Once, she spent several pounds on a bonnet. Stolen money, and she shouldn't have been so frivolous. But she and Maggie have always been vain, and they'd been so unhappy and so stressed, that it felt good to just go to shop, and buy things. A bonnet with flowers for Kate, a Gainsborough-style hat with feathers for Maggie. It'd all seemed so stupid later. Vain. But she'd just wanted something nice and pretty.
Benedict isn't a bonnet she can buy with stolen money, but there's something of the same longing attached. He's nice and kind and beautiful and he loves her and he's too good for her.
"Yes, like you deserve. Someone whose brothers weren't on wanted posters, or has a sweeter temper, or didn't break the law or fool around or, or, or..." Someone not like Kate.
Except then he says that he loves her and she stops with a hiccuping breath. It's not a slap in the face like last time, but she flinches anyway. Not badly enough for her tea to slosh over her the cup, but enough to remind her what she's holding. She puts the cup down and tries, tries not to wring her hands.
He loves her. She loves him. So what are they doing?
Kate takes a deep breath and then moves forward, falling onto her knees and looking up at him. She's not begging for her brother's life this time, but she is going to beg. "I'm sorry," she says, reaching out for his hand. "I'm sorry, you were all concerned and I just threw it back in your face. You're good, and I... I can promise to try to be better. I will. Please forgive me."
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Benedict isn't a bonnet she can buy with stolen money, but there's something of the same longing attached. He's nice and kind and beautiful and he loves her and he's too good for her.
"Yes, like you deserve. Someone whose brothers weren't on wanted posters, or has a sweeter temper, or didn't break the law or fool around or, or, or..." Someone not like Kate.
Except then he says that he loves her and she stops with a hiccuping breath. It's not a slap in the face like last time, but she flinches anyway. Not badly enough for her tea to slosh over her the cup, but enough to remind her what she's holding. She puts the cup down and tries, tries not to wring her hands.
He loves her. She loves him. So what are they doing?
Kate takes a deep breath and then moves forward, falling onto her knees and looking up at him. She's not begging for her brother's life this time, but she is going to beg. "I'm sorry," she says, reaching out for his hand. "I'm sorry, you were all concerned and I just threw it back in your face. You're good, and I... I can promise to try to be better. I will. Please forgive me."