Her posture was perfect as she sat behind the desk and read over the address her husband was going to give the following day. He certainly did not need her assistance in this area of his career, but there was something about reading one his flawlessly constructed speeches. Even after nearly a decade of marriage, his eloquence still sent a chill down her spine.
"
Excuse me, madam. There's someone here to see you."
"Thank you, Christopher," she answered without looking up. "See them into the parlor. I will be there momentarily." While Katherine had not been expecting any visitors, she did not appear remotely surprised by this interruption. Then again, she rarely showed any emotion, especially not in front of the help.
Strictly speaking, it was rude to stop by unannounced and she did not rush to finish what she was doing. She slowly read through the closing paragraph before putting the speech back into the proper folder and sliding it into the desk drawer.
Several moments later, she made her way into the parlor with a polite smile on her face.
"Good afternoon," she greeted the young woman that was slouched in a wingback chair near the fireplace. "I apologize for keeping you waiting. I am afraid a household of this size does not run itself."
As she spoke, she took the seat across from the petite girl. In spite of the slight smile that played over her features, Katherine looked the girl over and silently scrutinized everything about her. Even now, her demeanor commanded respect. "How may I help you?" she questioned, her tone not nearly as accommodating as it should have been.
The girl sat a little straighter in her chair as the older woman's gaze moved over her, and Katherine smirked slightly. She was always amused when people felt the need to use manners they had long forgotten simply because they were in the same room as her.
"Yes, ma'am," the girl began, pausing long enough to clear her throat. "You don't.. We've not met, but your... your husband... Garrett and I have a bit of history."
Her eyebrow arched as the girl began to explain herself. It was obvious that her courage had failed her and Katherine enjoyed watching her stumble over her words. "Is that a fact?" she questioned. "Just what kind of history do you have with my husband, dear?"
The girl cleared her throat again and swallowed nervously. "A... um... romantic one," she stammered. Her shoulders squared, then, and it was obvious that she had finally tapped into a hidden reserve of valor. "We're in love, Katie. He wants to marry me but he's certain that you would never agree to a divorce."
"
Mrs. Pitt," she corrected without hesitation, almost as if she was completely unaffected by anything else the girl had said. "
Katherine, if you must. Only one person is allowed to call me
Katie. I am sure you understand." She stood, then, and made her way over to the bar. "You say that you are in love?" she questioned as she slowly poured herself a glass of brandy. "That he wants to
marry you?" When she turned to face the girl, there was a genuine smile stretched over her features. "How very... interesting. Would you like a drink?"
"Yes... yes, ma'am," the girl answered, her tone faltering slightly. "He told me that he'd never met anyone like me. That he would happily spend the rest of his life with me." She shook her head, declining the drink she had been offered. "He wants to be with me Ka.. Mrs. Pitt. You're standing in the way of his happiness."
Unable to control herself any longer, Katherine laughed heartily. "Am I? I did not realize. Clearly, I should step aside and allow the two of you to live happily ever after." Her laughter faded as she brought her glass up to her lips but her amused expression was still in place when she brought it down again. She stood there for several moments, studying the girl, looking over each of her flaws. There was absolutely no possible way that her husband was in love with her. Judging from the lack of conviction in the girl's tone, Katherine was certain that she was not the only one who knew this.
"How long has it been since you have seen my husband?" she questioned, her tone cold and emotionless even though her face still wore an amused smirk. "A month? Two months?" A change in the girl's expression hinted toward the truth and the older woman snorted. "Did you honestly think I was completely oblivious of your
history with my husband? I hate to be the one to break it to you, dear, but Mr. Pitt..
Garrett, as you so fondly called him, has grown tired of you. You were nothing more than a plaything when I was unexpectedly pulled out of town, and he forgot about you the second I returned. Though, I am certain that you figured that out a few weeks ago. After all, you cannot really be stupid enough to chase after a man who has not acknowledged you in over six weeks."
Katherine was not at all surprised when the girl finally burst into tears and excused herself. Though, she had to admit, she was relieved. "Christopher," she called to the butler waiting just outside the parlor door. "Please see our guest out."
As soon as the room was clear, she downed the contents of her glass and refilled it. Regardless of the way she had just behaved, she had been completely oblivious of her husband's indiscretion. Now that she was alone, it felt almost as if something inside of her chest was ripping apart at the seams.
"Go pack my bags," she instructed when the manservant returned. "I intend to be on the next flight to Fiji."