Page 43 of A Marriage of Necessity

“Matthew said Lady Rose feared that they were going to take her away. In truth, my lord, I couldn’t credit that the story was true. But there were enough truths that I couldn’t ignore the possibility that the tale might be true.”She hesitated, and said, “Why did your father have her locked up?”

His mouth thinned. “Are you sure you want to know the answer? You won’t like it.”

“Of course, I won’t like it. There is nothing that justifies locking someone up, much less one’s own child.” Her blood boiled at the memory of finding the girl half out of her mind with the laudanum, and clearly physically abused.

“That isn’t what I mean,” Kennedy said. “The reason concerns you—our marriage.”

She frowned, then comprehension dawned. “You mean your father used her to force you to marry me? How— I-I don’t understand.”

“My father told me that he had Rose taken away. I believed he had taken her from Scotland. Sent her to France, perhaps. Had I the slightest idea she was still in Edinburgh, in her own home—” His hands worked into fists at his sides.

Anne could well understand his anger and panic. She couldn’t imagine anything happening to Louisa.

“He demanded I marry immediately and produce an heir,” Kennedy said.

Anne nodded. He’d been right. She didn’t want to know. She’d known the earl had instigated the marriage. Yet, somehow, this knowledge tainted their union in a way she couldn’t describe.

She looked at her hands, still clasped in her lap. “I am so sorry.” Tears pressed at the backs of her eyes. “Of course, we cannot remain married.”

“What?” he said sharply.

She snapped her head up.

He crossed to her and stopped beside the divan. “We’ve been married three days. I need time to learn how to be a husband. Surely, you will give me more time.”

She looked at him in confusion. “We married because your father held your sister captive. I-I cannot imagine how you can even stand to look at me.”

“Quite the contrary. I cannot bear the thought of not seeing your face every day for the rest of my life.”

She blinked. “What? I don’t understand. Our marriage—”

He grasped her arm and pulled her to her feet. “Is the best thing that ever happened to me. I am sorry, my dear, but I have no intention of letting you go.”

Before she could reply, he kissed her until she couldn’t think straight.