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—”