Page 42 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

Chapter Fourteen

As Leah predicted,Martin Crawford showed up just before nightfall. When Jervis came in to announce his arrival, Leah threw her hands in the air and stormed over to the French doors.

“I won’t see him,” she declared to Catherine. “Not tonight.” With that, Leah opened the doors and hurried through them, closing them behind her.

She’d been gone only seconds when the new Earl of Statham entered the room. Catherine rose to greet him and he took her hands in his.

“My dear cousin. I’m sorry at Uncle’s passing.” Despite his kind words, his posture revealed he was full of himself, drunk on the idea of being the new earl.

“Thank you,” she said stiffly. “Would you care to sit?”

She seated herself again on the settee and he took the chair nearby.

“May I offer you some refreshment?” she asked politely, masking her true feelings for him.

“No, nothing for me.” He studied her a moment and cleared his throat. “Cousin, there are important matters that must be discussed.”

Catherine frowned. “You do realize Papa passed only today? I realize there are things to talk over about the household here and the one in London we closed years ago. I can also speak at length with you about the servants. I’m sure you’ll wish to meet with Papa’s estate manager. I’ll provide the names of Papa’s solicitor and his banker in London, as well. Can’t all of that wait, Cousin Martin? At least until Papa is buried within the family vault with Mama.”

“I’d prefer you address me as Statham.”

Shock filled her. “Even when we are in private? We have known each other since we were children,” though she didn’t mention how he’d tormented her. He was a good six years older and yet had always threatened her and pushed her around, both with actions and words. Catherine decided he wasn’t going to do it to her now. She’d been too young and frightened to fight back twenty years ago. After everything she’d experienced, she was no longer afraid of Martin Crawford—or anyone else.

“Quit being so full of yourself, Martin.” His jaw dropped but she continued. “Yes, you’re the new earl. It’s your legal title. From now on, Mr. Crawford is Lord Statham. I understand that. I was hoping we would be on friendlier terms since we will occupy the same household.”

His brows knit together and everything she’d feared would happen hung in the balance. Trying to placate him, she said, “Unless you’d prefer to remain in London while Leah and I stay at Statham Manor, that is.”

He didn’t speak for almost a minute, causing her mouth to go dry.

“The thing is, I will be coming back and forth between both places,” he began. “I have a large group of friends and will certainly want to entertain them at house parties. I also plan to open the London residence immediately and do the same at it. You and your sister would be... an inconvenience.”

His words took her aback. “Family is inconvenient? Where would you have us go, Martin? As the head of the Crawford family, it’s your responsibility to look after Leah and me.” She paused. “You wouldn’t want thetonjudging you for abandoning your cousins, would you? Especially since you now have the title, I’m sure you’ll be searching for a wife with a large dowry.”

His jaw tightened at her insolence.

“I’m prepared to give you two months to mourn Uncle,” he finally said, barely containing his anger. “At that point, the Season will have begun. You will come to London, bringing Leah with you, and find yourself a husband. I’ll be looking for a wife. At Season’s end, I expect you to wed and be out of my household. I realize you’re long in the tooth but Father already shared the name of Uncle’s solicitor. I called on him before I rode to Statham Manor to get a clear picture of my financial situation. The man assured me Uncle had put aside funds for his daughters’ dowries, money I can never touch. Surely, that will tempt some man to offer for you. Perhaps a widower in his thirties or forties who needs a second wife to raise the children from his first marriage.”

She couldn’t believe his audacity. “You’re allowing two months for me to mourn Papa, the best man I ever knew.”

“That’s right. I don’t intend to care for you—or your sister—beyond the summer. My obligation to you both will be fulfilled at that point.”

It angered Catherine that Martin had gone straight to Papa’s solicitor, much less that the man had agreed to meet with him so quickly. She supposed the lawyer knew where his bread would be buttered in the future. Still, it left a sour taste in her mouth. She would never recommend the man to anyone of her acquaintance.

“What if no one offers for me?” she challenged. “What then, Statham?”

He shrugged. “If you can’t find a man to wed you and take Leah off my hands, then I will allow you to live off your dowry.” His eyes narrowed. “If that becomes the case, Catherine, I must warn you to spend wisely for there will be no more coming your way.”

“You’d throw out your own family?”

He looked at her steadily. “I’m the Earl of Statham. I can do anything I want now.”

She shook her head in disgust. “How can you treat your blood relatives in such a shoddy manner?”

He laughed harshly. “We’re not family, Catherine. Not in the way it counts.” He gave her a sly smile.

She looked at him in confusion. “We are first cousins, Statham. How is that not family?”

He rubbed his chin in thought. “You really don’t know, do you?”

---