Catherine awoke the next morning feeling much more clear headed. The scene yesterday with Lord Glenarvon seemed almost like a dream, and she dearly hoped that she would soon forget it entirely. There was no need for her to think on that man any more than need be.

She swung her feet from the bed and stood, gathering her robe about her. Looking in the clouded glass that hung in her chambers, she shrugged and swept her hair up into an untidy bun. She need not dress so nicely for breakfast this morning, she thought, for it was just her family and she was still distraught from the day before.

Her mother was already at the dining table, breaking bread with Anne and Lydia. Catherine sat down and reached for a scone just as Sir William entered the room. He sat and began opening his letters as the maid poured his tea.

"That's quite enough tea, Bertha," he said, shooing her away. He opened another letter, and his eyebrows shot up.

"Well," he said.

"‘Well,’ what, Sir William?" asked his wife. But he gave no answer. The room sat in silence for minutes, waiting on Sir William's response. Finally, he looked up from the letter with a strange expression on his face.

"It seems that we have been invited to dine with the Marquess of Glenarvon at his estate tomorrow night, although I do not know why," he said.

"What?" Lady Edmonson looked as if she might die of happiness right then and there. "Catherine, this must be all your doing! I did notice how he watched you at the ball, all moon-eyed like a love-struck pup."

To her utter bewilderment, Catherine’s heart began to pound most pleasantly. Shaking her head, she affixed a scowl upon her lips.

"You are mistaken, Mama,” she said. “Lord Glenarvon has nothing but the greatest disdain for me, I am sure. And I can hardly say that I have much affection for him."

"Nonsense. He is a man of great fortune, and I only hear wonderful things about him. Mrs. James says that he is known in London for his extreme generosity–although, I suppose that a man as wealthy as he can afford to be very generous. You know, he was gone from the countryside for so long that I thought he should never return to Castle Fen, but now here is. And here you are. You really can be very beautiful if you try, Catherine, and I think he has taken note."

"Please, Mother," said Catherine. "I know how this must look, but the only reason he has invited us is to further ridicule me."

"Ridicule you?" asked Lady Edmonson. "Whatever do you speak of?"

Catherine flushed. "It is nothing. Forget I said anything about it all. I merely meant to say that the Marquess of Glenarvon does not truly wish to spend time with the likes of us."

"The likes of us?" said her mother, chortling. "Oh, Catherine, you are a snob! You know, his mother was my especial friend when were very little. She was born to very similar circumstances as I, and we did dearly love to laugh together. She was not a peer as her husband was, and I was very distressed when they passed, even though she and I had not spoken since we were eight."

Catherine's eyes widened. "His mother was not a peer? Then she must have come from great wealth."

"No, she grew up in a house not too dissimilar from this, Catherine. Not all people are so set on keeping within their class as you seem to be. You would be lucky to wed a man as good and kind as the late Lord Glenarvon. And I hope to find that the son is much like the father."

"Then you shall be disappointed," said Catherine, crossing her arms.

"Stop it with this ridiculous behavior and be glad," said Lady Edmonson with finality. "Now, everyone upstairs! We need to plan our outfits so that we may look our absolute best. It is not every day that one dines at so grand an estate as Castle Fen."

* * *

As the Edmonson's carriage drove up the long and winding road, Castle Fen came into sight. Although Catherine had seen the estate from a great distance numerous times, the sight of the edifice up close took her breath away. It was nothing like she had seen before, and it was far grander than even the most palatial home she ever laid eyes on.

This was not a typical country estate, she thought, but rather the sort of building that had been erected by King Arthur himself for a Spring palace. Castle Fen was hewn from rough grey stone, worn to a fine sheen from wind and age. It was large–so large that one might get lost for days inside the walls without a soul noticing that anything was amiss. A high turret loomed over the facade, casting a shadow over the sloping front lawn in the dwindling evening light.

Still, for all that Castle Fen was a forbidding structure, built to withstand hordes of men, it had a light and airy quality that Catherine could not deny. It did not feel out of place amongst the blooming pink buds of spring, and its high walls were filled with huge windows. The glass must have cost more money than the Edmonson family had ever seen, but the effect was dazzling. The whole construction seemed to sparkle with what little light there was, reflecting the purples and pinks of the exquisite sunset. It was hard to believe that a man so brutish as Lord Glenarvon lived in such a beautiful place.

Being the mistress of such a home would be a great pleasure indeed, thought Catherine. But it was of no use thinking such nonsense. She would never live at Castle Fen. The most she could hope for was to live in a slightly more modest estate. Even then, Catherine knew she was fooling herself.

She was not destined to be a great lady presiding over a great house any more than Anne was destined to marry a prince. Of course, Anne had a set of problems all her own that would certainly prevent both Catherine and Lydia from making suitable matches should anyone find out. Catherine still could not put the affair from her mind, try though she might.

The carriage finally crunched to a stop in front of the vast building, and a footman opened the door for them. Catherine stepped out, feeling quite extravagant and waited upon. She endeavored to find the smallest of joys out of the night, even if she had to dine with Lord Glenarvon. Certainly, there were things to be thankful for. At the very least, she would get to see inside the estate that she had long heard so much about.

She glided up the front steps and walked through the large double doors that were already opened for her. For some reason, she wanted to see inside Castle Fen before any of her family members. She was not sure why, but she felt a deep curiosity about the manor, and she somehow felt it her due to view it before anyone else.

The foyer was a cozy show of burgundy with a massive carpet crawling up the grand central staircase. Catherine had expected Castle Fen to be ostentatious, but instead it was almost humble. Perhaps humble was not the right word, Catherine thought. The interior of Castle Fen was not so much humble as it was home-like. It was clear that someone of taste lived within the walls, one who valued comfort above all, but still had a fine eye for decoration and color.

"Do you like it?"

Catherine started. She had not noticed Lord Glenarvon leaning against the wall by the front door, his arms crossed over his chest. A smirk played around his lips, but his eyes never strayed from Catherine's.

"My mother decorated most of the house," he said. "But I have updated it to fit with the current fashions." His eyes softened. "I never want to stray too far from her taste."

Lydia rushed through the doors behind Catherine, pushing her aside so that she could get an unobscured view of the room. The rest of the Edmonsons came quickly after her, all agape at the largess in front of them.

Lord Glenarvon nodded his head at Sir William. "It is wonderful to see you again. It was a distinct pleasure to speak with you at the assembly hall, however briefly, and I hope that tonight will solidify a friendship between our two families."

Lady Edmonson let out a squeak but quickly covered it with a cough. Even Catherine was surprised by Lord Glenarvon's warmth of address. Why would he possibly want to spend any time with her family?

"Follow me and we shall adjourn," continued Lord Glenarvon, waving at the Edmonsons as he began to walk away. They followed hastily, not wishing to lose themselves in the halls of Castle Fen.

He led them to a dining room all done up in the palest blue. Indeed, the walls were so pale that they almost seemed white, and the effect was very beautiful against the gold filigree trim of the crown molding. The large table was laid out with the finest china and the crystal goblets glittered as if they were made from precious stone.

Catherine took her seat graciously, wondering not for the first time how she could have possibly ended up in this situation. A quick glance at Anne proved that her sister was equally confused. Lady Edmonson, on the other hand, seemed quite in raptures over the proceedings. Lord Glenarvon might have spat in her face and she would have thanked him dearly for being so chivalrous a host.

After everyone had been situated, and all were digging into their meals, the marquess broke the silence that had fallen over the group.

"Did you make your way here tolerably well?" he asked.

Catherine could not but try to suppress her disbelief. This was the man who was supposed to be the most eminent person in the county? He could barely even drum up an interesting dinner topic.

"Indeed we did, Lord Glenarvon," replied Sir William.

"We were quite in awe of the view of Castle Fen from the road," said Lady Edmonson. "You have a very beautiful home. I did visit once or twice when I was young, but I see that you have made some very welcome updates since then."

"I have. I did not think it wise to allow the estate to fall into disrepair, even if I have not been spending much time here."

"I hope you are thinking of returning for a longer period than usual?" asked Lady Edmonson. "I think the country is really quite diverting once you become accustomed to it, and Ingleston is lovely at this time of year. Of course, many have also said that we have the prettiest ladies of any county in England..." Lady Edmonson's eyes drifted over to look at Catherine. "I cannot help but agree."

Catherine shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She did not like to feel that she was being put on display. Lord Glenarvon chanced a fleeting look at Catherine and turned quickly back to Lady Edmonson.

"I do think I shall stay in the country for some time, Ma'am. I agree that it is very beautiful here and I should dearly like to take a more hands-on approach to running my estate. I have left it in the hands of my steward, but I find that there is no substitute for oneself. My father ran Castle Fen and the surrounding lands himself, and I plan to follow in his footsteps."

"But that is very hard work indeed, Lord Glenarvon, even for such a venerable man as yourself!" said Lady Edmonson. "You must find the need for some help, especially in the home. A wife, perhaps, could fill these duties..." Again, she turned her eyes casually to Catherine as if they had just happened to fall upon the visage of her middle daughter.

Mortified, Catherine stood up abruptly, her chair making a loud screeching noise as she pushed it away from her body. She felt a flush spread across her face and chest, and she was aware that she must be making quite a spectacle of herself. No matter. She did not desire the good graces of Lord Glenarvon, and her family would think little of anything she ever did.

"You must excuse me," she blurted out. "I am feeling quite faint and I think I must go out into the hall for some fresh air." With that, she rushed from the room, intent on putting as many feet between her and her embarrassing mother as possible.