Chapter 85

“She was nineteen.” I shook my head. “She’d have been better off running away with Kipling.”

“We didn’t give them the opportunity. We were afraid they might do that, and we kept a strict eye on them both. Finally I convinced Beth to go out to dinner with Marcus. I promised her if he couldn’t win her over, I’d back off. Of course your grandmother was furious, but it was the only way I could see to work this out.”

“Did you even intend to honor your promise?”

“Kipp! How can you say that?”

I could see I’d hurt him, but the idea of the daughter he claimed meant so much to him being pushed into marrying Sir…“What happened?”

“They didn’t come home until the early morning hours. Beth was pale, but she smiled and said she’d changed her mind and would marry your—Marcus as soon as the wedding could be planned. Nine months almost to the day, your brother was born.”

“How did Beauchamp’s son feel about this?”