Katherine

By Sandy Grissom

The lord of the manor in the 1700s is an angry man. He lost both parents he feels too soon. He blames God and behaves so poorly that he has lost all but one of his friends. No woman will have anything to do with such a grouch, no matter his title. He makes a deal with a Belgian to pay off his debts. In return he will take the man's daughter in marriage. He expects to receive a quiet lady who will give him children but not upset his solitary life. What kind of lady will she be? How much will she turn his life upside down? Will he keep her and fall in love? Or will he send her packing back home and lose the money he paid as a bride price?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Grissom
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005035013

Sandy Grissom

Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She's read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake. Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself. As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The occupations in Choppy Waters will hopefully inspire someone to fight for their own dreams, to never give up on themselves or on love. A widow, Sandy recently moved to southern Indiana where she lives near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

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KATHERINE

By

Sandy Grissom

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Smashwords Edition Copyright 2020 by S.K.G. Haag

Cover image by: Greg Montari via Pixabay.com

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Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She’s read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake.

Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself.

As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The places she’s lived also feed into her stories, namely Colorado and the desert of eastern Washington State. Her heart, though she wasn’t born there, grabbed onto and lives in the west, Nebraska, Wyoming and most especially Texas.

A widow, Sandy lives in Indiana near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

KATHERINE

Chapter One

Why, Father, Katherine asked.

I didn’t want it to be this way. I looked for any other alternative but I found none. Now I am at a place where any there might have been have vanished.

Why him, she asked.

He wants sons and is willing to pay for them. I know that sounds harsh but you may as well know the truth of the matter.

Are you saying that he will assume the debts of this smaller estate to ensure his larger one will go on?

I suppose that is the truth of it, my daughter. If you feel I am selling you…

Oh no, Father. You must do what you feel is right. It is just that I always thought I’d go to a husband taking a dowry with me. It is unusual for it to be the other way around. But no matter. I simply wanted to understand the circumstances. I will go willingly, knowing what my place there will be.

You are too good, he responded. I never deserved such a daughter and I am sure Lord Gawain cannot deserve you either.

I go to please you, Father. I will serve Lord Gawain as if I were serving you. Indeed I must also be serving God in this for I have no unease about my situation. I feel this must be my destiny though it may not seem as such to you.

Lord Gresham shook his head sadly. He was losing a beloved daughter to a man who didn’t deserve her sweetness and even disposition. Though truthfully she had her moments when she spoke out. Especially as a girl though it seemed those days of less seemly behavior were done. Ladies did not interest themselves in matters that men did. Katherine must have come to accept that.

It will be well, Katherine promised. I know what is expected of me and I will not fail in doing it.

She spoke almost as if she read his thoughts.

I see that, my child. I suppose that is the saddest part of all.

No, Father. Somehow I believe this was meant to be. I will be all right. I have your love and my mother’s. I take that and the love of my God with me. He will never fail me. I will have work that all ladies do when married to the lord of a large estate. I understand by your words that his must be a very large estate. I am sure my life will be fuller than you expect at this moment. Now tell me what plans have been made for me.

He sighed that he may as well tell her. She had to know quite soon anyway.

You are to go to him right away. Your maid will go with you. It might be that she will become your lady in waiting after the wedding. I can’t say for I am not well acquainted with how his or any foreign estate for that matter is managed. At any rate, the ceremony is planned for three months hence. Your mother and I will travel there for it but we cannot come with you now.

I understand you must take care of the business here that Lord Gawain’s money provides but Mother?

She refuses to go without me. You know we have hardly spent a day apart since our marriage. I had hoped for such a marriage for you. Your brother and sisters are blessed in that. Then as he considered what she was actually asking, he added, I suspect Lord Gawain wishes the time for you to get to know one another.

Do you think he will change his mind?

I do not think so. It was a great deal of money he sent along with the request for your hand. There was no condition mentioned for repayment. If he should dislike you, a doubtful thought for you are a splendid girl and will make him a wife of credit, but as I said, no suggestion for repayment was part of the agreement. In truth, he would be out a great deal of money and I shudder to think how I would come up with such a sum if it were to come to that. My creditors have already been promised payment and I cannot go back on my word.

Lord Gresham sighed unhappily.

Please be content about this, Father. I am.

I will try.

Since the marriage is to be, I may as well get organized to be on my way. I will instruct my maid to pack my trunks. I will need a bridal gown.

Your good mother hopes you might desire to wear her wedding gown. It is not the most fashionable and it may be that Lord Gawain has something else in mind. If so, well…but she means for you to take it with you in the hope it will bring a measure of happiness to you by the wearing of it.

I shall, Father, and it may be that I find more than a measure of happiness in England.

I pray that is true. How long will it take you to pack? Lord Gawain awaits your arrival impatiently.

I suspect he wants to be sure nothing goes wrong. Since it was such a large sum of money, she pondered.

Indeed it was, he replied.

Lady Katherine would not press the matter and embarrass her father further than he already was by asking the actual amount. She knew at once she entered his study that he didn’t want to tell her what he must. It was hard enough for him to say what he did. She knew him well so she had no reservations doing what he asked. It was necessary for the survival of her family. He would not have accepted the offer otherwise. She would have gone for that reason alone.

Yet as she told him, somehow this felt right, as if it was meant to be. She would not leave with a heavy heart but for the fact that she would see her parents rarely in the years to come. Her married sisters and brother likely not at all. Still, they would correspond and she would have news of their goings on and she would report back what her life was like in England.

It is still morning. Mary can have the packing done today. If you wish I can leave on the morrow.

I would that it not be so soon.

We are to accept this, Father, with a heart for what must be done. The contract has been made. Honor dictates we cannot back out so we may as well come to peace about it. I only just heard of the agreement and I already have. I pray you will, too.

Katherine rose from the chair. She moved across to kiss the brow of her beloved father. She knew he wouldn’t send her into a loveless marriage unless he had to. Her family served this land for more than two hundred years. He could not allow it to go to another. Katherine knew that very well indeed.

She expected to obey her father by serving her husband no matter who the man was. She was brought up to understand her duty toward her lord protector, whether that be her father or a husband. She would serve Lord Gawain of Farthingale and show him respect whatever the cost. She would give him the children he wanted. It would please him and Katherine would derive great joy in those children, just as her parents had with her and her siblings.

I will leave you to see to getting my things packed. I’ll find out from Mother where the dress is. It may need tending before it is packed away.

You’re a good girl, Katherine.

If I am, it is because you raised me well.

Lord Gresham held onto his daughter’s hand a long moment. He hated to see her go. Yet he must. With a sigh of resignation, he finally let go. Katherine bent to kiss his hand. In doing so, she said without words that she would do her duty to her lord, her father for now and soon her husband. She was pleased to obey her father and was sure she would find a measure of pleasure with her new lord protector.

Lord Gawain of Farthingale, she mused as she made her way up the staircase. It does sound a little overwhelming.

Once Katherine departed the room, Lord Gresham set to seeing to all that needed to be done. He had already told his estate manager to arrange for a contingent of horsemen to take Lady Katherine to her new home. She would ride in a carriage with her maid certainly. There must be four attendants riding outside on the carriage and four others on horseback. She must be protected on all sides until she reached her destination.

Such a contingent would show her future husband that the lady was one of worth, of value. Perhaps one day when he was old and grey, Lord Gawain would realize the treasure he bargained for. What little he knew of him bespoke one who was not of such a bent. Indeed he was spoken of as harsh and uncompromising. Yet the proposal came at a time when Lord Gresham was at his wit’s end how to extricate himself from his financial woes. He knew he’d been living on the edge for some years now.

He had not put back money for the drought that wiped out most of the crops on his estate. Now he had to feed not only his household but the farmers who worked for him. It was a valuable lesson he would be sure not to repeat in future. His son and heir was vitally aware of the cost to them of a daughter to retain the estate. The young man along with the estate steward were at this moment out riding the estate to determine the extent of the damage. It was only this week the land was dry enough to see what the devastation meant to the estate. It might be that a fraction of the crop would be saved. Any bit of it would be most welcome.

My daily prayers from this day forward must include asking the Lord God to keep my daughter from adopting such characteristics as I hear about Lord Gawain. Oh, if there had been any other way.

He sighed, shook his head in resignation and set to work. There was much to be done.

Mother, it is quite a beautiful gown. I do hope Lord Gawain will allow me to wear it.

As do I. It fits you very well. You look absolutely beautiful, my daughter. I saw to its cleaning. There was a slight tear in a seam which has been mended. And I had it hemmed since you are a few inches shorter than me. It will need nothing further but for any wrinkles to fall out. Have Mary hang it up somewhere out of the way as soon as you arrive.

I am taller than my sisters but it would have fit them as well. Why did they not wear your gown?

I did not offer it. Had they asked, I would have been pleased to allow it but neither one asked. Forgive me for saying so but I always thought it ought to go to you. It seems to fit who you are better, to be your dress. Sophia and Margot have stronger personalities while your heart is so very tender. I hope you will be happy.

I shall, Mother, for I have decided to be happy or at the very least contented. You and Father have loved me as parents are meant to do. I leave you both with a full heart.

Thank you for saying so. Now I need to speak about the wedding night.

She stumbled over those intimate words.

Mary has hinted to me what is done that night so I am not completely unaware. Perhaps we might wait for further discussion until you come to me at Farthingale Park, Lord Gawain’s grand estate.

As you wish, she sighed in relief.

Katherine would have smiled had it not been disrespectful. Her parents loved each other dearly. Perhaps it was difficult to share such