Page 41 of Only Scandal Will Do

“He certainly seemed jovial enough to him at the ball.” Anger--at Braeton, Jack, the marquess, herself--seemed a fiery knot lodged in her chest.

“You can esteem a man a friend, Kat, and still not want him married to your relations.”

Jack’s look of pity was more than she could bear. “The man keeps mistresses and frequents a brothel he may own to buy women without a twinge of conscience,” he said. “He killed two men who insulted his sister, when he could have just as easily spared their lives. And his ‘entertainments’ that Malton spoke of, have apparently been re-instated at his house. Word was out, via the servants, that an entertainment was planned for today, one so bawdy that his staff was dismissed from the house. I daresay he had to call it off at the last minute because of your wager.”

“So he wants me for his brood mare, is that it?” The marquess wanted only one thing from her--an heir. He was the same prodigious rake she’d met in March, more than able to seduce her with sweet words into thinking he cared for her. And once she married him, not only would she have to submit to his baser attentions, she would have to put up with his carousing and infidelity as well. The marriage that such a short time ago held so much promise, now offered only misery.

Jack rapped on the trap. “Turn back for home, Benson,” he called to the coachman.

The words penetrated her exhaustion. “What are you doing, Jack?”

“You are not going to marry him. Not after this.”

“Then what will you do, challenge him?”

Jack’s impassive face was his answer. She stood up in the slowing carriage, and knocked on the roof with her knuckles. “Drive on, Benson. We must not be late.” The last was shouted as Jack hauled her into her seat.

“Katarina, you will not--”

“I will. And you will not stop me.” She grasped his arm as he tried to raise his walking stick to the trap a second time. “I will not have you challenge him. Even disregarding your safety as an issue, if you challenge him the whole story of the brothel will come out. I will be ruined, you will be shunned and the scandal will follow us for the rest of our lives. That will not happen on my account.” She grabbed his hands and held them, gazing into his eyes, begging for his understanding. “Despite his subterfuges, I issued that wager and I lost. In honor, I can do nothing but marry the man.” She shook her head to forestall his protest. “My situation is no worse, I suppose, than any other arranged marriage. Except I am going into it with no illusions about the groom. So I will hear no more from you other than your best wishes for my happiness.”

He jerked his hands from hers. “I would not insult your ears with such a lie.”

“You would wish me ill, then?” She managed a shadow of a smile for him. “I need your support if I am to do this. If you love me, don’t fail me.”

Alhough she could see how it cost him, Jack nodded in agreement as the carriage slowed before the splendid house that would shortly be her home. Indeed, her trunks, which had never been unpacked, were following in a separate conveyance.

Once inside, she and Jack were shown into a large drawing room, furnished lavishly in blue and gold. Jack sat, stony-faced, on the gilt-edged sofa to await the rest of the wedding party. Drawn to one of the tall casement windows that faced west, Kat gazed at a formal garden at the back of the house. The sun, now beginning to lower in the sky, cast deep shadows on the fancifully shaped topiary trees and elegant garden ornaments. Tears rose, and she tried to swallow them back. These were her last moments of freedom and in her heart she could not help but feel devastated by the finality of them.

The door opened. She straightened her shoulders and fixed what she hoped would pass for a pleasant smile on her face. Never would she let him know her true feeling. He would know her scorn, but her despair was hers alone. She turned, surprised to see Lord Trevor enter followed by Lord Dalbury, who escorted a young woman.

Her bridegroom had dressed to an incredible degree of magnificence, one she had never seen before. His jacket, of silver and black jacquard, gleamed with buttons that must be actual diamonds. They caught the firelight and twinkled like icy stars. Frothy lace cascaded from his stock and spilled at his cuffs, layers and layers that almost obscured his hands. His waistcoat was pure cloth of silver, embroidered in black, with black satin breeches, snowy white stockings and jet-black shoes. For all his elegance, he glittered coldly in the flickering light of the room.

She had only the briefest moment to take in his splendor before the young woman at his side all but ran toward her. This must be his sister, for the woman’s features seemed a softer version of Dalbury’s. Her hair was a shade blonder, the bones of her face finer but in essence the same countenance, though more pleasant in feminine form. Tall for a woman, she carried herself with a grace that drew attention away from the fact. She was dressed impeccably in a simple pale pink striped silk, with gold trimmings that accented her golden-brown eyes. Those eyes lighted on her and filled with warmth as her mouth turned up in a delighted smile. The kindness emanating from this stranger overwhelmed her. Dalbury could scarcely keep up with his sister as she sped toward her.

“Lady Katarina!” The woman’s voice, agreeable and low-pitched, resonated pleasantly in the room. “I am so very glad to meet you. Duncan only just told me you are to be married. I cannot stand it when he keeps things from me like this! Of course, I just arrived home this afternoon, so he could not very well have told me before, could he? Although he says he did not know himself he would be married until this morning. I found that quite odd, you know, because marriages usually take forever to happen. I know mine did, and then it didn’t. But don’t you think this is all rather sudden?”

The honestly perplexed expression on the woman’s face turned Kat’s false smile genuine, charmed her. She had no idea of how to answer, yet her spirits lifted.

“Lady Katarina, may I present my sister, Lady Juliet Ferrers, who has hardly waited for the introduction to make your acquaintance.” Lord Dalbury’s mouth twitched with amusement, turning his features unexpectedly youthful.

“I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Juliet,” she said, nodding to her and then to Lord Trevor, who stood just behind the two. “I am also pleased to see you again, my lord.”

“I assure you, Lady Katarina, the pleasure is indeed all mine. I did not have a chance to commend you on your fencing abilities this morning. They are truly remarkable.” He turned eyes full of merriment to Lord Dalbury. “Duncan has seen good fortune shine on him, to wed a woman with beauty, wit, and a wicked shoulder cut.” His words were teasing, but true admiration for her skills shone in them.

“You are too kind, my lord.” She grinned at him. His good humor was infectious. “I pray that you too find a wife as skilled with a sword.”

“Alas, I fear you are the sole flower in London’s garden of delights with such exotic talents. I am afraid I shall have to manage with an ordinary rose or shy violet instead.”

“When you find her, bring her to me and I will see that she transforms from shy violet into a tiger lily at least.”

Trevor laughed and shook his head. “You shall have her as soon as I locate her.” He shot an amused glance at Dalbury. “I think I shall go keep a lookout for Tommy. Before I get myself into trouble.” He bowed and left the room, still shaking his head.

A bit more at ease now, Kat turned to Lady Juliet. “I fear your brother has likewise kept me in the dark about you.” She arched an eyebrow at Dalbury. “I knew he had a sister, but nothing more.”

The marquess looked unabashed. “I am sorry there was not time to inform you about my family, my dear. With our hurried courtship there has been no time to talk at all.”

“Well, I do not blame you for not talking to Duncan any more than you can help it, my dear,” Juliet said, and cut a sly look at her brother. “For he will spout facts and figures, or horses and hounds, or guns and...and...”