Cat and Mouse (20 page)

“You won’t be going anywhere. I know my brother and you have nothing to fear. After he barks some—and, trust me on this, his bite is virtually non-existent. What happens next is that he gets very quiet. He retreats. He goes into hibernation, but eventually he’ll warm back up.”

Katrina didn’t want to argue with her friend. “We’ll see,” was all she offered.

Susanna patted her on the knee. “Now go freshen up and put on that glorious smile of yours. Maxwell should be home soon and we will all be able to put the wretchedness of this trial behind us. I should like to have you and Maxwell ‘round for supper on Friday.” From somewhere in the house, a clock struck five. “Heavens, I must be going.” She began to pull on her gloves.

“Can’t you stay for some tea? How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

“No, my dear. And don’t worry about me. I have a few more visits to make before I head home and I’m sure to be plied with pre-supper refreshments until I can no longer move.”

They stood and Susanna kissed Katrina’s cheeks. “Ta, darling. And don’t forget about Friday.”

“I won’t.” And Maxwell’s sister swept from the room.

If only she possessed the kind of optimism that Susanna had. Dare she even hope for a second that what her friend said was true? This not knowing for sure was almost as bad as accepting the inevitable, that Maxwell hated the very sight of her and would, upon his return home this very afternoon, thrust her from his sight.

This thought process was not only getting her nowhere, but made her feel helpless in every circumstance affiliated with her person.

Every circumstance save…

Recalling that Susanna had mentioned that Jimmy had arrived at Hamilton Place, Katrina shook off her shroud of pity and ventured out of the back door to find him.

Looming in the back of her mind since just after the raid on the Den had been the threats on Jimmy’s life made by the remaining thieves. There were things that needed to be said that Katrina was sure Jimmy wasn’t ready to hear, but God help her, she was going to say them if only for his welfare. At least in this situation she could be of assistance.

She found him inside the tack room, organising some tools.

He looked up as she entered and smiled.

“I heard you were a sensation on the witness stand.”

“They made me name names. What they failed to recognise is that no one ever used their given names at the Den.”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant your admirers.” Katrina picked up a hammer and placed it in one of the piles of tools he’d laid out.

He waved a hand in dismissal. “What would I want from a bunch o’ society women?” He dusted off a chisel with a rag and set it upon a shelf.

“Anything you could get, I’d imagine.” She drew her fingers down the length of a few neatly stacked screwdrivers assembled in a small wooden box.

“No thanks. Besides, me heart belongs to someone else.” He dusted off his hands and pulled her into an embrace. “Where’ve you been hidin’, m’lady? I’ve missed you.”

“Jimmy, listen to me.”

“The only thing I want to do is kiss those lips o’ yours.”

She put her hands between them and pushed at his chest. “No. Now stop this nonsense. What I have to say is entirely serious.”

He sighed and released her. “Go on, then.”

“The night after the authorities raided the Den, I went there to scatter whoever was left.”

“You went there alone? Are ya daft?”

Katrina held up her hand to stop his tirade. “Please. I’ve been reprimanded enough over my actions. The point is, they’ll be looking for you—all of them—especially now that they know for sure you’re still alive. They want retribution, and as you know, there are people in this world who can’t go on unless someone takes the blame for the shortcomings of this life.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve lived on the streets for this long, haven’t I?”

“Jimmy. What do you think will happen now that everyone in England knows your face? Each person at that trial will be able to point you out by sight. And when Brenner gets out, what do you suppose will be the first thing he will do?”

Mercifully, Jimmy went quiet as his gaze dropped to the floor. Finally, she was getting through to him.

“I suppose he’ll track me down and do me in proper-like this time.”

Katrina pushed aside the sinister picture he’d painted in her mind. “We can’t let that happen. You need to leave. Go far away, where none of them will ever find you.”

“And where do you propose I go? France? Spain? Africa?”

“America,” she blurted, not knowing from where the suggestion came. “Not even Brenner would spend the money to go after you there.”

“You’ve a logical argument, but there’s one thing missin’.”

“What’s that?”

“You. Come away with me. There’s nothin’ I couldn’t do with you by my side.”

He made to pull her into his arms again, but she stopped him. “Jimmy, I can’t go with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m desperately in love with Maxwell.” She’d spoken without thinking, but now that it was out, now that every defence she possessed had been stripped away, well… There it was. The truth. It should have astounded her, but like a guardian angel, it seemed to have existed from the beginning of time.

“You’re givin’ away your heart to someone who is utterly unworthy. And on top o’ that, he can’t love you like I can. I care for you, I’d fight for you. Has he, at any point, fought to win your heart?”

Jimmy’s words stung. “Perhaps it is up to me to fight for
his
.”

“In my humble opinion, darlin’, if a man isn’t man enough to go after what he desires, then he doesn’t deserve the prize.”

Katrina chuckled bitterly. “For one so young, you sure have a deep knowledge of human behaviour.” She fought back the tears that she’d promised herself for the last few weeks she wouldn’t shed.

After a few quiet moments passed, Jimmy finally spoke, “Maybe I just have an old soul.”

“Of that I am positive.” She looked him in the eye. “You are like a brother to me, Jimmy.” He jerked his chin to the side as if to dismiss her statement, but she ventured forth, “Are we in agreement then that you need to get out of England?”

His big brown gaze scanned her features as if memorising them, then he nodded.

“Good. I will arrange to take you to purchase passage tomorrow morning.”

Jimmy shrugged.

“I’m only doing this because I care about you, you know.”

“I know,” he said just above a whisper.

“We’ll leave very early, so be ready to go at first light.”

“I shall.”

She had almost turned to go when he stopped her. “Katrina?”

“Yes?” She looked up.

His eyes sparkled with unshed tears, but whether they were happy or sad tears, she couldn’t tell. “Thank you.”

“Until tomorrow morning.”

* * * *

Maxwell held his breath as Katrina passed him on her way to the house. She hadn’t caught him eavesdropping, and thank God for that.

He felt like a fool. He’d refused to speak to her for weeks now. He’d busied himself with Charles and the trial as much as possible. When he was home, like some spoilt child he had stomped about, barked at the staff, hardly eaten a thing, and been generally unpleasant to be around. Hell, Charles had even pointed out his ghastly behaviour at the beginning of the trial.

And all because he’d misunderstood her actions towards the boy, and refused to listen to her explanation.

Idiot
.

She’d tried to tell him the young man meant nothing more than a family member to her the night he’d caught her leaving that den of thieves.

Hope welled in his chest. She’d not three minutes ago confessed that she still loved him. But had she said that just to keep the boy’s affections at bay? Did she really love Max? What if he’d lost her because of his hard-headedness? What if—?

This train of thought was taking him on a one way trip to Bedlam.

He needed to mend this rift and he’d do it tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“A quarter past eight,” Max intoned to himself—being the only living soul in the room—and replaced his pocket watch. He’d dressed in his best formal clothes for tonight’s supper, anticipating his reunion with Katrina. He repeatedly tapped his fingers on the table in a pinky-to-index-finger march that echoed off the walls.

“Where the hell is she?”

He’d given a note to Mrs Dilllard with the distinct instruction to hand the message directly to Katrina. But now, hours later, he hadn’t been given a reply. And who could blame her for her silence? He’d played hooky from his guest and every meal for the last five weeks. He supposed he deserved to eat in solitude.

Simmons entered the room and Max was pulled from his thoughts.

“Sir, your meal is getting cold, and Cook fears that the chicken will dry out if she reheats it one more time.”

“I’m sorry. Yes. Please serve the meat course.”

It wouldn’t have mattered if Cook had reheated his chicken seventeen times. He’d choked it down and hadn’t tasted a thing.

When Simmons came to take his plate, Max stopped him. “Have you seen Miss Harwood at all this evening?”

“No, sir. Shall I fetch Mrs Dillard to you? I’m sure she knows Miss Harwood’s whereabouts.”

“Yes, please.”

Simmons bowed and left the room.

Max stared at the vacant chair opposite him. The china she would have used tonight remained spotless. Her crystal water goblet hadn’t even been filled. This was not how he wanted to spend the rest of his life—sitting across from an empty place setting where Katrina should have been.

With a tap, a note was set next to Max. He glanced up in hopes that it was Katrina, but it was only Mrs Dillard.

“It’s for you, from herself.”

“Why hasn’t she come down? Didn’t she get my note?”

“She did. I imagine this is your answer.”

“What’s so important that she needed to reply via written word? Couldn’t she just have told you yes that she’d be down to supper or not?”

“From what I’ve heard, you haven’t exactly been a proper host for the last few weeks. Perhaps she’s merely emulating your example.”

Max felt his shoulders droop. He deserved the reprimand. “I know, and I’d like to make it up to her if I can.”

“Well, you’re in for it tonight.”

He glanced up at Mrs Dillard. “What do you mean?”

“This is one of several notes she’s prepared. We’ve nearly run out of stationery.”

“I suppose I’ve earned whatever she’s got planned.”

“Well, she’s set you on a merry chase thus far, hasn’t she?”

Max chuckled. “And sometimes I can’t tell if I’m the cat or the mouse.”

“If you are over your head in love, then possessing the flexibility to be both is the key. That’s how the late Mr Dillard and I remained happy for all those years.” She gave him a nod. “Goodnight, sir.”

“Goodnight, Mrs Dillard,” he dismissed her and unfolded the note.

Leave your cravat at the table and find the naughtiest book in your library
.

That wasn’t at all what he’d expected to read. He stood, tucked the note into his trouser pocket and untied his cravat. “My ‘naughtiest book’…” He grinned. “
The Kama Sutra
.”
What is she up to
? Laying the white silk tie across the back of his chair, he headed for the library.

Max imagined her walking along the bookcases at a leisurely pace, and perusing the titles. He entered and was slightly disappointed that she wasn’t waiting therein. He scanned the full to bursting shelves around the room. Finally, he saw the book he was looking for, pulled out an inch farther than the others. It was in fact his
Kama Sutra
volume. He removed it from the shelf and found several pieces of paper sticking out from between the pages. Utterly puzzled, he carefully opened the cover to the first bookmark.

It read: ‘
There’
. He glanced at the couple depicted in the drawing. The female knelt, her bottom in the air, and the male had his cock inserted into her vagina from behind. Just the way that Max had taken Katrina in the playroom all those weeks ago. He swallowed. He’d been so angry lately that he hadn’t thought about making love to her. Now, seeing the illustration, his John Thomas twitched, reminding him who was boss. He shook his head and turned to the next bookmark.

‘
Is’
.

He flipped to the next marker. ‘
A’
.

The following one read, ‘
Clue’
.

He turned the pages faster and read the subsequent notes. ‘
On. Each. Of. These. Pages. That. Will. Tell. You. Where. To. Go. Next’
. The final note read, ‘
Leave your shirtsleeves in the library
.’

So, she wanted him to study the images, did she? He examined each one meticulously, growing ever so much hungrier for Katrina with each page. And the funny thing was, Max knew that
she
knew exactly what she was doing to him. “The little minx.”

Finally, when he could stand to view the erotic images no longer, he snapped the book shut and slumped into the nearest chair. What did each of those pictographs have in common? “Pussies, big hard pricks, naked men and women having at each other, ecstasy…” With the back of his hand he wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead. He stood and began removing his shirt.

There were other items depicted in the drawings. Platters of fruit, pillows, curtains. He knew she wasn’t in the dining room, so the fruit plates weren’t the clue, and there were curtains over every window in the house… Was she in the playroom? No. None of the pages she’d chosen showed any sort of extra apparatus.

Pillows…
Of course
! She was in his room!

He threw his shirt onto the chair, determined to get to his room as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran across the foyer, up the stairs, down the hall…

The door was shut. He grinned. She was probably spread out on his bed, naked and waiting for him.

He gave a little knock.

No response.

He rapped again.

Nothing.

He tried the knob and found that the door was unlocked. Entering, he strode into an empty room. The only thing on the bed was another note. He swore. If she didn’t turn up soon he vowed to manipulate his cock until he came then go find her. Reaching for the note, he noticed that the door to the bathroom was shut. He smiled. That was where she was. All wet and naked, her sweet pussy submerged, waiting for him to come in and soap her down, rinse off the lather and lick the water away.