Secret Brides [3] Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage (22 page)

Oh, what did it matter? Even if he were madly in love with her, she wanted nothing to do with him. She’d returned to the bloody Tower after all. She’d chosen a prison instead of him and his house. And he didn’t blame her. He’d inserted himself in her life during her darkest hour. Used her for her story and her circumstances. He’d placed her in an impossible position and practically forced her to write a pamphlet. Why would she ever want to see him again?

And even if she did want to see him again, what possible excuse could he conjure to imply a visit was necessary? He owed her money, but he could easily dispatch a servant with that. There was no reason for him to assume she even wanted to see him again. Hadn’t she said so in her note? That they would never see each other again? No. He would not seek her out. Even if it drove him mad. Or killed him.

Or both.

*   *   *

When Mr. Abernathy left her cell, Kate’s knees gave way. She crumpled to the cold stone floor, shudders racking her body. She was saved. Alive. She huddled in a ball, tears streaming down her face. She’d never allowed herself to hope for this. Not really. Or at least she’d told herself that lie all these weeks. But now, every bit of anxiety and emotion came pouring out. She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and sobbed, unabashedly sobbed, relief rolling through her in huge, crashing waves. She’d been saved. Saved. There was some justice in this world after all. Thank you, God. But it hadn’t been God, had it? She had James to thank for it. The odds had been stacked firmly against her. She hadn’t dared to hope. But James. James had. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, he’d hired Abernathy and Mr. Horton. He’d saved her.

She pulled herself up, her back resting against her bed frame, and hugged her knees to her chest. She wiped her eyes. She blew her nose. And she breathed. Just breathed.

What did this really mean? She was still an outcast. She’d never be able to live down the scandal. She’d still have to leave London and never come back. A little smile popped to her lips. But she was alive. Alive. And exonerated. She had another chance at life. Another chance to start over in this world. To not make the same mistake again. Despite the tears that continued to roll down her cheeks, she smiled widely this time. It wouldn’t be difficult. Not making the same mistake merely involved staying as far away from Society as possible and not marrying again. Especially not a peer, and especially not one who didn’t truly love her. An image of James flashed unbidden into her mind.

That was simple, wasn’t it?

CHAPTER 30

“So the valet confessed. Just like that?” Lily asked, shaking her head, and taking a healthy draught from her glass of wine.

James was at dinner that evening at Ashbourne’s town house with Annie, Ashbourne, Lily, and Colton. While his friends asked him a series of questions about Kate and the case, he sat staring at the wall, halfheartedly pushing his food around his plate, and being blasted awful company.

“Seems so,” James replied.

“And Kate will be out of prison as early as tonight?” Annie asked.

“Yes.” James nodded.

“I’m so happy for her,” Lily breathed. “I just knew she was innocent. But wherever will she go? She has no family, and I cannot imagine the duke’s mother will want her. Even with her dower, she would be mad to try to live there.”

James grimaced. He’d been thinking many of the same thoughts all day. Where indeed would she go? He’d sent a footman to the Tower earlier with the money he owed her. He couldn’t bear to think of her on the streets. At least with money, she could stay in a hotel somewhere. But the money had come back with a small note penned in Kate’s own hand. “I won’t take this.” That’s all it said. Nothing more. If he’d harbored any doubt, now he knew. She hated him. Hated him so much she wouldn’t even take the money that was rightfully hers. Damn it. He’d ruined everything.

“I’m not sure what she’ll do,” he said quietly. “I haven’t spoken to her.”

“Will you see her again, Medford?” Annie asked in a too astute tone.

“No.” Had his answer been too quick? Too sharp? He expelled his breath and tried again. “That is to say, I see no reason to. But I wish her well, of course.”

“Well, I just cannot believe it,” Lily replied. “To think, after all of these weeks poor Kate spent in the Tower and the valet was guilty the entire time. Why, he might have murdered the footman for knowing. That man was brave to come forward.”

“I agree,” James replied. “Kate owes that man her life.”

“She owes you her life too, Medford,” Annie said. “You hired the runner who eventually caused the valet to confess. Kate never would have got such a vigorous investigation and defense without you.”

“She owes me nothing,” James said simply. He glanced around at the other occupants of the dinner table. They each were making quite a show of being completely absorbed in their meals. Even Ashbourne didn’t meet his eyes. And he better not bloody well mention love again—not tonight, not ever—or James just might jump across the table and pummel the bloke.

James turned his attention back to his own meal. He stabbed a flaky bit of cod with his fork and raised it to his lips. He took the bite, chewed and swallowed, but it tasted like sawdust in his mouth.

Minutes later, he pushed his chair back from the table and plucked his napkin from his lap. “I’m sorry, Annie. But I fear you’ll have a much more pleasant evening without me.”

“Nonsense, Medford,” Annie said, putting down her fork, leaning over and patting his hand. “But I completely understand if you’d rather leave. You’ve been through quite a lot. You must be exhausted.”

“Fine then, run off.” Lily smiled at him from across the table. “You do still plan to join us day after next, don’t you, Medford? At Colton House, for Christmas? And of course you’ll be coming to Catherine Eversly’s New Year’s Eve masquerade ball?”

“Yes, of course.” James tried to summon a smile. That’s all there was to do now. To carry on with life with some semblance of normalcy. Christmastide, the masquerade. Events that came and went every year. This year was no different. Well, should be no different.

He stood, tossed his napkin to his chair, and bade everyone farewell. Then he slipped out the doors of the dining room.

That’s right. He’d just have to pretend everything was normal again until it was.

*   *   *

As soon as Medford left the room, Lily folded her hands in front of her and leaned forward. “Poor man. But I’m a bit glad he’s gone, to be honest, because there’s something I wanted to speak to all of you about,” she said in a loud whisper.

Devon, Annie, and Jordan all gave her their full attention.

“Lily, what are you up to?” her husband asked in a warning tone.

“Nothing,” Lily replied innocently, batting her eyelashes.

“Now even I don’t believe that,” Annie said on a giggle.

“Neither do I,” Jordan replied with a grin.

Lily winked at her sister and brother-in-law. “It’s just that … I’m planning to invite Kate to Colton House for Christmas too.”

Jordan whistled. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

Lily pushed up her chin. “Why, the poor woman has nowhere else to go. She’s still an outcast to the
ton,
and she has no family. She may be free now, but she’s got no one. We cannot leave her alone on Christmas.”

Devon lifted his glass. “I, for one, applaud the idea, Lily.”

Lily widened her eyes. “You do?”

“Yes. You’re right. Kate’s got nowhere else to go. But I do think you should tell Medford.”

Lily fluttered her hand in the air. “I disagree. I think it may be best for both of them if they don’t know ahead of time.”

“I have to agree with Lily,” Annie said, reaching across the table to nab another plum tart. “Both might decline the invitation if they know the other is likely to arrive.”

“And shouldn’t that be
their
choice?” Jordan asked his wife.

“Ordinarily, yes,” Annie agreed with a resolute nod. “But this is a special situation.” She turned her attention back to her sister. “Oh, Lily, do you truly think Kate will come?”

Lily shrugged one shoulder. “I hope so. And I don’t see why not. Where else will she go?”

Devon crossed his arms over his chest and regarded his wife down the length of his nose. “Why exactly do you think Medford wouldn’t want to see Kate?”

Lily gave her husband a sly smile. “Oh, I’ve every reason to believe Medford wants to see Kate. I just wonder if Kate wants to see Medford. And Medford’s too blasted stubborn to admit he wants to see her. You heard what he said tonight.”

“So you intend to trick Kate into it? Besides, how do you know she doesn’t want to see him?” Devon continued.

Lily plucked a plum off the top of the tart she’d been eating and popped it into her mouth. “You heard James. She left his house voluntarily and returned to the prison without saying good-bye. She refused the money he sent her. There is obviously something amiss between the two of them.”

Jordan grinned and arched a brow. “And you two intend to get to the bottom of it, don’t you?” He looked back and forth between his sister-in-law and his wife.

“Precisely,” Lily replied with a smile.

Annie poked at her tart with her fork. “I think it’s an excellent idea. Obviously, what this delicate situation calls for is a Christmastide house party.”

Jordan winked at her. “Remember, darling. House parties can get people into a great deal of trouble. We ended up married after one.”

Annie gave her husband a knowing smile. “Exactly why one is necessary, my dear.”

Devon leaned back in his chair. “Far be it from me to argue with the two most determined matchmakers in the country. But I would just caution you both. Be careful, ladies. Medford hasn’t been in a mood lately to be trifled with.”

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “Who’s trifling? We’re attempting to help him.”

“Help him how?” Devon arched a brow.

“Why, by placing him and Kate back together in the same house, of course. It’s obvious to anyone they have feelings for each other.”

Devon gave her a skeptical look. “Be careful, my love. There’s more than just the murder trial separating those two.”

CHAPTER 31

Kate arrived in the country at Colton House bright and early on Christmas Eve. She’d been staying at a hotel in London for the past two nights after her release from prison. The lord chancellor had seen to it that she received her dower money post haste.

Thankfully, there had been no angry mobs waiting for her when she’d left the Tower. Only Mr. Abernathy and a hired coach, waiting to take her wherever she wished to go. The city may have accepted the fact that she wasn’t guilty, but she still couldn’t return to her husband’s property, for more reasons than one. Even given her acquittal, she wouldn’t be welcomed by her mother-in-law. And Oliver, George’s cousin, would have taken over the properties by now or at least would do so soon. She wasn’t about to go live in the dower house with her hateful mother-in-law. And most importantly, she was free. Free not only from the Tower, but from her old life. And she refused to go back to Markingham Abbey and become a prisoner of another sort again. No, she would make her own way in the world now, somehow.

She’d readily accepted Lily’s invitation to spend Christmas at Colton House, however. She needed a bit more time. Time and space to decide what she would do next, where she would go. Lily had sent Lord Colton’s coach to gather her and the horses made it back to the country estate just before a light snow began to fall.

“Merry Christmas, Kate! Oh, we’re so happy you’ve come,” Lily said, hugging Kate as soon as she walked through the front doors.

Kate pulled off her bonnet and allowed the butler to take her cloak before greeting her hostess with a wide smile. “Merry Christmas to you! And thank you so much for your kind invitation, Lily.”

“Come with me,” Lily said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her along. “Annie and Devon’s son, Justin, and I were in the salon singing Christmas carols. Devon and Jordan are off doing something. They wouldn’t tell us what. I suspect it has to do with Christmas presents.”

Kate happily followed her friend, and just as they were moving through the foyer, a fox and a funny little striped gray and white animal ran past. Kate stopped and rubbed her eyes.

“Oh that.” Lily fluttered a hand in the air. “That’s just Dash and Bandit. Don’t mind them.”

Kate couldn’t suppress her laugh. “James said you were a bit … unconventional … but until this moment, I wasn’t entirely sure if he was jesting.”

“I’m afraid he wasn’t,” Lily replied, shaking her head.

Another laugh from Kate. “And here I was worried I wouldn’t be allowed to be a duchess with a pig.”

“Nonsense,” Lily replied with a laugh. “I think a duchess with a pig sounds absolutely divine.”

Lily took her by the arm again and they made their way down the corridor. “In addition to a fox and a raccoon-like dog, we also have a little boy and a variety of other dogs here at Colton House. I’m sure you’ll meet them all before long.”

Kate squeezed her arm and Lily stopped. “Thank you again for your invitation, Lily. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You and Annie are my only friends.” She glanced away.

“A temporary state, I’m sure,” Lily reassured her, with an encouraging smile. “I only hope you enjoy your Christmas with us.”

Kate nodded. “Considering I’ve been convinced this would be my last Christmas and now it’s not, I’m sure to enjoy it immensely,” she replied with a shaky laugh.

Annie came bounding out of the door to their left. “Ah, Justin said you’d come. He was watching from the landing.”

Kate glanced up to see a handsome little boy of no more than five or six with dark curly hair and equally dark watchful eyes looking at her. “Is that Justin? He looks so much like his father.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Lily gestured for the boy to come downstairs. Justin made his way down the steps and bowed an adorable little bow to Kate. Kate’s heart melted. Oh how she wished she had a little boy of her own. The thought hit her out of nowhere, stealing her breath.