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“Kate?” he breathed. This wasn’t the place for this. He knew that. He could feel the stares of people as they edged past, but this was it for him. He couldn’t leave without hearing it from her lips.
“No,” she finally said.
Aidan frowned.
“No, I’m not going with him.”
“Katherine,” the man said, his hand curling around her wrist.
Aidan stepped forward. “What are you saying?”
“I’m not getting on the ship, Aidan.”
It would’ve taken him some time to believe. He needed to breathe and ask her if she meant it, but he saw the way she tugged at her arm and failed to free herself.
“Let her go,” he growled.
Her husband’s hand held her still. “Don’t do this, Katherine. I can’t be responsible for what will happen.”
“I don’t care,” she hissed, yanking her hand free just as Aidan rushed forward to help her.
“Keep your hands off her,” he said, leaning in close so that the passersby couldn’t overhear.
“You’re as much a fool as I,” her husband said, offering a hard smile. Aidan didn’t care what was said. His mind was overwhelmed with hope. But he’d misjudged the blow this man could deliver.
His black hair fell over his brow when he leaned close to Aidan. “I’m not her husband, you know,” he said casually.
For a moment, Aidan thought he was telling a ridiculous lie, but Kate’s face had paled at his words. “What?” Aidan asked.
She shook her head and started walking, and Aidan had no choice but to catch up to her. She rushed toward the shop, but the man followed close behind them.
“It’s true,” he said loudly. “I’m not Mr. Hamilton. In fact, there is no Mr. Hamilton.”
“Kate?” Aidan asked, but she kept her head down until she reached Guys Lane.
She scrambled to open the front door, then nearly fell to the floor when she finally slid inside. Aidan put his hand under her elbow and followed her in before he turned to block the doorway.
“Get the hell out of here,” he ordered, but the bastard only smiled again.
“You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?” he barked.
“There is no husband, you fool.”
He was a madman. There was no other explanation. Aidan just wanted him gone.
“My father died months ago.”
“Your father?” Aidan scoffed. He put a hand up to stop him from stepping past the threshold.
“She was my father’s wife.”
“Kate, what the hell is he talking about?” When she didn’t answer, he looked over his shoulder. “Kate?”
“I’m sorry.” Her face twisted into a sob before she pressed her fingers to her mouth to stop it.
“My name is Gerard Gallow,” the man said, stepping through and shutting the door behind him. “And I don’t know what she’s told you or who you think she is, but there is no Mrs. Hamilton and there never has been. She’s a fraud, and the authorities in Ceylon want to question her about my father’s death.”
