Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage

CHAPTER 30

“So the valet confessed. Just like that?” Lily asked, shaking her head, and taking a healthy draught from her glass of wine.

James was at dinner that evening at Ashbourne’s town house with Annie, Ashbourne, Lily, and Colton. While his friends asked him a series of questions about Kate and the case, he sat staring at the wall, halfheartedly pushing his food around his plate, and being blasted awful company.

“Seems so,” James replied.

“And Kate will be out of prison as early as tonight?” Annie asked.

“Yes.” James nodded.

“I’m so happy for her,” Lily breathed. “I just knew she was innocent. But wherever will she go? She has no family, and I cannot imagine the duke’s mother will want her. Even with her dower, she would be mad to try to live there.”

James grimaced. He’d been thinking many of the same thoughts all day. Where indeed would she go? He’d sent a footman to the Tower earlier with the money he owed her. He couldn’t bear to think of her on the streets. At least with money, she could stay in a hotel somewhere. But the money had come back with a small note penned in Kate’s own hand. “I won’t take this.” That’s all it said. Nothing more. If he’d harbored any doubt, now he knew. She hated him. Hated him so much she wouldn’t even take the money that was rightfully hers. Damn it. He’d ruined everything.

“I’m not sure what she’ll do,” he said quietly. “I haven’t spoken to her.”

“Will you see her again, Medford?” Annie asked in a too astute tone.

“No.” Had his answer been too quick? Too sharp? He expelled his breath and tried again. “That is to say, I see no reason to. But I wish her well, of course.”

“Well, I just cannot believe it,” Lily replied. “To think, after all of these weeks poor Kate spent in the Tower and the valet was guilty the entire time. Why, he might have murdered the footman for knowing. That man was brave to come forward.”

“I agree,” James replied. “Kate owes that man her life.”

“She owes you her life too, Medford,” Annie said. “You hired the runner who eventually caused the valet to confess. Kate never would have got such a vigorous investigation and defense without you.”

“She owes me nothing,” James said simply. He glanced around at the other occupants of the dinner table. They each were making quite a show of being completely absorbed in their meals. Even Ashbourne didn’t meet his eyes. And he better not bloody well mention love again—not tonight, not ever—or James just might jump across the table and pummel the bloke.

James turned his attention back to his own meal. He stabbed a flaky bit of cod with his fork and raised it to his lips. He took the bite, chewed and swallowed, but it tasted like sawdust in his mouth.

Minutes later, he pushed his chair back from the table and plucked his napkin from his lap. “I’m sorry, Annie. But I fear you’ll have a much more pleasant evening without me.”

“Nonsense, Medford,” Annie said, putting down her fork, leaning over and patting his hand. “But I completely understand if you’d rather leave. You’ve been through quite a lot. You must be exhausted.”

“Fine then, run off.” Lily smiled at him from across the table. “You do still plan to join us day after next, don’t you, Medford? At Colton House, for Christmas? And of course you’ll be coming to Catherine Eversly’s New Year’s Eve masquerade ball?”

“Yes, of course.” James tried to summon a smile. That’s all there was to do now. To carry on with life with some semblance of normalcy. Christmastide, the masquerade. Events that came and went every year. This year was no different. Well, should be no different.

He stood, tossed his napkin to his chair, and bade everyone farewell. Then he slipped out the doors of the dining room.

That’s right. He’d just have to pretend everything was normal again until it was.

As soon as Medford left the room, Lily folded her hands in front of her and leaned forward. “Poor man. But I’m a bit glad he’s gone, to be honest, because there’s something I wanted to speak to all of you about,” she said in a loud whisper.

Devon, Annie, and Jordan all gave her their full attention.

“Lily, what are you up to?” her husband asked in a warning tone.

“Nothing,” Lily replied innocently, batting her eyelashes.

“Now even I don’t believe that,” Annie said on a giggle.

“Neither do I,” Jordan replied with a grin.

Lily winked at her sister and brother-in-law. “It’s just that … I’m planning to invite Kate to Colton House for Christmas too.”

Jordan whistled. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

Lily pushed up her chin. “Why, the poor woman has nowhere else to go. She’s still an outcast to the ton, and she has no family. She may be free now, but she’s got no one. We cannot leave her alone on Christmas.”

Devon lifted his glass. “I, for one, applaud the idea, Lily.”

Lily widened her eyes. “You do?”

“Yes. You’re right. Kate’s got nowhere else to go. But I do think you should tell Medford.”

Lily fluttered her hand in the air. “I disagree. I think it may be best for both of them if they don’t know ahead of time.”

“I have to agree with Lily,” Annie said, reaching across the table to nab another plum tart. “Both might decline the invitation if they know the other is likely to arrive.”

“And shouldn’t that be their choice?” Jordan asked his wife.

“Ordinarily, yes,” Annie agreed with a resolute nod. “But this is a special situation.” She turned her attention back to her sister. “Oh, Lily, do you truly think Kate will come?”

Lily shrugged one shoulder. “I hope so. And I don’t see why not. Where else will she go?”

Devon crossed his arms over his chest and regarded his wife down the length of his nose. “Why exactly do you think Medford wouldn’t want to see Kate?”

Lily gave her husband a sly smile. “Oh, I’ve every reason to believe Medford wants to see Kate. I just wonder if Kate wants to see Medford. And Medford’s too blasted stubborn to admit he wants to see her. You heard what he said tonight.”

“So you intend to trick Kate into it? Besides, how do you know she doesn’t want to see him?” Devon continued.

Lily plucked a plum off the top of the tart she’d been eating and popped it into her mouth. “You heard James. She left his house voluntarily and returned to the prison without saying good-bye. She refused the money he sent her. There is obviously something amiss between the two of them.”

Jordan grinned and arched a brow. “And you two intend to get to the bottom of it, don’t you?” He looked back and forth between his sister-in-law and his wife.

“Precisely,” Lily replied with a smile.

Annie poked at her tart with her fork. “I think it’s an excellent idea. Obviously, what this delicate situation calls for is a Christmastide house party.”

Jordan winked at her. “Remember, darling. House parties can get people into a great deal of trouble. We ended up married after one.”

Annie gave her husband a knowing smile. “Exactly why one is necessary, my dear.”

Devon leaned back in his chair. “Far be it from me to argue with the two most determined matchmakers in the country. But I would just caution you both. Be careful, ladies. Medford hasn’t been in a mood lately to be trifled with.”

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “Who’s trifling? We’re attempting to help him.”

“Help him how?” Devon arched a brow.

“Why, by placing him and Kate back together in the same house, of course. It’s obvious to anyone they have feelings for each other.”

Devon gave her a skeptical look. “Be careful, my love. There’s more than just the murder trial separating those two.”