“You’ve only managed to escape marriage because your father is infirmed and your brother traipses over the continents. Once he returns and settles into his responsibilities, including those toward you, everything will change.”
No, it wouldn’t. Catherine was stronger than Winnie. Although she had to readily admit she’d grown more independent after Sterling left. Her father had begun to teach her things, for fear that her wanderlust brother might not return from his travels. Since her father had fallen ill, she’d taken it upon herself to step into his shoes as much as possible. She knew her forceful nature no doubt intimidated some and was whispered about by others. But she’d not let her father’s legacy fall into decay or disarray.
“I’m all of two and twenty, Winnie, and no man has indicated an interest in having me as a wife.”
“It’s because of the way the Devil Earl looked at you that night as though he was singling you out—and the way you peered back. You should have lowered your gaze as any decent woman would. Now you are tainted by him.”
Catherine forced herself to laugh. If Winnie knew that Catherine had done a good deal more than look at him recently, had actually welcomed his kiss, she’d no doubt expire on the spot.
“He was striving to intimidate. I’m not one to be intimidated. It seemed the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that part of my character,” Catherine said.
“What you demonstrated was that you are willful. No man wants a willful wife.”
“Then no man shall have me, for I’ll not change to please him.”
“When you love a man, you will do anything to gain his favor.”
“Even allow him to beat you?”
Winnie flinched, and while Catherine regretted the harshness of her words, she didn’t know how else to make her dear friend listen—for her own good. “Leave him, Winnie. Come with me. We’ll go to my father’s house in the country. You’ll find sanctuary there.”
“Do you have any idea how furious my husband would be? He would find me, Catherine, and he would kill me for so blatant a betrayal. I have no doubt. He is a proud man, and when his pride is threatened—”
“He strikes out at you, because he hasn’t the courage to face his own weaknesses.”
“You think so poorly of him.”
“Why should I think otherwise? I see what he does to you. You strive to hide it, but I fear a day will come when it can’t be hidden.”
“Not five minutes ago, you were asking if he kissed me. He does and sometimes it’s very lovely.”
“Lovely? No. A kiss should be all-consuming, make your knees weaken, your heart pound…” Her voice trailed off as she shook her head. She was getting carried away, remembering Claybourne’s kiss.
“Catherine, what have you done?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re acting most peculiar and your description…Have you had a dalliance?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then why this sudden interest in kisses?”
“I’m simply trying to determine why you put up with all that you do. What does he give you that makes any of it worth it?”
“It is a woman’s place to stand by her husband.”
Catherine squeezed Winnie’s hand. “Winnie, I’m not your family who insists you be the good daughter and the good wife. It breaks my heart to see you suffer like this.”
Tears rolled from Winnie’s eyes. “Oh, Catherine, sometimes he terrifies me so. They say his first wife was clumsy and fell down the stairs. And his second slipped in the bedchamber and banged her head so hard on the floor that it killed her. I knew these tales, but I didn’t doubt the veracity of them, not until after I was wed. He is so charming when he is not angry. Oh, but when he is displeased, he is most frightening.”
“Then leave him.”
“I can’t!” she ground out. “The law will not protect me. He can claim that I abandoned him and the law will give him my son. My family will be mortified and not stand beside me, and my husband, dear God, Catherine, the fury he will exhibit will pale in comparison to anything he has revealed before. I know it as surely as I know that our tea has grown cold. It will be miserable for everyone. It’s best if I simply accept my fate and strive to appease him in all matters.”
Catherine released Winnie’s hand and leaned back. “Oh, Winnie, I hate what he has done to you. The physical abuse is bad enough, but what he has done to ruin the lovely woman who resided inside you—I shall never forgive him for that.”
Grimacing, Winnie reached across the table and took Catherine’s hand. “I know how headstrong you can be. You must never confront him about this matter, you must never let on that you know. If he feels threatened, Catherine, dear Lord, save us both.”