise was evident as they all walked into the little dining area. They sat down and explained the real reason for this interview. After that, plans had to be made.