Page 93 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
John lifted his hand to ward off another blow, but did not fight back. Sometimes they had fought as children. John had always won.
‘I trusted you!’ Phillip yelled. ‘You were my friend! How could you do this to her?’
John moved to climb to his feet but again Phillip’s heel struck his shoulder and knocked him back. He deserved Phillip’s anger.
‘You took advantage of her! You bastard! You knew she was defenceless! I hope you rot in hell for what you have done!’
John said nothing, letting Phillip’s tirade run. What was there to say? It was true. He would be saying the same if Phillip had done this to Mary.
‘Phillip! Phillip!’ John’s heart leapt in his chest as Katherine’s cries carried from below and then from further along the hall. ‘Phillip!’
Phillip turned and John rose.
‘Phillip!’ She burst into the room and her eyes found John. He felt a new hope bloom inside him, like a flower opening.
She looked at Phillip, panting hard as her eyes dropped to his clenched hands. ‘Stop it.’ She was struggling to catch her breath, and her bosom lifted and fell. She must have run all the way from her father’s house. ‘It was my fault, Phillip.’
‘I do not give a damn,’ Phillip answered. ‘He bears the guilt. He knew what he was doing, you did not!’
Phillip was right.
‘And violence will not solve this, no matter what. Leave him be, Phillip!’
Phillip’s hands were still fisted and he glanced at John. ‘It does one thing, it makes me feel better.’
John raised both hands, palm outward. ‘I am sorry. I have told Katherine so. I was grieving. I was not thinking straight. So much had changed and?—’
‘That is no bloody excuse?—’
‘It is not, I know. But it happened, Phillip, it happened and she has her reverend now.’
Phillip glared at John. ‘She has called off their marriage. She will not have him, but you will take her. You will make this right. Do you understand? I do not care what you are or who you are, you might be the bloody king and I would make you have her!’
The only words of Phillip’s diatribe John heard was that she had refused the vicar. His gaze flew to Katherine.
Her eyes met his. ‘Katherine?’ he said, even though Phillip was still railing.
She shook her head and denial forged its expression on her face. She had not come to say yes to him.
She moved to Phillip’s side and held his arm. ‘Leave it, please, Phillip, let it be.’
‘Let it be, Katherine? It cannot be. You are with child. I am not giving him a choice. He has to take you!’
‘With child?’ Shock burst inside John, as Phillip’s gaze turned to him.
‘You did not know?’
‘No! I did not know!’ John stepped towards Katherine but she stepped back.
Katherine was carrying his child, and she had been planning to marry her reverend regardless. ‘Katherine?’ Why had she not told him?
She turned as if to leave. But he was not letting her. He caught her arm, holding her still, as he glanced back at Phillip. ‘Give us a moment.’ When Phillip did not move, John lost his restraint. ‘I said, leave us! We need to speak.’
‘If you hurt her…’ Phillip snarled.
‘He will not hurt me,’ Katherine answered.
As soon as the door shut John released her arm. ‘You have to marry me…’
