Page 36 of The Marriage Debt
‘I did not, you have the right of it. And it seems I made little allowance for youthful pride. I expected to see you back within a month or two.’
Theo shifted in the chair, crossed his legs and made himself more comfortable. His father’s hard gaze sharpened. ‘Come here.’
‘Sir?’
‘Come here.’
Katherine froze. She had seen what that shift of position had revealed, the edge of the fading mark of the noose on Theo’s neck. She put up her hand to her own neck in an attempt to warn him, but he was watching his father, a frown between his eyes.
Slowly Theo uncrossed his legs and stood, then took the three steps which brought him before his father’s chair. The duke rose and reached out long fingers to push aside the neck cloth around his son’s neck. ‘And what is this?’
‘You told me I was born to be hanged.’ Theo was rigid with some emotion that Katherine could only assume was anger at this chilly interrogation. ‘As always, you were correct.’
‘And how did you escape?’ The duke flicked back the ends of the neck cloth with fastidious fingers and resumed his chair.
Theo took his time to walk back to his own seat. ‘I was in Newgate, condemned to hang as a highwayman. Katherine saved me, at no little risk to her own life.’
‘Then we are in your debt, my dear.’ The old man turned in his seat to look at Katherine. ‘Your timing appears to be exquisite – late enough to teach a sharp lesson, not so late that it is fatal. I am agog to hear this entire tale, it appears positively Gothick. However, I believe Heron will soon be announcing luncheon, if this event has not thrown the entire household into total disarray, and I am sure you will wish to retire to your room beforehand.’ He stretched out a hand to the bell pull and Katherine recognised the same long fingers that made Theo’s hands so graceful.
He regarded his elder son from under hooded lids. ‘No doubt Heron will be able to decide which is the most appropriate suite of rooms for Lady Seaton under the circumstances. If you will excuse me, my dear.’
The silence that was left when the door closed behind him appeared to fill the room. Katherine yearned to go and put her arms around Theo but his very control told her that would be unwelcome. At least she now knew what her own title was.Lady Seaton, the Marchioness. This is a nightmare.
At last when she felt on the point of screaming at the men to provoke some reaction Robert said, ‘Hanged?’ His brothernodded. ‘As ahighwayman?’
To Katherine’s relief a wry smile twisted Theo’s lips. ‘As the notorious Black Jack Standon, no less.’
An inelegant whistle escaped Robert. ‘You weren’t, were you?’
‘Certainly not. I was most neatly entrapped by Black Jack and his doxy and hauled off to Newgate where I had no means of proving who I was.’
‘But you look nothing like a highwayman,’ Robert protested. ‘I mean I know your clothes are hardly what one might expect…’
‘They belong to my groom,’ Katherine interjected. ‘And Theo does look very like Black Jack. Younger, but very like.’
‘How do you know?’ Robert swivelled in his chair to regard Katherine with fascination.
‘Because my wife took it upon herself to go and find him and persuade him to show himself to the magistrate in the case.’
Robert’s eyes opened wide, making him look even younger than his years. ‘But why was Katherine not able to prove who you were without having to do that? As your wife…’
‘I married Theo…’
‘Kat.’
Katherine shot her husband a defiant look. He wanted to shield her and protect her and part of her loved him for it, but she was not going to pretend to her terrifying new family. ‘I married him in Newgate because I was – Iam– heavily in debt.’
Robert whistled again. ‘Well, that’s not a problem for you any more. Theo’s as rich as Croesus. Old Wilkinson our man of affairs has been squirreling his income away in all sorts of interesting ways ever since he left. Theo, for goodness sake, are you not going to tell me where you’ve been?’
Katherine cleared her throat. ‘Before this goes any further, let me make my position quite plain. I will have this marriage annulled and I will look after my own debts.’
‘We will discuss this later,’ Theo began as the door openedand Heron entered.
‘My lord, I have taken the liberty of opening your old rooms and her ladyship’s woman is unpacking her ladyship’s things in the Lake Suite. I have ordered hot water sent up in case her ladyship would care to retire before luncheon which will be in half an hour.’
Katherine got to her feet with a smile. ‘Thank you, Heron, if you would show me the way.’ Theo made as if to join her but she smiled coolly at him. ‘I am sure you and Lord Robert have much to discuss, my lord.’
The door closed behind them leaving Theo conscious of a strong desire to kick the furniture and very aware of his brother’s fascinated gaze.
