Page 7 of Truly, Madly, Daring

That was out of the question, though. She had broken her parents’ hearts, when they had done nothing but love and cherish her, and as for Kilbane….

She glanced over at him. He stood in the farthest corner of the room, looking like something wild and dangerous trapped in a cage. She knew he would lash out if they provoked him, that she had backed him into a corner and the only response he knew how to give would be to make them all revile him. Somehow, she must manage this situation, must manage him. After all, she had wanted him, had she not? Now, she almost had him, or at least, was closer to it than she had ever been before. This was hardly the way she had wanted things to go, but if she came out of this the Marchioness of Kilbane, well… would that be so bad? In her heart, she believed he was a good man, a kind but damaged soul who simply did not know how to allow anyone close to him. If she was his wife, she would finally have her chance.

Not that she was a fool. This would not be the solution. He would despise her for trapping him, and getting over that would take time, but she could wait. Cat let go of her mother and went to her father’s side. He was staring down at the fire, not that she thought he saw it.

Gently, she tried to make him see there was no other choice, and that she did not wish to run away. The idea of letting society shred her character to pieces as she fled made her feel physically sick. Seeing her father in such torment, being the cause of such pain, though… that was a knife in her chest.

“I can’t… I can’t let you marry that… that… damned degenerate! I’ll kill him first.”

“Papa, no!”

Her father grasped her by the shoulder, determination in his expression. “I will not allow this. You don’t understand, Cat, you’re a little innocent and you don’t know… A man like that… No! I won’t let him touch you!”

“You think I’d touch her?” Kilbane retorted, and the fury and disgust rolling off him was shocking to her. “She’s just a child, for the love of everything holy!”

Everyone stared at him, their confusion evident. As humiliating as his obvious sincerity was to her, Cat felt her stomach turn as she saw him take in everyone else’s response to his words, the surprise that he had anything resembling a moral. She saw the flicker of defiance and pain in his eyes before the shutters slammed down.

He gave a snort of laughter. “Oh, but I forgot. I’m so depraved I’ll fuck anything.”

“Mind your tongue,” Gabriel snapped.

Kilbane laughed and threw up his hands, turning his back on them all.

Silence filled the room as Cat stared at him in consternation. Why did he persist in seeing her as a child? Yes, eighteen was young, but many of her friends of the same age had already wed, and he was not much older than she. Six years, perhaps? Hardly an unusual age gap. That he did not desire her was obviously possible. She was not so conceited that she believed every man ought to fall at her feet, though in practise, it was a rare event that they did not. Neither was she so sheltered that she had not heard the rumours about him. She knew Kilbane took lovers as and when he pleased, regardless of sex, station, or any other criteria. But his name had been connected with enough beautiful women to lead her to believe he did not think her unattractive. Was it her personality, then? She certainly annoyed him, but Cat had always believed that was because she insisted on pushing him in ways other people would not dare. That had to be good for him, though? Didn’t it? Papa had said many times that he had fallen in love with her mother because she was so brave, bold enough to challenge him and tell him he was an obnoxious arse.

Cat smiled at that, despite everything. Well, she was her mother’s daughter.

No. She would not run away from this. Marrying Kilbane had always been her goal. Yes, this happened to be the worst possible way of doing it, but beggars could not be choosers, and she was Lady Catherine Barrington. Running away was not in her nature. Silently she racked her brain, trying to figure out a way to persuade her father this was for the best, and Kilbane that he may as well get on and accept it.

Before she could, the man himself turned back to them.

“Fine,” he said, his expression so grim he looked like he was agreeing to throw himself into a pit of snakes. “I’ll do it, but I have conditions.”

“You dare!” her father snarled, silver eyes colder than she had ever seen them.

“You believe otherwise?” Kilbane sneered.

Papa lunged for him, but St Clair and Mr Knight were ready this time and held him back.

“Hear him out, Lucian,” Gabriel advised.

As neither man let go of him, her father had little option.

Kilbane inclined his head in a parody of polite thanks before he spoke again. “I’ll marry her, damn you all, but it will be a marriage in name only. I decided long ago this misbegotten bloodline would die with me, and I will not be persuaded otherwise.” He fixed his gaze upon Cat, his expression hard and unyielding. “Do not go harbouring any romantic notions, brat. I’m going to France just as I planned. The chances are you’ll not see me again, but you’ll have the protection of my name, for all the joy it may bring you. You’ll be the Marchioness of Kilbane. You’ll have all the wealth and power that comes with the position, the English properties are yours to do with as you please, but you will not have me. Not under any circumstances.”

Cat sucked in a sharp breath. He couldn’t mean it, surely.

“You condemn her to a life without a family? Without children?” her mother said, aghast.

Kilbane glanced at her, a frown tugging at his brows before he waved an impatient hand. “She can do as she pleases. I am hardly going to balk if she takes a lover. She can bed half of London for all I care, but I’ll not recognise any male children. There will be no heir. Under no circumstances. I suppose if she’s lucky and produces girls, I’ll give them my name, much good it will do the poor devils. But any male child will be a bastard. She may take her chances.”

Cat glanced at her father, who looked as if he was ready to eviscerate Kilbane the moment he was free.

“It’s a fair offer.” This from Mr Knight, of course, ever pragmatic.

Harriet nodded too. “It is perhaps the kindest offer he could make her in the circumstances, Tilda,” she said quietly. “She’ll be safe, provided for, a powerful woman, and free to live as she chooses.”

Cat looked at her mother, who was calm now, and as poised and beautiful as always.