“I don’t know.”
“Mama, if I can’t marry Mr. Clifford, I believe I’ll be headed to spinsterhood.”
“Nonsense. Your father will find someone for you to marry. You’re an earl’s daughter, and you should marry a peer.”
“I don’t want to marry someone else and be miserable for the rest of my life. Whoever Papa chooses will only want my dowry and use me as a broodmare before locking me away at some far-off estate once I’ve given him an heir and a spare. I want to have a happy life with Mr. Clifford, who values me for myself.”
“Kathryn, you’re being nonsensical. He must be a fortune hunter to reach so far above his station.”
“He’s not, though. Mr. Clifford has no idea how large my dowry is. He only wants to make me happy. Don’t you see, Mama, I’m not being nonsensical at all.”
“How do you know he wants to marry you? Men love to steal kisses from pretty girls all the time.”
Kathryn had to laugh at that one. “Oh, Mama, you may be right about some young women, but not one of the gentlemen I’ve met in London has ever attempted to steal a kiss from me. Don’t you see? I’m not a beauty, but Mr. Clifford makes me feel beautiful and cherished.”
“Well, that is something, I suppose. How do you know he wants to marry you?”
“He proposed to me earlier in the garden, even though he told me that it was probably in vain because of Papa’s objections.”
“I see. At least he realizes that. Well, Kathryn, you’ve given me a great deal to think about. Now be a dear, and let me rest before dinner.”
“Of course. Thank you for listening,” Kathryn said, kissing her mother’s cheek. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Kathryn left her mother’s bedchamber and headed down the hall to her room. She had no idea whether or not her mother would champion her cause, but she’d tried her best to convince her that marrying Sam was what she truly wanted.
What gave her hope, however, was the fact that her mother hadn’t directly said she was opposed to the match.