She was shackled to a lying bastard.
Odd thing was, if Bromton had told her he was a bastard, if he’d unburdened his secrets, shared his consternation, she may have helped find some solution, at the very least, and, she would have liked him all the more for his honesty.
His title had never been a consequential part of her esteem.
What was done, was done. She would be in the wrong if she did not acknowledge the advantages of her new position—she took a fortifying inhale—and she mustn’t mistake heartbreak for true adversity, no matter how exhausted her limbs and fractured her hope.
She nodded to herself, having found the guidance she believed her mother would have offered. Then, she heard the sounds of a second carriage rumbling to a stop. She didn’t turn as footfalls skipped up the steps at breakneck pace. She did not need to turn. Only one person knew the way well enough to skip.
Julia threaded her arms underneath Katherine’s from behind and then wrapped them around her waist. Although Julia was a few inches shorter, she lifted herself to her toes, so she could rest her chin on Katherine’s shoulder.
Katherine held to her anger—the pulsing thing that whispered to her that she was alone, now. That she could trust no one. Then, she relaxed back into her sister’s arms.
“I’d hoped to find you here,” Julia said. “I refused to believe Markham when he told me you’d left straightaway.”
She’d wanted to leave straightaway. She’d wanted to fly away to the beat of horse’s hooves. But she could not outrun the pain that had been imprinted on her heart. And no matter how furious she was with, well, nearly everyone, she would have regretted not saying goodbye.
“I told Markham I did not wish to stay for the breakfast,” Katherine replied, “not that I was going to leave without a proper farewell.”
“Are you still angry?” Julia asked.
“I suspect I will be angry for quite some time.” She turned in Julia’s arms and touched foreheads with her sister. “However, I am not angry at you. I may have been, though, if you had insisted Lord Rayne stay.”
Julia made a sound that indicated hurt. “I intend to put Lord Rayne entirely out of my head.”
“What changed your mind?’
Julia set her lips in a straight line. “He told me our kiss meant nothing to him.”
Well.Katherine sighed. She had Rayne to thank for that, at least. She squinted at her little sister. “Why, then, are you practically bursting with excitement?”
Julia grinned. “Lord Farring has come up with a marvelous plan, and Markham approved. Lord Farring’s sister—Lady Horatia—is just my age, can you imagine that? I’m to be a guest of a duke and duchess, and I will be able to take dancing lessons with Lady Horatia. Lord Farring says that she has always felt slighted because her elder sisters came out together, and I am the perfect solution.”
Bless Lord Farring.Katherine smiled. “Sounds like a wonderful plan.”
“Best of all, I won’t be far from you,” Julia finished.
Katherine embraced Julia. At least Julia’s future would be much, much brighter, now. And, in a convoluted way, she had Bromton’s abhorrent behavior to thank for that.
Markham appeared at the top of the stairs. She met his gaze and released Julia.
“Percy,” she greeted coolly.
Julia skipped over and grabbed Markham’s hand. She pulled him into the circle and then grasped Katherine’s hand, forming a chain.
“You two must make up,” Julia said with authority. “I’ll not tolerate another second of this childish behavior.”
Katherine sent Julia a speaking glance. Markham snorted.
“Katherine,” Julia said, “what Markham did was not very wise, nor very thoughtful, but can we agree that he had your best interests at heart?”
Katherine glanced heavenward.
“He is but a male,” Julia persisted.
Markham stiffened. “I beg your pardon!”
“Ah, Percy,” Katherine said. “You gamble one sister away, but heaven forbid the other insult your manhood.”
