turned. He should have kept on walking. It was his typical luck to run into Marlen Skeats.
A disingenuous smile crossed the man’s lips. “How fortuitous to find you this morning. I was going to call upon you.”
“For what purpose?” he practically growled.
“A business proposal. I thought we could come to an agreement to help one another.” The hopefulness in Skeats’s face soured Christian’s already dampened mood.
He stared, not hiding his contempt. “I’m not interested.”
“Come now, Your Grace, I’m aware of the situation your brother left for you and Miss James to deal with.”
“Why are you calling her Miss James?”
“We discussed her situation.” A feigned look of pity crossed his face. “She’s pulled out of the contract and left London for good.”
He didn’t answer. It was inconceivable. The contract was Kat’s pride and joy.
Skeats nodded with a smug expression.
All sound seemed to have disappeared from the street as Christian hung on every word.
“It was apparent that she didn’t have the financial backing to do the work.” Skeats rocked back on his heels and puffed out his chest much like a Dorking rooster. “Happens all the time to businesses that don’t have the resources to make a go of it.” He leaned close as if they were confidants. “Plus, with her conviction as a thief, imagine the disgrace your charity would have experienced being associated with one such as her. It took a little convincing on my part, but she fled with her tail between her legs.”
“You convinced her?” he asked while tamping down the urge to roar.
“Yes,” Skeats answered, turning serious. “I told her that I’d tell the secretary about her past if she didn’t rescind the contract and leave London. A military man such as you can appreciate the rules. They’re meant to be followed.”
“And what rule did she break?” Christian asked, not keeping the menace out of his voice.
“Once a thief, always a thief. Pretending to be a lady doesn’t hide the truth. If you didn’t know, she’s a bastard. Her mother was a mediocre actress.” Skeats lifted a brow. “I have an appointment with the Secretary to the First Lady of the Bedchamber to discuss how I can take over the contract. I’ll be more than happy to work with you and your charity to supply the additional items that the Prince Regent wants.”
Christian’s earlier ire ignited into a full-blown fury. “You sanctimonious arse,” he seethed, then raked his gaze over Skeats as if he were offal. “When did you have this discussion with her?”
“There’s no need to be uncivil,” Skeats added with a sniff. “To answer your question, at your soiree.”
“You weren’t even invited. Which means you trespassed in my house.” He could have the man arrested for such a charge, and no one would even ask for evidence. A duke’s word carried that much influence. It took every ounce of strength Christian possessed not to bloody the man’s nose. “Do you know where she went?”
Taken aback, Skeats shook his head, then stepped out of Christian’s path. “She didn’t say, but I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you. It’s her nature.”
Christian methodically forced his hands into fists. Katherine’s secrets had been unearthed by the scum in front of him. Skeats had forced her away. She’d sold her business, cutting her ties to London and him. It took every ounce of restraint not to challenge him right there to settle their differences on a dueling field.
Christian stepped closer, then lowered his voice. “It’s my nature to tell you to go to hell. I will never do business with you, nor will I ever acknowledge your presence.” He took another step. “When you see me, you turn the opposite direction. Understand?”
Skeats didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and walked briskly until he was out of sight.
The more Christian found out about the night of the soiree, the more convinced he became that he’d never see Katherine again.
He patted his coat pocket where he kept the pillow she had given him. Before bed, he’d placed it next to his side. When he woke from the unrelenting dreams of trying to find her, his heart had pounded in the stillness of the empty night. Automatically, he’d reached for the pillow and breathed deeply. Last night, the scent had diminished in strength.
Another piece of her slipping away.
He wouldn’t let it stand. Without a second thought, Christian purposely strode through the streets. Several times he heard his name called. To his acquaintances, he raised a hand but didn’t pause to chat. He was a