Page 43 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
‘It is true. I heard him talking of his mistress to his friend last night. He is buying a house for her with my dowry.’
‘Oh dear…’ Kate took the glass from Mary’s hand, then held her hand. ‘I was convinced of his good intent of late. He may have stepped back from speaking to us but he was being kind to you.’
‘We made love this morning.’ The words spilled out. ‘As though there were nothing wrong. He has not touched me since he hit Lord Brooke. He has slept in a chair in the other room. Then this morning…’ She sighed and wiped a tear off her cheek. ‘But yesterday he heard Aunt Jane telling me to leave, so I suppose he wants to avoid the embarrassment of a divorce… And he is not here, begging me to come back, is he? Probably because he can go to his mistress now.’
‘Have you told your mother this?’ Affection weighted Kate’s voice and softened her gaze.
‘No, and do not. Papa or John would attack him. It is bad enough as it is.’
Kate nodded. ‘Anything you say to me will stay between us.’
‘He is so believable,’ Mary said. ‘The look in his eyes expresses love, and when he touches me, it feels real; it feels as though he treasures me. I thought he loved me when I ran away with him. He said he did. He spoke in the way he did this morning. He is bitter inside, Kate, and stubborn, and short-tempered, but he is also kind. He even said Papa and John have a right to hate him, he did not hold their anger against them. Though, I know Andrew was spiteful at times.
‘Did you see how he was when he came here that afternoon? He looked lost. That day I asked to meet his family and even though he did not wish to, he took me there. They are horrible.They threw us out. That was the day he hit Lord Brooke. He stopped pretending to love me after that. But then this morning he changed again.
‘I thought I understood him; now I know I just believed his lies. Yet I still love him. Do you think there was always someone else? Do you think he loves this other woman, and only wanted my money?’
Kate’s fingers held Mary’s tighter, offering comfort. ‘How can we know?’
‘I will always love him, and…’ She had told no one this. ‘I think I am carrying his child. Please do not tell Mama and Papa, not yet, I need time to navigate this.’
‘Oh, Mary. I will not tell.’ Kate released Mary’s hand and hugged her instead. ‘All will be well. You have us all to help you.’
Mary had no idea what Andrew would do when he found out about their child. This was her pain, her secret – that she carried a child created with a man who did not love her. She could not hide the pregnancy forever, but she could hide herself; that is what she wished to do, hide away and pretend this had not happened. At least for now.
She pulled away from Kate and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
‘John and I told lies too,’ Kate admitted. ‘After the party he held in Ashford, while you were at the end of your mourning for your grandfather, we made love. I went to him because I loved him. He did not love me then, but I fell pregnant and John did the honourable thing. He loves me now, Mary.’
‘Of course he loves you.’ Mary clutched Kate’s hand. ‘I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you.’
Kate smiled. ‘I know. I did not tell you because I need your reassurance. I said it so you would know things are not always what they seem. Perhaps things will work out for you too.’
‘He has a mistress, Kate.’
‘And you are carrying a child which you both made. At some point you must tell him. The child must know its father. I once intended to marry another man and keep my child a secret from John, and you have seen how he adores Paul, it would have been cruel of me.’
Mary sighed. Kate’s mother had taken her own life; Kate knew what it was like when a child did not know its parent.
‘Why not come home to Pembroke Place with John and I? You may have time alone to think things over and heal a little, without the noise of all the children. We can go tomorrow. John can still travel into the city to attend the House of Lords. Then, when you feel able, I can help you talk to Andrew about the child.’
‘I would prefer not to see anyone else. I know it is selfish.’
‘It is not selfish. People will understand.’
Mary wiped her cheeks again and smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘Now eat those biscuits, you must think of the child as well as yourself. I will tell John our plans.’
‘Will he mind?’
‘You know he will not. He would do anything for you, he loves you dearly, and he prefers being on the estate anyway, he will be glad of an excuse to go.’
‘Thank you.’
‘You need not thank me. You are my sister. Our home is your home.’
‘Would you send Mama to me, so I can tell her I will stay with you.’
