Two Lady Scoundrels and a Duke - Tessa Candle Page 0,20

him wed someone like Marie—anything but having him believe that she only cared about his wealth, that she broke the engagement because of avarice. If there were one way in which she wished to exonerate herself, it was that. An idiot who was too quick to judge she had been, certainly, but never a fortune hunter.

Things were going very badly for Marie, and she gave Katherine an evil sidelong glance as she accused her of having designs on Foxleigh. Hah! Katherine could not repress a snort. It was always the thief who feared being robbed. But if only Marie knew what kind of designs Katherine’s imagination was conjuring up a few minutes ago, the tart might rightly be as shocked as she pretended to be now. Foxleigh passed by Katherine to stand between her and Marie. Why must he always smell so good?

He smiled and her heart fluttered. She smiled sadly back. If only she had been worthy of him. But at least he was not having any more of Marie’s lies. He was defending Katherine—actually praising her. Though it warmed her insides, she could not revel in it, knowing how little she deserved this glowing sketch of her character.

She was lifted out of further mortifying and guilty ruminations by anger. Marie was trying to lay her son at Foxleigh’s feet. Katherine was glad that he was not duped by her outrageous assertion that this blond, blue-eyed fairylike child was the offspring of a swarthy, solid man like Foxleigh.

When Marie let her façade drop and openly threatened to ruin Katherine’s reputation, Katherine had to turn away to cover her laughter. As conniving as she was, Marie was a fool. Like most upper class women, she had no idea the degree of liberty a poor woman had, even if it was not the best sort of autonomy.

Being an independently wealthy widow was the greatest freedom, and Marie had that. But her class bias made her believe that Katherine still cared about things like reputations and virtue. These were valueless when attached to a woman of no means and no connections. The lower classes were generally indifferent about the appearance of chastity.

True, Katherine might starve and present an easy target for every predator who crossed her path, but if she wanted to spend an evening with a man, it did not matter a jot. No one cared. It was such an empty threat it was absurd.

And yet Foxleigh seemed to be taking it seriously. He was such a valiant man. It was maddening to see how wonderful he truly was, now that he was so utterly lost to her.

He turned to Katherine, his eyes burning even in their shadowy depths. “My dearest Katherine. Kat. Will you make me the happiest of men and consent to be my wife?”

Katherine stood mute for a moment at the words. As their meaning sunk in, they at once filled her with joy and with utter despair. Could he truly still love her?

But no! How could he? Of course he could not. Even if she had not used him so ill the first time they were engaged, she was now a worn out and patched creature, nothing like the sparkling debutante he had fallen in love with. He could have nothing left for her but pity and now a sense of obligation. Foxleigh was only proposing because Marie threatened to expose her to ruin. He was trying to rescue her reputation and sacrificing his own happiness for her honor. Such a good man.

But he would never respect her or think of her as he ought. She would merely be another burden to him—not quite as bad as Marie, perhaps, but a weight about his leg nonetheless. If only he loved her, things might be different. But he did not. Nor did he offer her his love, only his good name.

Katherine’s heart turned suddenly to sawdust. Her lips parted and she spoke as though she were an automaton, hearing herself say the exhausted words without understanding what they meant for her sanity. “I thank you for this honour, but I cannot marry you.”

But she was not audible over the din that erupted from Marie. The woman went completely wild and was howling and rolling on the ground. Katherine blinked in disbelief and watched Foxleigh stand fascinated by this performance. Would it change his mind?

The Fox Katherine had known would be totally repulsed by such a spectacle. But then, Katherine had to admit some doubt as to whether she