Her father stopped looking about and focused on her. “What are you going on about?”
Her shoulders dropped. “You know, in addition to providing you with confidential client information, or a good land deal,anything to make you more money, my husband must always be ready to lend you a pipe. I’m sure that could be added to any sale contract for me.”
“Sale contract?” His bushy eyebrows drew together. “Truly, whatareyou going on about?”
“It isn’t exactly a secret, Father.” She shrugged. “Your daughters are a commodity. You did quite well with my sisters, though you do seem to be having a bit of trouble bartering for me if you’ve had to drop your standards to an attorney. A man without wealth of his own but only useful for his contacts.”
His face blanched. “Is that what you think? That I want you married only to profit myself?”
“It’s what I know.” She rested her hand on his and squeezed. “It is what society expects. You are not alone in your actions. It’s just what is done. But you can’t expect me to be happy to be seen as nothing more than an asset.”
He turned his hand and grasped hers tightly. “My dear, nothing is further from the truth. I want you, all my daughters, to be settled happily to good men. And good men will have the intelligence and resources to take care of you. I don’t deny your matches should strengthen our family, but how reckless would it be of me to give you to someone who hasn’t the means to provide for you?”
“Father, I love you, but I also heard you.” She blinked, the backs of her eyes burning. “You traded me to Mr. Evans for access to his clients. He bartered his ethics away for a chance at your money. That does not make him a good man.”
“Where did you hear this?” He narrowed his eyes.
“You and he were having a discussion on the terrace at Perrin Manor.” She’d heard them, clear as day. “Please don’t deny it.”
“I have no intention of denying it. I learned much about your beau in that conversation.” He huffed. “You stopped eavesdropping too early, however.”
Katherine straightened. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, only standing by an open window.” She patted her hair. “I wanted the breeze.”
“Of course.” He arched an eyebrow. “Well, you must have developed a chill and left your breezy window before your Mr. Evans declined my terms. Most strenuously. He said he wanted you but wouldn’t abandon his morals.” He slapped his palm on the table. “I only argued for an agreement that would benefit all sides,” he muttered. “You and he would be happily married, and his clients and I would enter into mutually profitable business deals. Nothing wrong with that.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “What did he agree to?”
“That he would give me free legal services, as any good son-in-law would.” He dipped his chin and gave her a look. “The dowry I was willing to give him he would only accept in your and your future children’s names. None for himself.”
Her chest went tight. If that were true…. “And you agreed to that? You’d allow me to marry Mr. Evans?”
“I did and I will.” He shook his head. “You won’t have the same dress allowance as you would with an earl, or the fancy jewels, but if you can live without that, I can live with a son-in-law who is an attorney.”
Her heart leapt. Henry hadn’t negotiated to increase his purse. And her father would accede to her wishes. She popped up and leant over the table, her arm bumping into a candlestick. She kissed his bristly cheek. “Thank you, Father.”
He slapped at her sleeve and shook his head, his lips curling. “Well, don’t set yourself on fire over it. Mr. Evans is going to have his hands full with you. If I were a better man, I’d warn him away.”
“You will do no such thing.” Katherine plopped back down and glared at the tavern’s door. Why had the confounded man left, now when she wanted to talk with him? Could he…could hehave given up on her? Considered her more trouble than she was worth? She almost couldn’t blame him.
But she’d been troublesome before and hadn’t scared Henry away. And he’d arranged for them to have dinner together. So if he did care about her, he wouldn’t have run out of here without a very good reason.
But all they had been talking about before he’d left was that ratty old carriage….
“Oh my Lord,” she breathed. Lady Mary was at the house, as good as alone. What did Henry think he could do, all by himself?
Images of him hurt and worse flashed through her head. Not now. Not when they finally had an open path to happiness. She couldn’t let anything happen to him. “Father, call the carriage. We need to leave. Immediately.”
Chapter Forty
Lady Mary
The sound ofbreaking glass roused me from my slumber.
Not that I had been sleeping deeply. I’d tossed and turned for hours before finally succumbing to fatigue. I glanced at the clock, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dark before I could read it. Two eighteen.
I could just close my eyes again. Wait until morning to see what had broken. A servant had probably gone down to the kitchen for a glass of milk and dropped it.
I blinked at the ceiling. Drummed my fingers on the counterpane. And, finally, threw my covers off of me and rolled out of bed. My feet rooted around the floor for their slippers. I grabbed a wrapper and my walking stick and stepped out into the hallway.
