Devon
crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. “Malcolm, I have been
compromised and I demand satisfaction.”
An
explosive silence met this pronouncement. Devon didn’t blame them; it was never
something he’d ever thought to hear himself say.
Malcolm’s
brow lowered. “What are you saying, St. John?”
Devon
turned to Kat. She sat still as a stone, hands tightly gripped in her lap, her
cheeks pale. She’d managed to partially dry her eyes, Malcolm’s handkerchief
twisted between her fingers. “Kat, I hate to tell your brother our secrets, but
‘tis necessary.”
“Secrets?”
She blinked up at him, her lashes spiked with wetness. “We have none.”
“We’ve one
or two. I just want you to know that ‘tis necessary.”
Her brow
lowered and he could see she was trying to discern his meaning. Meanwhile, he
turned to Malcolm. “Prior to this, my reputation was spotless. Reparation must
be made. I demand that Katherine Macdonald marry me.”
Kat gasped.
“You—but I—how could you—” She clamped her mouth closed and glared. “No,” she said.
“I will not do it.”
“You must;
you seduced me.”
Malcolm’s
brows lowered. “Seduced? St. John, have a care what you’re about.”
“Your
sister tempted me to run away and visit her,” Devon said promptly.
Kat jumped
to her feet. “I did no such thing!”
“Did you or
did you not allow me into your bedchamber through the window?”
Her cheeks
red as could be, she snapped, “Yes, but only because I feared you’d fall from
the tree.”
“But... if
she was inside her room, how could she tempt you?” Malcolm asked, apparently
bewildered.
“She was
walking around in a green silk night rail beside an open window that had a very
strategically placed tree beside it. How could I help myself?”
“How
indeed,” Malcolm murmured, comprehension finally dawning on his face. Fiona
started to say something, but he caught her hand and held it to him. “Devon, I
suppose you blame Kat for the tree’s existence, as well.”
“I believe
she planted it by her window for that very purpose.”
“That tree
is three hundred years old,” Kat sputtered.
“Ah ha! So
you admit that the seduction was planned in advance.”
Malcolm
stifled a laugh, and even Fiona smiled.
But Kat
just glared. “I admit to nothing except allowing you into my room. That was my
only fault.”
“Well,
now,” Malcolm said. “This is far more serious than I thought. Kat Macdonald,
you admit to allowing Mr. St. John into your bedroom at night.”
“Only
once.”
Devon
nodded, then added, “She also locked all her windows and doors so that the only
way into the house was by climbing the tree. That is how devious she was. She
had to know that a challenge like that would only inflame a man more.”
Malcolm
tsked. “He’s right. Lass, what were you thinking?”
“You’ve
always told me I should lock my doors!”
“And leave
your window open with a tree right beside it?”
“Well no,
but—”
“Malcolm,
as you can see, your sister has led me down a dark path. And I, in my
innocence, followed like a lamb to the slaughter.”
A tremor of
a smile touched Malcolm’s mouth. “Well, Kat. What have you to say for
yourself?”
Kat planted
her hands on her hips. “I have nothing to say! Not a blooming thing! St. John,
I will not let you get away with this. You were the one who wanted to come into
my room. And you were the one who wanted to tie me up with scarves and kiss me
and—”
“Scarves?”
Malcolm looked stunned.
Devon just
smiled.
“Who tied
who up with scarves?” Malcolm demanded.
“Devon tied
me up. He’s the one who—” She stopped, her brow lowering as she stared at Devon.
“Wait a moment. You tricked me. You tricked me into confessing about— Oh! I see
what you were— You scoundrel!”
He blinked
innocently. “Me?”
“You made
those outrageous allegations because you wanted me to admit to—oh!”
Devon came
to stand before her, a question in his gaze. “I’m sorry I tricked you, but I
thought it would be best if Malcolm knew how things stood between us.”
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