‘And when your father decided to marry his mistress,’ Radcliffe went on, in that same soft voice, ‘his family would not approve of the match – understandable, I suppose – and banished him from London to avoid the scandal. Quite the fall from grace for him, I should imagine.’
A silence fell in the aftermath of these words.
‘May I ask, my lord,’ Kitty refused to allow her voice to tremble, ‘how you came to develop this delightful little theory?’
His eyes were bright with triumph. ‘My tiger, Lawrence – useful chap, does far more for me than just holding the horses – heard the whole from your Mr Linfield’s manservant a few days ago. Did you know that was why Mr Linfield broke off your engagement so suddenly? I’m afraid your father confessed the whole to the Squire while deep in his cups one night shortly before his death. After such a revelation, the Linfields could not countenance the marriage.’
Kitty jerked her head in a forceful shake, even as the words rang horribly true. So that was why she had lost Mr Linfield, why his parents had thrown Miss Spencer in his path so hastily – because Papa had revealed the family secret, after all their years of keeping it safely hidden. She felt a hot rush of despairing rage – at her father, at Radcliffe, at the whole world for landing her in this mess.
Radcliffe took a pinch of snuff with a graceful twist of his wrist, and the casualness of this action – when she was suffering from such a shock – so infuriated Kitty that it quite crystallised her thoughts.
‘And what exactly,’ she asked coolly, marshalling herself once more, ‘is the relevance of my mother’s background to this discussion?’
Radcliffe raised a single brow. ‘I find it hugely relevant,’ he said calmly. ‘I do not imagine – honest though you may have been about your family’s financial destitution – that you have divulged the scandalous details of your parentage to Archie. And Archie, kind-hearted though he is, would not take such a revelation warmly. A love affair is exciting, to be sure, but Archie has been raised with an admirable dislike of scandal. And should the news spread, you will not find this city a welcoming place.’
Kitty clenched trembling fingers into a fist. ‘And I suppose in order for the news not to spread, you would have me leave London?’ she asked bluntly.
‘Oh, I am not so heartless as that.’ He shut his snuffbox with a decisive snap, as if readying himself to leave, the deal done. ‘You may decide for yourself where you go, and when. You may even attempt to seduce another member of the ton – it matters not to me,’ he said carelessly. ‘But I would ask that you leave Archie, and my family, alone.’
Silence again. Kitty supposed he could have been more ruthless in his victory, more vindictive. Were she in his shoes, she would have seen him off on the morning post personally.
But then again, was it so kind? The London Season was about to begin in earnest, and without any proper connections, Kitty could only exist on its peripheries, where the very wealthy did not frequent. Pointless. And with limited funds, expensive. She would instead have to commit herself to one of Aunt Dorothy’s original choices for her. Two thousand pounds a year was not to be sniffed at, after all … She thought of the easy way the de Lacys treated their wealth. As if it were barely worth their consideration – simply a fact of life, much like the air they breathed. What she wouldn’t give, for her sisters to have the same security …
‘Do we have an understanding, Miss Talbot?’ Radcliffe drew her attention back to him. His tone was not unkind, now. Did some part of him feel a measure of sympathy for the loss he could see in her eyes?
‘An understanding,’ she said slowly, pausing over each syllable. ‘Yes, I think so. I understand that you feel you need to expose me to be rid of me. And I also understand that, in response, I will take Archie to Gretna Green to be married there. I feel it is safe to assume, given the affection you bear him, that upon our marriage you would do your best to hush up the scandal of our elopement.’
Radcliffe, famed for his poise and calm on even the bloodiest of battlefields, felt his jaw drop.
‘Gretna Green?’ he repeated, foolishly.
‘I own the thought of travelling such a long way on a Sunday to be rather daunting – but if it is truly necessary, I imagine I will be up to the task. After all, needs must.’
Radcliffe found himself gaping at her incredulously.
‘Needs must,’ he echoed faintly. He stared at her, seated so primly upon her seat, a vision of elegance masking an evil soul.