And Those Who Trespass Against Us (27 page)

Adele reached across and took Catriona's hand. "Oh darling, I'm so sorry."

Catriona grinned. "At least now I have the real thing to work on."

"Speaking of which, I expect your days aren't normally spent this close to Gleneagle, but you've been doing that since I arrived." Adele lightly laughed. "Don't get me wrong. I'm more than happy for our days and nights together, but I hate to think you're foregoing work for my sake. You're not, are you?"

"It's only been a couple of days. I'll ride out again next week and check the stock."

Adele frowned. "It's Friday, isn't it?" Catriona nodded. "Didn't you agree to get some stores from Susan today?"

Catriona masked her embarrassment by picking up the paintings and returning them to their storage box. "Yes, I did," she answered, her back to Adele. Her eyes lit up and she whirled around. "Would you like to come with me?" She knew exactly what Susan wanted to talk about, but Susan wouldn't dare be so forward if Adele were there.

Adele rose. "To tell you the truth, I'm worn out. I think I'll stay here if you don't mind."

Catriona reddened at the double entendre in Adele's words. "Well, ah, I better be on my way." She gathered Adele into her arms and slowly kissed her. "I'll see you when I get home."

Adele's fingers trailed down the front of Catriona's shirt. "I'll be waiting for you," she replied, her eyes never leaving Catriona's.

TAKING THE MERCANTILE stairs two at a time, Catriona tried the front door and found it locked and decided to go around to the back.

She walked through the side gate to the rear. Framed in the kitchen window were Susan and Me Lin, in what could only have been a passionate conversation. Neither touched the other, yet the depth of their love was unmistakeable. As Susan spoke, delight and laughter danced across Me Lin's features. Catriona smiled. She could see the bond between the two ran deep.

Seeing them like that, Catriona wondered if Katherine could ever feel for her the way Me Lin felt for Susan. She came back to earth with a resounding thud. What was it about Katherine? Catriona marveled at how Katherine had managed to ensconce herself so deeply in her thoughts. How could she be thinking of her, when she and Adele were finding each other again? She craned her neck from side to side, attempting to clear her mind of its conflicting deliberations. She put her hand on the back door handle, and purposefully rattled it.

"Good afternoon," she said as she walked inside. Years of cautious instinct made Susan and Me Lin to quickly step back, before they fully realised who their visitor was. Catriona chuckled at the guilty looks on their faces. "And well should you look at me like that." She placed her hands on her hips. "What would happen if I'd been Katherine and found you speaking with each other, with such blatant looks of adoration on your faces?"

"I suspect no sillier than you would have felt had she been at the homestead and saw the look on
your
face when Adele arrived," Susan teased and then laughed. "My my Catriona, I do believe you're blushing. And a nice shade of crimson it is. Come and have a seat. You look like you're going to pass out, if the colour of your face is anything to go by."

Me Lin gave Susan a soft kiss and left the two women.

Susan closed the back door. "What's going on, and how is it Adele's found her way back into your life after so many years?"

Catriona baulked at Susan's question, and she searched the room as if looking for something, or
someone
.

Susan reached across and lightly took hold of Catriona's chin. She turned Catriona's face to her own. "There's no need to worry. Katherine set out very early this morning for the Connor farm. I don't expect her home for a while yet."

Catriona's brows furrowed. "I didn't see her on my way into town." She contemplatively pursed her lips. "We should have passed each other, given the Connor property is next to mine."

"She left early, and you're
unusually
late this morning," Susan said, a twinkle in her eye.

Catriona flushed again. Susan snorted and she reached across and grasped Catriona's hand. "If you could only see the look on your face--it's precious. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be teasing you. Why don't you start from the beginning?"

Catriona relayed to her how, by sheer luck, Adele was once again back in the Australian countryside. Catriona shyly told her of the rekindling of a relationship she thought was lost. Susan smiled at her fortune and, yet, at the same time Catriona sensed Susan was worried about something.

"What are Adele's long term plans?" Susan casually asked.

Catriona shifted in her seat. As she contemplated the idea of Adele staying, she couldn't help but hear a tiny voice in the recesses of her mind asking if that was what she wanted?

She looked up and realised Susan was still patiently waiting for an answer. "We haven't discussed her plans. I'm fairly sure if I asked her she'd be more than willing to stay. Her tenure as governess to the family she was with is complete. I get the feeling she's a free soul."

Susan raised both eyebrows, as if to silently state the obvious question.

"I don't know. It's like for the first time in my life I have within my grasp what I want. Adele knows me. She's warm, humorous, exceptionally good looking, well educated, and an extremely sensual woman. As for her staying on a more permanent basis, I haven't thought about it." She realised that this was a lie, knowing a great deal of her time since Adele's arrival had been spent pondering just that prospect.

Susan sat back and intently studied at Catriona. "Where does that leave Katherine?"

Catriona's head jerked up as if struck. Was she so transparent? Angry at Susan's apparent ease in reading her thoughts, she retaliated. "She knows all too well how I feel, and she
still
left Gleneagle. Of course she figures in my daily thoughts. How could she
not
be there? But hell Susan, what else can I hope for between us? At least with Adele my feelings are reciprocated. I could spend the rest of my bloody life pining after Katherine, and she may never bloody well know what she wants. What I have now may be as good as it gets."

"Are you sure Katherine
doesn't
know what she wants?" Susan continued in a level tone.

"For Christ's sake!" Catriona pushed the chair out from under her. "What's that supposed to mean? She's
here
. I'm
there
. I truly don't think I can expect any more."

"If you're so damned sure, then why does she spend the evenings here boring me to bloody distraction waxing lyrical about you? And how is it despite living
here
she spends an inordinate amount of time out at
your
property? Don't tell me it's got something to do with those damn books. They're a smokescreen, at best." Susan's nostrils flared and she gripped the edge of the table, in an obvious attempt to rein in her temper. "Answer me this if you dare. Have you spoken to Adele about Katherine yet?" She grunted. "I can see by the look on your face you haven't."

Both turned when the door to the upper floor opened, admitting a concerned Me Lin. "What's the matter? I'm upstairs with the bedroom door closed and yet I can hear you both as if you were standing beside me."

Susan stood and fiercely hugged Me Lin. After reassuring her everything was fine, Me Lin again left the two, but not before she cast a warning glance at Catriona.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for my words to be so harsh or so loud."

Catriona pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "No,
I'm
the one who should be apologising." She sank back into her seat. "You're right about Katherine and it's driving me crazy. She does come and visit, and we talk about all number of things but it's like she's walking on coals. She begins to bring barriers down between us. But, when I move closer she puts them back up again. It's like she's afraid of herself and her own feelings." Catriona crookedly smiled. "And you're right--I haven't spoken to Adele about Katherine. Well, not in
that
sense anyway."

"I think Katherine's feelings are confused by what her religious teachings say regarding what you shared, and she's as scared as hell. Not from eternal damnation but how to deal with the emotions which are pulling her apart.

"I don't think she's ever been with anyone, man or woman. In matters of the heart, I'd hazard she's relatively naive. As for telling Adele, it's up to you. But is that fair?" Susan moved around the table and crouched by Catriona. "Can you truly be happy with what you have with Adele? If you can, that's all good and fine. Just don't end up despising her for something you never gave yourself the chance to have."

Catriona scrubbed her face and neck. "You say Katherine speaks a lot about me and yet she doesn't know what she wants. I don't know what to do. Believe me, I've thought long and hard, and I still can't find a way forward. I'd appreciate any ideas you might have."

"I do have one. I can't guarantee it'll bring her any closer to reconciling her feelings one way or another." Catriona nodded, encouraging Susan to continue. "I expect a large part of her problem may be coming to grips with the notion of a relationship between two women. So why don't we show her there's nothing wrong with this?" Susan held up her hands. "Don't look so shocked. I'm not suggesting you fall into Adele's arms in Katherine's presence. Remember I mentioned the idea of a dinner party a while ago? Have you given it any further thought? I believe it would be an excellent opportunity for Katherine to witness social interaction between women. Maybe it will set her thinking."

Catriona pondered the idea, playing the evening through in her mind. Her heart missed a beat when she realised she'd have two women she had a deep emotional attachment to under her roof at the same time. Regardless, the risk was one she was willing to take.

"Given the current circumstances, I suppose things can't get any worse. I'll approach Mrs. Johnston again about preparing us a meal. I'd approached her about such a possibility back when we first discussed a soiree. I'm afraid if you allow me to prepare dinner then the result may be unusual, to say the least."

Susan looked at Catriona, eyebrows creased. "I think it would be a good idea if you spoke with Katherine first and made her aware of your visitor. I'm not saying tell her everything, but at least prepare her for Adele's presence."

Catriona was rapidly warming to the idea of a dinner party. "I'll speak with her next time she's out at the house. After all, as you say she always incorporates a trip to the farm whenever she's out that way."

Catriona's eyes searched Susan's. "Shit," they said in unison, simultaneously realising Katherine's homeward trip would undoubtedly bring her past the Pelham homestead.

Chapter Thirteen

KATHERINE BEGAN HER journey home, her thoughts dwelling on the smiles that had lit up the Connor children's faces when she gave them their books. It had certainly been a long time between drinks since they'd last received books.

She smiled at her use of the colloquialism, recognising it as one of Catriona's favourites. A picture of her appeared in her mind's eye and Katherine sighed. Despite the contact she maintained with Catriona, she did miss their evening discussions and the humour Catriona managed to inject into a story about the day's events. That wasn't to say she was uncomfortable staying with Susan and Me Lin. They were perfect hosts. On three separate occasions, she'd managed to hold a conversation with the exceptionally serene Me Lin. During one such discussion they'd spoken about the different philosophies of religion existing between western and eastern societies. Katherine was surprised at the contrast, with the west having a proportion of its foundations in fear and damnation and the east on peace and acceptance. Despite her western-based religious upbringing, she was deeply touched by the calming spirituality of Me Lin and her teachings, and she resolved to learn more.

Although her friendship with Susan and Me Lin was one she treasured, in the quiet moments Katherine's thoughts strayed to Catriona. Their connection was nothing physical--it was moreso an invisible link between the two which made her feel at home in Catriona's presence. With her, she never felt that she had to conform to what everyone expected of her.

She wondered how Catriona was faring. Her evenings had to be terribly quiet all by herself, not to mention her days. Resolute, Katherine clicked the reins. "In fact why don't I pay her a visit? After all, I do need to pick up some more books." She giggled, thinking what excuse she would have used to validate her visits if the books had been held at the store.

After tethering the horse in the shade of the trees by the barn, she made her way to the back of the house and opened the unlocked door. She never ceased to be amazed at that. In Ireland, no family would entertain being away all day and leave the house unsecured. Out here it was the norm.

She made her way to the study where the books had been relocated after her departure. She made herself comfortable on the floor and sorted through the books she'd need for the next few days. At the sound of footfall, a smile rose to her face. "I didn't expect to find you at home at this time of the day."

She looked over her shoulder and her happiness turned to surprise. A tall, slightly Rubenesque figure covered by a light yellow blouse and skirt stood in the doorway. Her face had a paleness about it which hinted at a more genteel life. What struck Katherine most were her inquisitive violet eyes. "Who are you?" Katherine blurted out and scrambled to her feet.

Adele's eyes crinkled, making her appear younger than she was. "I must unashamedly admit to having an advantage over you. You're obviously Sister Flynn." Stepping through the doorway, Adele extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Sister. My name is Adele Cooper."

Catriona's last governess? she thought. The one who had gone to England? "Pleased to meet you." She took the proffered hand and quickly let go. "I'm sorry, if I'd known Catriona had guests I wouldn't have barged through the house like I did."