Page 107 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
Eleanor’s eyes widened. ‘The cad, what a rotter… And he made me give you that dress… Oh, I’ll?—’
‘It is not what you think, really. He had ended things and it had not gone so far. The dress was an apology for beginning something which could have no end. Only I did not wish it to end. I went to him. But swear to me you will say nothing…’
Katherine told her everything. She told Eleanor about Richard, John’s proposal and Phillip’s outrage and then she told her about that woman too.
Eleanor wafted the fan, casually hiding Katherine’s distress, and when Katherine finished, Eleanor held her hand.
‘I believe John loves you. He says nothing lightly, Katherine. He may have a hard exterior but he is caring and principled. He will do and say nothing unless he believes in it. Harry constantly complains that John will not be swayed to vote one way or the other in the House of Lords. Trust him, Katherine…’
Looking across Katherine’s shoulder then, Eleanor lifted her voice and stood up. ‘Hello, John.’
Katherine looked back and stood too, as he crossed the last few feet to join them.
‘Timely,’ Eleanor stated mockingly. Then she struck his sleeve with her closed fan. ‘You are a bounder, cousin. You had better look after my friend.’
‘She is my wife,’ John answered. ‘Of course I will.’
Eleanor’s fingers touched the scab on his lip then the bruise on his cheek. ‘And you deserve these.’
‘Thank you,’ he said.
‘You are welcome.’ Then she smiled at Katherine and dropped a little respectful curtsy. ‘Good evening, Kate. Call on me whenever you wish and I shall definitely call on you. In fact I shall speak to Harry about asking you both to dinner.’ She kissed the air beside Katherine’s cheek and then left them.
Katherine sat back down on to the love seat. John sat on the other side.
‘You have told her everything, I assume.’
‘She is my friend.’
She saw John in the depths of his eyes.
He sighed. ‘I—’ She didn’t know if he was going to apologise, berate her or explain – she didn’t give him a chance to speak.
‘I saw that woman. She spoke to me.’
His face flushed and his jaw tightened and once again his eyes turned diamond hard. ‘Not here, Katherine, wait until we are home.’
‘Then take me home. I wish to speak.’ She was not going to let him set her aside.
He held her gaze in silence for a minute and then sighed. ‘Very well, if that is what you wish.’
37
Katherine seated herself in the far corner of the carriage and longed for darkness to hide in. John’s servants were too fastidious to leave the internal lanterns unlit. So, a low light illuminated John as he climbed the step behind her and slid into the corner diagonal to where she sat.
The carriage door shut.
He leaned back and looked out the window. Then his fingers lifted and brushed back his fringe.
A deep emotion of love and longing clasped in her stomach. She sensed vulnerability in him again. It only proved to her that the plans she made earlier had to be carried out. He needed saving from himself.
‘So will you explain to me now?’ she asked, her hands hanging on to the edge of the seat.
His head turned slowly, and his gaze struck hers, not with its ducal hardness but with intensity, expressing both his irritation and that he deemed the conversation unnecessary. ‘It was years ago, Katherine. I’m sure you do not wish to hear about it really. Besides I hardly remember.’
‘She said she was your first. I think you would remember that.’
His lips pursed.
