Page 81 of Intolerable
“I suppose.”
Kat beckoned to her sister. “Come with me to see if there are fish.”
Iona joined her and they walked away, arm in arm, the short distance to a pond.
Ruark took the opportunity to edge closer to their mother. “Or you could leave off trying to find a husband for Kat. She doesn’t particularly want to wed. Perhaps her reputation won’t be seriously damaged, especially if she’s gone from Gloucestershire for a while.”
“What are you saying?”
“Let her stay here in London with me. I’ll hire a companion for her, and she’ll be well looked after.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you insinuating that she wasn’t back home?”
“Not at all. I apologize if it sounded that way. I only meant to reassure you about leaving her here. She’ll be safe.”
“I don’t doubt that. Unfortunately, the greatest danger to her is herself.” She pursed her lips toward Kat. “I love her so very much, but I fear she will be alone.”
“Some people don’t mind that,” Ruark said softly. “You mustn’t push your worries onto others.” He suddenly thought of his father—hadn’t he done the same thing to Ruark when he’d made him promise not to wed? He shifted uncomfortably and shoved the thought away for another time.
Kat and Iona returned. “I saw two frogs,” Kat said. “The rain is coming sooner than I thought.”
Ruark cast his head back to look up at the night sky and was rewarded with a fat raindrop on his cheek. “Indeed.”
“Let’s go.” Their mother started toward the gate.
Several minutes later they were damp but settled in the coach heading back toward Mayfair. “Well, that was a waste of an evening,” their mother said.
Kat, who sat beside Ruark on the rear-facing seat, gazed out the window. “I wish we could have stayed longer. I like being out at night.” She looked toward Ruark. “When can we go to Vauxhall? I want to see the fireworks.”
“Soon.”
“Oh, Ruark, I meant to tell you that Iona and I encountered Lady Cassandra today on Bond Street.”
Suddenly very interested, Ruark leaned forward. “She was shopping?” Perhaps she hadn’t received callers then. Hope bloomed in his chest.
“She had the most delightful bonnet,” Iona said. “I ordered a similar one. I shall be the most fashionable young lady in Gloucestershire.”
“I don’t think you ever provided an adequate reason as to why you don’t court her. She’s quite charming and you seem friendly.”
“Her brother is one of my closest friends.” As if that explained anything.
“So?” Kat asked
“He, ah, asked his friends not to court his sister.”
“That’s ridiculous,” their mother said with a huff. “She’d be a perfect countess for you. I can’t imagine what you’re waiting for if you find her wanting.”
Ruark bit his tongue before he declared rather vehemently that there was nothing wanting about Cassandra. Shewouldmake the perfect countess.
Thankfully, his mother moved on. “Ruark, why don’t you provide me with a list of eligible bachelors? That will help us narrow down Kat’s choices so that we may be strategic in our actions this week. With luck, she’ll be betrothed in a fortnight at most.”
Kat had returned her attention to the window for the majority of the trip. “Or you could do what Ruark suggested and let me stay here in London with him.”
“Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?” Mother asked, her tone strident. Ruark hated how she was treating Kat.
“If you don’t want a conversation to be heard, don’t have it in front of people,” Kat said wryly.
Ruark rushed to speak so their mother couldn’t respond. “Mother, I understand you’re upset about what happened in Gloucestershire, but you mustn’t keep holding it against Kat. Her behavior can’t be changed. Forcing her into marriage isn’t the answer either.”
