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Kate let out a long breath. ‘I confess, I rather long to shirk my duties.’
Edmund gave her a tight-lipped look, then took on a paternal air. ‘Now, Kate, that won’t do at all once we’re married. No wife of mine shall while away the day and leave her work undone.’
Kate’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You speak as though we’ve some understanding, Edmund! I recall no interview on the matter. No conversation with my uncle.’
Edmund made a scoffing noise. ‘Oh, piffle, Kate. You know as well as I what our future holds. Why pretend otherwise?’
Kate made no reply, but she felt most uneasy. Certainly, she liked Edmund, and if one had asked her if she imagined she might one day wed him, she would have perhaps replied in the affirmative. Here she was, walking alone with him, of course. But somehow, she did not believe it proper for him to simply assume their union was a forgone conclusion.
‘In fact, I shall speak with your uncle as soon as possible. Your trouble is you need a house of your own. My da says he’s ready to split a portion of the herd and I shall be off to a solid start.’
‘I—’ Kate cut herself off. She was at a loss. She realized she had no desire to marry Edmund, in truth. But how could she say so? He was right; they had both assumed it would happen, without ever articulating an understanding. How could she tell him she had changed her mind?
And isn’t it folly to change my mind, in any case? What other choices are before me? If not Edmund, then who?
A pair of green eyes under ruddy, arched brows came to mind.
Katherine Norwood, you must be daft.
‘Edmund, we shouldn’t rush into marriage,’ she said.
He frowned at her. ‘Nonsense. Are you hesitating? How foolish.’
Kate felt her cheeks grow hot at his insight.
‘You’re not a young girl anymore, Kate,’ he said then, and her cheeks flamed. ‘Your aunt is right, you’ve some silly notions. ’Tis time to put them out of your mind. You’ll end up a spinster if you aren’t careful.’
Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
‘Your advice is noted,’ she said, and turned on her heel, storming back to the farm in distress.
I shan’t ever marry Edmund Suggitt, no matter the consequences.
But if she refused Edmund Suggitt, what alternative could she hope to have?
Kate pressed a hand to her mouth, stopping behind a large oak before entering the courtyard of the farm.
She had no hope of marrying a man who would care for her as she was.
My aunt wishes me to change. Edmund wishes me to change. It would seem I must change, for no one wants me as I am.
Tears pricked Kate’s eyes, and she leaned against the tree, her stomach tight with dread. The future stretched before her, bleak. She could not bear the thought of spending day after day tending to the needs of a man like Edmund, seeing to the sheering of sheep, and managing a farmhouse.
But that is my lot in life. I must accept it.
There was no hope for anything better.
Chapter 4
James
The following day, James joined his mother for breakfast in the morning room of their London Townhouse. The dowager marchioness was sipping tea when he seated himself.
‘That’s a lovely cap, Mother,’ he said, by way of making peace after yet another disagreeable exchange the previous morning.
The lady’s cap was, in fact, very pretty, a lace-trimmed purple silk he did not think he had seen before, although ’twas hardly in his habits to notice.
Mother sniffed and patted the cap, eyeing him. ‘How kind of you to say, James.’
