The Rogue’s Christmas Gift (Wicked Widows League #24)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

A s the carriage pulled away from Lady Wyndam’s, Harrison relaxed against the crisp leather seat, his hand secured around Kat’s waist. The thick wool of her cape rubbed against his fingertips as the they bounced through the snow-covered streets of Mayfair.

There was a small part of Harrison that was saddened by Lady Wyndam’s advice because he knew once the will was retrieved, he would lose Kat again. Maybe this time it would be forever.

Harrison wanted to fall to his knees and beg her to stay by his side. He didn’t give a damn about anything but her. The past four days had only confirmed what he’d known in his heart since he was a boy—that they were meant to be together for as long as she would have him.

He wanted to inquire about Lady Wyndam’s comment, but Harrison could only torture himself so much. He didn’t want Kat to marry him because she needed a titled husband, he wanted her to marry him because she loved him. As he loved her—unconditionally.

A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he couldn’t stop himself for blurting the words out. “You do realize that I would still want to marry you even if I wasn’t in need of funds?” he asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

Suddenly, he was hot in the otherwise cold carriage, the feel of his greatcoat heavy on his long body. The foot warmer had become lukewarm while they were in Lady Wyndam’s. Thankfully, the ride from her home to his wasn’t long at all.

Kat let out a weary sigh. “I know that.” She turned to face him. “T-that is not why I refused you,” she whispered.

Gently touching her cheek, Harrison guided her gaze to his. “Why? I know you care for me, or you did once.”

The conversation had taken a darker turn than Harrison had wanted it to, but he needed to know. By his calculations, he’d asked her to marry him seven times.

“I do care for you. You mean everything to me, Harrison.” Her fingers ran through his hair, her eyes misting with tears. “There’s something I haven’t told you, and I’m afraid once you know, everything will change.”

She released him, turning away and staring out the window at the passing homes.

He stilled, confusion clouding his mind as he tried to decipher what could possibly change things between them. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing that she could ever do that would alter his love.

“Kat,” he called the nickname he’d used for her all of their lives. “Look at me, please.”

Harrison waited patiently for her to face him. All he wanted to do was to gaze into those hazel eyes that had haunted his dreams for the past eight years.

When Kat finally faced him, tears streamed down her high cheekbones. The sight of them shattered Harrison in two. He dragged her across the bench seat, pulling her body close to his.

Cupping her cheek, he gazed into her eyes. “There is nothing that you could say that would ever stop me from loving you. Do you understand me?”

Pressing her hands to her cheeks, she wiped the tears away. Kat nodded in agreement. “I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”

Harrison took her hands, squeezing them. “When you’re ready,” he agreed, not wanting to rush her. Whatever it was, it wasn’t important, especially if it would allow them to move forward with their lives together.

They rode in silence for moments, his arms wrapped around her waist, Kat’s head resting comfortably on his shoulder.

It was how he’d always imagined they would be. Their life simple and filled with happiness.

“I have to get into Pleasure House,” Kat said, her determined voice interrupting the quiet.

Harrison reared back to peer at her. “If you’re going to Pleasure House, I’m going with you.” He squeezed her side, wanting his words to penetrate her.

He was well aware that Kat was an independent woman, but he would assist her in every way possible until she dismissed him. His problems could wait; there would always be an heiress in need of a husband, or he could say to hell with the earldom.

He’d never wanted the title. Maybe this was his opportunity to finally have the life that was stolen from him all those years ago. If his father had never inherited the blasted title, he would be married to Kat with three or four children running around their small home. He would know nothing of society, balls, parliament, or heiresses.

Although, Harrison had not had a miserable life. He’d had friends like Richmore and Aberdeen, but there was always a part of him missing.

Kat.

“Very well. We leave at midnight and I’ll need a shirt and a pair of your breeches?—”

Breeches?

“My breeches? Whatever for?” he asked flabbergasted. The image of her curves squeezed in a pair of his breeches had his member hardening.

A state he’d often found himself in these last four days.

“Yes. How else are we to move freely around Pleasure House? Skirts will just hinder me, and I need to get into my study without being discovered.” She snuggled closer to him to ward off the chill in the carriage.

Rubbing her arm up and down, he tried to give her some semblance of warmth. The foot warmer was barely working since they had been out for some time.

“Do you have plans to climb up the trellis?” he jested, wondering why she would need to wear his clothing.

She laughed at him, shaking her head. The moment much lighter than it had been. “No, but if we are to be unnoticed, I need to dress like a man and be able to run without the hindrance of skirts.”

The carriage came to a stop in front of his home.

“Then we leave tonight and I’ll give you a pair of breeches, but I dare say, mine may be a little long on you,” he teased, as his coachman knocked on the carriage door.

Harrison opened the door, stepping out into the cold London day. He offered Kat his hand, assisting her down.

He ignored the rightness of it all as he walked her to his door, where Wilson was waiting patiently for him, his eyes slightly wide.

“My lord, you have a guest. I’m afraid she insisted on waiting for you,” his butler said, wringing his hands together.

“She?” Harrison asked, in confusion as he assisted Kat out of her cloak before removing his greatcoat.

“Yes, I wanted to speak to you directly.” Lady Selena Davenport stood at the opening of the parlor glaring at him and Kat.

“Thank you, Wilson. Please have tea sent to the parlor.” Harrison turned to Kat, hoping that he could speak to the other woman alone. “Perhaps you would like to go to your room and warm up.”

“No. I believe I would like to hear what she has to say.” Kat walked past him, ignoring his suggestion.

Sighing out in defeat Harrison followed Kat into the parlor where Lady Selena was waiting for them.

He was thankful that the fire was blazing in the fireplace to warm his cold bones, but there was no denying the cold emanating from both of his guests.

Selena leaned against the sofa; her hands folded over her small breasts as she observed Kat with a superiority that was highly unnecessary.

Harrison was a bit put out with Lady Selena’s behavior in his home. He had made the other woman no promises; in fact, their conversation was cut short because of the news of Kat being evicted from Pleasure House.

“Madame Delcour, as I live and breathe,” Lady Selena said.

Kat took a seat on the chaise lounge, relaxing against the embroidered pillows. Harrison fought the smile that tried to break free on his lips at the sight of Kat being comfortable in his home. Unlike Lady Selena, Kat belonged in his home, and in his heart.

Renewed hope surged through him, after their brief conversation in the carriage. Perhaps once she was free of this secret of hers, they could move on with a life together.

“Lady Selena, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of ever meeting you,” Kat said cooly.

“No, you haven’t. I’m surprised you know who I am at all. Especially since I am so above you in station,” Lady Selena said, before walking to sit on the sofa.

Feeling colder inside than he had outside in the winter elements, Harrison walked over to the sideboard, desperately in need of a drink. He was used to men, being one himself, but never had he imagined that women could be so calculating with their words.

“Above?” Kat’s voice rose slightly from behind Harrison. “I think we are very much the same. The only difference is that you don’t get paid for your services.”

Harrison choked on nothing, spinning around to stare at the two women. He was afraid that they would soon start bareknuckle boxing.

Fuck, and he thought his sex was the more aggressive one. How wrong he was; there was nothing more vicious than two women in a verbal spat.

Having heard enough of their verbal assault, he cleared his throat. “Why are you here, Lady Selena?”

She turned away from Kat, her gaze flicking up and down his body. “It is not unheard of for one to visit their betrothed, is it?”

“Your betrothed?” Kat sat up, her head swinging from Harrison to Lady Selena.

Running his hand through his hair, he tried not to panic, but clearly, Kat was not pleased by Lady Selena’s declaration.

“We are not betrothed. I did not accept your offer,” he reminded the woman.

Surely, he would remember if he’d agreed to being her husband and the father of her unborn child. Harrison could admit that he was going to accept the ludicrous arrangement before he ran out to get to Kat.

“After your departure, I informed my mother of our arrangement and she wrote to your mother. The plans are in motion and we will wed on Twelfth Night. It’ll be grand,” she said it like Harrison had no say in his own life.

However, he did. It was his life, and he didn’t care if the earldom was saved or not. All he wanted was Kat.

Kat stood. “I will let you two plan your wedding. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pack my things?—”

“Pack?” Harrison rushed over to her, not understanding her meaning.

“Good,” Selena said from behind him. “Once we’re wed, I would expect you both to behave more discreetly. I don’t want my husband’s indiscretions whispered about in ballrooms.”

“No, we wouldn’t want to add to your own indiscretions, which are many.” Kat walked up to Lady Selena, and Harrison braced himself to pull them a part. “Tell me, who is the father of your child? Do you know?”

“How dare you speak to me in such a manner!” Lady Selena raised her voice. “It doesn’t matter who the father is. Once we’re married, this child will be Hendershot’s, his family will be saved, and you will still be just a whore.”

“That is enough!” Harrison shouted, rushing to stand in front of Kat and Selena.

“I’d rather be an open whore than a private one. Good day, Lady Selena,” Kat said, before walking toward the open door.

“Kat, wait.” He rushed over to her, taking her by the arm gently. “Don’t leave, I haven’t agreed to anything.”

“It doesn’t matter. We both know that you need to marry an heiress in order to save your family?—”

“I don’t give a damn about my family.” He didn’t want to do this in front of Lady Selena, but Kat needed to know how he really felt.

Kat gave him a sad smile. Her hand smoothing down the lapel of his tailcoat. “You do care, Harrison, and that is why I’m leaving.” She gave him a watery smile that broke him in two. “I will accept Lady Wyndam’s offer to stay at Matron Manor. Thank you for everything. You deserve all the happiness.” Kat walked out of the room.

He took a step forward but was stopped by the cold voice of Lady Selena.

“That was honorable of her,” Lady Selena said.

Whipping around, he faced the cruel woman. “Why the hell did you come here?” he asked, tired of her games.

Harrison walked over to Selena. Up-close, he could see the dark circles under her eyes and the worried look in her blue gaze.

She was afraid, he could see that. Perhaps he was her only hope to save her precious standing in society. Too bad. He would not bind himself to such a woman for anything, especially not to save his fucking family.

“I’m here to make certain you do not renounce our agreement?—”

“We never made an agreement!” he shouted, raising his arms up in the air.

“Your mother guaranteed mine that you would accept my offer. Be reasonable Hendershot, do you really think society and your mother will ever accept a Madame as your countess?” She raised an eyebrow at him, her head tilted to the side. “You will be the fool of the ton . I can only imagine how many men will come forward to tell you that they have had your wife.” She sneered at him.

Walking to the door he faced the hateful woman, seeing first-hand what life as her husband would be like.

The last four days had given him a glimpse of the future he’d always imagined with Kat, and no amount of funds, or the prospect of saving his ungrateful mother from a life of poverty, could sway him to give her up.

If Kat never accepted him as her husband, it no longer mattered. He’d gladly take any morsel that she’d willingly give him and savor it forever.

Although Harrison was far from destitute, their life would have to change significantly, starting with his mother and sister’s spending habits.

“The same could be said if I marry you,” he said, not giving a damn about her feelings.

He was done willingly abiding by everyone’s rules. His father had controlled him for years after he’d lost Kat to Delcour. When Harrison’s father died, his mother had continued that control, insisting that she needed funds to stay abreast of the latest fashions, or to visit Italy and France with her friends.

“Perhaps you’re not as docile as your mother believes you to be.” Lady Selena laughed. “I’m glad, really. It would be boring to have a spineless husband.”

Docile.

Now he knew exactly what his mother thought of him. That he’d do anything she told him to do, and he’d obey happily, like a pet.

Closing his hands into fist, he tried to control the anger that wanted to boil out of him. “Leave, and find another fool to marry,” his voice was low and dangerous.

Lady Selena blinked several times in confusion. “Hendershot, be sensible. What will you do for funds?” she asked.

He was aware that she was trying to convince him to agree to her scheme to save herself. Despite her standing in society, she would be gossiped about, shunned from certain circles, diminished to nothing in the opinion of the ton .

“What I do is of no concern to you. All you need to know is that I’m not marrying you, so you can tell our mothers to stop planning a wedding I never agreed to.” Shifting his weight from side to side, he waited for her to interrupt him with another snide amount. “Goodbye, Lady Selena. I do wish you luck in finding a husband soon.”

He stared down at her middle. The burgundy dress she was wearing, tight and protruding. It was becoming very obvious that Lady Selena was with child.

She rushed over to him, poking her finger into his shoulder. “You fool! What do you think is going to happen?” she asked, her face red with anger. “You think someone like her will ever be accepted in our world? Marry me, and you can still have her.”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t’ want her as my mistress. I want her to be my wife. I’ve always wanted to marry her.” Harrison walked forward, staring into her lifeless blue eyes. “I don’t care if our world accepts her or not, because I accept her and love her for who she is.”

A gasp came from behind him. Harrison, turned finding Kat standing in the hallway a missive in her hand.

“You’ll regret this, Hendershot.” Lady Selena rushed past him.

“I won’t,” he said, not positive that she heard him at all.

It didn’t matter, nothing mattered but the woman standing in front of him with the breathtaking hazel eyes.