Page 54 of The Virgin in the Rake's Bed
“You have defiled my sister,” Rickard said, advancing across the room, as the other guests looked on in astonishment.
“I will not have fist fights in my taproom at this time of the morning,” the landlord called out, but neither Ian nor Rickard heeded him.
“Defiled?” Catherine cried, “I would have been defiled by your friend the Earl of Westwood, but not by Ian. How could I be defiled by the man I love?”
“You do not know what love is,” Rickard retorted, and then he lunged at Ian, striking out with his fists.
But Ian was too quick for him, and he dodged the first blow, returning one of his own and striking Rickard on the chin.
“Please, Rickard, stop it,” Catherine exclaimed, but her brother’s anger was absolute.
“You do not even know who this man is,” he cried, but Catherine shook her head.
“I know he is the man I love, the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. We are married, and that marriage is everything,” she cried.
“Married under false pretenses, married before you know the truth of who this man is,” her brother retorted.
Catherine paused, confused as to his words, and now a smile came over Rickard’s face. “I know who he is…” she said, her words faltering, but Rickard shook his head.
“You do not know it all, Catherine. You do not know that this man is illegitimate, born out of wedlock. His mother had an affair, and he was the product of that sorry union, and once it is known across the ton you and he will be ruined,” he said, smiling triumphantly, even as blood flowed from the wound to his chin.
Catherine stared at him open-mouthed, turning to Ian, whose face was flushed with anger.
“I… it is not what you think,” he gasped, but she shook her head.
“I do not care who your father is, just as at this moment I do not care for my own father or brother, and would happily know myself illegitimate,” she cried.
“But then you would have nothing,” her brother said, pointing his finger at her, “just as you will have nothing when the truth about this man is known by all the ton.”
“I will discover the truth, Catherine, I promise you. It will have no hold over us,” Ian exclaimed.
“Not once it is exposed,” Rickard said.
He was evidently enjoying himself now, toying with Ian like a cat with a mouse. Tears welled up in Catherine’s eyes. The happiness of what had been, replaced with the bitter taste of this astonishing revelation.
“You have no proof at all for what you claim,” Ian said, “you would only ruin your own reputation.”
“And how do you know I have no proof? Would you risk it? My father and I have discovered much about you, Ian Bennet, and we intend to bring you down. I thought I knew you, I thought we were friends, but really, this is all too much,” he said, advancing toward Ian, who raised his fists.
“It makes no difference to me,” Catherine said, and as her brother reached out to grab her, Ian aimed another punch at his jaw, sending him reeling back.
He fell back with a crash over the tables, and the landlord shouted at them again. “Out, I say, out from my taproom,” he cried.
Ian seized Catherine by the hand, tossing a handful of coins at the landlord and calling out thanks for his hospitality. Rickard was still sprawled on the floor, dazed and groaning. Catherine could feel no sorrow for him, and in that moment, she would gladly have never seen her brother ever again.
“But what are we to do?” she asked, as they dashed out of the door.
“The mail coach! We are in luck,” Ian cried, pointing along the street to where Walter Perkins was sitting on the outboard of his mail coach.
“Well now, I did not expect to see the two of you again,” he exclaimed, as they hurried up to him.
“Will you take us to Lancaster immediately?” Ian asked, and Walter appeared confused.
“But I had hoped to rest a little,” he said, but Catherine begged him.
“Please, sir, it is a matter of life and death. We are pursued by terrible forces, those which wish to make me the wife of the most awful man. Please, you must help us,” she said, imploring the good nature she had seen during their journey north, and with a smile, Walter nodded.
“Very well, miss, seeing as it is you. We can stop in Carlisle to rest the horses. Climb in,” he said, and Ian pulled open the door, ushering Catherine inside.
