A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,68

he brought it out, he discovered it was a letter.

For Katherine, in the event of my death.

Chapter Fourteen

Christian held out a letter. His large hands made it seem insignificant. “This appears to be for you.”

Katherine narrowed her eyes but didn’t reach for it. For some odd reason, all she could think about was how neat and proper her husband’s handwriting was. The letters could only be described as elegant and bold—just like Meri.

A dark, portending fear wouldn’t leave her be. It rippled through her, leaving in its wake a coldness that made it hard to breathe. Whatever Meri had written, she would not allow it to upset her. He was gone forever and had left her in a perilous position.

It defied explanation why the note was even here. He had posted letters to her throughout the last year. Why hadn’t he posted this one?

Perhaps he had confessed his sins or tried to rationalize his actions.

With a surprisingly steady hand, she reached for the note, then slipped one finger beneath the wax seal, breaking it in two.

My dearest Katherine,

If you’re reading this, then you’ve been told of my death. More than likely, you’ve also been informed that I have two other wives. Words cannot express the sorrow I’m suffering now. Of course, that’s not true. If I’m dead, then I’m feeling nothing at all.

Never fear, my dear. I am heartsick and deeply ashamed. If it’s any consolation, you were the first wife, if you want to refer to yourself as such. But I digress. Please allow me to explain what happened.

Do you recall the kind, young vicar who married us? When he said, “I now pronounce you man” and before he said, “and wife,” I was hit by a force—much like a lightning bolt when it slams against a lightning rod.

It reminded me of the day I met you. You were a spectacular vision of loveliness in your shop window. I was riveted. Within days, I had asked you to marry me on a lark. When you said yes, I thought our marriage would be my opportunity to change for the better.

I wanted to make you happy. You seemed eager to be accepted within society. I could provide that entrance for you. It was such a little thing, but I wanted to do that for you.

But alas, we should have never married.

Such a realization couldn’t have come at a worse time. We’d just said, “I do.” Truly, it was fate playing a cruel and shocking joke on both of us. Not to mention, it was horrible timing. However, I made a gallant attempt as your husband.

Gallant attempt?

He called six hours of marriage in her company a gallant attempt?

Absolutely still, Katherine paused in her reading, determined not to divulge the emotions that churned inside her, ripping her heart to pieces. The feat was monumental since the overwhelming urge to scream at the piece of paper in her hands was nigh impossible to ignore.

A horrible nag awoke from a deep sleep and stretched. She’d thought she’d finally rid herself of that vile feeling, but suddenly, its claws were sinking into her once again and drawing deep wounds, the kind that could slice her open. Her shame would be bare to all, and Christian would have a front row seat.

The reproach and degradation she faced as a little girl when others had discovered she didn’t have a father roared through her again. They ignored her as if she weren’t there. They pitied her, then whispered behind her back. A bastard. A nothing. A whore’s spawn. All those names hurt and stripped her of her humanity.

Her stomach tangled into a knot while her cheeks heated in disgrace. The crushing impulse to hide materialized from nowhere.

That was nothing compared to what she had done to herself. She’d ruined her own reputation after her mother’s death by being declared a thief.

The inclination to throw the letter in the fire grew, but she refused to act upon it.

Katherine didn’t dare glance at Christian, but she felt him studying her, wondering what in the world was going on. How much time had passed? A minute or two? Surely, it hadn’t been an hour, though it felt like an eternity in hell. Without looking at the duke, she stood and quietly walked to the window while clutching the letter in her hand so hard that her fingers ached. A heat hotter than Hades rolled through her, causing her cheeks to flame. For a moment, she gently fanned herself with the