Chapter Sixteen: All Grown Up

"Father Gerard was super!" As she tripped lightly down the gangplank at Southampton, Catherine's glowing cheeks and sparkling blue eyes told Thomas Culpepper at once that she'd really enjoyed her holiday in France. Clearly the impulsive, golden-haired beauty had taken quite a liking to the French priest.

"You've been seen by the ship's surgeon?" Satisfied that the lively young heiress was happy and in good health, Culpepper swiveled his probing gaze from Catherine's glowing beauty to the bruised, wan features of the glassy-eyed young man standing beside her.

"I am well, sir." Paul Atherton said, his face oddly expressionless. He didn't seem to see or hear the crowds at the busy dock. "Catherine saved me and I am grateful. But I must see my father. I must apologize. I never meant to rob the cathedral."

"Just imagine, someone hypnotized that poor boy and forced him to steal the jeweled cross against his will!" Catherine was chatty and cheerful at dinner, even after her pale, listless companion was put to bed. Culpepper had taken one look at Paul Atherton and realized that something was very wrong with the young man.

"It was Catherine who awoke in the night, and led us to that awful place down by the docks," Lady Cleveland explained quietly. Though clearly proud of Catherine's courage, the dark-eyed, thoughtful older woman was obviously quite relieved to be back in England. "It was as though she'd seen it in her dreams."

"Well, what I think is that Father Gerard unlocked my mind, and helped me to remember what Paul told me back in England, you know, about wanting to see the wicked side of French life!" Catherine frowned as she recalled the night's adventures, talking with her mouth still full of French pastry. "The only thing I can't understand is why that wicked dance hall was full of boys. There wasn't a girl in sight. Even the can-can dancers were all boys!"

"Yes, well the important thing is that you rescued Paul from that horrible older man, the very muscular Greek with all the tattoos." Lady Cleveland blushed as though she were slightly embarrassed. She gave Catherine's guardian a sidelong glance.

Thomas Culpepper cleared his throat. "Catherine, you've had a long journey," he said, sounding very stodgy and grown up. "Getting Paul safely out of France took a lot of courage. But after all that excitement you must be very tired. I think it's time for bed."

"But I'm not sleepy in the least! Besides, the night is young. I'm not ready to be packed off to bed." Catherine made a funny face. "Well, I think you're just jealous because you missed out on all the excitement."

"Perhaps." Wild young Catherine could be very aggravating, but when she smiled Thomas Culpepper couldn't help smiling back. "But I think I'm just grateful to have you back in England!"

"Yes, it's so good to be home at last!" Lady Cleveland was happy to shelter Paul and Catherine at her London townhouse. Now she gave way to a huge yawn. "Goodness! I believe it's time for bed."

"But I'm just not sleepy!" Catherine objected. But it seemed Lady Cleveland had got her started, and soon she was yawning too.

"Catherine, I'll need your help in the morning," Mr. Culpepper said, while Catherine was sleepily rubbing her eyes. "Young Paul has a lot of questions to answer before we can turn him over to his father. You were with him in France. You saw him in a trance."

"In a trance in France, right." Catherine felt sleepier than ever. She made an extra effort to sit up straight and smile. "Don't look at me like that, I'm perfectly fine! Here's a joke I heard in France. How many French eggs should you cook for breakfast?"

"I really don't know, Catherine."

"One egg is un oeuf!" Catherine laughed. "Get it? One is enough!"

"Catherine's French is coming right along," Lady Cleveland said lazily. "She's becoming quite the fashionable, grown-up lady!"

"That's exactly what worries me," Mr. Culpepper replied.

"The two of you are no fun at all," Catherine grumbled. She rose from the table, heading for her old room at Lady Cleveland's. But out in the hallway, Thomas Culpepper stopped her for a moment.

"What you did was very brave, Catherine. And I won't forget it."

"Mm." Catherine sighed deeply as her gorgeous guardian gently kissed her lips. It felt so good to be all grown up at last!