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Strangely, she wished she were riding home with Patrick.

Chapter Four

FOX CHASE
    K atherine woke the next morning with a feeling of dread and embarrassment about her behavior at the dance. She took pride in keeping her composure, especially in public, and now she felt like she made a fool of herself in front of all of Philadelphia. Worse yet, the desire to see Patrick Sullivan again was not dimmed. She lay in bed for an hour, wishing it were yesterday morning. Emma cracked open her door and asked, “Miss Katherine, you all right? You be sick?”
    “I’m fine, Emma. Just weary from that ball last night.”
    “I bet those boys kept you dancin’ every dance! Your feet must be dog-tired!”
    “Something like that, Emma. I must get up. The sun is shining brightly already. Has Grandfather left for the office?”
    “Too sore today. He be in bed, too.”
    “Send word to the office I won’t be in today. I’ll sit with Grandfather. Is there coffee?”
    Emma sniffed. “Course.”
    “I’d love some.”
    When Emma left, Katherine packed two more pillows behind her head to prop herself up. She really didn’t mind Patrick kissing her. If they had been alone she might have kissed him back. If he’d asked beforehand. Her emotions were in new territory. She’d had a crush on one boy in Boston, but he liked a friend of hers, so she’d never really felt mutual affection. But did she truly feel that for Patrick Sullivan? He had never been nice to her their whole lives until last night. Jeffrey Sullivan had often complained that he was spending too much time with some red-headed girlfriend while he was at West Point. One of her friends saw them pawing each other in a local park during a school holiday. He probably just wants to have me—nothing but a cad .
    While Katherine was in bed with her coffee, Patrick was sitting in his father’s office. Arthur Hampton, the company lawyer, joined them to teach Patrick the legal landmines a company of this size needed to negotiate, but Patrick heard little of what Arthur was telling him. His left cheek still burned as he thought of that woman rejecting him. She had been an arrogant brat when they were growing up, and it seemed she still was. But he couldn’t figure out why he had this longing for her. It wasn’t even the usual pressure in his loins when he wanted to conquer a woman.
    The smell of that perfume hung in his nose. It was her sweetness . Yes, that was it. It was her mannerisms, her carriage, and her smile. But she still hated him, and there was no way he could overcome that in the month before he left for duty.
    “Do you have any questions on these legal issues, Patrick?” Arthur asked.
    “No. I can comprehend them. Quite clearly,” Patrick lied, nodding absently.
    “Good. Let’s eat lunch.” Jeffrey stood. “We eat in the boardroom, son. The chef is really quite good.”
    James Donovan was in pain throughout that week, and Katherine stayed with him, though she thought often of Patrick. Jeffrey Sullivan was delighted that his son was suddenly taking an interest in the company, not realizing that for Patrick, Katherine Lovington was the company’s primary attraction. Each day Katherine and Patrick awoke wishing to encounter the other. But it was not until Sunday, at morning Mass, that Katherine saw Patrick again. He was with his parents sitting in the third pew. She recognized his blonde hair as she and Edward walked down the side aisle. She had dressed carefully in a dark blue dress with a slight train. It fit her snugly and made her eyes seem two shades brighter blue. Her white broad-brimmed summer hat was the frosting on the cake. “Edward, let’s sit up front today. I want to be first in line for communion.”
    Edward saw Patrick, too, although he didn’t greet him. “As you wish,” he said tightly.
    Katherine led Edward to the opposite end of the Sullivans’ pew. Patrick’s head turned as she slid in first, and he caught her eye and nodded solemnly.