“Mark, your father is a gentleman and any woman would be proud to be with him.”
The words sent a chill down my spine. Mark had a great big smile on his face. He nodded and then left. Once the door was closed, tears ran down my face. I knew that this game I was about to play could hurt many people, but I had no choice. Jules had thought it, I had stupidly admitted to it, the school was talking about it and Mr Cartwright wants it. And now I was hoping that James would be so jealous that he would want me back.
I stayed in the classroom for a few more hours. The room was getting darker and colder as the minutes passed. James and Mr Kemp had forbidden me from being alone, but I guess it didn’t matter anymore. Exhausted, I headed back to my room. The halls were empty, silent and cold, just like I was feeling right now. As I reached the top of the stairs to our rooms, I had to walk past James’s room to get to mine. It didn’t feel normal to me. I belong in there with him. Just this morning we woke up in each other’s arms, feeling warm and safe. I got to his door and stood there for a moment, touching the door as I closed my eyes closed for a second. It was unbearable. I needed a plan, and quickly, to get me back with the man I love. I was so worn out. I didn’t even have the energy to change my clothes. When I got into bed, it was cold and my room seemed unfamiliar, bringing back memories of my first day here. What was I going to do about this mess I had gotten myself into? Just the look on Mark’s face confirmed that he would tell Richard that I didn’t deny the rumors. I have to figure out what to do before Friday when Mark heads home. Only four days. It will definitely get back to James that I am with Richard. I feel like I am back at school, playing childish games to get what I want. I am willing to do just about anything to get him back.
I grabbed a pillow and held on to it, wishing it was James. I closed my eyes and cried myself to sleep.
I woke up unusually early the next morning, with memories of last night’s dream fresh in my mind. I had not had a single dream in the months while I was with James. It was strange that now, the first night that we were not together, the dreams, nightmares even, had started again.
Even though it was still quite early, I decided to get up and have a shower. I wanted to make sure that I looked my best in case James and I crossed paths. As I left my room, Jules was also leaving hers.
“Morning, Jules.”
“Good morning, Catherine.” She wore a suspicious smile on her face. “Are we seeing someone special today? Perhaps… Mr Cartwright?”
“No, I am not seeing anyone today,” I said with a bogus smile.
“I was talking to Dr Simons last night about all four of us going to dinner this Friday evening in the village?”
“Four of us,” I repeated surprised.
“Yes, Dr Simons, myself, you and Mr Cartwright.”
“Oh… Right… um, I don’t know. I really don’t know when I will be speaking with him again.”
“Oh, I don’t expect you to invite him. I will have Dr Simons call him and make the arrangements. Once I can convince him that you are with Mr Cartwright!”
“What?”
“Dr Simons refuses to believe that you and Mr Cartwright are an item. I must say, he was quite adamant I had it all wrong.”
“Oh well, I guess it was a shock to some. I need to see him today about my leg, and I will talk with him then.”
“Oh would you dear? That would be lovely. I need to run. I have to go to the library before my class. I will see you later at lunch. Goodbye,” she said as she ran past me.
“Bye.”
“Good morning Cathy. I trust you slept well?” Mr Kemp asked as he approached me from behind. I continued to lock my door without responding.
“I hope you’re not mad at me. In time you will see that this is for the best, and everything is the way it should be. Well, it will be when you return to Australia.”
“You are an awful man. Everything is not the way it should be. I am not with James!” I whispered back, angrily.
“Yes… but you are now with Mr Cartwright and you are not tempting fate by being with Mr Barclay.”
“I am not with…” I stopped. It wasn’t worth it, he had made up his mind about James and I and there was nothing I could do about it.
“I have to go,” I added.
“The offer of changing rooms is still on the table!” he howled down the hall.
I couldn’t get away from him quick enough. I headed straight to Dr Simons’ room, which was near my classroom, knowing he spent most mornings there reading the paper to avoid interruption. In my haste, I dropped my folder and all my papers at the entrance to the main foyer and the wind from outside sent them flying. I got down on the floor and gathered what I could while they were still within arm’s reach before running around reception like a fool collecting the rest. I piled them all up while sitting on the floor. Luckily for me, I had worn trousers today.
“Are these yours?” a voice asked from outside.
I looked up, pulling my hair away from my face to see who it was.
“Here, please let me help you.”
It was Richard, standing over me with his hand out. Seeing him today had not been in the plan, but there was no backing out now. I had to make this plan work. It’s not like I was hurting him. He has everything going for him: wealth, looks and a fan club.
“Thank you,” I said as I took his hand to be helped up.
“We really have to stop meeting like this. I seem to find you on the ground more than on your feet, Catherine.”
“Hmmm, I’m just clumsy. I was in hurry, and my folder, and the wind…” I muttered as I momentarily forgot the English language.
“I spoke to Mark last night. Look, I am not going to dance around this. Mark told me of your conversation yesterday.”
“Ah-ha…” I nodded shyly, still unprepared.
His smile was indescribable. It forced me to smile against my will. He was dressed more casual than usual, and I suspected he had been in a hurry to get here.
I fiddled with my papers, feeling awkward and guilty about what I was planning.
“Catherine, please, if there is even a slight chance that you do not completely hate me, you have to tell me?”
I was puzzled with his question and was unsure how to respond so I took a second, but that didn’t help, it was impossible to escape his eyes to think.
“I don’t hate you,” I muttered.
He then took a deep breath and smiled.
“This weekend, I will be in Bath at my family home… Join me?”
“What I… I… I don’t know.”
“Please… No expectations, just your company. You will have your own room, of course. No one needs to know. Mark is staying with friends this weekend, so he won’t know, and I will have a driver pick you up.”
“No, you can pick me up,” I interrupted. “But in the evening, after all the boys have gone home.”
He seemed more shocked than I could have ever predicted. The look of hope in his eyes had never made me feel ashamed of myself.
“Friday it is. I will wait for you right here at 8,” he said, his eyes warm and in high spirits.
“Friday at 8. I’ll be here,” I agreed.
He paused for a moment, then nodded and left. He seemed different, not his usual arrogant, confident self. There was a more vulnerable side to him that I hadn’t seen before. Nevertheless, I needed to have James here on Friday, just before 8, to see me leaving with Richard, so he could stop me. Finally, I had a plan. There was a small risk that it may not work, and so I was going to need some help from Dr Simons.