A Gentleman's Kiss (12 page)

Cameron looked at the stage and saw that, indeed, the curtains were open and the music had just begun.

He glanced at Claudia, and they both exchanged sheepish grins before turning their attention to the play.

Cameron could not have told anyone what the play was about, for he spent most of his time either thinking about Claudia and their relationship or observing her face. He loved how her emotions would change with the play from happy to sad and even to tears.

He loved many things about Claudia. The obvious ones—her kindness, her sense of humor, her cheerfulness, and, most of all, her love for God. But he also liked the little things—the way she was so quick to catch him when he teased her, the way she would lift her finely arched brow whenever she was trying hard not to laugh, and so many more.

He loved her—plain and simple.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for his rash promise to Aurora, he’d have already declared himself and spoken with Claudia’s grandfather about marriage.

But the promise was there, hanging like an albatross around his neck. Cameron knew he must resolve the issue before he could ask Claudia to marry him. He didn’t want there to be any obstacles standing in their path while they prepared to start their lives together.

As the curtain finally fell, he heard sniffles and looked to see both Claudia and Helen drying their tears.

“Weren’t the music and the characters so moving?” Claudia asked him.

Cameron took a moment to study her dewy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. She was even beautiful when she cried. “I know I was moved,” he answered, giving Claudia a loving, caressing smile.

He heard the same noise he’d heard earlier from North and glanced back in time to see Helen nudging him again. North ignored the nudge. “What character moved you the most, Kinclary?” he asked, his voice slightly choked.

“No, please, North. I insist you give us your assessment first,” his wife countered with her arms folded.

“You three are acting very strange,” Claudia chimed in, glancing back and forth between the three of them.

Cameron thought this might be a good time to change the subject. “Shall we go?”

“Capital idea!” North seconded, tucking his wife’s arm into his and directing her out of the box.

Cameron held out his arm to Claudia and smiled as he suddenly remembered a name he’d heard from the play. “Roger!”

She shook her head. “I beg your pardon?”

“Roger,” he said again. “I believe the character Roger was the most memorable of the play.”

He knew he had said the wrong thing when she looked at him in astonishment. “Do you mean Roderick?”

Cameron swallowed. “Oh! Ah. . .yes. That’s it. Sorry.” He picked up her hand and folded it into his arm. “You know, we’d better hurry and catch up with them. We could lose them in the crowd.”

He pulled her out of the box and into the hallway. “So what did you like about Roderick?” she persisted, much to his dismay, as they walked down the stairway.

Where was a good diversion when he needed one? “Hmm. Let’s see,” he said thoughtfully. Finally he settled on a safe answer. “He was a likeable character.”

Apparently it wasn’t the safe answer he needed, for she sent him an incredulous stare. “You must be joking. Roderick was the murderer!”

Cameron managed to smile at her, while he hoped this conversation would soon be over. “Of course I’m joking, Claude. Now let’s make haste and find Helen and North.”

“My name is not Claude!”

Cameron only smiled as he finally spotted their friends and started walking toward them.

Twelve

The next morning, Claudia awoke with a jolt when she felt her bed shift from under her.  Disoriented, she quickly scrambled to push the hair from her face, only to find Helen bouncing on the side of the bed and grinning at her. “Claudia! Get up, sleepyhead! I’ve been waiting for an hour to hear the details of what happened with the two of you last night and will simply perish with curiosity if you do not tell me.”

Claudia groaned, then slowly sat up in bed. She looked about, confused by her surroundings, until she remembered she’d spent the night at Helen’s home. “You are much too cheerful in the morning.” She rubbed her eyes and yawned. She saw Helen was dressed in a lilac gown, which made her blue eyes seem almost violet. Her shiny black hair was pinned up with violets scattered throughout.

“And
you
are a grouch!” She climbed off the bed and crossed the room to a table where a tea service had been laid out.

Claudia wearily pulled her legs over the side of the bed and sat on the edge. “What hour is it?”

Helen handed Claudia a cup of tea then fetched her own. “It is nine in the morning, and you must hurry and dress because we are to be at Kinclary’s house at ten.”

Claudia’s eyes brightened, and suddenly she had more energy. “Cameron? He sent a note?”

Helen glanced at Claudia over her teacup. “Yes, he did, and I must say it’s amazing how the man’s name can transform your entire mood.” Claudia frowned at her, and Helen giggled. “He was inquiring as to whether he could ride to the shelter with us this morning since one of the wheels on his conveyance is being repaired. North sent him word that we’d come around for him at ten.”

Claudia was feeling a little more awake, and memories of the previous night began to flood her mind. “I never thanked you for inviting Cameron to the theatre last night. What a lovely surprise it was.”

Helen put her hand to her chest. “When he kissed your hand, I sat mesmerized at the way he was looking at you with such feeling.”

Claudia cringed. “You along with everyone else. Do you think people are still talking about it?”

“I’m afraid even those who weren’t there will be talking about it,” Helen told her hesitantly. “It was remarked upon in the
Times
this morning.”

Claudia’s cup hit the saucer with a clang. “What did they write?” she asked weakly, setting the cup and saucer on her night table.

“Something about wedding bells might be ringing for Lord K and Lady C since they are making no effort to hide their affection for one another in public.”

Claudia covered her face. What would the repercussions be when her grandfather read the paper? “This is horrible! Grandfather will get his hopes up that I’ve finally made a match,” she cried. “What will Cameron think? Will he believe I planned such a thing to happen so he’d have to propose?”

Helen put her own cup down and took Claudia’s hands. “
He
kissed
you
—remember? If he feels any pressure, then it’s his own fault. Besides, the man is quite taken with you, Claudia. He watched you more than he did the play.” She smiled. “Which is why he couldn’t remember any of the characters!”

Claudia smiled. “I
did
catch him looking at me a few times. And he didn’t seem
too
upset when he realized everyone had been watching him kiss my hand.”

“He’s smitten with you, dear friend. That I am sure of.”

Claudia felt a surge of energy go through her at that thought, and she suddenly couldn’t wait to see Cameron again. Jumping up, she pulled Helen along with her. “Let’s not waste a minute more then. Help me dress!”

Helen called her maid, and in no time at all they were ready, and the three of them were on their way to Cameron’s townhouse.

Claudia’s stomach was fluttering with excitement as they turned on Cameron’s street. It was such a beautiful day to ride in the open carriage, and Claudia was looking forward to sharing the morning with Cameron, sitting close to him, with the fresh spring wind blowing through their hair.

As they drew closer she noticed two people standing in front of his residence. “It looks as if he may have visitors,” Claudia observed.

North squinted in the glaring sun and nodded. “I believe one of them is Cameron, from the size of him, and the other is a lady.”

Claudia frowned. “Can you tell who it is? Is it his sister?”

“No,” replied Helen, “I believe it’s—” She stopped before she named the person. Claudia glanced at her.

“What’s wrong, Helen?” She looked back at the couple. They were closer now, and Claudia recognized the woman. She could feel her heart sinking. “Oh. . .”

Aurora Wyndham.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Helen assured her.

Claudia thought back to the night before and how loving Cameron was to her. “I’m sure you are right.”

But they were standing very close to one another, and Claudia saw that Aurora was holding on to Cameron’s arm as if it were the most natural thing to do.

❧

“Aurora, I’ve no time to speak of this matter again with you.” Cameron told her for the second time. He raised his eyes and noticed North’s carriage coming toward them. Then he saw Claudia.

And she was looking at him from the carriage with hurt, stricken eyes.

Cameron jerked his gaze back to Aurora and realized how their close stance could be misconstrued. Cameron pulled his arm away and stepped back from her. “Aurora!” he snapped when she tried to grab his arm again. “Please worry me no more today on this issue and be on your way.”

She finally backed away, and Cameron glanced up to see that, though the carriage had stopped, its occupants had remained in the vehicle.

Drawing in a calming breath he looked back at Aurora and saw she was whimpering, but in fact no tears were falling from her eyes. He wondered why she was burdening him with this whole engagement fiasco. Then again hadn’t she always run to him whenever she was in trouble?

And he had always bailed her out and saved the day. Now if he could just find her a husband, then
he
could handle her instead of Cameron.

The problem was, finding a husband for Aurora seemed to be a nearly impossible task.

“Aurora, I have spoken to five good gentlemen who were willing to take you as a wife. I don’t understand why you have rejected every one of them.” Cameron tried to hurry the conversation along so he wouldn’t keep Claudia waiting.

“Don’t you understand, Cam?” she said with another sniff. “My father’s estate has dwindled terribly, along with my dowry, because of some bad investments. I didn’t reject those gentlemen. They rejected me when I told them I was practically penniless.”

Cameron resisted the urge to groan with frustration. The fact that she was wealthy was the only reason his acquaintances were willing to overlook all her bad qualities. Aurora had a reputation for being selfish, vain, and unconcerned about anyone’s problems but her own. Without a dowry he didn’t know many men who would be willing to take her for a wife.

“Aurora, I’m sure we can figure out something. I—”

“Why don’t we just become engaged, Cam?” she interrupted with a pleading pout to her lips. “We can go to my father today, and I won’t have this worry to contend with anymore.”

He noticed North glancing at his pocket watch and sent him a look of apology. “Aurora, I don’t want to become engaged to you. I’ve told you this. Now my friends are waiting for me, so—”

“Yes, I’ve heard about Lady Claudia. The ton is all abuzz about your night at the theatre,” she said with a sneer. “Don’t forget your promise to me, Cam. You may not want to become engaged to me now, but you promised you would if I cannot find someone else to marry me.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Aurora. Just please try to settle for someone else, for both our sakes.” He waved at North to drive up closer. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment to keep.”

He walked around her and climbed in the carriage then sat by Claudia.

“I’m sorry for the delay. Her visit was not a scheduled one,” he apologized as simply as he could without going into detail.

North and Helen told him it was fine and waved away his concern, but Claudia remained quiet beside him. He glanced her way and started to explain more as to why Aurora was there, but she abruptly leaned forward and tapped Helen on the shoulder.

“Helen, I just remembered where I’ve seen the actor from last night’s play. He was at a dinner party thrown by my third cousin Howard, and. . .” Claudia chattered on about the play for several minutes until he could take no more of her ignoring him.

“Claudia, will you please cease your chatter for a moment?” he almost shouted. He hadn’t realized how forceful he had sounded until all three occupants of the carriage turned and frowned at him.

❧

Claudia, startled into silence, stared at Cameron with surprise and confusion over his unusual lack of composure. She had known he’d wanted to explain as she chattered on inanely, but she hadn’t wanted him to think she’d been affected by the friendly display on his doorstep.

“I apologize for shouting. It’s just that I’ve been trying to explain about what you three saw when you drove up.” He glanced between all of them but spoke mainly to Claudia.

“There’s no need to explain.” Claudia forced herself to smile. “It’s none of our business whom you keep company with.” Even as she spoke it, she wished she could take it back. She could hear the hurt in her own voice.

She ventured a peek at Cameron, and apparently he could hear it also. “I see,” he said slowly. “But are you sure it’s not
your
business?” he directed to her ears only.

Perhaps she should have given him the benefit of the doubt, but she was so confused as to why he had not declared his feelings to her. “Quite sure, since we are not betrothed or attached in any way.” It was the worst sort of hint to pass to a gentleman, but Claudia was too upset and bewildered to care at this point.

When Cameron didn’t comment, she glanced at him again to see his reaction to her words. Finally he sat back on his seat and stared straight ahead. “You’re right, of course,” he said stiffly.

Claudia looked away to hide her pain. Why couldn’t he tell her how he felt? What was stopping him from making known his intentions toward her? Usually, if a gentleman spent even half the time he had with her, it would be understood a betrothal would soon follow. And now, with the ton speculating about them, it puzzled her as to why he would not make a move.

Unless Aurora
did
have some sort of hold on him. Was the story of her father making a marriage demand on her true? Was Cameron helping her find a match, or did he plan to marry Aurora himself?

These questions and many more about Cameron were plaguing her as they arrived at the shelter and she went to her classroom.

The whole morning Claudia kept expecting Cameron to glance in and say hello to her, but he did not. She spied him walking past the open door many times, but he never once looked in.

Fortunately the children were such a joy to teach. She was able for a little while at least to take her mind off Cameron and focus it on something worthwhile.

At last the lunch bell rang out, and both teachers lined up the children and escorted them out into the main room. She glanced around, and, though she saw North and Helen, Cameron was nowhere to be found.

Throughout the noon hour she barely touched her stew. It didn’t make sense, though, that she should feel so bad when it was
he
who was caught with another woman in front of his entire neighborhood.

Why was he evading her presence when she had done nothing but tell him the truth? While it was true her attitude had not been exactly civil, he should still be a gentleman about the whole thing and quit hiding like a child.

Fueled by her ire she stood up from the table. “Mrs. Owen,
if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I have something to take care
of.”

Mrs. Owen smiled and waved her off. She had to walk by Helen on the way to Cameron’s office, and just as she’d feared her friend called out to her.

“Claudia! Where are you going?” Helen asked, her eyes keenly scanning Claudia’s expression.

“I’ll be right back,” Claudia answered evasively, continuing on and ignoring Helen’s request for her to return.

Helen had to know something must be done. She didn’t want to work at the shelter while he ignored her day in and day out.

Before she could touch the door handle, Cameron’s door swung open. Cameron walked out in front of her, nearly knocking her over.

“I do apologize. . . ,” he began, grabbing hold of her shoulders, but his words drifted off when he realized it was Claudia. His hands jerked away from her as if she were suddenly on fire, and he stumbled back a step. “If you’ll excuse me,” he told her, avoiding her gaze, then hurried away from her.

Stunned, she watched him disappear into the main room. Was he running from her?

Perhaps he was, she thought. Why couldn’t he even look at her? Had his feelings changed from last night when he’d kissed her hand so gently? It must have to do with his visit with Aurora, but what?