Page 12 of Kathryn

“Yes.”

“My uncle will escort—”

“I cannot go back home, Your Grace.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “If I tell them I do not wish to marry you, they will—”

“I will make certain you are not punished, my lady.”

“But…how?” she wailed.

“My methods are not your concern.”

Her eyes widened fearfully.

Gerrit sighed. “I will not seek vengeance from your father.” No matter how much I might want to throttle him. He removed his handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to her. “You have my word.”

She took the square of snow-white linen and dabbed at her tears. “Are you sure, Your Grace?”

“I am sure.” He shook his head when she tried to give him the handkerchief. “Keep it.”

“I am sorry I did not speak sooner. I never meant for you to—”

“Come. I will escort you back to your chaperone’s carriage,” he said, uninterested in further conversation with her, his thoughts already on the unpleasantness that awaited him in the Earl of Sutton’s library.

Chapter Five

The Earl of Sutton’s library was already occupied when Katie, Hy, and Chatham followed their host into the massive room.

Chatham paused just inside the door, his hand resting on Hy’s lower back, his brows drawn down as he looked from Letty Grayson and her mother, Mrs. Grayson, to Baron Angus Fowler.

“What are you doing here, Fowler?” Chatham asked his closest friend, who currently resembled a hulking red-haired thundercloud.

The big Scot glared at Letty before turning his scathing green gaze to Katie. “Why don’t you ask your sister-in-law, Chatham?”

Chatham’s frown deepened at Fowler’s hostile retort and looked like he wanted to rebuke his friend, but Hy spoke first.

“What is this about, Katie?”

Katie looked from Letty—whose pale face was pinched with misery—to a very red-eyed Mrs. Grayson, who was anxiously plucking at her handkerchief, and then back to Fowler, who fixed her with a murderous glare. It did not take a genius to understand what must have transpired.

Katie opened her mouth but was unable to find any words.

Thankfully, the Earl of Sutton spoke, “I’m afraid there is no way to make this situation any more palatable.” He looked from Letty to Katie, his lips twisting with disgust. “But you might as well sit, Your Graces, as this is likely to take a while and who knows when Dulverton—”

The door flew open and the man in question strode into the room, his eerie, livid eyes flickering from person to person, like bolts of lightning, lingering longest on Katie before he gave their host his attention. “I had hoped to speak to, er—” He broke off and scowled at Katie. “What is your name?”

“Allow me to present Lady Kathryn Bellamy,” Sutton said coolly.

“Bellamy?” Dulverton repeated, his nostrils flaring as revulsion flickered across his rough-hewn features. He snorted, but there was no amusement in the sound. “Addiscombe’s daughter.” The words were flat and emotionless, like a judge delivering a sentence.

Katie gritted her teeth at his superior, contemptuous gaze. It wasn’t the first time she’d been judged by her father’s tattered reputation, and it would not be the last. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.

“She is your sister-in-law, Chatham?” Dulverton asked in the same insolent tone.

“She is,” Chatham said icily.

“Where are her parents, the Earl and Countess of Addiscombe?” Dulverton barked, either not recognizing or not caring that he was antagonizing most of the occupants in the room.

“Lady Kathryn lives with us and has done for five years,” Chatham said.