Chapter Nine
"Now tell me all!" Karen demanded. She patted Catherine's stomach. "When are you due?"
"Mid-April."
"Mine's for the end of June!" Karen said with a grin.
"Oh! Wonderful!"
"Hmm, I wonder how I could want another child after what the twins put me through, but yes, you're right, it's wonderful! Now let's speak about yours! It's Vincent's, isn't it?"
Catherine sighed. "Yes."
"If I wasn't a happy wife-and-mother I could be jealous, you know! Vincent's such a darling, so sweet and romantic... and a gorgeous hunk to boot! But how the hell did you manage that, girl? Dropped some sleeping pills into Father's tea or tied him up in the Maze? Can't see how you could have gotten close enough to Vincent otherwise!"
Catherine giggled at the thought. "It's a long story, but you're right, there has been times when I wished I had those sleeping pills, or a length of solid rope! Father and I have made peace, now, but in the beginning he certainly didn't make things easy for us! And they never were that easy to begin with!"
"How long have you known each other?"
"Almost three years. But to him it's only three months..."
"I know, my father-in-law told us about his illness. It's really terrible!" She patted Catherine's hand comfortingly. "Don't give up hope!"
"Never!"
Karen grinned maliciously. "Seems to me you managed to regain quite a lot of lost ground in those three months, didn't you?"
"We're... progressing." Catherine said with a smile.
Karen let out a very un-ladylike snort. "That's understatement! That hungry expression on his face when he looks at you! If that's not a man in love, then I've never seen one!"
Catherine sighed. "I know. But things are not quite so simple. They never were."
Karen nodded. "Sure. It's Vincent."
"You seem to know him... well..." Catherine prodded, intrigued
"We used to be good friends. I was 16 when I came to live here, and he was 18."
"I'm jealous!" Catherine said wistfully. "I wish I could have known him then!"
"He was just wonderful, straight out of a fairytale! I hope you won't be angry, but I must admit I had a crush on him for a while.I was devastated by the death of my parents, and he was so nice and kind to me!"
Catherine smiled wryly. " Can't really blame you! I've seen that happen, and not just to me..."
"Didn't last long, though. I soon learned the tunnel rules, and an important if unspoken one of them was that Vincent was off-limits. Father saw to that! So I came to see him as the other girls did, as a kind of brother. We were a little group of about the same age. With Rebecca, Olivia, Pascal and some others, we used to hang around together. Then I met Sam at the second Winterfest after I came here, and went back Above a few weeks later. Couldn't stand to live in a different world from him!"
"I can relate to that, too!" Catherine agreed.
"Now tell me, how did you..."
"So, what are you girls plotting?" Sam and Vincent were near them, each carrying a child. "I think Samantha and Geoffrey needed some relief." Sam added. "They had trouble keeping up!"
Catherine was introduced to the children, and noticed how they seemed to be at ease with Vincent, even having met him only minutes before.
"You two must absolutely come Above for dinner one night next week!" Karen said. "We've got so much to catch up with!"
That startled Vincent. "Karen, you know that I can't..."
"There's no reason why you couldn't!" Sam insisted. "We've moved in above my father's shop and you know it has a tunnel access. The back stairs go straight down from our kitchen to the basement so you'll be perfectly safe! It would be great to have you!"
Vincent thought that over for a minute, before turning interrogative eyes toward Catherine.
"I'd love that!" she said.
"Then it's settled. We will come. Thank you for your invitation."
The music stopped, and started again. "A waltz!" Karen exclaimed. "Do you remember the time we danced, Vincent? I had persuaded Rebecca and Olivia to keep Father occupied so I could lure you to the dance floor, but as soon as he realized, he came and found a reason to take you away! Didn't even let us finish that waltz!"
Catherine kept a smiling face, but a sudden, unreasonable jealousy was biting at her. She hadn't had a chance to dance with Vincent the year before, even if they'd made up for that later. Their dance had been wonderful, but she longed to dance with him to real music, for a change...
"Catherine, will you do me the honor?" Vincent was smiling down at her, his hand extended. Elated, she rose and took the proffered hand.
"With great pleasure, Vincent!"
Father watched them cross the chamber to the dance-floor, their intention clear. For a second the physician in him took over. Waltz, if not scandalous any more, was not exactly recommended to six-months-pregnant women, and he moved to stop them, but checked himself. He wouldn't deny them that pleasure, they had more than earned it!
Relaxing, he enjoyed the sight. And what a sight it was! A whirling dream of gold and crimson. Catherine was literally glowing with that so particular shine only a happy pregnancy can bestow. Her red dress, pale ivory skin and dark gold hair seemed to be competing as to which would catch the most candlelight as she revolved slowly, trustingly following Vincent's gentle lead. Father smiled. Never had he seen his son look so beautiful, and not only because of his Winterfest finery and bright golden mane. There was a new light coming from inside, a glow of self-acceptance, of pride, even, as he danced in the light with his chosen woman, claiming to the face of both worlds his right to love and be loved.
The tunnel leader became aware that the conversations had gradually faded. All the faces in the chamber were turned toward the dance-floor where the pair was now alone, the other dancers having stopped, aware that something special was happening. There was more to it than the fairytale-ish beauty of the unique couple, more to it than the grace of their movements. This was Magic, this was Love, and everyone felt both humbled and warmed to the core as they watched, silent and mesmerized.
Catherine and Vincent took no notice. Eyes locked, bodies and souls in perfect harmony, they where totally oblivious to whatever may take place outside the warm, golden bubble that surrounded them. Even when the musicians, who had already played the waltz twice over and would willingly have gone on forever, reluctantly stopped on a discreet signal from Father, the lovers went on dancing to the music of their hearts for a few more seconds before stopping, blinking and bewildered, as a loud roar of applause and cheers filled the Great Hall.
When it died down the charm was broken, and the feast soon resumed, people turning back to what they'd been doing, keeping the enchanted moment as a memory to treasure.
Catherine clung to Vincent, feeling somewhat light-headed, as the world congealed into existence again around them.
"Catherine, are you well?" he immediately worried. Had he been so enmeshed in their dance that he'd pushed her beyond her limits?
"I'm perfectly well!" she hastened to reassure him. "Waltz always makes me feel a bit dizzy... and so do you!" she added with a tender smile.
He gave her a sharp look, then slowly nodded. There was no denying the intensity of what they had shared for those few precious minutes when they had been alone, in a world of their own. How he wished they could have stayed there forever...
"Are you well, Catherine?" They both started and simultaneously let out a sigh of resignation. Father was standing near them, his best physician look on his face.
"Yes, thank you, Father, I'm feeling very well indeed!" Catherine tried, but she knew she wouldn't get away with it.
"May I suggest that you go and sit down somewhere comfortable, now, and maybe have something to eat? I'm afraid, my dear, that it was the only dance you will be allowed tonight."
Catherine knew better than to discuss, all the more as she could see Vincent clearly agreed with his parent. She smiled gracefully and kissed Father's cheek. "I know. Thank you for letting us have at least one!"
Vincent, too, nodded his gratitude to his father, who grinned broadly in return. "I wouldn't have missed it for an empire! That dance was the highlight of the evening, and maybe even of all Winterfests since the very beginning!" His eyes grew misty for a few seconds, then stern again. "Now go and rest, young lady, and don't forget to eat. I noticed that the buffet is particularly bountiful this year." he added with a sharp glance at Catherine who tried to look as innocent as possible.
"Oh, really? Good, I'm starving! Shall we go, Vincent?"
Vincent led Catherine to a big armchair waiting in a corner, and helped her into it. She leaned back with a sigh of delight. Dancing had tired her.
"Here, stretch your legs." Vincent said, pulling a low upholstered stool into place. "Maybe you would be more comfortable with cushions? I could..."
She held him back. "No, please, I'm perfectly comfortable, and so pampered I feel like a princess."
"You look like a princess!" he softly retorted, enveloping her in a long, adoring gaze.
She looked back with the same intensity. "Then you are my Prince!" she whispered.
His blue gaze pierced her very soul as he slowly leaned closer. She held her breath. Was Vincent going to kiss her? Here, in front of everyone?
No. He got hold of himself and straightened up, looking down at her. "Shall I get you something to eat, Catherine?" he asked, his voice slightly breathless.
Catherine's tongue stole out to moisten her lips. All she felt hungry for now was him, and she knew he was aware of it and felt the same, it was clear in the rigidity of his stance, the tension of his face, his open mouth revealing the sharp tips of his canines as he took short, hurried breaths. Vincent wanted her... Catherine had to force herself not to grab him, pull him down to her and kiss him there and then. Taking a deep breath, she complied with his intention to move to a safer ground.
"Yes, please. Take something for yourself, too!"
"I'll be right back."
As he walked toward the buffet, Vincent felt grateful for the break. It gave his heartbeats and breath the leisure to slow back to a normal rythm, and it allowed him a little time to think. He was aware that ever since Catherine had entered his world, some of the barriers that limited his life had begun to recede, but tonight they seemed to crumble and vanish, leaving him to face a world of new, thrilling but somewhat anguishing possibilities. He'd never thought he'd have a woman in his life, yet here she was, beautiful and willing. Oh so willing! He recalled the way her body had leaned on his, in her chamber, and later while they danced, with complete trust and abandon. He could have no doubt that if he had kissed her she would have welcomed it, even here, in front of everyone. He'd wanted to kiss her, desperately, and almost had. All his former, wise resolutions had been defeated, and the only thing that had stopped him was that he wanted that moment to be theirs alone. Deep inside he suspected this wonderful evening wouldn't end without that kiss being shared, and he found himself looking foward to it, ready to embrace the miraculous gift life was offering him.