Thomas shook his head. “If I can’t walk, I’ll simply sleep in this chair,” he muttered.
“Very good, Your Grace.” Jackson turned his attention on his mistress. “Your Grace?”
“In the morning, have Mr. Thompson and Barker head south in search of the duke’s coach driver, and anything else they might find from the coach,” Katherine ordered, glancing at the footman to see how he might react. She was surprised to see him display excitement, as if he was glad to carry out the duty. Or perhaps he merely wanted an excuse to leave the house. “The horses might be there,” she added, remembering Thomas had said he had unhitched them.
“I’ll have them leave at first light, ma’am,” Jackson replied. “Good night.”
She watched her servants take their leave and turned her attention to her dinner plate.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Thomas asked, his gaze on the flames in the fireplace.
“What?”
“Why did you marry Whyte?”
Setting aside her plate, Katherine took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “My parents wouldn’t have survived the scandal if I hadn’t married when I did,” she claimed.
He jerked his head to regard her with furrowed brows. “Scandal?” he repeated. “What scandal?”
She stared at him for some time before she whispered. “I was with child.”
Thomas blinked. “You werepregnant?” He straightened. “Whenwewere to be married?”
Her expression didn’t change, and she didn’t respond.
His eyes widened. “Itook your virtue. I was the only one...” He stopped speaking and cursed softly.
“Indeed,” she said in a quiet voice. “Jonathan, the current Duke of Whyte, is your son.”
