Page 77 of The Marriage Debt
‘For you?I faced debtors’ prison, marriage to a man I thought was a common felon, the prospect of widowhood – andyoucould not stand it? There are times, Philip, when I despair of you.’
He shifted around the room, fidgeting so as not to meet her angry eyes. ‘Well I’m back now, and you’ve fallen on your feet. Your marquis will have to do something for me.’
‘Oh no he will not,’ Katherine said vehemently. ‘I am getting the marriage annulled, so do not think you can sponge off Theo.’
‘Annulled?’ Her brother’s face broke into an unpleasant grin. ‘After you spent a night in a cell with him, goodness knows how many on the journey up here and have been living with him ever since? I know all about the Dower House – the goings on at the Big House are the main topic of gossip hereabouts.’
‘I will rely on medical evidence,’ Katherine said stiffly.
Philip sneered. ‘Virginities are restored daily in every brothel in the land, no-one is going to believe…’
He did not finish the sentence. The door slammed back on its hinges and a tall figure took one stride into the room and hit him square on the jaw.
‘Do not,’ said Theo, Marquis of Seaton, massaging his grazed knuckles, ‘do not ever speak to my wife like that again. Get up and apologise.’
Philip struggled to his feet and backed away. ‘Katy, you know I didn’t mean it.’
‘Apologise.’
‘I am sorry, Katy.’
‘Now, listen to what I have to say, and listen to it well.’ Theo pressed Katherine gently down into a chair and smiled reassuringly. The caressing look was strangely at odds with the cold anger in his voice. ‘Tomorrow you will come to Seaton Mandeville and you will ask for Mr Wilkinshaw the Steward. He will arrange a quarterly allowance for you and will advance you the first quarter.’ He named a sum which made Katherine start in surprise and a slow smile to spread itself over Philip’s pasty features.
‘If my wife feels able to receive you tomorrow, she will tell Mr Wilkinshaw so. If not you will leave the district immediately. If you attempt to visit Katherine without her express permission, the allowance will be stopped. If you try and run up debts using my name, it will be stopped. If you say or write anything to Katherine which causes her the slightest distress, it will bestopped. Is that clear?’
Philip nodded dumbly.
‘My wife, your sister, is a lady whose only fault is her loyalty to you and her persistent love for a man who has let her down, betrayed her and insulted her. You may believe she will forgive you and indulge you, but understand this: I do not forgive you, I do not trust you and if I have to, I will break you.’ He turned on his heel without looking further at the shaken man. ‘Come, Kat, it is time to go home.’
Katherine held out a hand to her brother. ‘I will see you tomorrow, Philip, I promise.’ Then she was out of the door and being walked firmly downstairs. This was the crowning humiliation in a day of humiliation. Katherine managed to keep her expression calm as Theo spoke to Durran who was waiting outside, warily holding the grey horse.
‘How did you drive here?’
‘In the gig, my lord, it is in the yard.’
‘Very well, I will drive her ladyship back, you can ride Xerxes.’
‘I’ll lead him if it’s all the same to you, my lord,’ the man said with some feeling. ‘Shall I get the gig?’
‘No, we will walk round. Thank you, Durran.’
Katherine got up onto the seat and sat silently while they drove out of the yard, past Durran and on to the road that led to Seaton Mandeville.What can I say to him?she wondered miserably.How can I apologise?
‘Kat, I am so sorry.’ He took the reins in one hand and clasped the other over hers. ‘That must have been so distressing for you. I should have handled it better, but I am afraid I lost my temper.’
‘You are sorry? Theo, I was wondering how I could start to apologise. That you should feel you have to give Philip an allowance is...’ Her voice faltered and she stiffened her spine. ‘Tomorrow I will speak to him. He must understand that of course he cannot accept what you have offered.’
‘I am not going to have my brother-in-law in and out of debtors’ prison. This seems the best solution,’ Theo replied calmly.
‘But he will notbeyour brother-in-law.’
‘Kat.’ He tightened his grip on her clasped hands. ‘You have been eavesdropping.’
‘I know,’ she admitted shamefaced. ‘I did not intend to. But it was a good thing that I did.’
‘Because you now know that I feel I have to stay married to you and my father opposes the match?’
‘Yes.’ She was not going to cry, not out here in the middle of the public highway.
