Unveiled (33 page)

“That’s not the point.” Christopher glared at the older woman. “Kate, I mean Fan, has had good reason to hide the child, it’s true. But she didn’t have to hide it from me.”

“Didn’t she?” Ella smiled wisely. “Christopher, if she had come to you at the outset and told you the truth, would you have married her?”

He turned to the window once more, unable to respond, but his teeth tightened with outrage.

Ella nodded. “You see? Fan had to protect her secret or risk losing you. Don’t you understand, you thickheaded man? She loves you—she always has.”

Christopher looked at her in astonishment. “You actually expect me to believe that?”

“Why else would she be so frightened to tell you, then?” Ella prodded gently. “If she didn’t care for you, she wouldn’t have been afraid.”

“Fan married me for money,” Christopher said wearily. “And, to a lesser extent, for my name.” He gave Ella a penetrating look. “If you only knew the deceit she was capable of…”

“I won’t hear your accusations.” Ella choked, then was seized with a coughing spell. His anger forgotten, Christopher got to his feet and poured her a glass of water. Holding the vessel beneath her lips, he helped her take a few sips. Slowly the coughing ceased, and Ella looked at him apologetically.

“Thank you. Being old is so inconvenient and undignified.” She waited a few minutes to catch her breath, then continued softly: “Then what you’re saying is that Fan married you for the same reason you married her. Wealth.”

“No, that’s not true.” Christopher flushed, feeling like a schoolboy whose knuckles have just been slapped. “I always cared for Fan.”

“You have an odd way of showing it. An annulment is not a laughing matter, as you know. This is a scandal that neither one of you can easily overcome. Society mistrusts an ill-conceived marriage in a man as much as a woman. And when the talk gets out concerning the details of your arrangement…” Ella fixed him with a steady stare. “Especially this nonsense I hear about a gathering. Do you really think to begin courting other women while you’re still married? And you expect my niece to do the same?”

“Ella, with all due respect, this really isn’t any of your business at this point. I know you love…Fan, but I have to do what I feel is the right thing. I’ve talked to her—she’s in total agreement that we should look for other prospects. So the next time you lecture me on how much my wife cares, I suggest you remember that.”

“Fan…agreed?” Ella asked in disbelief.

Christopher nodded. “She offered no resistance to the idea.”

“I see.” Ella rose to her feet and clung to the table for support. “Then I suppose I’m wasting my time. If what you say is true, Christopher, then money means more to you both than I thought. To say I’m disappointed doesn’t adequately express my feelings. Thank you for the water and your time. I have a cab waiting; please, don’t bother.”

Ella walked slowly from the room, her head held high. Christopher suddenly felt a strange premonition. He strode to the hall and glanced down the corridor, but Ella had already gone.

“May I bring you another whiskey, sir?”

Christopher glanced up in annoyance at the waiter who was standing solicitously nearby. He wanted to get drunk—not just tipsy, but dead drunk, roaring drunk, the kind of drunk where he could forget everything and everyone.

“Yes. In fact, make it two.” Christopher replaced his glass on the tray, waiting for the cold heat of the liquor to warm him.

He was still smarting from Ella’s lecture and he didn’t have the faintest idea why. Ella was blinded by her affection for Kate; Christopher was well aware of that. Yet her words kept coming back to him like a chant.

She loves you, Christopher. She always has.

God, if he could just believe that. Christopher stared at the roaring fire in the elegant library, ignoring the curious glances of the men around him. If he really and truly thought that he meant something to Kate, something other than a safe haven, then he would reconsider. But he had absolutely no reason to think that he did. If anything, her actions indicated the exact opposite.

Unless…Christopher stared thoughtfully into the flames, an idea forming. If Katie really felt something for him, could she actually stand by and watch him court someone else? He remembered the Mitchells’ reception, when he’d escorted Margaret Chester. Katie had been livid. Much as she tried to hide it, her jealousy had been transparent and had assured him that he wasn’t mistaken about her feelings.

But could he really live up to his end of the bargain and find someone for her? The very thought of Katie in another man’s arms was repulsive. He stood to lose everything by his own damned cleverness. What was it Ella had said? That wisdom was wasted on the old?

“Here you are, sir.” The waiter appeared with the drink, then lingered for a moment. “You didn’t have any supper tonight. Is everything all right?”

“It’s fine.” Christopher stirred the drink, then sipped deeply of the whiskey, dismissing the waiter. The liquor burned, but it did make him feel better.

There had to be a solution. Pensively Christopher sipped his drink, staring into the flames. When he felt a familiar tap on his shoulder, he started with annoyance as he recognized the man behind him.

“Theodore.” Christopher was forced to acknowledge him.

The older man grinned and pulled up a chair, ready to settle in for a long chat. Inwardly Christopher groaned. The last thing he wanted to do was spend time talking with this perennial bachelor who wouldn’t have the slightest idea of what it was like to love a woman. Theodore Worthington recited a long list of his ailments, obviously happy to have an audience.

“You know I still have that trick knee. I can’t ride or do much exercise until the swelling goes down. I’ve been putting ice packs on it. You know, cold for hot and hot for cold. Then there is my gout. Damnable thing, my boy! They all have their reasons for it, those physicians that charge by the minute, but I swear it’s the cooking here. The service is poorer by the day. For what we pay for this club, one would think…”

Christopher closed his eyes while Theodore rambled on. He was tempted to excuse himself, but he felt sorry for the older man. Theodore had lived alone most of his life and was the most particular human being he’d ever met. He was so set in his ways that even the slightest disturbance was enough to set him on edge. He was known as a tightwad, which, in his youth, discouraged most of the women from looking favorably on him. Even if he paid the slightest attention to a woman, which he never did, he was woefully unsuited for marriage, a fact that caused no end of concern to his family.

A terrible idea came to Christopher. No, he couldn’t. Instantly dismissing the thought as unkind, he glanced up and saw the man accept another drink, then pat his rotund belly gratefully.

Christopher grinned. All was fair in love and war, and in this case, it was war. Here was one man Katie would be perfectly safe with. He could have his answers, yet at the same time protect his own interest. “You know, Ted, you’re right. The food here is terrible. I really think you need to get out more. How would you like to attend a party?”

T
WENTY
-T
HREE

K
atie still couldn’t believe this was happening. Perched on the window ledge of the great house, she watched as workmen carried in the new furnishings, provided by Ella. Moira and Eunice oohed and aahed over the luxurious sofas, the wing chairs, the lovely cherry tables, and the crystal and china. Everything would be perfect for the party, except…

She fought the tears that stung her throat. She had to go through with this; she didn’t have any other choice. Still, in the deepest part of her mind, she was hoping that Christopher would come to her and say that he really didn’t mean it, it was all some horrible misunderstanding.

“My, Katie! Look how beautiful these pieces are! What a wonderful woman is Mrs. Pemberton!”

Katie forced a smile as Moira exclaimed over a silver bureau. The older woman pulled out the flat drawers, filling them with the serving implements, then reverently replacing them.

Her family didn’t know. At least she thought they didn’t. Neither she nor Christopher was anxious to publicize the real reason for this party. And Moira was like a little girl, always in a dream world. It was enough for her that she was living in this grand house, filled with pretty things, and that they were giving a real party tomorrow night.

Sean was equally excited and talked of little else. Only Patrick frowned and gave her a questioning stare. It was no secret that she and Christopher had quarreled, and she could read the question in his eyes. Why, then, were they celebrating?

Hugging her knees, she wished she could just do away with the pain. She had somehow to find the strength to get through this night. Maybe she could make Christopher see what he meant to her. If she could only think of a way—

“Mrs. Scott?” One of the workmen paused and wiped his face with a cloth. “There’s a rough-looking bloke outside asking for you. You want me to tell him to get lost?”

“No, I’ll take care of it.” Slipping from the seat, Katie brushed the dust from her skirt with a frown. Surely it must be one of the workmen who wanted her, ostensibly to ask a question regarding the placement of the furnishings. Yet…

A cold dread filled her heart when she saw him. He was standing across the street, his hands thrust arrogantly into his pockets, but she wouldn’t mistake him anywhere. Her breath quickened as she recognized his blond hair, his boyish profile that even from a distance looked charming. Glancing fearfully back at the house, she saw that everyone was inside, the door closed. Crossing the street, she approached him, her legs weak and trembling.

“What do you want?” Katie’s voice broke, betraying her fear.

John Sweeney laughed, though his tone held little mirth. “That’s a fine greeting after all this time, Katie love.” His eyes ran over her appreciatively. “You look good, Kate. But then you always did.”

Fear touched her spine like a cold wet hand. She couldn’t let him know she was afraid; he would use it, as he used so much against her before. Patrick had insisted that he’d be back. Surely he didn’t mean to…Katie couldn’t finish the thought. “I’m just surprised to see you,” she responded cautiously. “It has been a while.”

“Six years.” John pulled a rolled cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. He looked older, Katie noticed with surprise when he bent down to strike a flint and the light illuminated his face. There were lines that she didn’t remember. He smiled, as if reading her mind. “Six long years. They haven’t been as good to me as they have been to you.”

“No?” Katie smiled bitterly. “You ran out on me after I discovered I was with child. I loved you—you knew that and it didn’t matter. It must have been a grand joke to you. Do you have any idea what you’ve done to my life? What these last years have been like?” Fiercely she wiped at the moisture that sprang to her eyes. “No one would give me a job. No one would befriend me. I was, after all, an unwed mother, a sinner, while you walked away without shame.”

“Katie, Katie.” John tried to reach for her, but she stepped far away from him. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t accept the responsibility of a child. For God’s sake, I could barely take care of myself! Surely you can understand that!”

Katie stared at him and felt a measure of disgust and pity. He left her and his child, and now he wanted forgiveness! If it hadn’t been for her family, she would have starved, and Sean along with her. This man, this child, she amended silently, cared for nothing and no one but himself.

“John, I think you should go. If it’s my forgiveness you’ll be wanting, you have it. But I cannot forget. I’ve gone on with my life and I suggest you do the same. I have nothing more to say to you.”

She started to leave when, to her surprise, he detained her. “Now, lass.” There was a subtle threat in his voice and Katie felt the fear once more. “I would think you’d show a little more affection for your son’s father. Where is the boy?”

The blood drained from her face, and for a moment Katie thought she would faint. “You have no right to him,” she whispered, her nails digging into her palms as her fists knotted. “Stay away from him. And me. There’s nothing for you here.”

“No?” John Sweeney’s smirk disappeared and he leaned closer. “I think there is. He is my son, for all that you’d like to forget that. I don’t give a damn who you’ve married or what you’re doing with yourself. But that boy is mine and I have rights as his father.” His grin reappeared and his voice became like silk. “Or should I discuss all this with Mr. Scott?”

Fury filled her and Katie stared at this man with horror. How could she have ever thought she loved him? A blackguard, a thief, and a liar…it was all written on his charming face. How could she have been so blind?

“You wouldn’t…do that,” she whispered, her voice filled with fear.

John Sweeney grinned. “Not now, I wouldn’t. You see, Katie dear, I think we can come to some agreement. You seem to have done quite well for yourself. Christopher Scott, no less, as a husband. You’re living in style in this house…even the gown you have on is worth more than I’m paid in a week. I don’t want to disrupt your life. I just want what’s coming to me.”