Page 46 of 10 Things I Hate About the Earl

“The ultimate reason a gentleman would need to marry a lady.” Kate blushed to the roots of her hair.

Celinda’s eyes grew big and round and her jaw dropped open. “Kate, you didn’t!”

Nodding, Kate sat on the bed. “Saturday afternoon, we were supposed to go to the park, where I thought he was going to propose. But we ended up at his house instead and…”

“Did he seduce you?” Celinda whispered, even though they were quite alone.

“I suppose I seduced him.” How she’d been so bold she had no idea. Except she’d wanted Marcus so very badly.

“Was it awful?”

“It was the most wonderful thing, Celinda.” Without a doubt, she’d never wish to experience it with any other man. “You must marry Lord Finley as quick as you can.”

“Well, you didn’t wait for marriage.” Her cousin gave her a stern look.

“And I would not recommend doing what I did.” Even though she wasn’t sorry. Especially if Marcus truly loved her. “He wouldn’t have allowed us to…do that if he didn’t really wish to marry me. Do you think? He already the dibs to get him out of the River Tick.” She wanted to believe it with all her heart.

“Lord Haversham is an honorable gentleman. I’d wager my best hat on that.” Celinda laughed gleefully. “And you know how fond I am of my hats. I believe you are going to be very happy together.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” Kate frowned, not yet convinced. Marcus still had much to answer for. “He made an agreement with my brother to woo me without consulting me whatsoever. How would you like that?”

Her cousin shrugged. “I suppose if I loved the man, I wouldn’t mind so much.”

“Well, I mind very much.” She slid off the bed and began to pace, seeking distraction from the ache in her heart.

“Do you truly want to throw away your happiness, cousin, because the man made a mistake?” Celinda followed her and grabbed her arm. “Do you love him?”

Miserably, Kate met her eyes. “I’ve been trying to convince myself all night that I don’t.” With a sob, she threw herself into Celinda’s arms. “But I do.”

“Then forgive him and be happy.”

Kate stared at her cousin, thinking hard. Could she forgive him for his deception? If he loved her—and in her heart, she knew it to be true—she would be a fool not to. Who would fling their happiness away with both hands? Did she love him enough to swallow her pride, go to Marcus and say, “I understand, and I forgive you?” That would be easy enough if she just let go of her anger…

“But what if he will not forgive me?” A horrible sinking feeling filled her with dread. “I refused him, Celinda.” Memory of that refusal, of her hurtful words, turned the blood in her veins to ice. “I said truly awful things to him.” She bit her lip. “What should I do? Tell Nathan? Or write to Marcus? Ask if he will see me?”

“Oh, I don’t think you need bother with that. He’s here right now.”

“What?” Her head spun.

“I saw his curricle out front when I arrived.”

Kate’s heart pounded in her chest. Dared she go down and face him? “What if he doesn’t want me anymore?”

“Do you still want him?” Celinda leaned toward her, hanging on her every word.

“Yes, yes, I do.” Kate trembled, tears gathering in her eyes once more. Could happiness be so close and yet lost to her? “I thought so even before he kissed me at Vauxhall. But after we were intimate—”

Celinda clutched her arm, a sudden gleam in her eye. “He kissed you at Vauxhall?”

* * * *

“So, will I see you this evening?” Ainsley came from behind his desk, glass still in hand.

“You shall.” Marcus bit his lip but asked anyway. “Will your sister…?”

“I highly doubt it.” Ainsley glanced into his glass and grimaced. “She’s not spoken to me since yesterday, but her maid Clarke informed me first thing this morning that Kate had requested her trunks be brought to her rooms. I believe she’s preparing to take her maid and retire to my estate in—”

“Is he in here?”