Page 25 of An Offer for a Spinster
“And I don’t,” she shot back, pulling out a seat and throwing herself into it. “But please, William, let me manage this matter myself.”
“Like it or not, I am the Duke.”
“I never said you weren’t.”
“I don’t just have the title. Iamthe Duke. Everything you do reflects on me. I am responsible for taking care of Mother, of you, of Alexander, of Henry. My responsibility. Mine. That means that I have to ask questions, take charge, get involved.”
“Takecharge?” Katherine echoed. “I hope you don’t intend to be like Father, trying to control everything we think and feel.”
“Of course I don’t. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to, and Idon’twant to. But I want to be involved, Kat. Don’t you think it’s fair for me to want that?”
She bit her lip, passing a hand over her face. Suddenly she felt unbearably tired, even though it was barely past breakfast.
“Don’t make any more decisions on my behalf, William,” she said shortly. “Even if you think they’re for the greater good. I want you to promise.”
William clenched his jaw. “Kat…”
“Promise, Will! I know I need to marry, for everybody’s good. I know it, and I intend to do my duty. But I need to manage this myself. Imustmanage it myself.”
He pressed his lips together in a tight line. “I promise, Kat.”
She exhaled. “Good. That’s good. That’s all I wanted to hear. Now I have to go back to the parlour and tell Lord Barwood I won’t be promenading today.”
“Kat…”
“Nottoday, Will. That’s all I ask.”
She got to her feet, smoothing out her dress with a shaking hand.
If I’m going to have to marry Lord Barwood after all,she thought miserably,I’m going to do it in my own time.
Chapter Eight
William watched Katherine go. He felt shaken, and more than a little guilty.
She was right, he shouldn’t have answered on her behalf. He didn’t particularly like Lord Barwood, but he was an eligible suitor, and he was handsome. He’d paid attention to Katherine and seemed the most likely to make an offer. And in the end, that was the most important thing, wasn’t it? Whoever would make an offer.
For himself, William could ask a different woman to marry him every week until one said yes, but Katherine was obliged to wait and hope. And, as he kept reminding himself every hour of the day, until Katherine married, they were all doomed to pennilessness.
A penniless duke,he thought miserably.How ridiculous.
He eyed the ledgers and papers spread out on his desk, full of figures. None of it was particularly appealing, but the work had to be done.
He was the Duke now. If he didn’t do it, nobody would. He would be expected to act a go-between for Katherine and Lord Barwood. If Lord Barwood wanted to marry her, he’d ask William’s permission first, as was the protocol. He suspected she wouldn’t like that.
But it was hisresponsibility. If Katherine never married, if Alexander and Henry’s behaviour got more shocking, if the family money drained up, it washimthat would get the blame. In society’s eyes, and, he thought, in his family’s too.
A tap on the door made him jump.
“Who is it?”
The Duchess peered around the door. In the past few months, she seemed to have retreated into herself, gettingpaler and weaker. The prospect of organizing weddings for her children, in rapid succession, had brightened her up a little. Thank heavens for small mercies.
“I happened to overhear what Katherine said to you,” she said crisply.
He sighed. “Because you were listening at the door, no doubt.”
“Gentlemen do not accuse ladies of eavesdropping, William. But that is beside the point. You must assert authority with her.”
