THE SECOND VOW

CHAPTER 8 THE ANGER BENEATH

Adrian heard the noise from downstairs while he was in his study.

At first, he tried to ignore it. He had been sitting at his desk for nearly an hour, attempting to finish his reading, and he had no desire to be disturbed. But the voices grew louder, making it impossible for him to concentrate.

“How could you? Are you blind?”

Adrian slowly lifted his head from the book before him.

He knew that voice.

Katherine.

He closed his book with a quiet sigh and rose from his chair. As he made his way downstairs, he already knew what he was likely to find. There seemed to be no day of peace between Katherine and the servants of the household.

He had never understood how she managed to find fault with someone almost every day.

As he descended the stairs, Adrian began to wonder why Katherine commanded so much power in the Beaumont household. She was, after all, only Sebastian’s fiancée. Yet the servants feared her almost as much as they feared the Lady of the house.

The answer was simple.

Katherine was greatly favoured by Lady Genevieve.

And because of that favour, the servants were careful not to cross her. None of them wished to lose their position in the Beaumont household, especially over something as small as an argument with Sebastian’s future wife.

Adrian had noticed it for some time, but he had never paid much attention to it.

Now, however, his patience was beginning to disappear.

He had always wondered what could possibly make Sebastian complain so greatly about Katherine. Sebastian was not a man who complained often. He was quiet, reserved, and usually kept his thoughts to himself.

But whenever Katherine was mentioned, something in his brother’s expression changed.

Now Adrian was beginning to understand.

Perhaps Katherine could not direct her anger at Sebastian whenever she was upset with him, so she took it out on those beneath her.

The servants were the weaker vessels.

And unfortunately, Katherine knew it.

When Adrian finally reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw a young female servant kneeling upon the floor. A basket of fruit lay beside her, several pieces of fruit scattered across the polished floor.

Katherine stood over her.

Her face was flushed with anger.

“How many times must I tell you to be careful?” she demanded.

The frightened servant tried to gather the fruit.

“I am sorry, my lady. I did not mean—”

Katherine raised her hand.

Before she could bring it down, Adrian crossed the room and caught her wrist.

“Katherine.”

The servant looked up in surprise.

Adrian released Katherine only after he was certain she would not strike the girl.

The servant immediately gathered what she could from the floor and hurried away without looking back.

Katherine stared after her.

“Why did you let her go?” she asked, pulling her hand from Adrian’s grasp.

Then she turned to him properly and seemed to realise what she had almost done.

“I am sorry,” she said, her voice suddenly softer. There was even a small sweetness in her expression.

Adrian sighed.

“It is fine.”

“She is so—”

He lifted a hand, stopping her before she could continue.

“Why are you so determined to give that poor girl hell in this house?”

Katherine's expression changed.

She looked down at the floor, unable to meet his eyes. Her fingers slowly gathered the folds of her skirt.

“I should get going,” she murmured.

She turned to leave, but Adrian reached for her hand.

Katherine missed her step.

For one brief moment, Adrian caught her before she could fall.

Their eyes met.

Neither of them spoke.

It was only a moment, but it lasted long enough for both of them to become aware of how close they were standing.

Katherine quickly looked away.

Adrian released her hand.

“Would you like to go for a walk with me?”

He stretched his hand towards her.

“You cannot say no,” he added with a faint smile. “Let us call it your payment for distracting me from my studies.”

Katherine hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his.

Together, they walked out of the room.

The gardens were quiet, the afternoon air cool against their faces. For a while, neither of them spoke.

Adrian finally broke the silence.

“You have not answered my question.”

Katherine glanced at him.

“What question?”

“Why are you so angry with the servants?”

She looked away.

Katherine was tongue-tied.

She did not know how to explain what was happening inside her. The truth was that even she did not fully understand it.

There were days when the smallest thing a servant did could irritate her. A cup placed incorrectly. A dress not folded properly. A tray carried too slowly.

She knew it was unreasonable.

But knowing something was wrong did not always make it easy to stop.

Perhaps all of it was because of Sebastian.

If only he would spend more time with her, perhaps she would not have so much time to occupy herself with the servants.

“Nothing,” Katherine finally said, finding her voice.

“Oh well,” Adrian replied.

They continued walking.

Then Katherine’s face suddenly lit up.

“You will be married soon,” she said.

Adrian looked at her.

“Yes.”

“What about that makes you so happy?”

Katherine smiled.

“That means I shall not be lonely anymore.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“I did not realise you were lonely.”

“You do not know everything about me.”

“That is true.”

Katherine smiled again.

After a moment, curiosity returned to her face.

“Can you tell me what she looks like?”

“Who?”

“Your future wife.”

Adrian laughed softly.

“I do not know.”

“You do not know?”

“No. But our family will soon go for a visit. I might see her then.”

Katherine’s eyes brightened.

“Please, if you do, tell me what she looks like when you come back.”

“I will.”

“Really?”

“On one condition.”

“What?”

“Promise me you will stop disturbing the servants.”

Katherine's smile disappeared.

She looked at Adrian.

That was not an easy promise for her to make.

She herself did not know why the servants seemed to bring out an anger in her that she struggled to control. She had tried to be calm. She had tried to ignore them.

But something always seemed to push her back into the same behaviour.

Adrian watched her carefully.

“You see,” he said quietly, “it cannot be that difficult.”

Katherine lowered her gaze.

She knew he was right.

But there was something Adrian did not know.

Katherine had not grown up learning how to deal with disappointment.

Her father was a very wealthy and popular man, but his love for women had destroyed much of his family. He had taken several wives, and there were even some whose names Katherine had never properly known.

She had grown up in a house where everything she wanted was given to her.

Everything except what she truly needed.

Proper guidance.

Discipline.

And, most importantly, love.

Her father had always cared for her in material ways. As the youngest known daughter, she had been treated with great affection when it came to money and possessions. If she wanted something, it was bought. If she disliked something, it was removed.

She had become accustomed to commanding her way through life.

The servants in her father's household had known her too well. They knew exactly how she behaved when she was angry, and they had learned to stay out of her way.

But nobody had taught Katherine how to deal with pain.

Nobody had taught her that anger could be a mask for something deeper.

So when she was hurt, she became angry.

When she was afraid, she became demanding.

And when she felt unwanted, she made certain that everyone around her knew she was still important.

She had left her father's home when she fell in love with Sebastian.

Her father had not truly objected.

As long as Katherine was happy, he believed whatever she did was fine.

At first, she believed Sebastian would give her the love she had always wanted.

And he did love her.

That was what made everything so confusing.

Katherine loved Sebastian deeply, but lately she had begun to feel that something between them had changed.

He spent less time with her.

He spoke less.

Sometimes she would sit beside him and feel as though his thoughts were somewhere far beyond her reach.

She hated that feeling.

She hated feeling as though she was losing the one person she had chosen for herself.

But Katherine would never admit that.

Not even to Sebastian.

She would rather punish a servant than allow anyone to see her weakness.

She would rather argue than confess that she was hurt.

And whenever she and Sebastian disagreed, Katherine convinced herself that she was right.

Sebastian was always wrong.

Even when a small voice inside her told her otherwise.

“Seems like you do not want to know how your future sister-in-law looks,” Adrian said, pulling her from her thoughts.

Katherine blinked.

“I will try my best,” she replied.

Adrian smiled.

They continued their walk, speaking about smaller things afterwards. Katherine gradually became more relaxed, and for a short while, the weight she had been carrying seemed to disappear.

When they eventually returned to the house, Katherine excused herself and began walking towards her room.

She had almost reached the staircase when Adrian called after her.

“Katherine.”

She stopped.

She turned around.

Adrian stood a few steps behind her.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then his voice softened.

“Sebastian loves you.”

Katherine stared at him.

Something flickered across her face.

But she gave no reply.

She simply turned away and hurried up the stairs.

Adrian watched her disappear.

He wondered if she had heard him.

Perhaps she had.

Perhaps the words had reached a place in her heart that she did not want anyone to touch.

And for the first time, Adrian began to wonder whether Katherine's anger had ever truly been about the servants at all.