Dawn Annis Read Free Page A

assets, even at a funeral.
    Forcing a smile to her face, Kate tugged until she was finally able to tease her hand from the woman’s grasp.
    “My dear, how devastated you must feel. Will you be in York long?” the sharp-eyed Mrs. Jennings asked.
    Kate replied quietly, “As long as it is necessary.” She offered nothing more. She wasn’t going to fall into a gossip’s trap. While she had never met Mrs. Jennings, her gossip mill was legendary.
    Turning from Mrs. Jennings, she gave a soft smile of welcome to each of the mourners. She was gracious. She was welcoming. She would give no one any cause to think she was anything other than the properly grieving widow.
    Throughout the evening, she found herself introduced to more than one person she had never met. Many, it seemed, attended simply to catch a glimpse of her, the wife so many had heard of, but so few had seen. More than once she saw groups of four or five people gathered, eating and drinking the fare she had provided. Their eyes were on her as they whispered. “I heard he was found in Mrs. Lionel’s establishment,” Mrs. Kettering murmured.
    Mr. Cochran grinned. “Well, that isn’t at all surprising now, is it?” He hunched in closer to the intrigued group. “Mrs. Lionel specializes in a certain clientele, after all.”
    “Really?” Mrs. Kettering and Mrs. Jennings said in unison.
    “What?” Mrs. Kettering asked.
    Mr. Cochran pursed his lips as he nodded. Then he mouthed to his astonished audience, “Boys.”
    Kate stiffened. As she passed another clustered group, they, too, had not bothered to lower their voices. Perhaps they thought she would join them. Maybe even give them the opportunity to make their thinly veiled inquiries. They were curious. They wanted to be privy to her life with Sidney. They carefully watched her every move, strained to hear her every word whenever she chose to speak. Whether they approved or disapproved of Lord Colquhoun they still wanted the lurid details. What tidbits they gathered here today would sustain the gossips for weeks.
    Kate mentally shrugged her shoulders. At this point the attention was focused on Sidney. For the moment, she wasn’t the topic of discussion. Boys? She’d never thought his depravities went so far to prey on children. Nausea bubbled in her stomach and she sighed with relief when Emily slipped her arm through hers.
    “Welcome back to England, dear friend. I am so sorry it is for such a poor reason you have come back.”
    Kate’s shoulders eased. She was happy to see her friend.
    Emily was a dark-haired beauty with bright blue eyes. Her plump build was in contrast to her husband Gerald’s tall, heavy-muscled form.
    “Yes, welcome,” Gerald said. “I am sorry for your loss.” His brown eyes were full of sympathy.
    “I wish you had let us come to the cemetery. We didn’t want you to go through that alone,” Emily said.
    Kate smiled at them. “I know. I needed to do it on my own. My father was there.”
    Emily rolled her eyes and then said, “You’re too thin. Let’s get you something to eat.”
    “I’m glad you are here,” Kate said as they made their way to the food tables.
    Gerald nodded once to Mr. Cochran and his companions, who skittered out of his way.
    Kate smiled her appreciation. Gerald winked.
    A few minutes later, laden with plates of food, Kate found a place to sit with her friends.
    “I would much rather be in Scotland right now,” Kate said, her voice lowered. She pushed her food around her plate. “I cannot stand the sly looks, the exaggerated whispers.”
    “Pay them no mind, Katie. They are fools,” Emily said.
    “I miss my flower gardens, my herbs. There, I feel comfortable. I don’t have to put on a show.” Kate reached out to Emily’s hands, feeling warmth and strength. “Here I have you but my life is so much simpler in the lowlands. I have worked hard to make it a home.” At the risk of shocking the gossips, Kate chuckled. “Mother always said ‘If