Page 58 of Duke in Shining Armor
How could Catherine keep news of her family’s misfortune from him?
“Clearly Lady Catherine is casting her cap at the duke to rescue her family from ruin!”
“Surely the duke knows.”
“Well, if he does not, then clearly hiding it is her family’s plot to ensnare him. The shame!”
Those whispers had been like a knife slicing into an unexpected wound. Catherine deceived him by not disclosing it, and he knew there was a reason, but whatever the reason was, James did not think it was an acceptable one. They had spoken at length since the start of the season, so why did she not confide in him?Bloody hell!
There was a searing pain in James’s heart. He thought that Catherine loved him, that she wanted to be with him, and they would have a future together. Is that not what she said?Was it just another lie?He declared his love, asked for her hand, and she accepted. James couldn’t help feeling Catherine had played him falsely. He raised his glass and took another swig wishing to drown the anger and sense of betrayal he felt. It did not work as his anger was mounting.
He closed his eyes and tried to picture the last time Catherine was with him in this very library. He could not. The images were no longer defined in his memory. They were but fleeting shadows. How could this be? The more he thought about it, the more he concluded that Catherine may very well have accepted his proposal because of her family’s position.
She never wanted to marry him, but she needed his wealth. He did not want it to be so, but there was no use burying his head in the sand. He admitted Catherine was not the only one to be blamed, for he should have done his due diligence. Once he learned of her family connections and decided she would be a part of his life, he should have looked into their finances and background for dark secrets and scandals.
James pushed his chair back, stood up, and started pacing across the library. He heard the door open, and he was not in his cups so much that he would miss a knock. Who dared to enter his library without his permission? He spun around and came face to face with Catherine.
Well, she was not anything, if not bold. He glared at her, still feeling that deep sense of anger and humiliation.
Catherine took a step toward him and faltered, “James, I know you have heard the rumors and …. I can explain.”
James scoffed. His voice was biting when he replied, “Should you not have explained itbeforeyou agreed to be my duchess. I presume I would have known after our marriage.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and she colored fiercely. “You are upset, hurt even, but I can assure you that this was not my intention. I could not bandy about my family’s….”
“Bandy about!” James interrupted her. “How could being honest with me be bandying about your family’s good name?” James did not care if he hurt her or not.
Catherine pressed her lips together, and she had a slight frown. “James, please. You know thehaut tonis very unforgiving, and any prospects I had for a good marriage would be ruined if it was revealed. Just look at what is happening now. The whispers are awful and not what the situation is.”
James walked back to his desk and refilled his glass. He took a sip of the brandy before he sat in his chair. He did not ask Catherine to sit, and he did not offer her a drink.
Catherine sighed and gazed at his face. “I discovered my family’s misfortune just before I departed for Switzerland.”
James flinched and his arm froze in midair before he lowered the glass of brandy to the table. “You have known for all this time?”
Catherine pleaded. “Yes. I did not lie when I told you I did not wish to marry. I was quite happy to pursue my own interests and remain unwed. When our circumstances changed, my father made the decision to send me to finishing school in Switzerland, so that I may be launched into society and find a husband. When we met, I swear I did not think of seducing you. I wanted to get to Switzerland without returning home, and that is why I asked to remain here until I could continue with my travels.”
James now understood the reason Catherine gave for her trip to Switzerland. He knew she was not the first young lady who needed to make an advantageous match. How could he have known that he was the pawn upon her return.
“They whisper that my father has gambling depths, but nothing is further from the truth. Unfortunately, my father lost several ships with valuable cargo including cotton, silk, sugar, and spices and we have struggled to recover. My father is a responsible man and no gambler.”
Why did she not trust him with the information before? Why?
“Do you believe that information is important now?”
She lifted her chin, but he could see her lips trembling. “I did not set out to deceive you. I should have told you sooner, but I was afraid for my family. When father told me what I had to do, I could not refuse. Please believe me when I say that my love for you is real. I care deeply for you, but if I had told you, there would be a risk of a scandal.”
James replied gruffly, “I wish that you had told me. Leave me. I need to think.”
“James, I—”
“I need to be alone!”
“I am sorry James,” Catherine said, her cheeks pale and her eyes red. She spun around and hastily exited the library as quietly as she entered it.
James made no move to follow her; instead he poured himself another brandy and downed it in one swallow. Shortly thereafter there was a knock on his door, and he was wondering why Catherine had returned.
“Come in,” he glanced up to see that it was his mother who entered the library. No doubt she had heard the rumors too. It was likely all the guests knew.
