would no longer have cared. He hated her.
Finally she had accepted that her dreams were nothing but that, and that no one could save her from her fate. And, gradually, she had ceased to feel at all, either loss or the memory of love, all emotions ground into sand under the millstone of her marriage.
âSo he got rich in America,â Kate mused, following her own thoughts. âHe always was a smart oneâand hardworking. If anyone could do it, I guess he could.â She paused, then continued, âAnd now heâs wanting to marry you again. He must never have forgotten you.â
Angela let out an inelegant snort. âDonât wax romantic on me, Kate. I can usually count on your good sense.â
Kate allowed a little smile. âHard head is more like it, my lady. But even I can see that if a manâs still wanting to marry you after, what, thirteen yearsâ¦?â
âI donât think it is romance that is on his mind. I think itâs revenge. It was my family that hurt him thirteen years ago, and now he has come back to extract his vengeance on us. He has already taken over control of our mines and acquired much of our land, not to mention buying up practically all Jeremyâs debts. The Stanhope family virtually belongs to him. And I, the one who hurt him the most, well, he can bring me permanently under his thumb by marrying me. What exquisite revengeâto have all of us subject to him, applying to him for whatever we might need, currying his favor, obeying him. I cast him off, and he wants to repay me for that. What better way than to make me do what Idid not thirteen years agoâmarry him! He will have the rest of my life to make me suffer, too, for now even Jeremy would not dare take me in against his wishes. Cam owns Jeremy.â
âOh, no, my lady! Cam would not treat you ill,â Kate protested. âHe is a good man.â
Angela raised an eyebrow. âHow can you know that? He seemed so, I know, years ago. Gentle and good andââ Her voice caught for an instant, then she went on. âBut how can you know what is really inside a manâs heart? And after so many years, with all the bitterness he felt about my marriage, with whatever he has had to do to make all the money he has, well, he is bound to have changed. He is obviously a very different man now. The Cam I knew would not have set out to wreck a family, as he has done with us. He would not have tried to force a woman to marry him.â
Kate shrugged. âStillâ¦it does not mean he is a devil like Lord Dunstan. My pa, he was a strict one, and Iâve seen him madder than fire, but he never raised a hand against Ma. You know your brother is not like that. Why, even his old lordship wouldnât have struck his wife.â
Angela cast her a speaking look. âStrike Grandmama? He would not have dared.â She sighed. âI know. You are right. Not all men are like Dunstan. Maybe Cam would not actually hurt me. He was never roughâ¦before. But, oh, Kate, I could not. I could not marry him.â
She tightened her hands into fists, her stomach beginning to roil with the old, familiar fear. âTo be under a manâs complete power again. Just to know that he couldââ She broke off and turned away, crossing her arms over her chest and tucking her fists beneath her arms. âTo have him in my bed.â Her voice came out a horrified whisper. âI cannot.â
Her maid gazed at her with profound sympathy, wishing, not for the first time, that she could somehow wipe Angelaâs prior marriage from her mind. But even that would not be enough, she suspected. The ladyâs scars were burned into her soul, as well.
âYou need not, my lady,â she reassured her softly. âYour brother cannot make you. He would not, even if he could.â
âI know he could not force me. But I am dependent on him. He has done so much for me. I feel terribly