Page 147 of Kathryn

“Don’t bother,” she snapped, yanking on the door latch, and tumbling out of the carriage without either steps or assistance. She left the door hanging open and strode toward the house without a backward glance.

Cranston opened the door before she even reached it. “Ah, Your Grace—”

“Not now,” she barked, knowing even as she spoke that she would have to apologize to the ancient butler later for her abruptness. But not now. Not when she barely made it up the stairs before the tears began to flow.

Katie prayed her chambers would be empty. Of course, that was too much to ask, and when she flung open the door, she almost ran poor Becky down.

“What is it?” Becky demanded, grabbing Katie’s arms, her small hands surprisingly strong.

“I—I just shut my foot in the door and it hurts.”

Becky scowled. “I saw Lord Jasper in the carriage with you.” She led Katie to the settee in front of the dormant fireplace. “Sit here a moment and I will ring for a tray.”

“If I eat or drink anything I will just cast it all up.”

Becky dropped down beside her. “I was downstairs in the kitchen when your carriage returned without you. John Coachman said Lord Jasper sent it back. What happened?”

“If you can believe it, he once again tried to rekindle what we had.”

“He must be mad.”

“No, just desperate for money.” Katie yanked off one glove and then the other and flung them onto a nearby table where they landed with a very unsatisfying floof. “That isn’t the worst of it. When he realized I was not afraid of him telling Dulverton—”

“What? How can you not be afr—”

“Because I am going to tell him everything, that is how.”

Becky gave Katie an annoyingly self-righteous look. “That is what I have said all along. If that is the case, then you need not fear Lord Jasper at all.”

“Unfortunately, he had another, more awful threat in reserve.”

“What could be more awful than telling tales to His Grace?”

“Telling them to a newspaperman.”

Becky’s jaw dropped. “Oh, Lord. What—what are you going to do?”

“He wants three thousand pounds.”

“Are you—do you have such a sum?” Becky sputtered, her eyes round.

“Of course I don’t.” She did not tell her friend that she had at least that much in jewels. Nor did she admit she was considering giving some of them to Jasper in lieu of money. The pearls from Selina and Caius were worth a fortune alone. It would be agonizing to use her sister and brother-in-law’s generous gift to bribe a man, but getting Jasper away from Gerrit, and out of her life, was worth even more.

“Perhaps His Grace can talk sense to—”

“Do you honestly believe Dulverton would talk to a man trying to blackmail me?” Katie snapped. “This is my problem; I will deal with it.”

“But I thought you said you would tell His Grace everything?”

“After that cad is gone.”

Becky covered her face with her hands. “Why must you be so willful?” Her words were muffled, but Katie still heard the frustration and fear in them.

She patted her friend’s back. “I do not know why,” she answered honestly. “But it is too late for me to change now, even if I could. I made this mess, and I will clean it up.”

“How?” Becky wailed.

“I don’t know,” Katie admitted, rubbing soothing circles on her agitated friend’s back as she thought about giving Jasper what he wanted. “But I will think of something.”