Chapter Twelve #2
Dacia chuckled, wiping the wine-smelling wet spot on her cheek and looking to her husband, who simply shook his head at his brother’s behavior.
Titus was demonstrative, more so when he was drunk, so Dacia giggled as she headed over to the dais where her husband was sitting.
That left Katiana alone with Titus, who was riveted to her like a moth to flame.
He couldn’t look at anything else.
“Do you like the dress, then?” Katiana said, holding out the skirt to show him. “Lady Doncaster was so very kind to loan it to me.”
Titus’ eyes glimmered at her. “I like it,” he said. “You are magnificent in it. And it has made me realize something.”
“What?”
“That I have missed you in the short time we have been separated.”
Katiana smiled coyly. “It has been a very short amount of time.”
“Are you saying that you did not miss me?”
She laughed softly. “Of course I missed you,” she said. “How can I not miss you?”
Titus took her hand and turned her for the hall entry. “Will you walk with me?” he said. “Once we sit at the table, I must share you with Dacia and Cass, and I do not want to share you at the moment.”
She didn’t particularly want to share him, either.
Katiana smiled up at him, looping her arm through his as he led her from the hall, out into the evening that was surprisingly mild.
Overhead, an occasional nightbird sang and the moon hung low in the sky.
Titus and Katiana were so engrossed in looking at one another that Katiana very nearly stepped in a puddle of unknown origin.
She gasped and froze, and Titus took quick action by swinging her into his arms and carrying her to safety several feet away.
“That was very gallant of you,” she said as he put her on her feet. “You helped me avert a disaster.”
Titus took her hand as he faced her beneath the starry sky. “It would not do to have that lovely dress ruined,” he said. “In truth, I wanted to get you away from Cassius and Dacia for a reason.”
Her eyes twinkled. “I thought you did not wish to share me.”
“I don’t,” he said. “But I have another reason. I wanted to tell you that Cass has agreed to negotiate for our marriage.”
Katiana looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
Titus lifted his eyebrows. “I mean that if your father has passed by the time we reach Callerton, it is a probability that I will have to negotiate with your brother,” he said. “The last time I saw Ansel was when I pounded him for striking you. Something tells me that he has not forgotten that.”
Katiana’s smile faded. “I think that is a fair statement.”
“That will put me at a disadvantage.”
Katiana sighed heavily, all of the joy gone from her face as she thought on her father, and her brother, and how men she hadn’t seen in years should suddenly be responsible for her future happiness. Everything she wanted and hoped for would come down to them.
Everything.
“It does not seem fair that two men who have disregarded me my entire life should still be in control of it,” she said after a moment.
“My father was apathetic at best, and Ansel… Titus, all he has ever done is torment and hurt me. And he hates you. I know he does. He will never give you permission to marry me, so we must pray that my father is still alive. At least there will be a chance.”
Titus was thinking the very same thing, though he hadn’t wanted to voice it. It distressed him to know that Katiana had the same mindset he did.
“That is why Cass is coming with us,” he said.
“He is an excellent negotiator. Ansel does not know him and should therefore have no prejudice against him. Honestly, Katia, I am not without means to buy myself a bride, though I’m loath to put it in those terms. I will offer them a goodly sum of money for you if that is what it takes. ”
Katiana shook her head, becoming increasingly despondent.
“Let us speak of this in truthful terms, Titus,” she said.
“All we’ve ever spoken of is a desire to court and to wed.
We’ve not spoken of the reality of the situation except briefly.
The reality is that my father will more than likely agree to a betrothal simply to be rid of me.
No man wants a spinster for a daughter. But if my father is dead and Ansel is the new Lord Callerton, he will deny us out of spite.
Worse still, he might even try to find another husband for me simply to punish you for beating him down those years ago.
He was a nasty, vindictive lad back then, and I do not think he has changed. I cannot imagine that he has.”
“Mayhap,” Titus said. “But you do not know that for certain. We can hope for the best.”
Katiana gazed up at him, pain in her expression. “If he had changed, my father would not have sent him to serve at Thornton Tower,” she said quietly. “My father sent Ansel away because he could not tolerate him. That does not speak of a changed man to me.”
She had a point. Titus sighed faintly. “That is very possible, but I do not see where I have a choice,” he said. “I must ask permission, from your father or your brother. That is why Cass is coming—to ensure success.”
Katiana simply looked at him a moment before hanging her head.
“I do not know why I did not think of this sooner,” she said.
“What we were to ultimately face, that is. I suppose I was simply caught up in happiness I’ve never known before.
But now that we are speaking of it, the truth is that this marriage may not happen at all.
I’ve been given a taste of happiness I never thought I would experience, but mayhap that is all it will ever be—a taste. ”
“You do not know that, Katia. I will not give up. You must believe that.”
She pulled her hand from his. “Even if my father is still alive, if Ansel has his ear, I am sure my brother will poison my father against you,” she said. “He will have something to say about this, and it will not be good.”
Titus could see that she was working herself into a bit of a state. “You must have faith that Cass will ensure our marriage,” he said. “My brother is very persuasive. I have complete confidence in him.”
Katiana was still looking at the ground. “May I ask you a question?”
“Of course, love.”
She suddenly looked up at him. Her smile, for a brief moment, was back. “Love,” she murmured. “You called me ‘love.’”
He grinned, his teeth reflecting the weak moonlight. “Did I offend you?”
“Nay.”
“Then what is your question?”
“How badly do you want to marry me, Titus?”
“I should think that is fairly obvious.”
“Tell me.”
“So badly that I will do anything to gain your hand. Even if it means giving my entire fortune to your father in exchange.”
She pondered that before looking to her feet again. It was clear that she was mulling something over. When she finally spoke, he barely heard her.
“There is one way to force him into an agreement.”
Titus frowned. “How could I do that?”
“If I am… compromised,” she said softly. “No man will want another man’s leavings. That will practically ensure his agreement, and if we take it to the church, they will insist on a marriage no matter what my father or brother say.”
Titus stared at her. He hadn’t expected to hear that coming out of her mouth.
After a moment, he sighed heavily and scratched his chin, turning away from her as he pondered her suggestion.
He found himself looking up at the sky, mulling it all over, the advantages and disadvantages.
So much hinged on whether Paulus de Edington was still alive.
If he was, there was a chance. But if he wasn’t…
The question remained if Titus was willing to take that risk.
“I think compromising you would be a desperate move,” he finally said.
“I may be the dandy lad of the family, foolish in some ways, reckless in others, but I’m not stupid.
When the situation is serious, I understand the greater implications better than anyone.
If I compromised you… there would be no turning back. ”
Katiana suddenly turned away from him, skirts gathered, running for the keep. Startled, Titus took off after her, his long strides catching her easily. He grasped her before she could reach the stairs leading into the keep, but she fought him. She smacked his hands and tried to pull away.
“Let me go,” she demanded. “Release me, Titus.”
“I will not,” he said, trying not to hurt her as he attempted to maintain his grip. “Not until you tell me why you ran. What did I say?”
She was starting to weep. “It would be a desperate move,” she said tightly.
“I am so ashamed to have suggested it. I should not have even said it. But… but I am terrified that this joy we’ve found in one another is only temporary.
It would be easier to walk away from it now than go through the tribulation of being denied permission to marry.
It would destroy me, Titus. To feed my hopes and dreams only to see them dashed?
It would be easier to part ways and forget we ever spoke of such things. ”
He scowled. Grasping her by both arms, he gave her a gentle shake. “Look at me,” he commanded softly. “Katia, look at me now. Do it.”
She wouldn’t do it. She kept her head down, moving it from side to side when he tried to force her to look at him.
Unable to stand it any longer, Titus began kissing the cheek that was facing him.
He pulled her against him, his muscular body against her soft one, and tenderly kissed her cheek and forehead, feeling her resistance fade.
She was beginning to tremble.