Page 39 of Only Scandal Will Do

She laughed and stepped back from him, seeming to shake herself. After a moment, she took a deep breath, raised her chin and said, “That is for you to decide, Lord Dalbury. Any date I name will certainly be at least a hundred years hence.”

Duncan smiled at that. God, she was worth everything. All the trouble and pain, all the guilt. For he did feel guilt over his treatment of Katarina. First for trying to ravish her, now for all but forcing her to marry him. But he was not sorry. Not a bit. And one day, pray God, she would not be either. “Then I would see the matter done today, my lady.”

Her lips fought against a smirk. “I knew I should have wagered on that special license.

May I have time to return home and change? Or will you wed me in these?”

She gestured toward her jacket and breeches. The clergyman would certainly bolt out the door after being asked to marry what appeared to be two men. He shook his head. “I would marry you if you were dressed in absolutely nothing, Lady Katarina.” Duncan paused to enjoy her blush, then continued, “But I will take pity on the Reverend Hayes and send you home to change into your finery. Manning.” He turned to his soon to be brother-in-law, who was still scowling. “Will you see your sister home to change and back for the wedding at six o’clock this evening?”

“I suppose I will have to, Dalbury, though I think your treatment of her just now crossed the line. Drawing blood with a sword is an honorable act. Biting her neck was…indecent.” Manning fumed, but would recover.

He fixed the man with an unblinking eye. “As I told your sister, she gave me little choice. Very well. If there is anyone you wish to attend, Manning, tell them to come along. I don’t want to make this a spectacle, but if there are family or friends?”

“No, well, Aunt Harriet. Damn.” The earl frowned. “Let me send a message to her at least. She doesn’t get out much and this may be too sudden for her to attempt.”

“Send my footman, just give him the direction. I’ll meet you in my office shortly to discuss the marriage settlements.”

Manning nodded, then hurried from the room, and Duncan turned again to his bride. Her hand lay in Matthews’s and they talked earnestly not five feet from where he stood.

Relative or not, this was too much to endure. “What is the meaning of this, sir?” He had reached them in two strides. “I am fully capable of meeting you this morning as well.”

“It is nothing, my lord,” Katarina assured him when Matthews interrupted.

“I was telling Lady Katarina that she did not have to marry you, Lord Dalbury.” Matthews ignored her hissed entreaty and stared him in the eyes. “I told her she could marry me instead.”

CHAPTER 17

“Your seconds, sir?” Dalbury’s grim countenance showed him in deadly earnest. The marquess had not paused before issuing the challenge, further proof that Katarina had no choice but to wed the man.

If she tried any other sort of escape, someone would end up dead. And the duel she’d just fought proved that the corpse would not be Dalbury’s. She’d suspected the man would be a fine swordsman, but not the brilliant master who’d outclassed her from the first. To have held her own as long as she did gave her great satisfaction. But Dalbury had not pressed her, hadn’t wanted to harm his prize. If Reginald or Jack, however, fought the marquess to the death, there would be no contest. Dalbury would walk away, possibly without a scratch.

“Sir Preston Hubble, my lord. And Lord Marbury. Shall we say pistols at dawn this time?”

The men continued their conversation much as if they were agreeing to meet for a morning’s gallop in the park.

She put a hand on her cousin’s arm, restraining him. “And I tell you, Reginald, I will marry Lord Dalbury this evening.”

“Katarina, no!”

“You called him Reginald!”

Their outrage overlapped, a discordant sound. Dalbury’s face flushed fiery red. Reginald threw a hostile glare at him and dipped a hand toward his sword.

“No!” She stepped between the two men. “I have said. It is over and I will make an end to this. I gave my word to Lord Dalbury and I intend to honor it.” She turned to her would-be protector. “I would, however, be obliged, if you would attend the ceremony, though I understand if you prefer not. I will have no friends present save Jack and possibly Aunt Harriet.” She met his eyes, completely ignoring her hovering bridegroom. “It would be comforting to have another kind face at the ceremony.”

Matthews looked stricken, as though she had asked him to butcher an innocent. He recovered quickly though, and bowed. “I am honored, Lady Katarina, to be counted your friend. If it is your particular wish that I attend the ceremony, you may rely on it I will be there. ’Til six o’clock, my lady.” With that he bent over her hand, touched his warm lips to her skin, and was gone.

Katarina stared after him and sighed.

“You would prefer to marry him, my lady?” Dalbury’s tone sounded carefully neutral, all trace of belligerence disappeared.

Facing her bridegroom, she took stock of the marquess, something she had never taken time to do. He was a tall young man, and his toned, hardened muscles showed clearly through his disheveled garments. His skin, tinged with a ruddy glow from their exertions, carried a bronzed hue, attesting to a life lived often outdoors. He towered almost a full head taller than she; indeed, she craned her neck to peer into his face, which appeared flushed and carefully stripped of emotion. The scars on his cheek were healing: thin, pinkish, and slightly puckered. He would probably carry them the rest of his life, his rugged good looks forever marred because of her.

“No, my lord. I would have preferred to marry Amiable Dawson in Virginia, but that seems not meant to be.” She schooled her features to be void of emotion.

“You are in love with him, then?”

“No. But he would have married me and been kind. We could have made a life together, I believe.”