by Fiona Miers
Yet something stirred inside him, and there was a powerful shift in his heart. His courage rose up inside him and his shoulders straightened.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” William inquired, his facial expression filled with confusion, as was Lizzie’s.
“No. I cannot allow Kitty to marry that man. He is not right for her. She is not meant to be with him.”
She was meant to be his wife. No other’s.
“You don’t even know the man. How can you make such assumptions?” William scoffed, but a smile formed on Lizzie’s lips.
“I am the man Kitty is meant to be with,” James announced. “I have been licking my wounds for far too long.”
“What are you going to do?” William asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Don’t fret. There won’t be any violence involved, or at least none that I intend,” James assured his brother.
“Before you go, brother,” William said suddenly, “are you certain this is the right thing to do?”
James glanced at his brother and narrowed his eyes.
William shrugged. “Think it over. Please.”
“No.” Enough thinking. “It is time for me to be the man she deserves. A man she can depend upon. I cannot simply give in. Kitty means too much to me to let her go.”
“And if she does not reciprocate your feelings?” Lizzie inquired.
James glanced at his siblings. Better to be hurt again than regret inaction. “At least I will know her true feelings.”
“Perhaps, but it will leave you shattered beyond repair, just as you were when Lady Penelope—”
James waved his hand to stop Lizzie from spouting off any more of her unwanted opinions.
“Lady Penelope pretended to be someone she was not. She deceived me, and used me for her own personal gain. There was not a moment where Kitty acted unlike herself. She was honest with me from the moment I met her, and she never pretended to be someone whom she was not. No woman will ever have my heart as she did.”
“Still does, in fact,” Lizzie whispered.
“Indeed,” James sighed, letting some of the tension leech out of his system.
“Go to her, brother,” Lizzie encouraged him. “Go to her, and tell her all these things you told us. Pour your heart out to her, tell her how you feel. No woman who willingly gives herself intimately to a man deserves to marry another simply for the sake of her family.”
James glanced at her and cocked his head. How did she know?
“No one told me, I could see it in her eyes,” Lizzie assured him, and James nodded at her. “Now go, before it is too late.”
As James swiftly left the parlor, Lizzie turned to William.
“You did not tell him,” William pointed out with a scowl.
“I was not the one from whom he needed to hear it. That is now in Kitty’s hands,” Lizzie turned away and gathered her medical supplies from the table.
19
Kitty reached out and touched the delicate petals of the white flowers that grew in her mother’s garden. Despite the space being very small, with only a few flowers and plants, Kitty often retreated there for solace, and to have a few moments to herself.
Those moments, however, could often last hours, and most times, it was her father who would prompt her to come inside.
Today, he was nowhere in sight.
Perhaps he had seen the expression on her face as she and her fiancé had re-entered the dining room? Or noticed the fingerprints on her arms, caused by Edward’s hand? Could he have noticed her new-found passivity to everything Edward said?
If he did not realize it was a silent cry for help, her father did not know her very well.
Kitty sighed wearily as she leaned back and rested her head against the wooden fence and closed her eyes for a moment, awaiting her father’s arrival.
Despite trying to be strong for her family, grief welled up inside of her and she began to quietly cry to herself.
This was not the life she had imagined for herself, not even as a young child. She had often dreamt of meeting a wonderful man—whom she had once hoped would be Edward—but after she’d accepted his proposal, she had soon realised that the boy of her dreams had turned into the man of her nightmares.
Footsteps along the path that led around the side of the townhouse towards the garden caused her to open her eyes and wipe the tears from her face.
She did not wish for her father to see her cry, as it would only worsen matters. The wrought-iron gate unlatched and as she glanced up, her heart thumped with wild recognition against her chest.
“Your Grace,” Kitty said. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“Good afternoon, my lady.” He bowed stiffly and she curtsied in response.
“Lovely to see you,” Kitty responded automatically.
James chuckled and answered, “We’re both aware that is not true.”
For the first time in too long, her lips tugged up into a smile. “I choose not to respond to that.”
“Perhaps it is better that way,” he said.
“What are you doing here? I was under the impression you didn’t wish to see me again, whether it be at Woodlock Manor or anywhere else,” Kitty said.
James’ presence was overwhelming to her already devastated nerves, and she had to fight with all her inner strength not to faint or cry.
“Is it true? Are you betrothed to Lord Windham?” James inquired.
Kitty gasped. “How do you know of that?”
“My sister informed me. It seems that she and my brother learned about it, and they didn’t think I should be made aware of it,” James answered. “It didn’t take you long to find another suitor, which is rather alarming.”
She stepped closer, surprised by his statement. “Why is that alarming?”
“It gives me reason to believe that you have an urgency to marry. Am I correct?”
Kitty sighed. “Your Grace, with all due respect, you don’t know me, my situation, nor the reason why I am betrothed to Lord Windham so quickly after our arrangement was terminated,” Kitty stated, desperately fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. “Why would it matter to you? You chased me from your estate, warning me never to return.”
James sucked in a visible breath. “I was angered that you wished to end our betrothal, especially after…”
“After we shared a night together that meant absolutely nothing?” Kitty bit out, struggling to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
She’d given James her virginity, her maidenhead. It had meant everything to her.
“It meant something to me, my lady,” James corrected softly.
It was nice to hear him say the words, but her stomach twisted with anger. “You do not need to feel any remorse for what happened that night, Your Grace. It has not ruined me as a person, nor tarnished my soul.”
Although Edward is never going to let me forget it.
“But your heart has seen better days,” James pointed out. “As has mine.”
Now she wanted to scream and escape his presence before she burst into tears.
“Is that why you came here? To tell me that you’re feeling terrible for upsetting me because you feel guilty?” Kitty asked.
“No, I didn’t come here out of guilt.”
“Then what?” Kitty exclaimed, growing more frustrated by the minute.
“He is not the right man for you, Kitty,” James said as he approached her.
“And you are?” Kitty said, raising her eyebrows in question.
James nodded. “In fact, I am.”
Oh. My. Lord.
“That is utterly ridiculous. You proved to yourself, and proved to me, that you are not,” Kitty scoffed.
“But I am. You intrigued me the moment I set eyes on you. You were not what I expected. You made me feel alive for the first time in a very long time. Your heart is kind and generous, and although you tend to please others before yourself, you are who you are. You do not compromis
e your integrity for anyone. Your love for my horses was heartwarming and I would have you know, I sent for a veterinarian, and Lord Windsor is doing much better. He is eating and drinking, and thriving.”
A smile formed on her face and a tear ran down her cheek. “That is good to hear.”
“I am certain he would love for you visit him,” James stated.
Kitty cocked her head to the side, confused about this sudden turn. “I thought I was no longer welcome at your estate?”
“We both know I didn’t mean it. Just as you didn’t mean to end our arrangement.”
So confident of how we both feel… since when?
Kitty sighed. She didn’t have the strength for this conversation. “You can’t do this, not here, Your Grace. Not now. I am betrothed to Lord Windham. I can’t…” she turned away before her emotions got the better of her.
“You can simply end your betrothal with him.”
“I wish it were that simple, Your Grace,” Kitty whispered.
“Why?” James whispered in return.
Kitty didn’t answer. She couldn’t. James would hate her if he knew the truth about how much she was sacrificing of herself now.
He thought she was strong, but she wasn’t.
“My, oh, my.”
Both Kitty and James turned and Edward stood beside the gate, glaring at them.
“Your Grace, lovely to see you,” Edward sneered with a mock half bow.
“I wish I could reciprocate those feelings,” James answered dryly.
“Have you come to congratulate Kitty and myself on our pending nuptials, Your Grace?” Edward asked with a smirk.
“You and I both know that is not why I’m here,” James said and straightened his shoulders.
Strangely, he stepped in front of Kitty, as if to shield her from any kind of attack.
Kitty stepped to the side to watch the exchange between the two men.
“Then why precisely are you here?” Edward asked, glaring at James.
“I have come to release Kitty from your arrangement,” James answered.
“I am afraid that is not possible. Our wedding has already been scheduled—”
“Cancel it,” James ordered.
Kitty gaped. James was serious.
“There is nothing you can say to me that would make me back away from this arrangement, Your Grace,” Lord Windham pointed out, crossing his arms.
“Name your price,” James answered.
“There is no amount of coin that can make me change my mind.”
“Are you certain of that? I am very wealthy, and I can certainly make you disappear from the face of this earth for less.”
Kitty put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. James was willing to pay Edward to leave?
“Are you certain you wish to do that, Your Grace? Waste all that money on a woman who keeps secrets from you?” Edward asked.
“Kitty and I have no secrets from one another,” James answered with the utmost confidence.
“Perhaps you wishes to inform him of the true reason your mother wished her daughter to marry the duke of Somerset, my lady,” Edward suggested wickedly.
Kitty’s heart, which had been beating heavily, began to thud with revulsion.
“What does he speak of, my lady?” James inquired and turned to look at Kitty.
Kitty pressed her lips together but did not utter a word.
James turned back to Edward. “Perhaps this is a good opportunity for you to leave. I will ensure you receive a generous amount to stay as far away from Kitty as possible,” James said in a firm and authoritative tone.
“This is not over,” Edward sneered. “The Seymour family is under the impression they may do as they please, but that will soon change.”
“I do not take threats lightly, my lord,” James growled.
Edward narrowed his eyes before turning to leave the small garden. The creaking sound of the gate closing caused Kitty to cringe as she watched Lord Windham leave. James turned back to Kitty.
Kitty clasped her hands together, “You didn’t have to do that, James. It is because of the very thing Edward spoke of, that we are in such a predicament.”
“What do you mean by that, my lady?” James asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Lord Windham is correct. There is something you must be made aware of, Your Grace.” Kitty bit her lip, wondering how best to spell out her family’s ruination.
“Tell me, my lady.”
Kitty put a hand on the nearby fence, needing something sturdy to hold onto. “I am not certain it is what you wish to hear. I do not wish to upset you, which I’ve done more than enough times now.”
“There is not a thing you can confess that would upset me, Kitty,” the duke declared.
She wasn’t entirely sure about that. But nevertheless, she must press on.
Kitty inhaled slowly through her nose. “When my father approached you, to speak with you regarding his proposition, he was not certain whether you would agree to another meeting. My father was careful, riddled with concern that you would call him out to be daft. He was delighted when you agreed to the marriage, as was my mother. I, on the other hand, was not. I felt like a pawn being used to fix a mistake that had come across their path. I had no choice in the matter. I was simply dragged along to do their bidding.”
James’s eyebrows furrowed deeply. “I do not understand.”
Kitty’s stomach twisted with nerves, but she trudged on. “You will soon. You see, my father’s business partner was caught embezzling money from their company and it has left my father’s financial situation in ruin... Marrying you, a wealthy and attractive young man who wished never to fall in love, was perfect. It would prevent my family from living on the streets.”
“You only agreed because I was wealthy?” James scowled.
“I did not agree to anything, I was forced into it,” Kitty contended.
James sighed. “So, it is your parents who are the villains in this piece.”
Kitty bit her lip. “Will you forgive them?”
James nodded. “Of course. Arranged marriages are often about security and finances. I only wish they’d been more upfront about their true motives.”
Kitty forced out a laugh. “A marriage is a most advantageous connection.”
James’s lips lifted into a smile. “Just so.”
James looked at her, his gaze intense. “And you, Kitty?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Is our arrangement now… only palatable to you if it means saving your family? It is obvious that is the only reason you were putting up with that other chap.” He nodded his head in the way Edward had gone.
“Oh, no.” Kitty shook her head. “I admit, it was that way at the start. I had to behave perfectly in order to impress you, to save my family. But then…”
“Then what?” James asked, stepping forward
“Then you took me to the meadow, where we had our race. When I became better acquainted with you, something rose up inside me. I was comfortable with you, and it wasn’t because of the money. I was under the impression I had lost my mind,” Kitty explained, shaking her head. “But I simply lost my heart. To you, James.”
James’s brow furrowed and he glanced down at her. “You had?”
“Indeed. I was convinced it was impossible for a person, especially myself, to fall in love as quickly as I had. That night in your bedchamber—”
“My lady—”
“Please, allow me to finish,” Kitty demanded, and James nodded in acknowledgment.
“That night, I saw a different side of you. Sensitive, vulnerable, and I saw those walls come down from around your heart. The way you stared into my eyes, the tender manner in which you kissed me—it changed everything. I knew then it was more than a mere arrangement,” Kitty continued, her cheeks heating from sharing her intimate feelings. “Those feelings never truly stopped, not even after I told you I couldn’t marry a man who does not care for horses, or who lies… I think I was sim
ply… overwhelmed by my feelings and not certain how to properly deal with them. I do apologise for all those terrible things I said.”
“I deserved them,” James admitted. “I’m not a perfect person, and I do not claim to be. I make mistakes—”
“We all do,” she interjected.
“But the biggest mistake was to allow you to leave my estate. I fought with myself as I watched you standing by the coach. I desperately wished to stop you from leaving, but I was afraid. Afraid you did not reciprocate my feelings. Afraid I might get hurt again.”
“I would never hurt you like that, James,” Kitty answered and reached out her hand to him.
“I am aware of that now.”
Kitty smiled. “Tell me what happened with the other woman.”
“Lady Penelope?” James asked, and as Kitty nodded, James’s jaw clenched.
There was a beat of silence and she waited.
He continued, “I met her in town. Her father was a Marquess, a very respected man, but also a gambling man. He was in trouble with a few people. He owed them money, quite a large amount. Lady Penelope assumed the identity of someone other than his daughter.”
He stopped and sighed, so she waited.
“I was not acquainted with her, or had even seen her before, but she introduced herself as Lady Penelope. She merely used me for my wealth, to steal from me, and I allowed it. I fell for her lies and it cost me dearly.”
“I would never do that to you, James. I vow to you,” Kitty whispered. “Even if you were the poorest man in the world, it would not matter to me. It is your heart I fell in love with.”
“And I yours, my lady,” James whispered as he leaned in, and tenderly kissed her lips.
20
The sweet scent of the white flowers that grew in the small garden at her parents’ townhouse filled the air around Kitty. One of the servants had woven the flowers through her hair into a crown especially for their garden wedding celebration, and it was a perfect day.
Kitty inhaled deeply as the scent engulfed her, allowing her to beam happily at her new husband, James of Somerset, who stood across the lawn, speaking to his brother William and another lord.
