Page 47 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke (The Marlow Family Secrets #6)

‘I am sorry,’ his mother said then. ‘That was very rude of me, Kate. I am surprised. I mean to say, welcome to the family, I wish you well. I am pleased.’ She sounded anything but pleased. ‘It is just a shock,’ she added. Then she looked at John. ‘Why did you not tell us? When were you married?’

‘Today,’ he said quietly. ‘We needed to keep it understated for a reason.’ He took a breath then concluded, ‘Katherine is with child.’

Katherine felt herself turn crimson as his mother’s skin became paler. ‘John.’

Not a single nerve or muscle in John’s face indicated any discomfort but he did not look at Katherine and she knew he had slipped back into his ducal armour. Her fingers wrapped about his arm but he did not respond. Then she was forced to let him go as his father embraced him.

It was only a cover. She heard him whisper by John’s ear. ‘That was badly done, son. Very badly done. Still, explanations can wait.’

She longed to tell them this was not his fault, as his mother kissed Katherine’s cheek.

His father did the same. ‘Congratulations, welcome to the family, Kate, Your Grace, daughter. Or should I say, welcome to the rabble.’

They must think badly of her.

She bit her lip, feeling the heat of a blush again. ‘Thank you, my lord.’ She was about to curtsy deeply, then remembered she should not now. Now people ought to curtsy to her.

‘Just Edward, Kate,’ he said, smiling. Then he looked back at his offspring. ‘Children, come and meet your new sister.’

She had always liked John’s father and mother. She thought they had liked her, though, they could never have thought she might one day be their daughter-in-law.

The next ten minutes were overwhelming as the children surrounded them and the girls wished to know what she had worn. They had not realised they were only married today. They asked what flowers she carried. What bonnet she wore. If she had worn lace.

When the chaos subsided, John’s mother whispered, ‘Call me Ellen, Kate, and ask me anything you wish.’

Katherine nodded, more grateful than she could say. But then John’s fingers braced her waist. ‘I asked Finch to gather the staff downstairs, Mama. We should go down, Katherine.’

She wished she was at least suitably dressed.

‘They are angry,’ she said as they left the room. His arm was still about her.

‘Not because it is you, Katherine, but because I married without telling them and because of the child. Do not fret over it. We are going to be judged. We can do nothing about it except ignore it. We are going to have to weather the storm.’

When they reached the top of the stairs he let her go but then offered his arm in a formal gesture.

She glanced at him and saw him clothe himself in what she now saw as his ducal suit of armour.

A footman in the hall opened the library door when they stepped from the bottom stair.

She looked up at John and saw his eyes were diamond hard when they entered.

The room of people bowed and curtsied, and her new status struck hard.

Her heart pounded as she bid people rise and was then introduced to each by the butler.

She felt an utter fraud, and when the housekeeper asked to meet with Her Grace, to discuss the running of the house, Katherine felt like laughing.

She had the order of this house, of Pembroke Place, of…

Lord, she did not even know where John’s other properties were.

She would have to ask Phillip, she would not embarrass herself and ask John.

A footman came into the room. ‘Your Grace, forgive me, but this urgent message arrived.’

John took the letter as Katherine asked the housekeeper how the staff were ordered below her. Perhaps it was a standard thing and Katherine ought to know, but she felt the need to ask something and it was all she could think of.

‘Damn,’ John cursed behind her. She turned. ‘Sorry, Katherine,’ he whispered. ‘I am afraid I need to go out. I have business I need to address. I am sorry,’ he said again. ‘You will have to stay here. Go up and speak with Mama, she will help you settle in.’

Katherine’s mouth fell open, but she closed it again quickly. ‘I would rather lie down,’ she responded. ‘I get tired…’ She could not face his parents alone. He seemed to have forgotten all he’d told her of how little he got on with them.

He looked into her eyes and there was a flash of John somewhere deep within them.

Then he turned away and looked at his butler.

‘Finch, have one of the maids take Her Grace upstairs to the Duchess’s chambers, would you?

’ He looked back at her. She thought he would kiss her.

He did not. She longed to be held but he did not do that either.

‘I cannot say how long this will take, Katherine. I will be back as soon as I can. Goodbye.’ He nodded at her, still in his ducal skin and then he left her among his servants and disappeared into the hall.

‘Your Grace,’ the butler said and for a moment she was confused because John was in the hall, but then she realised Finch was speaking to her. ‘If you would follow me?’

She nodded.