“I’m not too early, am I?” Edgar asked. And his voice was as soft as a summer breeze. He was such a pale wafting thing compared to Heathcliff! I felt torn apart. My heart was beating nineteen to the dozen, a sweat broke out on my brow. And there was Nelly, all agog, with Hareton clinging to her skirts. Nelly started dusting things frantically, making herself busy. She was enjoying this, damn her!

“What are you doing, Nelly?” I snapped. I was so upset, I couldn’t be the Catherine Earnshaw I was supposed to be.

“I’m doing my work, miss,” Nelly said. Her eyes were out on stalks.

“We have company,” I said. “Servants don’t dust when we have guests in the room.”

“Mr Hindley hates me to be fidgeting around him dusting when he’s at home,” Nelly said. “It’s a good opportunity while he’s in Gimmerton. I’m sure Mr Edgar won’t mind.”

“I don’t like your fidgeting either,” I said.

“That’s a pity,” Nelly replied, and carried on dusting.

I was in such a state I lost my temper. I snatched the duster from her hand. I was itching to slap her and she could see it. Nelly smirked and the rage I’d spent three years containing in Edgar’s presence erupted. I pinched her. One small pinch, that was all. But Nelly yelped as if I’d knocked her head off.

“Oh, miss, what a nasty trick!” Nelly cried.

“I didn’t touch you,” I said.

“What’s that then?” Nelly said, and rolled up her sleeve. She waved her arm in Edgar’s face, showing off a huge purple bruise.

It was an old bruise, I’m sure of it. One tiny pinch couldn’t have done that. But now I was so furious I slapped her face.

“Catherine, love! Catherine!” Edgar said. He’d never heard a raised voice in his life and was appalled. Any chance I’d had of Edgar declaring his love for me was gone. And it was Nelly’s fault. I could happily have killed her.

“Leave the room, Nelly,” I said.

Hareton began crying and I tried to stop his noise, for my head was aching. But he would not shut up, so I gave him a shake. And then Edgar tried to pull me off the little brat and so I swung around. My fist collided with the side of Edgar’s head.

Nelly picked up Hareton with a triumphant smile on her face. She sailed from the room, leaving me with Edgar – a pale, shivering rabbit of a man.

Edgar said nothing but picked up his hat and headed for the door.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said.

“I must and I shall,” Edgar replied.

“No.” I barred his way. “Not yet. You’ll not leave me like this. I’ll be miserable after and I won’t be miserable for you.”

“Can I stay after you’ve struck me?” Edgar asked. His eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “You’ve made me afraid and ashamed of you. I’ll not come here again.”

Edgar was too well bred to slam the door. He went as quietly as he’d come. Three years of being polite and ladylike washed away in an instant. Three years of plotting and planning. And I was so drained by them! So tired of being the person Edgar wanted me to be! I was overcome with terrible sadness – not for Edgar but for what I’d said to Heathcliff. Why had he marked the calendar like that? Why had he said nothing until now? I’d thought Heathcliff didn’t care for my company any more. Was I wrong? I began to cry. In hurting Heathcliff, I’d hurt myself. I did not cry quietly or daintily. Great choking sobs ripped from my chest and I felt like I’d never stop.