Love, the True Test of Time Chapter 2 by Lady Jane T
All characters in this fan fiction are the property of Miramax. . . this is all in good fun and I hope you enjoy. This is dedicated to all those women out there hoping that their Leopold will come riding in on a white horse, swoop them off their feet and live happily ever after. Keep believing!
Kate was aware of the glances from Leopold's uncle, but took Leopold's lead and decided it was best to ignore them for now. Obviously, the argument had concerned her. Now the room was silent, as they sat down. Leopold gave her a reassuring smile, but Kate felt he was hiding something.
Margaret finally broke the silence, "Dearest, Katherine, I daresay my gown does not do you justice, but my dressmaker will be arriving within the hour, to have you fitted for a more suitable wardrobe for a future duchess. Leopold mentioned your luggage was misplaced on your journey here. It must have been dreadful, to lose one's things. I know I could not cope."
Kate glanced at Leopold and he shrugged his shoulders. She realized she would have to fabricate some story up. There would be questions about her family and where she was from. Uncle Millard couldn't help but notice the questioning looks between them. He was determined to get to the bottom of it. And he wasn't one to sit back, so he jumped right into the conversation.
"Yes, what a dreadful journey you must have had Miss McKay. And to think your family allowed you to travel alone. A young lady, as yourself, should always be accompanied by a chaperone."
"My parents are dead, your lordship, I live with my brother and he would've traveled with me, but under the circumstances, we both felt it was best if he stayed to look after the house."
"And what does your brother do, Miss McKay?"
She looked at Leopold for guidance, and he quickly spoke up, "Kate's brother, Charles is in the shipping business. Very successful. I believe he was off to the West Indies, isn't that right, Kate?"
" Yes, oh, yes...my brother Charles is quite the jetsetter..Africa one minute, India, the next."
"I beg your pardon, jetsetter? I have never heard that word before." Uncle Millard looked at her curiously.
"I am awfully sorry, it's American slang, for a worldwide traveler."
"I will never understand this country and the way it has destroyed the English language. It really is a shame."
There was a brief silence while they continued to eat their breakfast, but it didn't last long, "You know, Miss McKay, Leopold never mentioned how you met. He has been extremely vague about you and your courtship. In fact, just yesterday, he was determined to spite me and not choose a wife at the ball at all."
Leopold glanced across the table, "Uncle, I really don't see..."
He was cut off , as Millard raised his hand to quiet him, "I wasn't speaking to you, Leopold. I was speaking to Miss McKay, or can I call you Katherine, since in a very short time you will be my niece."
"Katherine would be fine."
"My nephew, doesn't believe I can have a civil conversation with anyone. And in this case, he believes it is none of my business. But he is very wrong. I find it incredibly odd that you weren't even on the guest list, and only yesterday Leopold was making some cynical remark about love. From these words, it was perfectly clear to me, that there was no woman in his life. So you can see how my curiosity has the best of me. If you are to marry my nephew, I believe I am entitled to some details of this relationship."
Leopold stood up, "Uncle, you are out of line interrogating Kate as if she were a common criminal. I won't have it."
Kate managed to get him to sit down, "Leopold, your uncle is making a valid point."
He gave her a questioning look, "He is?"
"Yes, he doesn't have any idea of my intentions. And you are his only nephew. He wants what is best for you."
"Dearest, Katherine, you are seeing it my way. Maybe you have had time to contemplate, that this marriage is not in my nephew's best intentions. It is not to late, to call the whole thing off."
"She will do no such thing, and frankly Uncle Millard, I cannot even imagine that you have the gall to ask her to do so in front of me. It is more like you, to take them aside and offer them money on the sly. It wouldn't be the first time you paid someone off, in that matter."
"How dare you speak to me in such a way."
Kate stood up, "Enough both of you, Leopold just tell him how we met, that's all he wants to know."
They both looked at each other. "Somehow I doubt that is enough."
"I would accept that for now."
Leopold knew that whatever he told his uncle, the matter would not be over, but to pacify him for the time being he would have to create a believable tale of his meeting and courtship with Kate. The only question in his mind...was where to begin.
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