Page 6 of In Search of a Husband
“We will do our best to keep it quiet for a day or so,” the older man continued, “but the marquess must marry her. It is the honorable thing to do.”
Lady Cranbourne clasped her hands together. “I agree. Where is he?”
Silence fell between the group. Silence and disappointment and Kate’s shame. There wasn’t nearly enough room for the shame consuming her, ripping her heart to shreds with each breath.
“He left,” she said, closing her eyes. The room tilted. Ruined and left, and the cad fled without a care.
“I am sorry. What was that, dear?” Charlotte walked up and embraced her. Kate sucked in another breath, but there was no roomfor that either. She was suffocating. She would die in front of the Cranbournes and Charlotte, and the marquess was gone.
He had promised to marry her. He had whispered such sweet assurances to her, declaring that he had been a fool to have been so blind to her beauty since her debut. He had spoken to her as she imagined a husband would to a wife with such illicit, sinful, and delightful flirtations.
And now he was gone. He had left her the moment it mattered most.
“He’s at a duel,” she laughed, pulling back to study Charlotte’s face. “He promised to marry me on that ride in the park, Lottie. I swear it.”
Charlotte pulled her close and still it was near impossible to breathe. Her heart drummed in her chest as a cold numbness settled in, and Lord Cranbourne’s office faded from view. She wasn’t sure if she would crumble there on the floor, or if she could somehow find the strength to wait for her father and discuss some trivial thing like the weather.
“I understand you wish to see this matter resolved, Lord Cranbourne,” Charlotte said, still holding Kate in her arms. Such a warm, unforgiving embrace. “And we will. Allow me to convey her home to her parents, and we will meet again in the morning, once the marquess has been apprehended. He cannot be allowed to ruin Kate and hide away from the consequences of his actions.”
“What will the papers say?” Lady Cranbourne clasped her husband’s hand. “We will forever be tied to this scandal. Tread carefully, dear husband.”
“Your Grace, I do not believe that is best.” He tugged on his vest, glancing at his wife who nodded encouragingly. “It is a matter that must be dealt with swiftly.”
“I agree, my lord. Which is why I will resolve this in the morning. If you wish to help, you can do so by fetching the marquess from wherever he is in London. I will be in touch with more details once I’ve returned home.”
“Your Grace, I am begging you to reconsider.”
Kate nearly never heard Charlotte use what she affectionatelyteased as her duchess voice, but in a calm, cold slip of strength, her friend used it perfectly by saying, “I will see everyone involved dealt with in an efficient manner. You and your wife do not need to worry about your name being tarnished. This matter will not reach the papers. My carriage is to be ready momentarily, Kate. Say goodbye to our gracious hosts.”
If Kate spoke then, she did not remember doing so. Nor did she remember climbing into the carriage or if Charlotte spoke to her. She only knew it was far too cold to be out in London, and she wished to be in bed and to breathe once more.
She blinked hard as they drove by the park. Certain she wasn’t seeing what was there before her.
“Lottie,” she whispered. She tried again, her voice sticking in her throat.
“What’s that, dear?”
“There, he’s there. Look.”
“Wait, stop the carriage,” Charlotte called out.
Kate threw open the door and jumped out as a mob gathered around the entrance of the park. She ran forward, elbowing her way through the onlookers.
“Someone fetch a surgeon!” a man shouted.
“You shouldn’t be here, miss. Miss!”
Kate ignored the man, half certain it was another guest from dinner. Everyone looked familiar. Even as the night tilted and her stomach soured, she pushed through and saw the marquess on the ground with a bleeding wound in his midsection.
“Stay away from him,” another man cautioned, throwing his arms toward her. “He is bleeding out.”
Hugh remained motionless, his face pale. His jacket and vest were open, revealing a growing red circle seeping across his white shirt.
“No, no, no,” she whispered, falling to her knees. She gripped his vest and shook hard, forcing him awake.
She wouldn’t allow him to die and leave her ruined.
CHAPTER 1
