Bethany cleared her throat. “Well, to be indelicate about it…if the man has an interest in you…why would you not allow that to happen? You deserve some pleasure, some fun, after all your father and your husband put you through.”
Katherine’s mouth dropped open and she stared her aunt in the eyes as she gathered a bit of skin on her arm between her fingers and pinched hard.
“What are you doing?” Bethany asked in surprise.
Katherine shook her head. “Pinching myself because I know this must be some very odd dream. Perhaps I ate some bad fish.”
“Of course not,” Bethany said, coming across the room to her. “You are awake and so am I, and this conversation is very real. Why wouldn’t you consider some kind of…oh, I don’t know what to call it…”
“Affair,” Katherine said. “You are implying you think I should start an affair withRoseford!”
“Why not?” Bethany asked.
“Because of his reputation and my own. Because I do not trust him, nor think that he can be depended upon. I know what he is, down to his core.”
Bethany wrinkled her brow. “So you wouldn’t marry him. Gracious, you don’t need to think he is your prince if you are only going to bed him.”
Katherine’s eyes boggled. “Perhapsyouhad the bad fish. You are practically my guardian and you are encouraging me to fall into a shocking arrangement with one of the biggest libertines in all of England.”
“And have a fine time doing it, I hope. Clear your head, heal your body. And come back to London for the next Season without the horrible events of the earl’s death hanging over you.”
Katherine shook her head. Her aunt was giving her the most dangerous kind of permission. To do exactly what her aching body wished to do. To do it without fear or judgment. To have what she wanted, something just for her…as Robert had said last night.
And yet Bethany didn’t know about his cruel wager. Katherine wasn’t about to repeat that particular humiliation, even to her aunt. So how could she both punish him for his past crimes against her and yet have exactly what Bethany was implying she could take? Was that even possible?
Was it even wise to have this conversation in her heart, in her mind, with her companion or just in her own head?
“Have I gone too far?” Bethany asked softly. “I see I’ve shocked you into silence.”
Katherine blinked. “I suppose that I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t something I’dconsidered. Roseford has been blunt about what he would want. I have been equally blunt in my refusal.”
“Because you fear the consequences.”
“Yes.” Katherine shivered. “They are very great if this were to go wrong.”
Bethany nodded. “They could be. But I would think that a person such as Roseford would know that better than most. If it is something you are considering, you might think about simply setting some boundaries with the man. Limits that will keep a new scandal from taking hold.”
Katherine drew back. Boundaries. In a way, she’d already been setting those by utterly refusing his advances.Almostutterly. And yet Bethany was talking about setting a boundary that wasn’t all or nothing.
But would Robert agree to that? If he wanted so desperately to claim her body, would he settle for an affair where he did not get to do that?
She smiled a little. If he did, he would do it with the idea he could convince her to surrender more. What tortures she could put him through. It would serve him right.
“I’ll think about it,” Katherine said.
Bethany smiled. “Good. Now, the Duchess of Abernathe said something last night about lawn games before a picnic. Why don’t you come down and join the fun? Forget all about this troublesome subject.”
Katherine nodded, but as she moved to find her bonnet, she knew that her aunt’s last statement was incorrect. If Robert was amongst those playing games, there would be no forgetting anything. Especially since the possibility her aunt had just made her see would now play endlessly in her head until she decided what to do next.
Robert stood to the side of the bowling green, watching as the tournament Emma and James had proposed played itself out. He’d never been the biggest fan of the game, but he had to admit, he was having a fine time watching it all. Emma had insisted that the husbands and wives be separated, so the teams who faced each other were couples intermixed and squaring off against their spouses.
“Not fair!” Adelaide cried out as Meg leaned up to whisper something to Graham before he took his shot. “You two were engaged once—you ought not be on the same team.”
Robert shook his head as the group of friends erupted into riotous laughter at that uncouth point. Two years ago, her words might have resulted in a fight, but today Meg stuck her tongue out at Adelaide. And her husband, Simon, nodded. It seemed love could solve all matter of problems.
“Emma put them together to give them an advantage because she fears the strength ofourteam, Adelaide,” Simon said sending a fake glare toward Emma.
Robert stepped away from the group as they continued to bicker playfully, and when he did, he found a clear look at Katherine. She was standing on the other side of the field with her aunt. And she was looking at him.
