Page 69 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Leonard reddened with anger. “Catherine, do not debate my honor here. You know that I had been found in a situation which would have ruined a lady’s honor. I had to act. But even after our engagement was broken, you could have married anyone. Anyone! And yet, here you are.” He eyed Charles who only bristled and stepped forward slightly.
Philip moved his body in front of Charles. “Explain yourself, Madam. You construed all this wreckage for your own revenge?”
She nodded and licked her lips. Philip had the odd feeling that she reminded him of Medusa, preying on men and then savoring their flesh. “Charles did everything under my instruction.” She smiled and pointed to him. “Charles is the one who, along with Broderick Davis, burned the fields and destroyed the shipments last year to ruin the business you had built. Oh, I had asked Charles to become your business partner. I knew that you would never suspect him.” She walked toward the three men, her confidence in her actions growing.
Leonard paled even further. “The carriage accident? The one that nearly killed me two years ago. Was that Charles as well?” He glanced at his friend, but there was no answer in his expression.
Catherine shook her head and sighed. “Unfortunately, that was my father, and I did not know.”
Leonard shook his head in disbelief. Catherine’s eyes flashed with fire once more.
“But Charles is the one who flirted with Margaret to break apart her happy ending as well. Why should any of the Whitfields or anyone related to them have any happiness when my own was taken from me?”
She completed her speech and was left standing breathless before them. Philip could see the morning light breaking through the window. They had spent too long in surprised pauses and awkward moments. The air was thick with tension, and he felt a hole in his heart. Charles had done all of this.
A heavy weight sat upon Philip’s shoulders as he said, “Why, Charles? Why do this? It was not you who was hurt.”
“Oh, but it was!” Charles suddenly snapped. “It was I who wanted Catherine from the beginning, but Leonard had tempted her away. I was willing to step back, for I knew that she cared for Leonard, but then he dropped her as if she was of no consequence!”
His eyes grew fiery, and his face only grew redder with passion as his volume increased. “It was I who deserved her, who could love her exactly as she needed to be loved. I did it for her. For that! And she has agreed to marry me.”
Leonard looked like he’d been hit with a carriage. His mouth dropped open, and his face paled. Felix just looked confused. Philip replied, “I see. And you think that is how it will all end, do you? You can simply leave, after the turmoil you have cause. The pain, the loss of business, money, respect, and more? You think that you will go on to have a happy life?”
Charles grit his teeth and grabbed Catherine to his side. “It is what I have had to fight for. You three understand that, do you not? You certainly fought hard enough to earn your brides, even if it was at a cost to others’ pain. I am only doing what you have done!”
Leonard burst into mirthless laughter. “Charles! You must be mad! Certainly you cannot think that we will allow you to leave. Not after all the crimes you have committed. Even though, it does appear that you two deserve each other.”
Philip added, “And what of friendship? Did you care nothing for us? For our lives? Were the men that were following me planning to kill me?”
Charles shrugged. “I had to put all that aside if I was to win my bride. She needed a worthy husband, one who could sacrifice much in order to win her. I do not know what those men planned, but the letters were certainly clear enough.”
Philip felt like a dagger had split his chest. Charles, his dear friend, the one he thought he was closest to was now lost to him. Forever. He would have to pay. Charles, with Catherine on his arm said in a tight voice, “Excuse me, Gentlemen, but my bride and I have arrangements to make. We will leave as soon as possible. We are packed. We are ready.”
Catherine grinned. “At least I was able to cause some ruin to you, dear Leonard,” she leaned forward and patted her hand on his face. Leonard recoiled in disgust.
“And yet, you have not succeeded.” Philip moved his body in front of the doorway, putting his hand up on the frame.
“You cannot leave. We must call the authorities. To break hearts is not a crime but to break property, to cause the destruction of business and loss of money. Now that is a crime, indeed.”
Felix stepped a bit closer to Charles. “And a very heinous one indeed. You had me ruined.”
Charles’ smile turned sickly sweet. “And yet you have survived it. And your wife is the woman you wanted. It is I who must continue to fight. And so I shall.”
Charles lunged toward Philip who was the one blocking the doorway, and in a flash, Philip could see a light glinting off of something in Charles’ hand. “You will not stop me!” Charles yelled, his arm reaching forward, and Philip felt like the world had slowed down. He leaned back, trying to get out of the way, but then he winced in pain as he felt the searing pain of a blade in his flesh.
Chapter Thirty
Juliet grasped the letter hurriedly from Sarah’s hand and read it herself. “It seems it was a message sent on behalf of the men.” She covered her mouth with her hand.
“Charles is in debt with nefarious people. They are off to visit Catherine Stilton.”
Margaret took the letter as well and scanned its contents. “What? Catherine? Why on earth?”
She looked up, and Sarah said, “Catherine? Why would they need to visit her?”
Margaret replied, “Surely you remember Catherine, Sarah. She was the woman that Leonard had originally thought of marrying.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
