your goods. However, my grandfather started this business fifty years ago. It won’t fail under my watch.” His face reddened as if in distress. “All you have to do to save your duke’s charity and his reputation is to leave.”
A slight sneer tugged at her lips that Skeats was threating her livelihood and her employees. A vision of Beth in the workshop skated through her thoughts. Kat had never seen her so happy. But what made the blood race through her veins was the insidious threat to ruin her beloved.
Kat stole a glance at Christian once more. He stood tall while speaking with the Prince Regent. His tall stature gave her hope and comfort, a steady mast in this tempest created by Skeats. God, she loved Christian more than life itself. If he was hurt because of her past actions, then her future meant nothing.
She’d faced challenges before and failed. It was part of life. There was only one decision to make. “I’ll agree to it under one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“You never threaten the duke or his family again.”
“Done,” he said with a smile.
“I’ll be leaving immediately and will send the letter to you this evening.” Without waiting for his answer, Kat returned to the ballroom.
It was no wonder Skeats was losing his business. The man had little negotiation skills.
She nodded and smiled at the soiree attendees as she went to find Willa. One thought kept her on a clear path. Nothing would stop her from protecting Christian.
* * *
Within the hour, Katherine stood outside of Constance’s bedroom with Willa by her side. “What did you tell the duke?”
Willa shrugged. “I told him you’d taken ill. Lass, I hated to lie to him.”
“You didn’t lie. I’m sick of having this burden hang over my head. Are you ready?”
Willa nodded. “You should be prepared to tell them when you’ll return.”
“How can I? If my plan doesn’t work, I may never return.” Katherine squeezed Willa’s hand. “If that’s the case, I have no idea where you and I will settle. It certainly won’t be London.”
Willa let out a sigh. “Perhaps you should ask the duke if he has a residence we can go to until the scandal dies down.”
Katherine swallowed. “I won’t be a burden to him. I have to manage this on my own. Otherwise, the scandal will never die, and both Christian and I are ruined. If you want to stay with Constance and Beth, I would encourage you to do so. I’m certain Morgan would love—”
“Not another word,” Willa scolded. “Where you go, I go.”
Her breath halted in her chest. How lucky she was to have this woman in her life. “Thank you.” Katherine kissed her on the cheek. “Shall we?”
Willa nodded.
Katherine knocked on the door, then entered.
Beth sat next to Constance in her bed.
“You’re home early.” Beth stood at her entrance.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Constance said. “Mr. Hanes came to see me.”
Desperate to keep her ire at Skeats in check, Katherine tried to sound calm. “Are you all right, darling?”
Constance nodded but kept her gaze glued to her clasped hands.
Willa arranged chairs on the other side of the bed so Katherine could face the other wives. Her loyal Willa sat in one, then patted the seat beside her for Katherine.
Katherine made her way to the chair. She arranged her skirts, then looked to her friends. Besides her time with Christian, one good thing had come from this fiasco. She had family whom she could trust. After a weighted silence, she smiled. “Constance, I’m truly happy that you’re Meriwether’s … wife.”
Her friend let out a shallow breath. “I have no idea what to say.” A tear trailed down her cheek and, immediately, Beth took her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be apologetic about. Your baby will be born legitimate,” Katherine soothed. “It’s no one’s fault except—”
“Except the sorry excuse for a vicar who performed the service and the rakehell that married you,” Willa announced.
Beth nodded in agreement. “Hear. Hear.”
“Whatever you need from me, consider it done,” Constance whispered as she wiped the tear away.
Katherine leaned over Constance to kiss her on the cheek. “Don’t cry. I’ll not have you upset by my change in circumstances.”
“I’m sorry too,” Beth said. Her eyes welled with tears. “But you still have the duke.”
If there was a God in heaven, she would still have him in her life. “Thank you, dearest. You’re both so kind to me. But there’s more that I need to tell you.”
“What else could there possibly