Jonathan was outside of Katherine's door in a trice, but now that he had arrived, he paused. What would he say to her? He couldn't force her to wed him, but he knew her decision not to wed him was not her own. Should he enter through her door or should he have used the passage? Jonathan sighed. Why was he suddenly feeling like a young lad about to be made into a man? Perhaps he should leave her for the night? Giver her time to think? Jonathan took his head, that was the problem. The chit thought too much. Nay, he couldn't let her be. He had to speak to her, convince her... Steal a kiss or two. Jonathan smirked at his thoughts. But now wasn't the time to be crude, he needed to speak to her.
Just as he raised his hand to politely knock on the door, because he had to pretend to be chivalrous, the door to Katherine's chambers swung open, revealing the lady in question.

"I had a mind to go search for you, my lord." Katherine said softly. If she was surprised by his presence she kept it well hidden.

Katherine moved to the side, allowing Jonathan to easily enter her chambers before closing the door behind them. Jonathan reached around her and put the lock in place. Katherine raised a faint brow as she peered at the door curiously.

"I understand you locked the door but I see no lock."

Jonathan smirked, "all in good time, Kitten. Once we are wed you shall hold the secrets to these walls."

Katherine turned away, "you have yet to see my penmanship, my lord. I have been practicing. I believe I am ready to compile the letters so they can form words."

"As you wish, my lady." Jonathan replied equally as softly, watching her closely.

Katherine's forehead creased slightly, but other than that she nodded her head and strode towards her dresser, there, she opened the top drawer and retrieved her parchment and quill.
Katherine glanced behind her to see Jonathan still standing where she had left him, she bit her lip, debating if she should show him or not. He did not seem as eager as she.

Jonathan watched her watching him. He knew he was making her feel abashed but he needed her to be completely at ease with him. He wanted her to be herself around him. So he waited until she approached him.
What seemed like eons to him but was most likely only a moment or two, she strode towards him with a confidence he was beginning to associate only with her. He had to look up the meaning of her name.

"I believe I may begin the next step, that is if you also are of the same opinion, my lord."

Jonathan took the parchment from her hand, making certain to brush his fingers against her palm and standing a tad too close for propriety or comfort. Katherine's breathing hitched ever so slightly. Jonathan pretended not to notice.

"Indeed, my lady. If I didn't know any better I would assume this was written by someone who has been writing for years."

"You are most kind, my lord." Katherine said as she took the parchment back from him and stepped away.

"What shall we do today?"

"Perhaps we can educate ourselves on different matters of life." Jonathan answered with a slight smirk as he closed the distance she had created.

"You have me at a disadvantage, my lord." Her voice was naively sweet as she craned her neck ever so slightly to peer at him.

Not one to beat around the bush, Jonathan grabbed her around the waist until she was flush against him, her wide eyes watching him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity as his large hand spanned the back of her tiny back.

"Why do you refuse to marry me?" He looked into her wide, hunter eyes, trying in vain to pull the answer from their depths.

She looked away, refusing to meet his stare, "My lord, we must continue with the penmanship."

"We shall have enough time after the wedding."

"We don't have anytime! I will not be able to marry you! For an intelligent man you are rather daft." Katherine snarled as her fingers curled around his upper arms.

"The contract has been signed." Jonathan placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Katherine hardly noticed.

"It matters not. If my mother does not want the nuptials to be carried out then they shan't."

"Kitten." Jonathan placed his large hands around her slim face, titling it upward, and forcing her to look directly at him, before continuing to speak. "Your mother's will can not match my own. If I want something, darling, I shall have it. The question now is, would you like to marry me?"

"I can't marry you, my lord, you do not know my mother." Katherine hissed, staring defiantly in his gaze. Why couldn't he listen to her?

"Can't or won't?"

Katherine sighed. Annoying brute! She tried to move her face away from his grasp but he wouldn't relent.

"Tis highly improper to hold me in such a manner."

"You haven't seen improper yet, my lady." Jonathan smirked devilishly, bending his head so there lips almost brushed against each other, but not quite.

Katherine's breathing came to a halt.

"There are many...many...improper ways I can hold you, my lady. You have but to ask." Jonathan whispered as his lips brushed against hers with every word. Katherine's eyes fluttered closed as she concentrated on the feeling of his lips brushing slightly against hers. Was this also considered a kiss? She did not enjoy this as much, although it did make her stomach flutter as if there was more to come...

"Hmm."

"Would you like me to show you, my lady?"

"Hmm." Katherine mumbled as she tried to move closer towards him. Jonathan pulled back slightly, not letting her touch him.

"Your answer, Kitten."

"Which one?" Slightly dazed, and highly impatient, eyes peered into his own.

"Would you marry me?"

"I have no opposition of marrying you, my lord. Tis my mother whom-"

"Your mother can go sard her herself. Trust me, Kitten."

"I do not know you enough to trust you, my lord." Katherine retaliated softly, not intending for her words to hurt.

"Fair enough, my lady. But I can assure you, your mother shan't be able to succeed in her interference. But I need to know I have your consent."

Katherine sighed deeply. Did she really have a choice? She supposed not.

"You have my consent, my lord. But I shan't be able to aid you in any form." Katherine forewarned, the man wasn't right in the head. Did she really want to marry him? Mayhap she should think through it before giving any certain answer.

"That is all I need, Kitten." Jonathan smirked before his eyes darted to her lips.

"How soon can we have the wedding?"

Katherine furrowed her brows. "I will have to see how many preparations are to be done, my lord. It varies depending on the amount of people you would like to invite, which will determine the food which needs to be cooked, and also if we need to arrange for different chefs. I suppose we also need to take the cleaning and preparing of the estate into consideration as well. Would the wedding take place at your home or my father's?"

Jonathan chuckled softly, watching her with admiration.

"What do you find so humorous, my lord?" Katherine's tone was dry as she tilted her head to look at him.

"You." Jonathan answered simply as he pulled Katherine along towards the bed.

"What are you doing my, my lord? I have given my consent to marry you but that does not give you the rights to preform the wedding." Katherine babbled as she tried to pull her hand away.

"You daft woman! I'm not going to perform the bedding." Jonathan growled, coming to a halt and causing her to bump into him.

"Then why are we by the bed?" Katherine's eyes widened in confusion as she moved around to face him.

Jonathan arched a blond brow while smirking deviously.

"Are you afraid, Kitten?" He taunted as he bent to her level.

"I do not know the meaning of fear." Katerina scoffed, seeming affronted, but Jonathan saw the slight spark of anticipation in her eyes, the way her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, he found it admirable. She was enjoying herself.

"We are by the bed..." He trailed off.

"Yet we shall not preform the bedding." Katherine nodded sternly.

"Are you certain you would not like to preform the bedding?" Jonathan teased recalling her passionate responses.

Katherine paled slightly, "I most certainly would not like to go through such a horrendous act until it is absolutely necessary."

"Horrendous act?" Jonathan frowned.

"Yes." Katherine shuddered.

"Kitten, the bedding is not a horrendous act."

"For you men it may not be, for us woman it is not so."

Jonathan sat on the bed, pulling Katherine to his lap. She didn't protest, patiently waiting for his response.

"And who told you such facts?" Jonathan muttered dryly.

"Mother." Katherine answered matter factly.

"Which explains a great deal." Jonathan mumbled before changing the topic to his original purpose.

"I have a mind to teach you how to write your name, Kitten. We can begin with sounding the words out so you can compile words." Jonathan rubbed her arm as he spoke.

"That is a wonderful idea, my lord!" Katherine exclaimed as she stared at him with barely concealed excitement.

Jonathan chuckled, "turn around, Kitten."

Katherine did as she was told, still sitting in his lap.

"Alright, Kitten, you're name is Katherine. What letter makes the sound of your first letter?"

Katherine wrinkled her nose slightly. "I believe there are two letters, my lord. Am I to use both of them?"

"No, Kitten. You may use which ever one you please."

"Hmm." Katherine mumbled as she studied the blank parchment.

"The original name was spelled with a 'C', but everyone has their own preference."

"I would prefer it with a 'K' I should think." Katherine mumbled as she began to write.

"As you wish. Now sound out the next letter."

Katherine did as she was told, writing her entire name without any further help.

"Amazing." Jonathan whispered in astonishment.

"I believe in another week you shall be reading and writing as if you've done it your entire life."

Katherine's ears burned brightly. "Nonsense, my lord. I simply recalled the piece of parchment you left on my bed that first day."

"Hmm. You have a good memory, Kitten."

Katherine shrugged her shoulders, not paying his complement much mind.

"What should we do next?" Katherine question as she turned in his lap to face him.

"I will tell you the sounds each letter has to make and when connected with certain letters, what sounds are formed."

"Are we to start with five or ten?"

Jonathan laughed heartily at her innocently excited expression.

"All of them, Kitten."

Katherine's smile slipped slightly. "My lord, I cannot possibly learn all that in one evening."

"Oh, but, my darling, I believe you can. You spelled your name without any help."

"I told you, my lord, tis only because I saw the piece of parchment." Katherine explained in exasperation.

"It may be so, Kitten, but I have a theory I have a mind to test."

Katherine glared at him.

Jonathan smiled sweetly.

"Fine." She bit out after he batted his lashes, making him look quite silly.

"I won't think any less of you, Kitten." Jonathan kissed her forehead before turning her over.

"Now where was I?"

****

Jonathan quietly eased the door closed as he left Katherine's chambers. He had complete fate she would learn to write within the week, her intelligence was something not many possessed.

"My lord?" Albert frowned at his charge, raises his right brow in silent rebuke. He had turned the hall to light the torches for the night and what does he see? His wayward lord up to mischief once again.

"Albert, my friend, just the man I was searching for." Well not exactly, but he had need of the steward and he happened to be right in front of him.

"In a lady's bedchamber, my lord? What an apt location to search for me." Albert remarked dryly as he lit two candles down the hall.

"Everyone has retired for the night?" Jonathan looked around in surprise, not realizing the amount of time he had spent in Katherine's chambers.

"Time often flies when we are deflowering young maidens." Albert stated crossly.

Jonathan sighed in exasperation, turning his eyes heavenward.

"Oh by Nora! Look at who's chamber I have exited."

Albert looked at the door with a bored expression. "Splendid, you are so randy, my lord, you couldn't even wait until your wedding night to deflower your bride."

"You berk! I was not deflowering my bride." Jonathan hissed.

"Nay, my lord? Were you two having an intellectual conversation? Discussing equations and medicine?" Sarcasm oozed from his voice.

"As a matter of fact, we were." Jonathan grumbled. He had wanted to steal a kiss, but his Kitten kept on discussing the different methods of connecting various letters and upon discovering their sounds she would light up like a child with sweets. He didn't have the heart to take that away from her, and now he was bereft. Life was so hard, literally.

"You don't seem too pleased, my lord."

"Intellectual conversations are not always so pleasing." Jonathan snapped.

"To the well organized mind they are; to the idiot they are but another obstacle."

"Would you kindly stop speaking." Jonathan barked.

Albert chuckled. "Why were you searching for me?"

Jonathan glared at the older man before remembering why himself. Once he remembered, his glare turned into a charming smile.

"The answer is no." Albert informed him sternly and began to walk in the opposite direction of Jonathan.

"What makes you so certain I want something?" Jonathan grinned as he fell into step beside Albert.

Albert snorted. "My lord, need I remind you, I have raised you from the cradle. I know when you want something, when you are lying, when you are hiding something, whe-"

"That's enough." Jonathan growled, his cheeks coloring slightly.

"But what I must ask you is nay for my benefit."

"Really now?" Albert stopped and turned towards Jonathan skeptically.

"Aye, I have no gain from it, not even a shilling." Jonathan answered solemnly.

"What is it that you want, my lord?" Albert questioned wryly, regretting it the instant the words left his mouth.

Jonathan bend down and began to whisper in Albert's ear. Throughout the entire course of the conversation, Albert's face remained impassive, except for his brows. They would occasionally rise higher and higher as Jonathan continued to speak. And by the end of it, Albert's brows were so high up, one would be afraid they would come right off.

"Are you daft, my lord?"

"I would think in some small amount, yes." Jonathan grinned sheepishly.

"Would you help me then?" Jonathan pleaded? He couldn't carry out his plan alone.

"I see nothing but your gain in this entire charade." Albert grunted.

"Give over, Albert. You've seen with your very eyes what that bitch is capable of."

"Language, Johnny." Albert admonished.

"Will you help then?" Jonathan repeated, pretending not to have heard Albert's previous words.

"I shall see what I can do. Have you told Annabelle and Edward yet?"

"I was heading there after I had spoken to you."

"Tis good you spoke to me. Lord Davidson is in Edward's chambers. You'd best wait until the morrow."

Jonathan sighed. "I need the plan to begin posthaste."

"And it shall." Albert assured.

"Now head to bed, tis late. There's warm milk and almonds on your bedside table. Abu said you must finish them."

"Did Edward have to drink it as well?" Jonathan raised a brow skeptically.

Albert laughed. "Aye, Abu stood beside him until he finished the entire cup. Then he went looking for you. When he couldn't find you he told me to make certain you drank your milk and consumed your almonds."

"Alright." Jonathan grumbled.

"Don't be so put out, Edward tried being crafty and only brought one cup up for Lord Davidson thinking he could get away with not drinking milk himself, the boy had it worse."

Jonathan laughed, rubbing his eyes.

"Good sleep."

"Good sleep, lad."

Jonathan headed towards his chambers, ready to retire for the night.

The guests had all retired to their own respective chambers an hour prior to Jonathan and Albert's exchange, and the servants had just finished their duties for the night, when Savannah slipped quietly into her room, her maid Leslie, close on her heels.

"Do you understand, Leslie?"

"Aye mistress." Leslie nodded her head obediently as the beads of cold sweat made their way slowly down the side of her face, her voice but a whisper. But none of that could be noticed in the darkness of the room, her perhaps her mistress simply did not care.

"You are dismissed." Savannah sneered as she turned and headed towards her empty bed.