“Aye.” She met Devon’s gaze steadily. “You should know I was with Stephen for two weeks before Malcolm caught up with us. And here is where I am supposed to assure you that I am untouched. But…” Her lips thinned. “I cannot say that. I thought I loved him.”

“Many things are done in the name of love.”

“And many things undone. I believed his assurances that he wanted to marry me and that he would do so as soon as Malcolm gave his approval. But of course Stephen never asked for Malcolm’s approval. Instead he asked for a thousand pounds to return me home and to keep his silence.”

Devon had never been so angry in all his life. Never. “This bloody Stephen, wherever he is, deserves to be horsewhipped.” B’God, if anyone had dared treat his sister the way the nefarious Stephen had treated Kat, Devon would have beaten the bastard into a bloody pulp. And then, for emphasis, all his brothers would take their turns. “If I cannot horsewhip him, then I would at least see him drawn and quartered. That might serve to punish the bastard.”

“I fear you will have to dig a hole to do that; he died two years later. I heard that he drank himself to death, though I was never certain.”

“That is still too good for him.”

She waved a hand. “What is gone is gone.”

The gesture softened his anger, and he was once again assailed with the desire to hold her. He took her hand in his. “Kat, you are a passionate woman. There is nothing wrong with that.”

She grimaced. “As Malcolm’s mother was quick to point out, I am just like my mother.”

“Then your mother was a joyous, warm person.”

A flicker of emotion crossed over Kat’s face, followed by a deep sigh. “Thank you. At the time, facing Malcolm’s anger and his mother’s bitter disappointment, I felt a fool.”

“You were seventeen and alone.” Devon pulled her closer and kissed her nose. “Listen to me, Kat. You are not a bad person. You are not an evil person. You are not a confused person. You are a strong and beautiful woman. And there is nothing wrong with being passionate with someone you care about.”

“Not everyone sees it that way.”

“So, who are you are going to listen to? Me? Or Malcolm’s bitter mother? And let me point out that I have never lied to you, nor have I asked you to wear fashions that do not complement your gorgeous body.”

Her lips quivered, her tears fading from her eyes. “You are a wretch to make me smile while I’m perfectly happy being miserable.”

“It’s a gift.” He cupped her chin, rubbing his thumb over the softness of her cheek. “There. Do you have anything more to confess? Something of real import?”

“That was important.”