Page 7 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke (The Marlow Family Secrets #6)

Their friendship had made life bearable in John’s later childhood and youth. Phillip’s companionship had been the one concession allowed when John had visited his grandfather. Beyond their friendship, life had been all about learning discipline and developing mind. ‘Do you live in town?’

Phillip nodded. ‘Perhaps we could meet? I’ll give Finch my address.’

John was not inclined to socialise with men who thought to gain something by it. He was tired to the bones of this ingratiating behaviour already and he had a lifetime of it to live. ‘Perhaps…’ John echoed with no commitment.

‘I would like to hear your travelling tales,’ Phillip continued, chatting as though their friendship had not ended seven years before.

‘I have thousands but I would not wish to bore you.’ John’s gaze strayed to Kate. ‘And you, Katherine, what have you been up to while I was gone?’

She reddened and opened her mouth but said nothing.

John felt like laughing, she looked so unsettled by him. Yet her discomfort gave him hope that his attraction may be reciprocated.

‘She has been busy. Katherine has started a Sunday school in Ashford,’ Mary answered for her.

Katherine’s blush deepened.

He was certain it was his presence which was making her colour-up so beautifully. ‘That is noble of you, Katherine. Is there a husband who supports this venture?’

Her cheeks flushed with even brighter colour. Then she shook her head in a firm denial. ‘I am not wed.’ Her pitch said the idea was absurd.

John felt a flare light inside him. Hope. But that was ridiculous. What it meant was she was innocent and untouchable. Hands off, you villain. He felt like laughing at his own arrogant desire.

Playing the gallant, he took her hand once more and pressed another kiss upon it. ‘More fool the men who have passed you by.’

‘She has had numerous offers. She turns them all away,’ Phillip interjected, oblivious to John’s flirtation.

John did not think Katherine was so naive. Her eyes held his as he let her hand fall, full of questions.

The woman was a mile beneath his rank. She would know there was nothing serious in his interest, which meant she was wondering why he was flirting. ‘There is nothing wrong with being choosy, Katherine. I commend you.’ He smiled.

She smiled suddenly, in reply, and it glimmered in her azure-blue eyes.

‘Are you staying in London?’ Mary asked.

Katherine’s gaze swung to his sister and John realised he had momentarily forgotten the others were there.

‘No. Phillip brought me into town. And we should be going. Phillip?’ She glanced at her brother, who nodded agreement.

‘But you have not met Harry and George,’ Eleanor cried. ‘You must meet them…’

In barely a moment all the women were gone, and John was left alone with Phillip. John felt as though the world had grown colder, but instinctively he filled the quietness with words, setting his glass down on a side-table. ‘Why has she not wed?’

He and Phillip looked at Katherine.

John could see an awkwardness in her nature. She was out of place among his guests and she felt it. But her self-awareness and inability to hide it were refreshing.

It seemed his taste had not only turned to blonde, but timid too. He was interested despite himself, even though he really should not be, yet there was nothing wrong with indulging curiosity.

‘The right offer has never come along, or rather the right man, I think. My father wishes her settled and Mother’s patience is wearing thin.

After all, our younger sister Jennifer is waiting in the wings, but Kate does not wish to simply take anyone.

I would guess she is hankering after a love match. ’

Jennifer was six years younger than Katherine. ‘Is Katherine happy as she is then?’ As children Katherine had invariably seemed insecure, while Jennifer was simply spoilt. But Katherine was adopted.

Phillip glanced at John. ‘The school brings her contentment, but I do not think she is happy. You knew Kate as a girl, she has never seemed completely happy.’

John’s gaze returned to her. She had untapped depths within that timid shell, he was sure. Depths it would be a pleasure exploring, like opening an ancient tomb for the first time.

‘There is something I hoped to ask you…’ Phillip’s pitch had dropped and the tone implied begging.

John felt his body stiffen. ‘Go on, ask me now.’ Devil take it , he would have preferred to be proven wrong about Phillip’s intentions.

Phillip’s gaze ran over John’s expression, showing uncertainty. ‘This is a bit distasteful to discuss at a funeral…’

John felt himself scowl. ‘Nevertheless…’ His voice was cold. Just have out with it and be done.

‘Boscombe did some business for the old duke a while ago, and well, it was unsuccessful, but the thing is Boscombe was never paid.’

‘So you have come here to chase me for it?’ John’s voice turned gruff.

‘No, no . I decided to come, and when I told Boscombe I would need the time off. He asked if I would mention it.’

John swallowed, fighting impatience. What he wished to do was toss Phillip out into the street for this audacity. ‘Why not simply contact Mr Harvey?’ He was the Duke of Pembroke’s man of business, everything was done through him.

‘The business did not come from Mr Harvey. It came from Mr Wareham, from Pembroke Place.’

‘Mr Wareham…’ John’s surprise sounded in his voice. ‘Why would Wareham commission a solicitor directly?’ Wareham was the estate manager at Pembroke Place. ‘He refers every expenditure through Mr Harvey…’

Mr Harvey had managed John’s grandfather’s affairs for decades.

‘I thought it strange too. That is the only reason I agreed to ask you. I do not have a clue why Mr Wareham contacted the firm directly. Even more odd is that the job was to reclaim a loan. Why would Mr Wareham be involved in that? Mr Boscombe did not succeed in getting the money back. He was very regretful, but he did do all he could. Anyway, I am sure you would rather not talk of this today. I will send the details to Mr Harvey. He can look at the information and advise you.’

‘Yes.’ John searched Phillip’s gaze for ill-intent but could see nothing false.

‘I have put you out of sorts by asking.’ He had. ‘I really did not come to ask you that, John, I only came to say hello to an old friend.’

John shrugged. His judgement was still undecided, but the fact Phillip had read that expression only annoyed him further.

Too many people here knew John too well. He really ought to learn from his grandfather and cease showing any emotion at all. ‘Let Harvey have the details and your address.’

‘I shall.’ Phillip held John’s gaze as though he were considering saying something further, but he did not. ‘I ought to take Kate home. Good day.’

‘Thank you for coming.’

Phillip bowed his head briefly then walked away.

John’s gaze followed him to Katherine.

She must have felt his gaze as she had earlier, because she looked at him.

He smiled.

She coloured up, smiling uncertainly, then looked away.

* * *

Katherine clung to the edge of Phillip’s curricle with one hand as her other held the warm rug over her lap, while he flicked the ribbons, driving the horses on like a mad man to get her home before dark.

The first thing he had said to her after leaving John’s was, ‘ I told you we would be welcome. ’ The second was, ‘ and he was pleased to see you ’. She had conceded the first, but made no comment on the second point.

Her heart still hammered.

John had kissed her hand, twice, and she could still feel those kisses burning through her glove.

But he had changed. She was certain he had felt the chasm between them as much as she had, there was no easy camaraderie now.

There had been an edge of steel instead, one that warned, do not come too close.

Seven years had not changed her. She was still foolish enough to crave a man who could never be hers.

She was frail, as her adoptive mother said.

It was in Katherine’s blood, inherited from her natural mother.

Katherine had been born flawed. Wicked. Full of sin.

It was true. She had an unnatural need for John – a need she assumed her mother must have felt for whoever her father was.

When they arrived home, Phillip walked about the carriage to help Katherine down with a broad smile.

She accepted his hand and made a decision never to see John again.

Phillip held her arm and walked with her towards the house.

‘If you want to come up to town, to pay Eleanor or Margaret a visit, write.’

She shook her head. ‘I am sure the last thing they would want is for me to actually call. I know they made the offer and their husbands were charming, but it was just politeness.’

‘You are too self-deprecating. They meant it.’

‘They were merely being charitable. I am happy as I am.’

Phillip’s gaze caught hers. ‘Are you?’

‘Yes.’ She withdrew her arm from his hold as they reached the door.

‘You do not convince me of it, Kate, you hardly ever smile, and I cannot remember the last time I heard you laugh.’

He was speaking out of concern, she knew that, but she had no intention of talking to him about how things stood for her, it would not be fair, and she would never speak to anyone of her redundant feelings for John.

The door opened. ‘Castle,’ Phillip said to the middle-aged butler.

Katherine untied the ribbons of her bonnet as she entered.

‘Phillip! You are back!’ Their mother’s voice came from the drawing room and then she was in the hall, holding her hands out to Phillip. ‘You must stay for dinner.’

‘I need to get back, Mama, it is almost dark.’

Katherine clung on to her bonnet and gloves.

‘But, Phillip, I barely see you.’

He gave their mother an understanding smile, holding her hands. ‘I will come on Sunday next.’

Their mother nodded. ‘I shall look forward to seeing you then.’

‘We spoke to John,’ Katherine stated, feeling uncomfortable as her stepmother had not yet acknowledged her presence.

Ignoring Katherine, their mother said to Phillip, ‘Is he in good health?’

‘Well enough. Eleanor and Margaret were pleased to see Kate. They have asked her to call.’ Phillip was trying to direct their mother’s attention to Katherine, but it was pointless.

‘Well, one can understand why they would be polite.’

Katherine threw Phillip a look to say, see, she agrees. He smiled. Katherine poked out her tongue, without her mother seeing, then turned to the stairs.

‘I will see you next Sunday, Mama,’ Phillip said.

‘Kate. Phillip.’ Their father stopped them.

Her hand stilling on the newel post, Katherine smiled.

He was standing in the doorway of his study, smiling too, his affection genuine.

‘And how does John fare?’ he asked Katherine.

‘Like he was born to it,’ Katherine quipped.

Her father’s eyes glowed, catching her humour.

‘He is as rich as Croesus,’ Phillip added. ‘I hardly think we need worry about John.’

Their father nodded, but his posture had stiffened. There was always tension between herself and their mother and likewise between Phillip and their father. They had never been a happy family.

‘Phillip!’ Jennifer erupted from the drawing room. ‘You must tell me all about it, you cannot leave yet…’

‘Kate will tell you,’ he answered. That was the ultimate insult to Jenny, to be reliant on Katherine for anything. She was spoilt and selfish. But Katherine did not blame her sister. Jenny had been brought up by their mother to exclude Katherine.

Jennifer’s nose tipped up. ‘I can live without knowing, if you are going to be so mean. Mama, may we go into Maidstone tomorrow?’

Katherine turned and would have climbed the stairs but Phillip caught her hand and held her back. ‘Say goodbye before you go up.’

He had always been protective. It was why she had the chance to grow so close to John, because Phillip had taken pity on her in the holidays when he was home, and given her the opportunity to escape from their mother and Jenny.

She turned back and hugged him, standing on the first step so she was almost as tall as him and her arms easily reached about his neck.

He hugged her back, as their mother and Jenny looked on with jealousy in their eyes.

She wondered sometimes if it was jealousy that caused her mother to hate her, because Katherine’s father was kinder to her than his wife. But Katherine had never really understood. Why had her mother adopted her if she didn’t want her?

‘If I hear that Eleanor or Margaret have written and you have refused an invitation, be prepared for a scold,’ Phillip whispered.

‘Scold all you like,’ Katherine whispered back. ‘I will still decline.’

He laughed as he let her go. ‘I will see you on Sunday.’

As she climbed the stairs, he said his other goodbyes, and when she reached the landing she heard the door close. He was gone.

‘Katherine!’ Her mother’s voice rose up the stairs.

‘Fetch my shawl would you, and my embroidery. They are on the chair in my chamber. Oh, and fetch Jennifer’s shawl too?

’ It immediately began – the behaviour which set Katherine back in her place.

She was treated much like a servant when Phillip was not at home and her father did nothing to prevent it.

He hid away rather than face the arguments and bitterness.

‘Yes, Mother!’ Katherine called back downstairs.

‘And once you have done that, Katherine, you may help with the tea. You know I prefer it when you make it!’

‘Yes, Mother!’

‘And do not get any silly notions in your head about visiting the Pembrokes. You would only shame yourself in that company!’

‘Yes, Mother!’ I know my place, even if Phillip does not know it .