Free The Mistress of Black Grove Manor by Elaine Young

clear your schedules.”
    Scott wondered what the man thought he did all day, but he didn’t say anything. He was looking over the list when Andrew spoke again.
    “And then, of course, there’s your pseudonym.”
    “My what?” Scott asked, looking at Andrew Cargill in confusion.
    “I think that we should keep the name Scott and just give you a different last name,” Mavis said as she began eating her salad. “That will make it seem more natural when Catherine speaks to you.”
    “But...why are we changing his last name?” Catherine asked.
    “Because we don’t want anyone connecting him with the assault charge,” her father said absently. “Now, third, we--”
    “No,” Catherine cut in. “Wait. Assault charge?”
    Scott felt like he’d swallowed a rock. “I--” he began.
    “Discharged from the Navy 6 months ago,” Mavis said. “Assault charges. But,” she went on with a sunny smile. “The two of you have such good chemistry that we decided we wouldn’t worry about it.”
    “Not worry about it?” Catherine pushed her plate away and took a deep breath, clearly trying to steady her voice. “What kind of assault?”
     
    “On a fellow officer, wasn’t it?” Andrew asked. “I don’t remember the degree of injury,” he went on when Scott didn’t speak.
    Catherine met his eyes across the table. He could see betrayal written across her open features. What could he say?
    “Catherine…”
    “Is it true?” she asked, her breath coming in gasps now.
    “I...”
    “Is. It. True?”
    There was nothing to do but tell her the truth and hope that she would let him explain. “Yes.”
    She transferred the gaze to her mother. “And you knew that he was violent?”
    “His career was spotless before that,” Andrew said, in what he clearly thought was a logical tone. “And--”
    “And we’ll make good television,” she cut in before shoving her chair back and standing up. “Thank you, I think I’ll skip dinner.”

Chapter Eight:
     
    Scott caught up with her in the hallway, but he knew better than to put his hands on her.
    “Catherine, please wait,” he said. “I need to talk to you.”
    She spun around in the hallway just outside her bedroom door. “Now?” she asked scathingly. “Now you want to talk to me? Where was all that in the gazebo? Or any of the rest of the time we’ve spent together?”
    “I...” He couldn’t even honestly say that he’d wanted to tell her, because he’d hoped that somehow she’d never find out. It seemed idiotic to think that now.
    “You what?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest, holding herself in. “You hoped I’d never know?”
    Scott pushed his hand through his hair. “Yes. I hoped you’d never know.”
    “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard!” she exploded.
    “I know!” His voice had gotten louder than he wanted it to. She flinched back just slightly and he took a step away. Intimidating her was the last thing he wanted to do. He swallowed and took a deep breath. “Catherine, I know it wasn’t smart. But...but we don’t really know each other that well yet.”
    She scoffed and turned away. “You know me well enough to take me to bed. And to make me feel sympathetic for your poor family farm.”
    “Hey,” he said. “Come on. It wasn’t like that. You know--”
     
    “I know that every man in that room was there for money,” she said coldly. “You said it yourself.”
    He reached for her, unable to stand the desolation in her eyes, but she stepped back.
    “So fine,” she said. “You know my plan and I know that you want to help your parents. Let’s just get the wedding over with and I’ll get them back on their feet. Then we’ll go our separate ways.”
    “I don’t want us to go our separate ways,” he said. “Just give me a chance to explain!”
    “You had your chance to explain!” she said furiously. “Every night while we sat out there talking about the life we were going to build! Every time I asked