Miss Edward

Katherine

Miss Katherine Edward could not take her mind off Prague. What did he mean her uncle had left the estate to her? She was baffled, perhaps more than baffled, astounded. As she drove away in the carriage, she bit her lips, not noticing that she had accidentally cut her bottom lip. As happy as she was to see Mr. Arrington, she was also angry that he would drop such tidings in that manner.

Upon arriving at their estate she carefully stepped down from the carriage, caressing her hands through the flower blooms that she could feel through the shadows of the night. Did her parents know?

As she entered her bed chamber she felt for the copy of the title now bestowed upon her only to find she had forgotten it.

Now she questioned why would Arrington so much as allow her to leave without it?

While she yawned, her dressing lady came to help her undress and ready for the night. She hoped she did not notice how perplexed she was. What was she ever going to do with such grand estate and why had her uncle chosen her? When he could have chosen another, it was not proper for women to inherit such things.

Katherine.

The name struck her as she looked herself in the mirror noticing the blood stained lip, when had she done that to herself? Oh it didn't matter now it was the least of her worries, she had never thought herself as Katherine before but tonight the name resonated louder, she felt helpless as much as it felt a genuine gift bestowed upon her, she felt it a great burden, perhaps some sleep would wake her up from this dream so she thought.

The sun shone through the window making her wince as it hurt a little to open her eyes, the knock at her door startled her, who could it be so early in the morning?

"Prague" said her mother, the name alone hung over like a haunted word of its own.

"Miss Katherine Edward, I have come to the knowledge of such occurrence through the gossip in town."

"Gossip mother! May I not be afraid to ask was it through Mrs. Helmbold?"

"Mrs. Helmbold? I have come to the knowledge through Mrs. Laskowski, has the tidings traveled so fast?"

"Oh dear mother I am terrified, I do not understand why it was bestowed upon me, Mrs. Helmbold cannot hold back her tongue not even for a small moment."

"I cannot argue there" and they both chuckled.

With that she buried her face in her mother's arms, and let the tears run down her face, her mother gently caressed her hair "My daughter I understand Prague is a heavy burden upon thee, as for your question why? I have an understanding that in the vault of your now estate in Prague is a letter written long ago."

"Mother but I am so young still, I haven't an idea to run an estate and being a woman makes it that much more difficult, I do not understand of land or wage."

"You will not be alone I can assure you of that, there will always be support, I understand Mr. Arrington to be back you could rely on him a little."

"Mr. Arrington" she covered her mouth with her hand displaying such shock, "Mr. Arrington mother, I cannot oh I do not want to feel in debt to him, it would be of the uttermost debt to a man!"

"Have ye no feelings for him?

I have seen how you yearned for him to comeback or am I mistaken dear?"

"Yearn mother! Not in the category thou sayest. I have no such feeling if that is the matter thou alludest to."

She gave her daughter one gentle pat on the shoulder and winced at her before leaving her to her own thoughts once again.