Page 110 of In the Prince's Bed
She turned toward the door, but he was at her side in seconds, grabbing her arm to stay her. “I won’t let you do this,” he said fiercely. “You agreed to marry me, and I’ll hold you to it. I won’t let you simply walk out of my life, blast it.”
She glanced up into the face she still found dearer than any other, knowing that what she felt didn’t change her decision one whit. “Do as you please. Tell the world I shared your bed. Bring suit against me for breach of contract, so you can gain some of the fortune you need. But you’ll never, ever, get me to marry you.”
This time, when she wrenched free of him, he let her go. But the shocked expression on his face haunted her as she strode out into the hall.
That last glimpse of his face tortured her even as she dealt with Mama’s protests that they couldn’t leave, that Katherine had to marry the earl. And even after Mama had helped her finish dressing, and Katherine had convinced her to leave Edenmore, Alec’s wounded gaze lingered in her memory as they were driving away in the carriage.
Especially after she made the mistake of taking one last look toward Edenmore as they thundered up the drive after dusk. For she could plainly see, through one of the upstairs windows, Alec watching them leave.
Without making any other protest.
Without storming after them on Beleza.
He was letting her go, after all. And that made her want to cry all the more.
Because a tiny part of her had wanted to believe he really did desireher,not her fortune. That he truly couldn’t live without her. How stupid was that?
“You were a fool to let him bed you,” her mother snapped, “but now that you have, you should certainly marry him.”
“You have no say in this, Mama.” She faced her mother with a grim look. “You have no say in my marital plans from now on. If you want to see any of Grandfather’s fortune, you’ll leave me to settle my affairs exactly as I please.”
Her mother gaped at her. “B-But, my angel—”
“I’m through with letting you push me toward the men you think are best, whining about your life until I feel guilty enough to obey. You want that money? Fine. Let me make my own decisions about marriage, andstay out of it.Or I swear I’ll give the entire amount to charity the minute it’s mine.”
When her mother blinked, then closed her mouth with a sullen sniff, Katherine felt a surge of triumph. She should have put her foot down long ago instead of seeking to escape her misery through Sydney, then Alec.
Alec had been right about one thing—it washerlife, and she should be the one to decide how it should go. Family obligation should only go so far, especially when her family had made a hash of things long before she’d come along.
The way Alec’s had.
Ruthlessly, she thrust that thought aside. She wouldnotfeel sympathy for that beast—she absolutely would not. He should have told her the truth instead of trying to pull the wool over her eyes until they married.
And then you would have leaped eagerly into my arms? You, who won’t trust any man because of your blasted father?
She swallowed. If he had told her, would she have listened? Or would she have sent him packing?
She let out a sob. It didn’t matter. He should have picked a woman who would have been glad to have an earl marry her for her fortune, instead of trying to deceive her to gain the same aim. Why didn’t he?
I wanted you from the moment I saw you.
Stuff and nonsense! He chose her because of his friend Byrne. No doubt they’d made some nasty arrangement—Byrne would loan Alec money for the courtship if Alec made sure the Merivales’ debts were paid.
Tears spilled onto her cheeks, and she brushed them away angrily. A pox on them both. As soon as she returned to London, she would give that Mr. Byrne a piece of her mind. And then she would forget all about the treacherous Earl of Iversley and his duplicitous seductions.
Even if it took half her life to manage it.
Chapter Twenty-six
If you want to live a life of debauchery, never fall in love.
—Anonymous,A Rake’s Rhetorick
The day after Alec watched the Merivales’ hired carriage disappear into the night, he awoke to a splitting headache that had less to do with the blow to his skull than with the cheap brandy he’d drowned his sorrows in last night.
Not well enough, apparently. Because he could still feel that hollow emptiness in his chest where Katherine had ripped out his heart. He hadn’t even known he had one, until she’d said in that sweet, innocent voice, “I love you.” Right before she’d brought his world crashing down around his ears.
With a groan, he buried his face in the covers, then cursed roundly. He could still smell rose water on them, mingling with the scent of…
