Chapter Five
Kathryn stared numbly ahead, lost in her racing thoughts. A thick, heavy fog surrounded the curricle like a wet blanket, smothering all noise and light. Only the pervasive stench of the Thames convinced her they were still in the city.
She never would have had the courage to attempt this journey alone and was grateful for the silent, reassuring presence of the man who sat on the narrow seat beside her. Talon handled Sutcliffe’s matched pair of bays with practiced ease, and she didn’t doubt his ability to use the pistol he’d slipped into his jacket pocket before they’d left the house.
He hadn’t said a word since they’d gotten underway. She wondered what he was thinking. When she’d asked him to come with her, she’d expected him to say no. But all he’d asked was that she keep his involvement a secret from Sutcliffe.
That had been an easy promise to make. If things went as planned, she hoped never to set eyes upon her father-in-law again.
Her gaze strayed to his hawkish profile and rested on the sensuous curve of his lips. The memory of those lips moving against hers caused a curious melting sensation in the pit of her stomach.
He’d kissed her, shown her such passion and tenderness. It was wrong, terribly wrong, for her to have let him, but she wasn’t sorry.
If he hadn’t, she never would have known what she’d been missing.
She might have drifted along with Daniel forever, growing more bitter and lonely with each passing year.
Marriage for love was almost unheard of among London’s upper crust. Everything revolved around wealth and titles. But even so, she’d seen the respect and regard that generally grew out of such circumstances.
If nothing else, at least a woman could count on children to love.
After tonight, she could no longer entertain the hope of wooing her way into Daniel’s heart and bed. If she remained married to him, she would die alone and unloved, far away from everything she knew.
The only solution was an annulment, she reassured herself, clenching her fists in the folds of her voluminous cloak. Still, she dreaded the thought of facing her father and telling him her marriage had never been consummated and the reason why it wouldn’t be.
Thomas Hayden was a mere viscount. He’d considered it quite a coup to marry his daughter to the heir of an earldom. He wouldn’t like the scandal this would bring to his name and wouldn’t relish the prospect of having her home again.
She sighed and closed her eyes, remembering her miserable childhood and the sullen, brooding man who comprised her entire family. They’d never had much to say to each other. In fact, he’d strictly forbidden any frivolous chatter.
Her head began to throb as she realized moving home wasn’t likely to be much better than the alternative. She would never find happiness in her father’s house.
“Have you changed your mind?” Talon’s deep voice intruded upon her melancholy thoughts.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the image of dining in silence with her father at opposite ends of a table meant for twenty. She’d always hated mealtimes.
He squeezed her hand, offering her the brief warmth and comfort of his touch. “You’re doing the right thing. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
She had a sudden, wild urge to fling herself into his arms. He was the only man she’d ever known who acted as though he cared what happened to her. She found it hard to believe she’d known him less than two days.
With effort, she managed to control herself. “I’m sure you’re right. It’s just daunting to take such a big step.”
He squeezed her hand again and his strong, white teeth flashed in the dark as he smiled. “It takes a remarkable person to outmaneuver my father. Lord knows I haven’t been able to do so.”
His words warmed her. She’d been starved for this, for praise and acceptance, for casual talk and the comforting clasp of a strong hand.
“Why couldn’t you have been Sutcliffe’s heir?” she asked without thinking. “We would have suited very well together, don’t you think?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Not only had she brought up the taboo subject of his illegitimacy once again, she’d stirred the uncertain waters of the futile attraction they felt for one another. Even if she gained her freedom from Daniel, her father would never allow her to forge an alliance with someone like Talon Montgomery.
He tensed and then withdrew his hand. “I’ve often asked myself that same question. What quirk of fate allows one man to have everything handed to him on a silver platter while another must struggle and claw his way through the dirt for every single scrap?” His gaze pierced hers through the dim light. “I would sell my soul for the things Daniel takes for granted.”
She didn’t like that. Not his tone, nor his inference that she was merely one of Daniel’s possessions. A plaything he didn’t appreciate. She looked away, unable to bear his scrutiny. “Life is seldom fair.”
He didn’t reply, and she felt the tension riddling his lean body. He was angry, but she wasn’t sure whether the emotion was directed at her, or at his father and the circumstances of his birth.
A familiar road sign appeared out of the fog in front of them, and she pointed at it, relieved for the distraction. “That way,” she murmured. “We’re almost there.”
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