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Catherine flung a nearby pillow at her friend’s head, “I won’t have you matchmaking for me…”
“Stuff and nonsense. I did very well by you in Southwell when we were at school, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but that was different … that was just fun and games and growing up…”
“So tell me about Bruton,” demanded Taffeta, getting serious and coming to sit near her on the settee.
“Naught to tell,” replied Miss Frome quietly.
“Rumor has it he is a complete and utter devil with young ladies…” Taffy really would not give up.
“Is he?”
“Yes, although I think he is so much fun.” Taffy tried a new tactic.
Catherine grabbed her hand. “No … do not let him bamboozle you, Taffy.” She sighed heavily and lowered her head. “Did you never wonder why I was sent home from my first season in such disgrace?”
“Disgrace? I never heard anything about disgrace… I just thought you went home because of something to do with your aunt,” Taffy said in shocked accents. “In fact, I remember now, your letter said your aunt was tired of playing hostess.”
“It was a lie, and I thought a feeble one at the time, but it seems Papa did such a good job of scotching the gossip, it was not as bad as I thought it would be.”
“Gossip? You?” Taffy shook her head. “I don’t believe my quiet, serious minded, good girl Cathy could give anyone fodder for gossip.”
“You see I… Bruton…” Catherine stumbled on the words.
“Oh no, never say you fell in love with the devil and thought yourself lovesick and went into a decline?”
“You are a wretch for putting it that way, but I suppose, yes, to some extent that is what happened … and I let him kiss me, and Taffy… I let him … touch me…”
“Bed you? Did he bed you?” said Taffy standing up. “I will run him through myself if he bed you and hurt you!”
She pulled on Taffy’s hand and made her sit again, “No, not quite but nearly. I was so very infatuated and thought, stupidly, he wanted to marry me, but all he really wanted was to add another virgin to his collection.”
“I shall run him through—he is a criminal,” said Taffy, temper flaring, eyes narrowing.
“Papa caught us—that day when I nearly lost myself to him. Oh Taff… He walked in on us, and Bruton told him he had no intention of marrying such a girl as I. Can you imagine my mortification? And there was poor dear Papa, and he threw a punch at Bruton, and it was awful … and then Bruton started the gossip. We don’t know for sure it was him who started it, but he was the only one who could have known anything about the incident. I can’t bear to look at him, and when I do, I am reminded what a complete fool I was.”
“Never you mind. You were not a fool, he was a cad. Do not blame yourself for his unprincipled behavior. There is an old saying that what goes around … comes around, and it has great meaning.” She went very thoughtful for a moment and then with determination in her voice said, “Your dowry would never do for him, but you see … mine would. He is very interested in my dowry.”
“Taffeta, what are you planning in that mad mind of yours?”
“Bruton thinks naught of seducing virgins and leaving them to fend for themselves. Well, it is time I made good on that old saying and bring things around neatly and dump them in his lap. I have heard talk about his debts. He must be desperate for immediate funds. I mean to open his eyes to the money that would be at his disposal if I were to accept to marry him.”
“Taffy… Oh no, Taffy. Just stay away from him.”
“No, I mean to bring the blackguard low. I mean for him to center his efforts on one, just one … me, and then I mean to blow his chances sky high!” Taffeta hugged her friend fiercely. “He is a bad man … to the heart, bad, and deserves what I have planned for his future.”
~*~
Sir Miles made something of a show as he flung the brown wrapped packet behind him on the coach seat, and stepped out of his conveyance to glare defiantly at the three darkly clad high toby riders.
His steely colored brows drew together. Their voices were muffled, and although he couldn’t quite recognize any, one seemed to stand out…
“What did you throw back in the carriage? Never mind … get it and hand it over,” said the tall toby whose voice sounded somehow refined in spite of the low hoarse tone he used.
“It was naught,” he answered evasively.
“Get it now!” The tall one who appeared to be in charge rasped at him threateningly as he waved a gun at him.
