Catherine slipped to the end of the bed, holding her hand out to her father for her rose-colored robe that lay across her vanity bench. "I don't understand why the choice was necessary and perhaps giving me the reason for your choice would make a difference."
He handed her the robe. "Catherine, dredging up the past will do no good."
Catherine hurried into it, tying the belt around her waist and slipping her feet into the slippers beside the bed. "I need to know. For myself, if for nothing else. I need to know."
Her father shook his head sadly. "You have been through a tragic ordeal. It is over. Why Captain Lucifer is disturbed about papers I signed concerning another man doesn't matter. Forget it and go on with your life. You will never see this Captain Lucifer again. I made certain he will never privateer for England again. He will never cross your path, or hurt you again. I will not allow it!"
Catherine felt her breath catch. Her father's words had hurt her more than he could ever understand. The thought of never seeing Lucian again hit her full force and she collapsed to the bed.
"Catherine," Randolph Abelard cried, and hurried to his daughter's side.
She once again accepted the comfort of his embrace. She purposely hadn't informed him that Captain Lucifer was Lucian Darcmoor. Santos had requested on her return voyage home that she keep that information to herself. He had explained that Lucian sought to reclaim his father's estate and if it was known that he was the pirate Lucifer his lands would never be returned to him.
Catherine honored his request, having had no intention of telling anyone of his true identity, not even her father.
"You must put these memories behind you and get on with your life," her father urged. "It is time we found you a husband."
"No, Papa," she said, and pulled out of his embrace with a sigh.
"Now, Catherine, I am your father and if I feel it is time that you marry then you must trust my judgment."
Catherine stood, shaking her head while running her fingers through her tangled hair. "Will you buy me a husband, Papa?"
Her father grew cross over her question. "I will offer a generous dowry, which is normal with your social status."
"The dowry would indeed need to be generous, or no man would accept it."
Her father attempted to argue, but she again shook her head. "It is time we both faced the facts, Papa. My reputation is ruined. As hard as you tried to keep my capture silent, it just didn't work. Gossip spread like wildfire upon my return. Men have propositioned me —"
Her father jumped to his feet. "Who?" Who dared to insult you so?"
"Papa, don't," she said sadly, recalling the few men who had brazenly told her they wanted to taste a sample of Lucifer's private stock. "Don't make this any more difficult than it already is. I am being openly gossiped about by men and women alike. No respectable man would accept me in marriage and I refuse to create even more gossip. It is time I go home."
"You can't run away," he insisted. "We must stay here in London and fight this injustice."
Injustice. Lucian had often spoken of the injustice he had suffered. Now she suffered along with her father. She wondered if Lucian's revenge tasted sweet to him.
"I want to go home to Yorkshire where I belong."
"You're going home to hide," he argued. "You must stay and fight back. In time the gossip will wane. The social set will find fresh gossip to entertain them and yours will have been forgotten. But if you run off and hide, they will forever hound you with their spiteful tongues."
"I'm going home," she said. "Tomorrow I will attend the Trenton's' dinner party with Aunt Lilith. I promised her I would go and I don't wish to disappoint her since Gwen Trenton is her close friend. Naturally the two have been scheming in hopes that this small intimate gathering might help my social status."
"It might," her father added optimistically. "Lilith tells me Gwen has invited a few recent visitors from outside London to attend."
Catherine shook her head. "I have no doubt that by tomorrow evening the new arrivals will have heard all about me. And besides, it doesn't matter; I leave for Yorkshire at the end of the week."
"You can't. I forbid it," her father said sternly.
Catherine sighed and dropped down on the vanity bench. "Oh, Papa, you don't understand. I must go home."
"You are strong and courageous, stay and battle for your future. I will help you. We will face these fiends together," he offered.
"I can't, Papa." She took a deep breath and delivered the news that she had been aware of just before she left Heaven. "I carry Captain Lucifer's child."