Kate nodded. “I must leave right away. He will be back, I am sure of it.”
Franny opened her mouth to protest, but then stopped and nodded slowly. “How did you manage to get away from him this time?”
“Peter—the duke rescued me.”
They both turned to look at him, as if just then realizing his presence. He bowed slightly into the silence.
“I suppose I must thank you, Your Grace.” Franny did not smile at him, and her tone remained formal. “But I must also ask what brings you here?”
“I came to beg. To beg pardon of Kate, and also of you, but above all to beg Kate to marry me.” He was watching Kate carefully and she had been looking at him. But at his words, she dropped her eyes and shook her head. His heart sank. “Kate, please…”
“You do not have to do this, Your Grace. You are feeling guilty, but there is no need. It was my own foolishness that made me think you meant marriage, and I was mad to think it possible.”
“No, Kate, I was the fool yesterday.” He was beside her on his knee again, holding her hands. “I love you, Kate. I cannot lose you. Marry me, please, marry me.”
“Stop this nonsense,” she snapped, pulling her hands loose and stepping away from him. “This is preposterous. You know nothing of me, of my situation. You don’t even know who I am. You must listen to me.” She held up her hands to hold him off. “Please,” she added, as if in an afterthought. He rose slowly and returned to stand in his earlier position.
After a deep breath, she began. “My name is Katherine Russell. My father was Viscount Newell.” She looked at Ashleigh and gave a short laugh. “You are unlikely to have met him in the Lords, or in any of the gentlemen’s clubs. From all I know of him, he spent his time in the hells and stews, and my brother shared those… interests. My mother and I lived on his estate in Yorkshire, where we tried to wring enough income from it to pay his debts.” Ashleigh frowned angrily and opened his mouth to speak, but she ignored him. He gripped the back of the chair before him.
“My father’s death a few years ago changed nothing—it simply meant that it was now my brother’s debts that needed to be paid. But things became more difficult with my mother’s illness. By the time she died, there was little left. My brother appeared for her funeral, but then departed again when he realized there was nothing else to sell. I remained, managing with the help of friends and neighbors. Early this year, my brother returned. He announced that he had decided to take me to London to live with him.”
She looked at Ashleigh then. “Yesterday was not the first time I have given in to foolishness, convincing myself that things were as I wished, and not as they are. I was pleased by his decision. I looked forward to seeing more of the world, perhaps finding a husband, having a home of my own, some safety and security.” Her mouth twisted in a grimace, and she looked away again.
“My mistake was not realizing that there was something he could sell—me. He owed many thousands of pounds to the Earl of Farnsworth, and he offered me in payment of the debt. So I ran away and came here.”
Ashleigh felt the blood leave his face. “My God, Kate!” She was heaping coals of fire on his head. She had escaped from that and he had offered…
Could a sound be more bitter than the laugh she uttered? “Believe it, Your Grace. And since I am not yet of age, I remain legally in my brother’s power. Now, I must leave here before he comes or Farnsworth returns.”
He turned away, slammed his hand against the wall and leaned there until the raw anger and shame that were choking him subsided enough for him to be able to think. What he had done—after what she had gone through, his behavior—there was no excuse for him. And he had thought an apology would be enough to win her?
What he wanted no longer mattered, but her safety did. He straightened and turned around, taking charge once more. “You are right. You cannot stay here. You will come to Kelswick. You, too, Franny, and the servants as well.” Franny began to protest, but he overruled her. “If he is mad enough to try to kidnap Kate this way, in broad daylight, there is no way to know what else he might do. No one is safe in this house, but not even your earl will be mad enough to come near Kelswick.”
Kate shook her head firmly. “I’m sure that is very kind of you, Your Grace, but this is my problem, and I will take care of it. I am very grateful for the assistance you gave me today, but there is no need for you to involve yourself any further. Aunt Franny should be safe enough once I am gone from here.”
“Nonsense.” He spoke quite as firmly. “You will both be safe at Kelswick for the present, and once we are married, no one will dare to touch you.” He had not expected to say that, but no sooner had he spoken the words than he realized that marriage—marriage to him—was the ideal way to protect her.
“Married?” Now she looked at him as if he were a madman. “Have you heard nothing I said?”
“It is the perfect solution. Once we are wed, your brother can do nothing.” Surely she could see that this would be the best thing for her.
“Perfect? Oh, yes, that is the perfect solution. Well, I am sorry, but I will not be married because you feel guilty for something that was as much my fault as yours.”
He flushed. “That is not why I want to marry you.”
“Of course not!” She curled her lip at him. “You want to marry me so that you can destroy everything you have spent years trying to accomplish. I heard what you told me of your parents. Think of all you have felt obliged to do to make up for their behavior. Yet compared to my brother, they were saints.”
Her anger was a relief. At least she no longer trembled with fear. “No,” he said judiciously, “definitely not saints.”
Ignoring his interruption, she continued, “And you certainly have never wished to associate yourself with a family as… as contemptible as mine.”
“You know, I find I do not care a fig about your family.” He found he was actually feeling quite cheerful, something he would not have believed possible last night or earlier this morning. Perhaps Fate was giving him a chance to make up for his behavior. If it came to a struggle between his pride and Kate’s, he had at least a chance to win. “I do, however, very much want you for my wife.”
She threw up her hands in exasperation. “You have taken leave of your senses.”
He smiled. “And you haven’t said the only thing that might give me pause. You have not said you don’t love me. Even though after my contemptible stupidity yesterday, I was afraid you would hate me.”
“Your Grace…”
He touched a finger to her lips. “Peter. Call me Peter, Kate.”
“Peter.” It came out with an exasperated sigh. “You are not listening to me.”
“I assure you, I have heard every word.”
Franny coughed loudly, and he turned to meet her eye. Though the friendly welcome of the past had not yet returned, at least she was not looking at him with the contempt she had shown last night.
“He makes a certain amount of sense, Kate,” Franny said. “We have no way of knowing what that creature will do, and we need time to make plans. You don’t have to marry him if you don’t want to, but we will be safer at Kelswick until we decide what to do next.”
Kate started to speak, but then could not miss seeing the look of fear that shadowed the older woman’s eyes.
“I will take Kate with me now,” Ashleigh said. “Lock the door—all the doors—and do not open them to anyone until I return, or Bancroft comes. I will send people to help you pack.”
Franny simply nodded.
“Aunt Franny!” Kate could not keep the protest in.
“This is the most sensible thing to do at the moment,” Franny told her niece. “We must be practical. What can you or I do against armed men? And how could we protect the servants? At least at Kelswick, we will all be safe.”
Ashleigh looked suddenly serious. “And Franny, pack everything that is important to you. If this earl is mad enough to attempt a kidnapping in the middle of the da
y, who knows what else he is mad enough to do.”
*
“Get us out of here as fast as you can!” Hall shouted to the coachman as he shoved Farnsworth into the carriage and clambered in behind him.
Farnsworth was still empurpled, spittle flying as he sputtered in fury. “How dare you lay hands on me! What? Would you have me run from some idiotic yokel? You clown!” He brushed himself off as if Hall’s touch had soiled him, then called to the coachman, “Turn this carriage around.”
Hall overrode the order, calling up, “Keep going if you want to avoid the hangman.” After peering through the window to make sure there was no pursuit, he said, “That was no yokel. That was the Duke of Ashleigh.”
“That clod? That unshaven, slovenly oaf?” Farnsworth barked a laugh. “Your fears have blinded you. He could have been driven off by a word.”
“Believe me, that was Ashleigh. I’ve seen him often enough. And it appears his feelings for the young lady go beyond a polite acquaintance.”
“Presumptuous boy.” Farnsworth straightened his coat and adjusted his cuffs. “He cannot have her. She is mine.”
Hall did not bother replying, but kept a careful watch out the rear window until they reached London.
Chapter Seventeen
Lady Talmadge was at the escritoire in her sitting room, once more making lists, this time of things that needed to be packed.
Her brother burst in after a perfunctory knock, carrying a fuming Kate Darling over his shoulder. He plopped her down in a chair and turned to his sister. “Explain to her that she must marry me. It is the only sensible thing to do.” Then he left, slamming the door behind him.
Lady Talmadge stared at the door in astonishment. Her brother did not slam doors. It was one of the things—one of the many things—he did not do. She turned to look at Kate, who had leaped up as soon as he set her down, and was now standing there simmering with a mix of emotions. Lady Talmadge was not entirely certain what was in the mix, but she was fairly certain that anger and exasperation took up a goodly proportion of the brew. She was not greatly surprised. Provoking exasperation was one of the things her brother did well. He did it to her often enough.
Kate, who had been glaring at the door, turned to Lady Talmadge. “I must apologize for this intrusion, my lady.”
“My lady? I thought we had agreed that I was to be Alice.” Then she noticed the red mark on Kate’s cheek and her eyes widened. “Never tell me my brother did that!”
It took Kate a moment to realize what Lady Talmadge was talking about. She lifted her hand to her cheek. “No, no. On the contrary. He came to my rescue and has been more than gallant.”
“Then you must tell me what this is all about.” She went over to Kate and led her to a settee where she could sit beside the girl.
Kate allowed herself to be led but persisted in shaking her head. “I have to get away from here as quickly as possible.”
“Away from here—from Kelswick?”
“Not just Kelswick.” Kate waved a dismissive hand. “From Aunt Franny, from Lewes, from anyone around here. It’s no longer safe here. I have to go someplace where they can’t find me.”
Alice was now thoroughly confused. “I understood from what Peter said that he had proposed marriage…?”
“He is being ridiculous.” Kate shook her head angrily. “Your brother cannot possibly marry me. It is quite impossible.”
“Are you already married?”
“Of course not,” Kate said impatiently.
“Well, I am reasonably certain that Peter doesn’t have a wife hidden away in the attic, so I do not see that it is impossible. And—forgive me if this distresses you—I thought from what my brother said that yesterday you did think it possible.”
Kate flushed. Not the delicate pink of diffidence but the harsh red of humiliation. “That was because I did not realize… I had forgotten… I thought…” She took a deep breath before she spoke again. “I will not be married because your brother is feeling guilty. Nor will I be married because he pities me.”
Lady Talmadge frowned. “I don’t think I understand.”
Kate stared at her hands. “I had managed to convince myself that it was all over. That what was past was past and could no longer touch me.” Suddenly she began to shake, though whether this was with fear or with anger, the older woman did not know.
Alarmed, Lady Talmadge reached over to grip Kate’s hands tightly. “It’s all right, Kate. Everything is going to be all right.” The older woman watched carefully until the tremors subsided.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it?” Kate managed a tremulous laugh. “I wasn’t nearly so frightened when I ran away from London. But now I feel as if he can reach out and snatch me up no matter where I go. And I will endanger anyone who tries to help me.” She saw Lady Talmadge’s confusion. “You must think me mad. I must tell you the whole ugly story.”
Which she did, staring at her hands the whole time. It was not until she finished that she raised her head to look at Lady Talmadge. “So you see, I cannot marry your brother. I would bring nothing but shame and disgrace to his name.”
Lady Talmadge, who had reacted to the story with the same horror, fury and admiration that had animated her brother, pulled the girl into her arms for a hug. “My poor Kate, why did you not tell us? We could have protected you.”
“You forget that my brother is my legal guardian.”
“Legal nonsense. A guardian is supposed to guard. Now, you must let Peter take care of this. He loves to take care of problems and he is really very good at it. I think one of the things that has been driving him wild is that you seemed to be handling your problems yourself without any assistance from him. He is not accustomed to that.”
“Even a duke cannot change reality. Anything he attempts to do will simply involve him—all of you—in a sordid scandal at best. No. This is my problem and I will find a way to handle it. I will not let those creatures defeat me. I will not!”
“I admire that spirit.” Lady Talmadge smiled. “I am very glad that Peter brought you here, so you will be safe while we determine our best course of action.”
Kate continued to shake her head. “I cannot stay here. That will only bring trouble down on you all. I promise you that I will leave as soon as I can determine where to go.”
“That would be truly foolish. This is no time to be turning yourself into a martyr.” Lady Talmadge was pleased to see that Kate flushed uncomfortably at that. “You will do much better to continue being furious with your brother and that dreadful earl. I will be able to forgive you if you refuse my brother because you decide you cannot put up with his managing ways, but not if you decide to make him miserable in a misguided effort to protect him.”
Kate’s head snapped back and she opened her mouth to defend herself, but could not seem to find the words with which to do so.
“Listen to me.” Lady Talmadge gripped Kate’s hands. “Do not underestimate the power of a duke. You do not want to cower behind him? You want to fight your own battle? Fine. But think of this. No knight ever went into battle without a shield, and Peter makes a very good shield. He also serves as a very good weapon, a weapon you can wield in this battle.”
It was easy to see this thought taking root in Kate’s mind, and the anger and resentment in her expression eased into a cautious hope.
Lady Talmadge rang the bell and told the maid who responded, “Tell Mrs. Quilby that Mrs. Darling and Miss Russell will be staying with us for a while.” She turned to Kate to say, “You might as well use your own name again,” before returning to the maid. “Ask her to see that rooms are prepared for them. I think… I think perhaps the Columbine suite would do. And if you would, bring hot water for washing, and a pot of tea.” Turning to Kate, she said, “You will feel better once you have had a chance to clean up a bit, and then we will talk some more.”
*
Seated once more in Lady Talmadge’s sitting room, Kate had to admit that Alice had been right. She did f
eel better now that she’d had a chance to wash herself, brush off her dress and neaten her hair. She felt even better after having drunk a cup of tea and eaten half a dozen of the tiny strawberry tarts.
Better, but not entirely at ease.
The sitting room was, like everything at Kelswick, immaculate and perfect in every detail. The ceiling was festooned with flowers and flourishes of baroque plasterwork that trailed down onto the walls, every inch of it in perfect repair. The pale blue silk hangings on the walls were pristine, apparently impervious to any smuts or soot produced by the coal fire that must have been needed to keep the room warm during the winter. Withal, the overall impression of the room was of comfort.
With delicate care, Kate put her cup and saucer down on the marquetry table beside her chair. Gesturing about her, she said, “I am not accustomed to a life like this, you know.”
“Few people are,” Lady Talmadge observed dryly.
“Yes, but I do not wish you to suffer under a misapprehension. I know I told you that my father was a viscount, but I never lived in anything resembling noble splendor. I grew up with my mother in a manor house that was crumbling around us, three-quarters of it completely uninhabitable.”
“I hope you do not mean to convince me that you are a poor little urchin dragged in from the gutter. I saw you slap down that toad Wilton without turning a hair, and your look at his mother would have frozen the blood in her veins if she had any.”
“I did, didn’t I?” She was surprised to find that she wanted to smile at the memory. It was probably not well done of her to take pleasure in such things but she could not regret her show of pride. “How dreadfully rude of me.”
“No need to worry. I am certain she never noticed. I have never seen any signs of perception in her. Nonetheless, I have difficulty believing you will find yourself uncomfortable in society.”
“Not uncomfortable. My mother made certain I grew up with all the necessary social graces.” This memory also brought pleasure, but it was bittersweet. “We would pretend to be ‘at home’. I would be the lady of the house and she would be assorted visitors, some pleasant, some foolish. And, of course, we had many friends in the neighborhood. I did not grow up in isolation. Indeed, I had a very happy childhood. It was only when my mother grew ill…” Her voice trailed off.
A Debt of Dishonor Page 19