Page 64 of An Offer for a Spinster
If I have made a mistake,he thought,all that will happen is that Katherine will turn him down when he makes his proposal. That’s all. Nothing to worry about. It won’t go too far, surely.
The butler appeared in the doorway, holding a tea tray set for two. He looked disgruntled.
“Your guest is gone, sir?”
William sighed. “Fortunately, yes. For now, at least.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Katherine was pinning up her hair for the morning when a tap came on her bedroom door.
“Who is it?” she called, mouth full of pins. It seemed silly to drag her maid away from her work only to help pin up Katherine’s hair for breakfast with her family.
“Only me, Kat.”
“Oh. Morning, Alexander. I’m surprised you’re up so early. You can come in, I’m decent.”
The door creaked open, and Alexander padded inside, closing the door after him. Katherine concentrated on her hair, watching Alexander’s reflection settle himself on the edge of the bed.
“So,” she said neutrally, after a few moments of silence. “I can tell you have something to say, so let’s hear it.”
Alexander drew in a steadying breath. “Fine. Lord Barwood visited this morning. He just left. He went to see William.”
A shiver went down Katherine’s spine. She concentrated on pinning a knot of hair at the nape of her neck. “Oh?”
“He wants to marry you,” Alexander said bluntly. “I know that because I listened at the door while they were talking.”
“Oh,Alex. Eavesdropping never did anyone any good.”
“Perhaps not. But I regret nothing. I don’t think William enjoyed the conversation. Lord Barwood is an awful man. He’s entitled, he’s cruel, he believes he’s above everyone around him. I can’t stand the fellow, and I don’t know howyoucan. He wanted William’s consent to your marriage, and I think he expected William to broker the match, too.”
Katherine pursed her lips. “Yes, I could imagine that. What did William say?”
“He gave his consent, but he told Lord Barwood he would have to talk to you himself and propose. The man didn’t seem happy about that, but Will was firm.”
“I’m glad,” Katherine murmured, laying down the leftover pins. Her hair was secure enough. Maybe a little too tight. It was pulling on her scalp.
She met her brother’s eyes through the mirror. Alexander was watching her expectantly.
“Well?”
“Well, what, Alex?”
Alexander sighed. “You can’t be about to marry that man. You just can’t, Kat.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s vile. We all hate him. Even William didn’t want to give his consent.”
“But he did,” Katherine said flatly. “That means that he thinks I should just get it over with. Remember, once I’m married, the rest of you can get your money. It’s necessary.”
“None of that money will help any of us if we have to watch you have a miserable marriage,” Alexander said firmly. “There’s something you’re not telling me, Kat. I know it. So come on, out with it. You and me always shared the most secrets of anyone else here, didn’t we? We were the closest of us all. Why should that change? Please, talk to me.”
Katherine closed her eyes. She drew in a deep, fortifying breath, then moved from her dressing table to the bed, perching beside her brother. Alexander waited patiently for her to speak.
“I did intend to marry Lord Barwood when I first started to cultivate the acquaintance,” she admitted. “He didn’t seem as repulsive at first. It seemed to be the quickest and easiest solution. I’d already given up on the idea of finding love for myself. I thought… I thought if I could marry quickly, then the rest of you would have a little more time to choose somebodysuitable. I thought we could get this whole wretched business over with as quickly as possible.”
“But...?”
