Henry stiffened. He had used Carlisle Hall and the money it generated to finance his gambling habit. He regretted that now, but he hadn’t ever wanted to destroy the place or hurt the farmers who lived there. He’d thought he was doing a favor to the tenants whose land he sold. They’d be better off with a more attentive landlord.
Looking back, with clear eyes, he could see he should have been a better landlord. He should never have left the running of the place to Gillett or trusted a word the man said. Shrewsbury had found the perfect pawn to enact his revenge. Not only had he taken Henry’s childhood home, he’d make certain that when he was done with it, it was little more than a rotting pile of ruin.
But to do such a thing with his own daughter in residence there? Shrewsbury was even more of a monster than Henry had thought. “My lady, we should be on our way,” he said.
Katie shook her head. “No. I need to… I don’t…” She looked at Henry. “Everything makes so much more sense now. Why the servants didn’t patch the holes in the roof; why no one has been brought in to fix the peeling paper or the moldering furnishings. My father has no intention of making Carlisle Hall a home.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you,” Gillett sneered. “You can’t terminate me for doing what I’ve been told.”
“Oh, you are most certainly terminated,” Katie said. “In fact, if I ever see you again, I’ll have you shot. There are women and children under your care, sir, and you were happy to let them freeze and starve.”
“The marquess—”
“Is as cold and unfeeling as you. I will make certain you never receive another penny from my father, and if I have any say, you’ll never find another position in this part of the country again.” Her voice was stern and held a final authority Henry didn’t think even her father would dare question.
Gillett drew himself up, and Henry took a step forward. He knew where this was going, and he wasn’t about to allow the steward to so much as lay a finger on Katie. “Don’t do it, Gillett. Don’t eventhinkit.”
Gillett rounded on him. “You think you’re so much better than me? You’re no different. I was never so glad as the day I found out you gambled away Carlisle Hall and I’d never have to see your face again. Only now, here you are with this ugly harpy with a devil’s mark. I’m probably cursed just standing—”
Henry’s fist shot out before he had time to think. It landed square on Gillett’s jaw, sending the man stumbling backward. Henry was no boxer, and he’d done little more than give the steward a sore jaw, but it had shut the man up, which was exactly what Henry had wanted. He stepped forward, and Katie grasped his arm, ostensibly to keep him from hitting Gillett again. But Henry didn’t plan to hit the man—he simply looked down his nose at the rubbish.
“If I ever see you again, you’ll wish you’d been shot. Now, get out of my sight.”
Gillett scowled at him but gathered himself and moved to return to the Wolf and Lion. His entrance was prevented by Pointer, who blocked his way.
“I think we’ve seen enough of you for today, Mr. Gillett,” Pointer said.
Muttering to himself, Gillett slunk away, casting a dark look over his shoulder.
Pointer wiped his hands together as though dusting them off. “Now, how about that brandy, Your Grace?”
“I’d love to, Mr. Pointer, but I should see Lady Katherine home. She will be missed if she is away for much longer.”
“Of course. Do come back, my lady.”
“I will, Mr. Pointer. Thank you.”
She kept her head high as they moved down the steps. He paused on the walk and turned to her. “Gillett was drunk and angry. Don’t give another thought to his words.”
She nodded, pressing her lips together.
“It’s a birthmark,” Henry said. “It doesn’t take anything away from your beauty. And it’s most certainly not from the devil. That’s ignorance and superstition.”
“You’d be surprised how many people are ignorant and superstitious, then,” she whispered.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. He hated tears, hated that Gillett had hurt her. “Want me to go hit him again? Or I’ll haul him over here and make him apologize. How about that?”
She gave him a weak smile. “Unnecessary, but thank you for thinking of it. I need tougher skin.” She touched her face. “Pun not intended.”
Henry leaned close. “You only need to see yourself as I do.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back. “Now, we’d best return you to Carlisle Hall before Mrs. Murray wakes. You’ll have to confess this outing to her at some point. If your father doesn’t hear the gossip from one of the gentlemen inside the inn, he’ll have a letter from Gillett by the end of the week.”
“I’llwrite to my father,” she said, taking Henry’s arm and allowing him to lead her back across the street. “I don’t doubt Gillett’s words, but I want to hear it from my father himself. I just can’t believe he’d allow his hatred for your family to ruin the lives of so many.”
“I don’t understand it myself. That’s why we need to search that library.”
To his surprise, she nodded. “You’re right. I want to understand what has made him hate you so much.” She halted, forcing Henry to pause too.
