Chapter 394: Bad timing (3)
"That is sad to hear. I will not take up any more of your time, as I have more families to visit before I join your husband. I hope you all have a good day," Mark said, excusing himself.
Alessandra waited by the door to see Mark off. She gazed at the paper in her hands, which had to be filled with Lucas’s complaints. She planned to put it away since she had no time to spare for anyone’s greediness.
"I heard Uncle Lucas and Aunt Claire were going out of town. Why are they back so soon and going to the court? They certainly have a talent for knowing when to trouble you. I say burn it," Lily suggested.
"I cannot simply burn a letter from the court. I will leave it for your father and have him decide what to do with it. It is awful timing," Alessandra said, rubbing her temple.
This family didn’t need more matters to face at this moment.
"I think it is good timing," Penelope spoke up. "Father is in an awful mood, so if they poke at him now, he might just get rid of them once and for all."
"Get rid of them by sending them out of town, I mean. I would not ask for him to hurt our aunt and uncle, whom we were once close to," Penelope said, before Isabelle thought the worst.
"It would not be so bad if they would leave Lockwood. Fortunately, it will not be a concern for us since we will leave. Should they follow us out of town, then they will deserve what they get. Don’t think of it, mother," Lily said, taking the paper from her mother’s hand. ’We must think of our father, Elijah and Tyrion."
"I was not going to let this ruin the end of my day. Come, we still need to have the cook prepare food for their arrival," Alessandra said, offering her hand to her daughters once more.
Outside the estate, Mark mounted his horse and set course for Kate’s home.
It was far later into the night when Mark arrived at Kate’s home, but he was welcomed inside by Noah.
Mark took off his hat as he entered and sat down while he waited for Kate.
"It is quite late for a visit from the court. Have you come to deliver my wife and me bad news? After not hearing any word from our son, it took Kate some time to come to terms with it and focus on doing better. Please tell me if you will ruin this," Noah said, needing to prepare for the worst.
Noah didn’t see now as the best time for the court to bring any bad news about Warren. It was cruel of him as a father, but Kate was finally going outside. She made efforts to get around without waiting for someone to push her, and she was excited about Mary’s pregnancy.
Kate was starting fresh, and one bit of news could change this.
"It is not bad news for you or your wife. I am sorry that we have yet to find any clues about where your son is now, but the town guards are still searching for him. I have come to speak about Kate’s visits to the court," said Mark.
"Has she done something wrong? I was under the impression that my wife was doing well with the two young ladies she has spoken to," Noah said, dreading that Kate would be asked to stop.
What the court offered Kate gave her reason to leave home, and she truly wished to help ladies who were once like her.
"No, no. You must stop assuming the worst. Kate has-"
"What have I done?" Kate questioned, staring at the two men gossiping in secret.
Mary helped push Kate to greet her guest, and once Kate was in place, she slipped away so that her state wouldn’t be noticed by the visitor.
"Have you come to bring us news about our son?" Kate asked, her voice stern, yet her hands trembled.
Kate did not look forward to the day she would hear about Warren, because she knew it wouldn’t be good.
"No. It is a matter of your visits to the court. We will need you to stop for a moment because it is not safe for any lady to travel to the court or, quite frankly, anywhere around the town. When it starts again, you will be informed," Mark said, looking forward to Kate’s return.
"What could be so dangerous that ladies cannot go there? The court should be one of the safest places in town. Is it the one behind all the kills? Were they caught?" Kate asked, squeezing the arm of her chair.
"I cannot say much to you since the town will not be informed until this person is caught, but I can promise you that this person holds no ties to Simon. Simon is dead, and what little family he has left alive has nothing to do with this," Mark assured Kate.
Mark hoped this would be enough to convince Kate that Simon was gone. The voice Kate heard and when she spoke of seeing Simon was all in her head.
"Then, why does he still feel so alive within me even though I have moved on from him? I am remarried, yet he still plagues my mind. Still, I am relieved it is someone I do not know," Kate sighed in relief.
Kate noticed Mark’s hesitation to tell her more.
"What is it? You just had a look like there is more. Do not hold anything from me. I am finally at a place where I can trust you, so do not break my trust," Kate said.
"It is not someone tied to Simon, but they are tied to a man you might know. Do you recall William Lancaster?" Mark asked, certain Kate might not know him.
"How could I forget? He is the man my father promised Alessandra to, and after my father died, he was at my door. I was once afraid that since he could not get Alessandra, he would seek my hand," Kate said, still harbouring hate for William.
"If not for Edgar, Alessandra would have been with William, and life would have been different. Don’t misunderstand. I wished for it when I was younger, but not anymore. I know that it was wrong of me," Kate confessed.
"I wasn’t judging you. As long as you realise your mistakes, that is all that matters. Though this person has an interest in your sister, you must stay safe and not venture too far along," Mark advised Kate.
"Where else would I have to go besides the court? Alessandra is lucky to have a powerful husband, so I won’t worry for her. I no longer want to speak," Kate said, looking to Noah to take her away.
"There seems to be more concern for her daughters-"
"Do not try to guilt me into worrying for her family. She has always worried only about her family, and I shall do the same about mine. We are not sisters," Kate said, motioning for Noah to come sooner.
Mark hesitated at first, but soon changed his mind. What he knew shouldn’t be a secret anymore.
"Were you ever told of how much the duchess once helped you and your uncle when you needed money?" Mark asked, though he knew Kate wasn’t aware.