Page 42 of Only Scandal Will Do

“Grapeshot?” Dalbury quipped, earning a soft slap on his arm from Juliet.

“I did not address you, sir!” she said with a playful, injured sniff. She waved him away and grasped Kat’s hands. “I mean to suggest that my brother talks only of the most uninteresting things. Not a jot of gossip does he pass on to me, and as for scandal, well...” She paused, glanced over at her brother and sobered. “He does not care to relate that either, though with good reason.” Her mood changed like quicksilver back to the carefree spirit. “So you see, I shall be so glad to have you with us now, for we can talk about the latest fashions, and entertain each other and go about together, quite like sisters, don’t you think?”

“Thank you, Lady Juliet.” She could not help but smile. “I am so lately come to London that I do not know anyone except my brother and, of course…” she paused, weighed her words.

“Your brother. So I am sorely in need of guidance where society is concerned.”

Before Juliet could go into raptures at the prospect, Jack appeared at Kat’s side. “My lady, may I present my brother, John, Lord Manning? But,” she whispered, “I just call him Jack.”

Juliet smiled broadly and curtsied. “I am so pleased, Lord Manning. May I call you Jack as well? Since we are to be in-laws, we shouldn’t be formal, do you think?”

The twinkle in Jack’s eyes revealed he was as captivated as she by Dalbury’s sister. “Nothing would give me more pleasure,” he replied. “Jack it is. And you must call my sister Kat.” His look said she was sauce for the goose.

“Kat! Oh, how lovely! Is that what you call her, Duncan?”

The room suddenly hushed as Dalbury paused. What could she say if he took that liberty now as his right?

Taking his time, Dalbury moved from the fireplace where he’d stood observing them. He crossed toward the door and stopped just before opening it. “Until now, Juliet, I thought it best to address Lady Katarina with all the respect due to her. After we are married, perhaps such formality will no longer be necessary.”

His words seemed to throw a pall over the company. Jack and Juliet continued to talk quietly, but Kat returned to the window and the now setting sun. Juliet had been an agreeable surprise, but could not compensate for the fact she was about to tie herself for life to a man she now barely respected and wholly mistrusted. If only the possibility existed he could change, that one day she might believe in him, then perhaps...

Though determined not to go down a road of useless hoping, she would proceed with the ceremony, of course. But she did not have to like it. And she would make sure Dalbury didn’t either.

CHAPTER 18

All too soon, the door opened and the minister entered in his black coat, white neckcloth and long stole. Kat’s heart thumped wildly in her breast, perhaps loud enough for the others to hear. But no one seemed to pay her any mind, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. She could do this. She would do this. There was no alternative. Her hands knotted into fists and she forced herself to relax them. Although the calm reasoning of earlier had fled, she vowed not to show the marquess her true feelings.

The clergyman entered and nodded to Dalbury, whose dark eyes glittered in the candlelight. One look at his mouth, set in a straight, impassive line and her courage deserted her. Jack would have to fight him after all. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t marry this stranger. Her breathing sped up into rapid little pants. Might fainting actually be a good thing? A fainting spell would stall the wedding for some time.

Reginald Matthews entered behind them, and somehow his presence grounded her as nothing else could have done. Whatever quality he possessed that calmed her, she blessed him for it. She exhaled slowly, and as Reginald neared, smiled and extended her hand.

“I was afraid I would be too late, my lady. I was held up at Bow Street an ungodly length of time.” He smiled back, raising her hand to his lips.

“Have I pulled you away from some interesting case?” she teased gently.

“Nothing could interest me more than your welfare.” He lowered his voice. “Are you sure you are well? I swear you needn’t go through with this wedding. I will...”

She put a hand on his arm. Telling him of the revelations would do no good, might even make him more determined to stop the marriage. Sadly, she could not allow that to happen. “I must do this, Reginald. Not just to save you and Jack from sure death,”--he made an impatient gesture as she continued steadily--“but because I gave him my word. Men must believe women creatures with no sense of honor,” she admonished him. “Do you think our word is worth less than your own? I must do the honorable thing and marry Lord Dalbury.” Her smile deepened. “And I thank you for coming to see me through it. Your presence means more to me than you might believe.”

“If you ever have need of me for anything, Katarina, anything at all, promise me you will

seek me out.”

“I promise. But I hope my life will settle down now. I have just met Lord Dalbury’s sister, Lady Juliet, and I believe she will prove a cheerful influence.” She turned as Dalbury approached.

“Matthews.” He managed to make the single word civil, despite an underlying tone of hostility. “Good of you to come.” The expectant gleam in his eyes made her stomach plummet. It was time. “My lady, your aunt was unable to attend, but the rest of the party is here. Are you ready?”

She squared her shoulders and nodded, then took the arm he offered. As he led her toward Jack at the back of the room, still in conversation with Juliet, he said in a voice pitched only for her ears, “Lady Katarina, I beg of you, do not approach this event as you would a firing squad.”

Was he jesting, at such an inappropriate moment? No, his countenance appeared sober. “I had no idea I appeared anything but pleasant, my lord. I will strive to keep a more appropriate expression throughout the evening.”

Dalbury sighed. “It is not your face of which I speak, but what I fear you hold in your heart. You may not come to your wedding with joy, although I thought from your words earlier you did not come to it with dread.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Can you not trust me just a little? I swear to you it will never be my intention to hurt you.” His eyes again held that look of misery at her obvious distrust.

For a long moment her heart beat wildly in her chest. He sounded so sincere. As he had all along. That nagging thought settled the question and she drew armor around her heart.

They reached Jack and he took her arm as Juliet leaned over to whisper, “Duncan has asked me to stand as witness. Is that not wonderful? Then we will truly be sisters in all but blood, don’t you think?”

She made herself nod agreeably at Juliet, wishing she could be as enthusiastic about her wedding. “It is wonderful. I am very glad you are with me today.” She spoke the bald truth-Juliet would never know just how much her presence helped.