Page 106 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
‘It was nothing, Katherine.’
‘Nothing?’
‘It ended years ago and I am not talking about it here.’
‘Then take me home and tell me.’
‘No.’ An exasperated breath left his lungs. He could not. ‘Not when the entire room will believe there is something wrong. Go back and dance and smile, or people will talk about you more.’
He noted the glint of tears in her eyes, as she pulled her arm free and turned away.
Unsure what to do, he followed, only to see her leave the ballroom and hurry to the privacy of the retiring chamber. He had made a mess of the second night of his fledgling marriage.
* * *
Katherine weaved her way through the throng of guests, refusing to look back as she fought to stop the tears from falling. She was so out of her depth. This was John’s world and she did not fit. She did not understand these people and their debauchery.
In the hall she turned to a footman to ask for guidance and he directed her upstairs. John’s mother’s maid was there and Katherine sat down to let Esther check her hair, seeking time to pull herself together.
She’d embarrassed John and he was angry because of it, but if everyone in the room knew about him and Lord Framlington’s sister then surely John’s whispering in the woman’s ear was an equal embarrassment for her.
It was no wonder John had thought nothing of asking her to meet him in the tower if this was the world he lived in. She had two choices. One was to let this world beat her. The second was to fight. She felt a surge of determination. She could rescue John from this life. He hid from these people. He did not hide from her. Surely she was the only one who could rescue him then. She was going to fight. She was going to save him and not let him be like these debauched selfish people any more.
‘All done, Your Grace,’ Esther stated.
Katherine stood. ‘Thank you, Esther.’ She felt much better, in control again.
When she left the room she hastened back to the ballroom. She understood why he’d insisted they stay. But she would much rather they were alone and not among all these false people.
Her mind raced with plans as she neared the top of the stairs, thinking of how she must speak to his servants and take charge of his house, and force her courage for tomorrow when people would call. She was not going to let him down, nor let these people think less of her… She was going to make John trust her and encourage him to end his part in this charade and simply be himself. She could not take him away from these people, but she was going to stop him being like them.
A woman blocked Katherine’s path.
‘John’s young Duchess?’
Katherine’s heart pounded. It was the woman John had whispered to. She looked much older than John but still beautiful, and she had an allure that said she knew she was. She had huge brown eyes and dark hair.
‘Pretty. Where did he find you?’ Her casual voice had a hard edge, and Katherine had a feeling their chance meeting was no accident.
‘Forgive me, I do not remember being introduced. Excuse me.’ Katherine moved to walk about the woman but her arm was gripped.
‘Perhaps not, but we have a mutual experience, we have both been in John’s bed, only I was there before you. In fact, I was his first, I broke him in. So you may thank me for his skill. But be warned, he will tire of you. I?—’
Katherine did not stay to hear any more, pulling her arm free and walking away.
She glanced about the crowd in the ballroom, but she could not see John.
She was saved by Eleanor.
‘Katherine. You sly thing, marrying John. I am sorry we could not call earlier, my husband insists I rest in the afternoon if I am to go out in the evening, and the Earl of Derwent is his distant cousin so I could not cry off tonight. I cannot believe you and John managed to keep this secret. I even let him deceive me into sending that dress and thinking nothing more.’ Eleanor’s fingers touched Katherine’s elbow. ‘You may tell him, I am disgusted with him for not at least inviting family to the wedding. How did he court you? Did he shower you with flowers, or was he lax? I shall tell him off if he was lax.’
Eleanor led Katherine to a love seat, while throwing question after question at her, and once they were seated there, Eleanor raised her open fan so they might gossip without their lips being read. ‘You must tell me it all, I am dying to know…’
Katherine knew so little of how to live in John’s world – she could not lie to Eleanor, though she was sure John would. ‘Promise me you will say nothing, not even to your family…’
Eleanor nodded.
‘I am with child. John’s mother and father and Phillip are the only people who know.’
