I stared down at the bed, unsure what to think. Half of me couldn’t wait to try them all. The other half ached with hurt pride and impropriety. I was the sole owner of the largest wheat farm in Pennsylvania. I might not be as wealthy as the Duke of Norland, but certainly I could keep myself in proper clothing.
“Don’t reject his gift, Selah. You’ll break his heart.” She reached down and lifted up a gown of brown silk interwoven with large cream-colored flowers. “This should do for tonight,” she said, holding it up to me. “I was surprised Henry would pick such a dark color for a young lady, but he said it was the color you wore when you two married in the Colonies and that he would see it on you again.”
I whipped my head up, startled that she knew the details of my past with Henry.
“Well,” she said, her eyes sparkling playfully, “married might not be the right word since he was only pretending to be your cousin at the time. I guess fulfilling a mutual bargain is closer to the truth.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“Henry was very frank about your time together, but don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
I stared at her, trying to gauge exactly what she meant by my secret. There were secrets that I preferred to keep quiet due to their embarrassing nature. Then there were secrets that would compromise my life. Certainly, Henry hadn’t told her about Brigid and my power to heal.
Cate placed the gown in my arms, effectively ending any further thoughts on the subject. “Put this on,” she said, “and I’ll call for the carriage.”
The sky glowed a dingy orange when we set off for Kensington Palace. Most of the short journey passed in silence while I fidgeted nervously with my gloves and resisted the urge to tug at my bodice, which had been cut low and tight to meet London fashion. Cate stared out the window at the passing landscape, her face a picture of serenity that contrasted sharply with the nervous anxiety coursing through my body. I envied her detached position. Though she had offered to accompany me, there was no use pretending that she had anything to lose tonight.
The carriage came to a stop and a footman hurried from his rear perch to open the door. Cate went out first, smoothing her skirts as I followed. Glancing around, I realized that we had bypassed the front of the palace, stopping instead outside an arched metal door built into a high brick wall.
“Where are we?” I asked.
She knocked on the door, the force of her gloved hand barely resonating against the thick metal. “A private entrance to the king’s apartments. Every tongue within a mile is sure to be wagging about your arrival and I would prefer to draw as little attention as possible. And judging by the hour, Henry has probably returned from hunting. It would be best for him not to know that we are here.”
The heavy door swung open. A solidly built guard stepped forward, well-armed and glowering. Seeing Cate, his stern face broke into a smile. “Good evening, my lady,” he said with a bow. “His majesty thought you would be accompanying Miss Kilbrid tonight. I am to bring you right up.” The man moved aside, and we stepped through the doorway into a large courtyard where I saw several more guards milling about.
“Good evening, Peter,” Cate said. “How is your little girl? Much improved, I hope.”
“Yes, my lady, thanks to the tonic you brought over. The fever broke soon after you left and the cough is not a bother anymore. My wife says it will be good as gone in a few more days. We’re most thankful for everything you did for us.”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” Cate said, then glanced across the courtyard toward another door. “Did you happen to notice his majesty’s mood tonight? Should I prepare for the lamb or the lion?”
Peter gave me a furtive look. “The lion, I’m afraid, my lady. The king’s temper turned black as coal once word reached the palace of Miss Kilbrid’s safe arrival.”
Cate sighed. “Well, we best get it done with. Would you be so kind to lead the way, Peter?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Inside, the heavy shadows called for a candle, and I was barely able to see the stairs to avoid tripping. We stopped at a large wooden door, flanked on either side by two more guards.
“Miss Kilbrid and Lady Dinley to see his majesty,” Peter said.
One of the guards knocked on the door and disappeared inside.
“Best of luck to you, my lady,” Peter said, bowing again before he slipped back down the hallway toward the stairs.
Cate placed a hand on my arm and leaned close to whisper in my ear. “Do not sit in his presence,” she warned me. “And let him speak first. When it is your turn, keep your tongue well curbed no matter what he may say. Together, we may be able to tame the lion this evening.”