Enticing Temptation

Chapter 21

Twynforde House

            "A missive just arrived for you, my lady," Crichton informed her. Cat was seated at the desk in her new morning room looking over swatches of fabrics, wallpapers and paints trying to decide what colors to redo her room in. She was leaning toward a violet and yellow combination in a fabric she was admiring for a small sofa and two overstuffed chairs by the fireplace.

    "Thank you," Cat said and took the missive from the silver salver he presented then Crichton left the morning room.

    She opened the missive and read that the Prime Minister had arranged a meeting to take place in his office on Monday morning. He wanted her Uncle Trey, Myles and her to be there at nine. The others he informed her would arrive around nine-thirty.

    "It's about time," Cat said after reading it. She'd hoped they would have met before now since it was several days into the New Year. She wanted it done and over with so she and Myles could leave for Twynforde Manor as soon as possible. They had persuaded Val and the children to join them on the visit. Myles had been trying to get information from everyone in her family about his new country home but Cat had already warned everyone to keep quiet and not to answer any of Myles's questions about the manor. She'd wanted it to be a surprise to Myles when they arrived. She'd already sent word to the staff to be prepared for their new master in a few weeks. She would wire them of the day and time to meet them at the train station in Evesham, the town located just a few miles from the manor.

    "I was wondering where I'd find you," Myles said striding into the room giving her a large grin.

    "I just received a missive from the Prime Minister," she told her then handed the missive to her husband and watched as he read it.

    "I'm glad we finally heard from him," Myles said as he came to sit in front of her desk. "I want to leave to visit Twynforde Manor as soon as this mess is over with."

    "Just because we will meet with our list of suspects doesn't mean that Monday we will be done with it all," she reminded him.

    "Yes, I'm well aware of that, Cat, but I don't think we can continue to let this rule our lives. Whoever may have covered his tracks enough that we may never find out who it is and he may as the American's say 'will lay low' until he thinks people have given up trying to find him."

    Cat nibbled on her lower lip as she thought about what Myles said. "You could be right. He's had time to cover things up once Uncle Trey was sent to China and then later when I was. Probably his last instructions were to Farthington to make sure we didn't return. He probably feels safe since he hasn't been arrested."

    "You did remember that tonight is the night Trey and I will be dinning at White's so your uncle can sponsor my membership there," Myles told her.

    "Yes, of course," she replied smiling. "I'll find something to do around here until you return home. Home...that word sounds so nice doesn't it."

      "Yes is does. This is the first real home I have lived in since I was a boy. When Amanda and I were in America I stayed at her house when we were in port. She also has one in the West Indies that I think you would enjoy visiting, Cat."

    "Oh, I'd love that."

    "My lord," Crichton said standing in the doorway. "The Marquess of Dalquist has arrived. He is waiting in your study."

    "Thank you, Crichton," Myles told his butler and wondered if he would ever get used to people calling him 'my lord'.

    "I think I'll go with you and say hello to my uncle," Cat said rising from behind her desk.