Valentine touched a finger to his nose and then glanced at Catherine. His expression was one of amusement and disbelief. But Catie knew anger couldn’t be far away.
“You can put it away, Josie,” she said. “He hasn’t hurt me or tried to touch me.”
They heard footsteps racing down the hall, and a heartbeat later, Madeleine burst into the door. “You found her.”
Valentine stepped back and then Catherine was surrounded by her three favorite people in the world. Ashley, Madeleine, and Josephine were crowding around her, hugging her, and talking all at once. Ashley was the first to make herself heard above the din.
“If he hasn’t touched you, Catie, where are your clothes? Why are you dressed in only a sheet?”
Catherine shook her head. “I woke up this morning and my clothes were gone. I had to use Lord Valentine’s sheets to cover myself.”
The three cousins turned back to Valentine, now standing with one shoulder braced on the doorjamb. Josephine lifted her grandfather’s cutlass again. “What did you do to her clothes? Was that part of your plan? To force her into your bed and have your way with her?”
Valentine held up his hands. “I assure you I was just as surprised as Miss Fullbright to awaken thus. I have no idea where her clothes are. She seems to have been left here with nothing.”
Maddie clutched Catherine’s hand. “So then you didn’t want to marry him?” She looked at the other girls. “I told you. I knew my father was lying.”
“We all knew,” Ashley said. “But we didn’t know what to do when they said your name during the wedding, and then he”—she pointed to Valentine—“lifted the veil, and there you were. And you looked so happy that we thought maybe we had misunderstood.”
Catherine shook her head. “No, no misunderstanding. My father drugged me. He has finally had his way.”
“And sacrificed you to the wolves,” Ashley added.
“I would hardly call myself a wolf,” Valentine muttered.
“We can’t let Uncle Edmund get away with this,” Ashley said.
Catherine saw Valentine start. “Now, don’t do anything rash.”
“But we have to do something,” Josie said. “Catie is trapped in this marriage, and we’ve lost her forever.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Miss Hale. I live only three blocks from Lord Castleigh’s house,” Valentine said. “And the three of you are welcome to visit, providing you use the front door.”
“But it’s not the same,” Maddie cried, turning away from him. “You have to come with me. I know my father will make this right.”
Catherine knew her kind uncle would do all in his power—even to his own family’s detriment. But Uncle William could not help without causing scandal, and even if she were safe under his protection, her father would find a way to get to her. “I am certain Uncle William would help if I asked,” she said, “but I don’t need his help.”
“Yes, you do!” Maddie cried.
“Don’t be a fool,” Ashley said.
Catherine looked at Valentine, still standing in the doorway. She knew he was watching her, waiting for her response. Was she with him or against him? Would she accept this marriage—at least temporarily—or fight it and force them all to face the consequences?
Catherine turned resolutely back to her cousins. “Listen, girls,” she said, “Lord Valentine and I have discussed this. There’s no way out.”
Ashley’s jaw dropped. “You’re giving up? You’re just going to accept this and marry that—that man!” She pointed an accusatory finger at Valentine.
“I’m not giving up, but I don’t see another way right now.”
“Well, I do,” Maddie said, taking her hand, and Catherine was surprised by how firm her grip was and how determined the set of her jaw. “You’re coming home with me. Papa will take you in.”
Catherine snatched her hand back. “No, Maddie. I won’t do that to you. Any of you. It wouldn’t help anyway. You know my father would find me and then . . .”
“Then let’s all run away,” Josie said. “We were going to anyway.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Valentine said, coming into the room. “Don’t ruin your own chances for a good match.”
Maddie shook her head. “But we don’t want to make good matches. We don’t want to marry.”
