Beguiling the Earl (17 page)

“Perhaps you will,” she said, meeting his gaze and then looking down in an attempt at coyness.

She’d copied the action from Rose, who used it to great effect. It appeared to work, because when she looked at Thornton out of the corner of her eye, his grin had broadened. It took her a moment to realize that Kerrick had stopped walking. She’d been so wrapped up in her little deception that she hadn’t noticed. Rose, however, had and she pulled at Catherine’s arm, bringing her to a halt. The glare in her friend’s eyes spoke volumes. Rose was annoyed at her for flirting with the wrong man.

Kerrick offered Rose his arm, and with one last look that signaled Catherine would be hearing about her attempt to thwart her matchmaking, Rose took it. Their promenade at an end, Catherine was left to take Thornton’s arm as they returned to the carriages. Rose and Kerrick walked a few steps ahead of them. Kerrick bent to murmur something for Rose’s ears only, and Catherine had to clench her teeth as her friend laughed gaily.

The two of them are only acting a part
, she told herself. But that didn’t stop her from feeling a pang of jealousy herself when Kerrick helped Rose into his carriage. She wanted so much to be the woman who got to sit beside him in public. They’d had a wonderful encounter the previous evening in his closed carriage, but in the clear light of day that was no longer enough.

It had been almost a week since she’d last seen Kerrick, and Catherine felt his absence keenly. If he thought to punish her for flirting with Viscount Thornton, he’d succeeded. Each night after returning home from one of the many evening entertainments, she had to battle back the temptation to sneak out and return to Kerrick’s town house. She’d promised him that she wouldn’t make a repeat visit, but as she lay in bed imagining all the delightfully wicked things they had done together, longing for his touch, her resolve weakened.

It didn’t help that their brief interlude in the Duke of Clarington’s carriage had shown her that pleasure between a man and a woman was not limited to the bedroom. She found herself looking for Kerrick each evening. Imagined him whisking her away to a private room—she wasn’t picky, even a closet would do—and making love to her again. And each night, when he failed to show, she returned home more frustrated than ever with the current state of their relationship.

But more important than her desire for Kerrick was her resolve that he not see her as a foolish girl who would allow her selfish wants to place his current mission in jeopardy. Logically she knew that he trusted her—he wouldn’t have confided in her if he didn’t. But when she was alone at night she remembered how close he and Louisa had been when he’d stayed at Overlea Manor after her sister’s wedding to Nicholas. A small part of her still wondered if he saw her as a substitute for Louisa. She was able to push those thoughts away in the clear light of day, but as the days passed and she failed to see him, her doubt began to grow.

She needed to see him again, so it was an immense relief to learn that he would be present at the small dinner party Louisa and Nicholas were holding that evening. She’d known he was invited but had feared he would send his regrets yet again.

Remembering Kerrick’s reaction the last time she’d worn her yellow evening gown to the theater, she suffered a moment of uncertainty when she told her maid she wanted to wear the more modest light green gown—the one she’d worn the night she’d visited his town house. The night they’d made love. Most men wouldn’t remember that, but she knew Kerrick would. He always noticed the smallest of details, a trait which she suspected was invaluable to him in his work for the government.

Her sister’s and brother-in-law’s muted voices in the hallway as they passed her bedroom told her it was time for dinner. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hands over her gown and glanced into the mirror above her dressing table to ensure she looked her best. Six days had passed since that outing to Hyde Park… seven since she and Kerrick had been alone in his carriage. She shouldn’t be nervous at the thought of seeing him again, but she was.

She hesitated at the top of the stairs when a knock sounded at the front door. A moment later, she heard the Duke of Clarington’s voice and she had to shake her head at her own nonsense. She was making too much of Kerrick’s absence.

She’d just reached the bottom of the stairs when there was another knock at the front door. She waited, butterflies taking flight in her belly, while the butler opened the door. When she saw Kerrick standing on the landing, she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. As he stepped over the threshold, his gazed locked on hers for a moment before moving down. When his eyes met hers again, there was a heat there that told her he was remembering the last time he’d seen her in that dress—and what had followed. The weight of that gaze was almost a physical caress.

She waited while Kerrick handed his hat and gloves to the butler and approached her. He offered her his arm with a slightly raised brow, and to her mortification she blushed. Aware of the other man still standing behind them, she took his arm without a word. They were only steps away from the drawing room and could hear the voices of the others, but neither moved to join them. Clearly sensing that he was
de trop
, the butler removed himself after offering a slight bow in their direction.

“You look worried,” Kerrick said when they were alone. “Is anything the matter?”

Catherine shook her head. “Not anymore.”

He squeezed her hand where it rested on his arm and was about to say something more when Louisa stepped into the hallway. Her expression made it clear that she wasn’t happy to find them alone together. Louisa already knew about Catherine’s feelings for Kerrick, but it was important that she not suspect there was now something more between them.

“I thought perhaps something was amiss since you hadn’t joined us.”

It was with reluctance that Catherine stepped away from him. “I was checking to make sure this man was, indeed, Lord Kerrick,” she said, aiming for levity. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen him, I couldn’t be certain.”

“I apologize for my absence,” Kerrick said. “I am not used to attending quite so many balls, and I’m afraid I needed a bit of a respite from all the various entertainments.”

“I’m sure we must all be such a trial to you,” Louisa said. “Nicholas told me he’s already been to more plays and balls this season than he’s attended in all his previous years put together.”

“I’ll admit it’s a little lonely now that my closest friends have traded their usual ways for marital bliss. If I want to see them, I’m forced to attend those balls myself and give up my bachelor haunts.”

“Poor Kerrick,” Louisa said with a fond smile.

Catherine had to grit her teeth and force back her misgivings when she saw the evidence in Kerrick’s face of the affection he bore her sister. More than that, she hated that she still wondered just how far that affection went. But at least the tension that had arisen from being found whispering together in the hallway had dissipated, and together they joined Nicholas and the Claringtons in the drawing room.

Dinner was more difficult than she could have imagined. Their party was small, so there was no chance to engage Kerrick in private conversation. He sat across from her, but Louisa was between them at the foot of the table. Every word they spoke was, naturally, heard by her sister. The meal seemed to drag on forever, but Catherine told herself that surely she and Kerrick would be able to manage a conversation away from the others later in the evening.

When dinner was over and the men joined the women in the drawing room after staying behind to have their port, Catherine looked up eagerly. Kerrick’s gaze met hers and in them she saw something that made her pulse leap. He started to move toward her but was interrupted when Louisa stepped between them and captured his attention.

It didn’t take her long to realize that her sister was going to great lengths to ensure that she and Kerrick wouldn’t have the opportunity for even a moment of private conversation. She wanted to scream with frustration every time she turned around to find Louisa watching her, and whenever Kerrick approached her, or she him, her sister made a point of intercepting them.

“What are you doing?” she hissed to Louisa after dragging her into a corner of the room.

“I’m protecting you from yourself.” The stiff set of Louisa’s shoulders indicated that she was bracing herself for Catherine’s angry response.

She wasn’t sure how to reply. She understood the motivation behind her sister’s actions and was torn between frustration that Louisa still treated her like a child and sadness that her relationship with Kerrick must remain a secret. She was saved from having to answer, however, when Nicholas joined them. From his curious expression, it was clear he’d witnessed their exchange. It took every ounce of strength she possessed to turn and smile at her brother-in-law.

“I hope you aren’t overtiring yourself,” he said to Louisa, concern etched along his features.

The smile Louisa gave her husband contained more than a hint of indulgence. “Stop worrying, I am fine.”

Catherine couldn’t help but see the irony in her sister’s statement and was tempted to echo the words back to her with respect to Louisa’s concern about her feelings for Kerrick. She opened her mouth to do just that, but was interrupted when the duchess joined them.

“Miss Evans,” she said, tucking her hand around Catherine’s arm. “Lord Kerrick just told me that you are designing a new garden for the Worthingtons.”

“Yes, I am.” She ignored the look of concern that passed between Louisa and Nicholas.

“After our outing to Kew Gardens, I must confess that I am inspired to expand the gardens at our estate.” She paused for a moment before adding, “I don’t suppose you have any drawings of your plans? I was very impressed with your knowledge and am more than a little curious to see them.”

“I do have a few sketches, but I admit I’m not quite happy with them. I fear I am no Capability Brown.”

“I’m sure you are being modest. Would it be too much of an imposition to ask to see them?”

Catherine didn’t miss the gleam in the other woman’s eyes and suspected she did not merely wish to discuss gardens with her. Like Rose, and unlike her sister, she knew that the duchess hoped to facilitate a match between her and Kerrick. There was no other reason why she would have convinced her husband to help set up that private meeting in the carriage.

“They’re in the library. Did you want to see them now?”

“If you don’t mind,” the duchess said with a smile that seemed far too innocent.

Not waiting for her reply, she all but whisked Catherine from the room. As they made their way to the library, Catherine braced herself for the questions she knew were coming.

She didn’t have to wait long. After crossing the threshold, the duchess closed the door and turned to face her.

“How are things progressing between you and Lord Kerrick?”

Catherine walked over to the small desk where she kept the drawings she was working on. Her back to the duchess as she reached for the small stack of papers, she said, “We are friends.”

The duchess sighed. “I’d hoped that after your meeting in the carriage the two of you would have moved beyond friendship.”

Catherine turned to face her, the drawings clutched to her chest, and voiced the question that had been worrying her. “Do you think His Grace will tell Nicholas about that evening?”

“Not if he wishes to keep his head. I don’t think Overlea would be happy to learn that he helped to arrange a private meeting between his best friend and his young sister-in-law. He’s quite protective of you.”

Catherine released the breath she’d been holding. “I know. I hate to think how protective he’ll be if Louisa has a girl.”

The duchess eyed her closely. “Rumors are circulating… Kerrick is expected to ask for Rose Hardwick’s hand in marriage any day now.”

Catherine had to force herself not to look away when she replied. “I’m afraid those rumors might be true.”

“How can you be so calm? If that is true then he has treated you abominably.”

Unable to hold the woman’s gaze, she looked away. She didn’t have to feign her emotions when she said, “I won’t lie and say the thought of he and Rose marrying leaves me feeling more than a little ill. You know I care for him, as does my sister. In fact, I fear the entire world knows it.” She winced and rushed to add, “But Lord Kerrick has not behaved inappropriately.”

To keep the duchess from questioning her further, Catherine knew she was going to have to lie outright. “I fear Kerrick sees me only as Louisa’s little sister. He wants to do something nice for her and Nicholas after the baby is born. That’s why he wanted to speak to me in private—so no one would learn about his plans.”

It was clear the duchess didn’t believe her. “And what is it he’s planning?”

“I can’t betray his confidence. You’ll have to learn of it when the others do.”

The duchess seemed to consider her words for a moment before speaking. “Perhaps I can help.”

Catherine closed her eyes for a moment, not bothering to hide her frustration. It would seem that the entire world was aligned together in throwing obstacles in the way of Kerrick’s investigation. She couldn’t blame the duchess, however. How could she know that the only way for her and Kerrick to be together was to allow him to continue to grow closer to another woman?

“I wish you wouldn’t,” she said, meeting the duchess’s concerned gaze head-on. “I know your heart is in the right place, and I do thank you, but this entire situation is already more than a little difficult for me.”

Catherine could tell the duchess didn’t want to let the matter drop, but instead she reached for the drawings that Catherine still held clutched to her chest. Relieved, Catherine handed them to the other woman.

The remainder of the evening passed quickly. When she and the duchess returned to the drawing room, Louisa was playing at the pianoforte and the men were discussing some new horseflesh they’d seen at Tattersall’s. Catherine made a mental note to let Kerrick know that he had to plan something special for the arrival of Louisa and Nicholas’s first child so the duchess wouldn’t know she’d been lied to.