Page 8 of An Offer for a Spinster
Impressivewas not the word that sprang to mind, in Timothy’s opinion. He pressed his lips together and shook his head.
“I hate to speak ill of the dead, but the man was evil. I’m sorry, William.”
William shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m worried most about Katherine. Out of all of us, she’s the one whomustmarry, or else we’ll all be paupers. I know exactly why Father set up the will in that way. We were all disappointments to him, but Katherine was the one he struggled most to break. I suppose he thought he’d manage it this way.”
That lump rose to Timothy’s throat again. He swallowed hard, trying to fight past the surge of anger he felt towards the man. How dared he ruin his children’s life in this way? What was it all for?
The answer presented itself at once. The late Duke of Dunleigh believed that his children belonged to him, in the same way that his wife and house did, and it irked him that he could not control them the way he thought he could. The will was a final effort to do that.
Unless they all marry for love,Timothy thought.Not that that’s likely to happen.
“Do you think Katherine will refuse to marry?” he heard himself say.
William shook his head. “No, not with all of our futures at stake. She’s too kind. She may be careless with her own funds, but not with ours. It just means that her inheritance will never really be hers. It’ll belong to her husband right away.”
“Unless he agrees to let her keep it and signs a few legal documents.”
William gave a hoarse laugh. “And who would agree to that? No, I’m afraid that if this gets out, she’ll be surrounded by fortune hunters. Please, Timothy, you must join the Season this year, help me keep an eye on her. I can’t trust Alexander to stay focused, or Henry. She’s my only sister, and I do worry about her so much.”
Timothy swallowed hard. His head was reeling, and his heart clenched worryingly.
Stop it,he scolded himself.Be honorable. Protect your friend’s sister, can’t you? Put your own feelings aside – the woman scarcely knows you.
He smiled weakly at William. “Of course, if that’s what you want. I’ll do my best. I can’t promise to protect her properly, but…”
“No, no, that’s fine. I’ll feel better knowing that you’re looking after her, too. As if she has a fourth brother.”
“Yes,” Timothy murmured bleakly. “A fourth brother.”
“The thing is,” William continued, rubbing his eyes, “she’s twenty years old. This will be her third Season. She’s hardlyold, but you know how cruel Society can be. Even the doddery old men think they have a right to marry the eighteen-year-old debutantes. I’m worried that Katherine will simply marry the first man she meets. I’m afraid that she won’t get many offers, and that she’ll settle, for our sake. She’s my sister, Timothy. Ilove her, and I can’t bear the idea of her being unhappy. But I don’t know what todo.”
Timothy reached forward and laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. The good thing about being a writer was that words were always at one’s disposal. Usually, at least.
When one had a piece of paper and pen to hand.
Now, though, it seemed that Timothy had hit a stroke of luck, and the words came easily.
“Katherine is stronger than you think,” he said firmly. “She’s clever, and thoughtful, and a good judge of people. Your siblings and you need to be closer now, more than ever before. You’re all in the same boat, and your marriages will likely take place very close together. You’re the head of the family now, William. You need to draw everyone together and present a united front. Your father spent his life pushing you all apart, but he never succeeded, did he? You can draw together now.”
William swallowed hard, thinking it over. He nodded slowly, and Timothy felt a knot of anxiety loosen in his chest.
“You’re right, Timothy. This is father’s last attempt to control us, but if we take control of the situation first, we’ll pull through.” He swigged back his brandy in one gulp. “I’m glad we met up today.”
Timothy smiled weakly, trying not to think about Katherine Willoughby walking down the aisle with a fortune hunter.
“Well, a problem shared is a problem halved.”
I could marry her,he thought, and a strange tingling feeling rolled down his spine.
Chapter Three
“Is everything ready? Are we sure everything is ready?” Katherine asked, anxiously twisting around in her dressing-table chair.
Mrs. Ruth, the housekeeper, stood in the doorway to Katherine’s bedroom, hands demurely folded, a neat smile on her face.
“Everything is ready, Lady Katherine.” Mrs. Ruth assured her. “I have been taking care of these gatherings since before you were gone. Everything is perfect, I promise.”
Katherine smiled faintly. The housekeeper and butler knew about the conditions of the will, but nobody else. It would never do for it to get out. The housekeeper, Mrs. Ruth, and the butler – incidentally Mr. Ruth, her husband – had served the family for decades, and would keep a secret faithfully.
