Page 25 of The Lyon Deception

“I don’t know whether you are lying or not,” she said, unable to help herself.

“I will never lie again,” Sinclair promised her.

She did not deign to answer him, turning instead to Mrs. Dove-Lyon and speaking through stiff lips. “I hope we can come to an agreement. I am ready to begin negotiations.”

“Yes,” the other woman said agreeably. “That is what Sinclair wants too.”

He nodded, but Cat did not look at him. If felt too difficult. She needed time to accept that the wonderful Mr. Sutherland was in fact the person she had been hating all this time, and the grandson of a man she hated even more.

“Surely it is a good thing that you are already acquainted with the man you are planning to marry?” Mrs. Dove-Lyon went on in that cheerful tone. “Your fears must be lessened now you see he is no monster and he wants to do all in his power to help you?”

Were they lessened? Cat felt too upset and betrayed to know, so she remained silent.

“I will do whatever is in my power to help you,” Sinclair said quietly. “And I will make it my life’s work to ensure that you are happy.”

Happy? Cat glared at him. How could she be happy?

Mrs. Dove-Lyon finally gave up on being affable. “Do you want to change your mind?” she asked Cat in a tone that was rather ominous. “You can. I will find someone else for Sinclair to marry, another duke’s daughter, and one who is less picky.” She began to list names, ticking them off on her fingers.

Cat stomached it for a moment, but she couldn’t do it for long. As much as she hated to admit it, the woman was right. It was better to know her bridegroom than to promise herself to a stranger. Sinclair seemed genuine in his desire to help, although how could she ever trust him again? Surely there would always be that niggling doubt that he was lying to her. But it was too late to back out now. Better she went through with it than see him marry someone else and she fail in her quest to save her home. There was really no alternative.

“I don’t want to change my mind,” she said, interrupting what seemed to be an endless recital of names. Were there really that many duke’s daughters in the country, or was Mrs. Dove-Lyon embellishing?

The two of them turned to her. Cat was sure there was an expression of satisfaction on the woman’s face behind her veil, and Sinclair appeared genuinely relieved. But once again, she asked herself, how could she tell?

“Thank you,” he said. “I was not looking forward to marrying any of those ladies, although I am sure they are very suitable. You will be doing me a favor, Lady Catriona, I assure you.”

“I’m glad you are happy then,” she said sarcastically.

He grimaced. “My happiness is the least of my concerns right now.”

“Oh nonsense!” the widow spluttered, seeming to lose her patience. “You were mad for the girl as soon as you met her, Sinclair! Admit it. You want to marry her, and now you can. Afterward, there will time enough to gain her forgiveness for the mess you’ve made. Just think, you have years of apologizing ahead of you!”

There was silence. Sinclair looked as if he’d like to say something but was biting his tongue while Cat realized at that moment that Mrs. Dove-Lyon must have been aware of Sinclair’s deception all along. All this time, she had been keeping secrets from Cat while she dangled Sinclair in front of her. She almost rose to her feet again and walked out.

“I intend to make amends for the rest of my life,” Sinclair said quietly, his green eyes bright as they looked into Cat’s. “I make you that vow.”

She stared back at him. It sounded like the sort of vow a man who meant it would make. If he weren’t a liar, then perhaps she would believe him.

“Enough.” The widow had lost patience. “I will have the documents drawn up. We will act on the assumption that your demands will be met, Lady Catriona. Do you have a date in mind for the wedding?”

Cat felt her stomach twist. What if she said no? But she couldn’t say no. She could only say yes.

They were waiting for her answer. “As soon as possible,” she said, and rose to her feet. “It would be better if my family dinna find out before it is a fait accompli.”

“I will send you the documents in three days’ time,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon announced. “I have some strings I can pull to hasten the matter. If you agree, then the marriage can take place after that.”

Three days. Cat tried not to let her feelings show, but they must have, because Sinclair moved forward again as if to take her hand. She flinched and stepped away. Perhaps it was childish, but she knew she couldn’t bear for him to touch her. Which did not bode well for their marriage!

“Then we are done here,” the widow went on, sounding relieved. “Farewell, Lady Catriona. For now.”

Cat nodded regally and turned to go. She had barely shut the door when tears started to trickle down her cheeks.

Sinclair sat down abruptly and buried his face in his hands. “I hoped,” he muttered, “that she might forgive me, or at least set aside her animosity, but I see now she never will. Our marriage is doomed from the start.”

It had been Harriet Snowden’s idea for him to wait for Cat at the Lyon’s Den, and show himself to her there. Harriet thought it unlikely that Cat would run away in those circumstances, but it had been a near thing.

Now Mrs. Dove-Lyon gave a chuckle. “You give in too easily,” she scolded him. “You made her grow fond of you once, and you can do it again. You are the same man, are you not? She will come to accept you in time.”