“What about your friends?”
“Most of our friends turned their backs on us when I became damaged goods. It’s better now than it was eleven years ago. Time has enabled me to become somewhat rehabilitated. But even so, how can I ask those who slammed their doors in my face then to take me in now? Even if they agreed, it would be humiliating.” She shook her head. “We’ve attended house parties whenever possible, of course, but there haven’t been many invitations there, as you might imagine.”
“Then where have you been living since your father died?”
“We lived on the estate at first, but of course Giles wanted to move his own family in. We could have taken a cottage somewhere, but we’ve been living in hotels instead, because it’s less expensive that way.”
“Less expensive? That’s not possible.”
She gave him a brittle smile. “It is when you’re able to duck out and move on without paying the bill.”
Her cheeks burned at the confession, for she knew how wrong it was. “For the past year, we’ve been all over England, going from hotel to hotel and avoiding our creditors. But then, I met Wilson at the Henley Regatta, and he took a shine to me. When he proposed, it was like the answer to a prayer.”
Devlin studied her for a long moment, his mouth a grim line. “And you think Rycroft is a good way out of the mess?”
“No, Devlin,” she said, her voice hard to her own ears, “I think he’s the only way. But if you’ve any other suggestions, I’m willing to listen. Being a woman, I can’t run off to Africa or some other outpost of empire to make my fortune. And with my sordid past, no one would hire me to be a governess or lady’s maid. Perhaps Icould work in the Savoy laundry or be a chambermaid? Perhaps my mother could indulge her talent for drama and become an actress? Oh, wait, I know!” she added with bright, biting sarcasm. “Josephine could become a nursery governess. That would bring in about fifteen quid a year, and we wouldn’t have to pay for her food and lodgings. Someone might be willing to hire her to care for their children, because unlike me, she’s unsullied.”
Devlin looked away, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “God, Kay,” he muttered.
“Don’t you dare pity me!” she ordered fiercely.
“I’m not. I just…” He paused and took a breath. “I just wish I’d known.”
“And if you had known, what difference would it have made? What could you have done for me?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“Exactly,” she said, his silence making her point with painful clarity. “There are only two ways a man can help a woman out of a situation like mine—one honorable and one not—and neither of those solutions would have been acceptable to either of us. Besides, I’d have refused any form of help from you, honorable or otherwise, because I hated you as much as you hated me.”
“Still, you don’t have to do this, Kay. You don’t have to marry Rycroft. I can give you a loan.”
That was more than she could bear. “No. I’d never be able to pay you back.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. I won’t take charity from my friends. Do you think I’d take it from you? As for these,” she added, snatching the sheaf of bills out of his hands, “my engagement has been formallyannounced, so I will be able to pay them. Banks, I have discovered, are quite willing to loan you heaps of money when you’re officially engaged to an American millionaire. And everything will be all right once I marry Wilson. The marriage settlement will pay off all our debts, and my family will never have to worry about money again. Josephine’s future will be secure.”
“It’s not worth it, Kay.”
“Not worth what? Missing a party or two?”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. It’s not worth selling yourself.”
“I am doing no such thing!” she cried, affronted.
“No? Are you so much in love with Rycroft, then?”
That question felt like a blow to the chest, and it took her a moment to reply.
“I’m very fond of Wilson,” she said at last, her voice prim as any maiden aunt’s. “And he’s very fond of me.”
“So, no, you’re not in love with him.”
She made a sound of impatience and looked away. “I’m fighting for my family’s future as best I can.”
“By capitulating to a man you don’t love who is a controlling, domineering bully?”
She set her jaw and looked at him again. “Your rudeness never ceases to surprise me.”
