She’d actually struck a nerve. He’d flushed and replied, “I never despised you, gel. I despised your father, and you reminded me too much of him.”
“Well, you needn’t worry about that anymore. I see no reason why we should ever see each other again after today. So this is good-bye. And I do hope you find some happiness with Winnifred.”
“He’s not going to charge her then? He’s going to drop the matter?”
“He has the MacGregor jewels back, and the deed to Winnifred’s house. If you arrange a bank draft and have it delivered to him before we leave this morning, yes, the matter will be forgotten.”
“Thank you.”
She’d blinked, shocked to hear those words from him. She’d only been able to nod, and turn away. But she had one last question that was burning to be asked, and only he could give her the answer.
So she’d paused at the door, stared at him a moment, this man who for twenty-one years she’d thought was her father. But he’d never been a father to her, or a real husband to her mother, and what she wanted to know, needed to know, was why her mother accepted that.
So she asked him, “Why did she never leave you? She had the wherewithal to do so. Why did she stay, when she was so unhappy with you?”
He’d scowled at her, but he nonetheless answered, “Because she was raised to do what’s right. Unlike you, she would never have disobeyed her parents, no matter what. She was told to marry me and she did. And she made the best of it, as was proper.”
“Made the best of it?” she’d said incredulously. “She was miserable all those years, and you’re saying it was because it was the proper thing to do?”
He’d flushed again. He wasn’t going to say any more—and then he did. “She also stayed because of you. She didn’t want you having the stigma of bastardy. She knew if she left that I’d no longer keep her secret.”
Kimberly shook her head. “You really had her fooled, didn’t you?”
“What the bloody hell are you talking about?”
“You were miserable, so she had to be miserable too, was that it?”
“I would have—”
“No, you wouldn’t. Just as you won’t tell anyone now that I’m not your daughter. Because who gets laughed at in the case of a cuckold, the erring wife, or the husband who was fool enough to let it happen? And you’ll never willingly admit to being a fool. We both know that. I wish to hell my mother had known it as well. Actually, I wish you had kicked her out when you first found out. She would have been much, much happier if you had. I know I would have been.”
“You’re the fool if you think so, gel,” he countered. “A woman alone, with a bastard child, she’s shunned by one and all. Your mother had too much pride to be able to handle that. The scandal would have destroyed her. At least with me, she could hold her head up and keep her place in society, and she was grateful for that, believe me. And she wasn’t completely miserable, by God. She had you. She bloody well doted on you. But ask me what I had? Nothing.”
“You could have had me. You could have opened your heart and I would have loved you. But I forget. I reminded you of him.”
“You think I don’t have regrets, gel?” he’d said gruffly. “I do.”
“Then I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all three of us, but mostly for Mother. She won’t get a second chance to find happiness, but you and I will.”
“Not if you marry that Scotsman, you won’t,” he’d predicted.
“I mean to prove you wrong in that.”
46
Imean to prove you wrong in that.
Kimberly had been doing so all day. She’d been happy all day—after she’d left the earl for the last time and put that visit out of her mind. But for some reason, tonight, she was assailed with doubts again.
They had stopped for the night, not at a coaching inn, as she had assumed they would, but at one of the St. Jameses’ properties that had been prepared especially for their wedding night, compliments of the duke and duchess. Lachlan was as surprised as she was. But their driver and the outriders had had their instructions. And the staff of the large cottage had been notified in advance.
Kimberly was led straight up to the master chamber, where a hot bath had been drawn for her in the separate bathing chamber. Two maids assisted Jean in getting her quickly into it. And when she came back into the main chamber, she discovered a dining table with soft candlelight had been set up there while she bathed, with some delicious aromas coming from a serving cart beside it.
And then yet another surprise. Draped on the large bed with its blue satin sheets already turned down was a new negligee and robe, compliments of Mrs. Canterby, no doubt, at Megan’s behest. Of gossamer silk in a blue-green that had a jewel tone to it when it caught the light, it was not something that Kimberly would ever have chosen for herself. Thin straps that held up a deeply scooped neckline, a waistline that clung to her belly and hips, then flared only slightly on its way down her legs.
Having donned it, she was so shocked by the amount of skin the cleavage displayed, she reached immediately for the robe to cover it up—only to find the robe wasn’t like any robe she knew. There were long sleeves, and an abundance of material at her back that would float behind her when she walked, but not a speck of material in the front to wrap around her. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. There was a two-inch border of gathered black lace along the edges that ran behind her neck, just covered the straps of the gown, ran along the sides of her breasts and on down to her feet.
It was half a robe, was what it was, sort of like an over-the-shoulder cape with attached sleeves. It was designed as a complement to the gown, not as a means to hide it. And Kimberly was appalled that she was expected to dine with Lachlan tonight while wearing it.
