Engaging the Earl (14 page)

Miss Campbell took his arm with a pleased smile. “Of course.” She glanced back at Kitty. “I suppose no real harm was done.”

If only that were true. As he escorted Miss Campbell into the clearing, her hand tightened on his arm, and he had the sinking feeling he’d just fallen into an iron trap of his own making.

Chapter Ten

Fury rendered Kat speechless. Seeing Rand flirt with Lexie for the remainder of that day and then again two evenings later at Lady Clover’s musicale left her so heated she was liable to self-combust at any moment.

Instead she seethed, pretending to be engrossed in the music, even though she neither saw nor heard the performance. She was too busy casting surreptitious glances at Rand and Lexie, trying to keep her internal scowl from usurping the serene mask plastered on her face.

It wasn’t the most overt of flirtations, but Rand definitely made his interest clear; his hand at Lexie’s elbow, the way he inclined his head toward her with sincere interest whenever she uttered a word. As though Lexie ever had anything interesting to say. Lexie preened under the earl’s attentiveness in a manner that twisted Kat’s innards into painful knots.

Rand clearly preferred to countenance marriage to plain Lexie Campbell than to be forced into a scandalous match with her. Humph. So much for being the
ton
’s incomparable. It certainly didn’t land her anything she desired. Especially not Rand. He could barely stand to look at her since their indiscretion at the riding party.

Then there was Laurie’s puzzling behavior of late. He remained as present as always, escorting her everywhere, but his attentiveness seemed forced now, his manner more brittle beneath the genial facade. In the past, she’d longed for relief from the intensity of his unwavering regard, but now his distracted manner unnerved her. She missed the good-natured, dependable warmth she’d come to count on from him.

“Cozy little duo, wouldn’t you say?” She started at Toby’s voice. She’d been so lost in her own ruminations that she hadn’t heard her cousin slide into Bea’s empty seat next to her. “Where is Sinclair? And what happened to my sister? It appears everyone has abandoned ship.”

“Shhh.” Kat kept her eyes on the performance. “Laurie begged off. Bea pleaded a headache and excused herself,” she murmured, trying not to move her lips.

“This performance is headache inducing,” Toby whispered.

Suppressing a smile, Kat elbowed him. “People are looking at us.”

“Doubtful.” He pretended to give the performance his full attention. “They’re far more interested in Rand and Miss Campbell. One could suspect he’s courting the lady.”

A sick feeling stirred in her belly. “Perhaps he is.”

“She’s a departure from his usual type. He’s not the sort to attach to any one gel for long.”

His usual type.
So he had a usual type. While she’d pined away for him for years, he’d been racing across the Continent planning battles and littering his path with discarded lovers. Polite applause erupted around her as the music came to an end. She clapped like an automaton and rose with Toby.

“Be a dear and do escort me to the carriage.” She was impatient to depart lest she witness more of Rand’s fawning over Lexie. There was only so much she could take.

Toby accompanied her outside. “I understand you visited the soldiers home again. Better be careful, cousin.” He handed her up into the carriage. “You wouldn’t want people to suspect the
ton
’s reigning princess cares for anything other than frocks and baubles.”

“Am I really so frivolous?”

“Far from it.” He leaned into the carriage with a conspiratorial expression on his face. “Even as you took the
ton
by storm, you never seemed to truly enjoy your popularity. I’ve always seen past your facade, Kat. Although, I confess I’ve never understood the need for it.” He stepped back and closed the door, leaving Kat alone in the dark. “Farewell. I am away for a month or so.”

“What?” She leaned her head out the window as the carriage began to pull away. “Where are you going?”

“Away. But you must give me your word not to tell anyone,” he called after the moving carriage. “Rand will know where I am should an emergency arise.”

…

Rand forced a thin smile and asked Miss Campbell to take a turn with him. She acquiesced with a triumphant flush of color in her face. Curious eyes followed their progress as he escorted her about the room.

“I trust you are well,” he said.

“Supremely well,” she answered quite matter-of-factly. “It was well done of you to ask me to take a turn. Tongues will certainly wag this evening.”

This new version of Miss Campbell certainly didn’t dissemble. “I’m gratified if my attentions have assisted in increasing your popularity.”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “The attentions of an earl will do that, even if the maiden is a chatterbox who is plain of face.”

For the first time he paid attention to Miss Campbell’s looks. It had been hard for him to see any woman other than Kat. It was true that she was not particularly pretty, but neither was she unattractive. Her features were pleasant enough and her complexion a creamy white. And there was life in those deceptively plain brown eyes. “Hardly that.”

“Come now, my lord,” she said. “I know you are putting up a pretense of a flirtation with me to save Kat’s reputation.”

The woman continued to surprise him. “Why play the mindless chatterbox, Miss Campbell, when you are nothing of the sort?”

“According to my mother, it is what gentlemen expect of a wife.”

Her mother was an idiot. “I much prefer this version of you.”

Her straightforward gaze caught his. “Enough to make me your countess?”

He suppressed the urge to laugh at her gumption, yet he admired her for it. “I fear you would be much disappointed. I’m not the sort to give my heart to anyone.”

“That suits me. I am not interested in your heart, just your title.”

He smiled, surprised to find himself intrigued by the conversation. “I see.”

“And if you wish to keep your Amazon that is nothing to me.”

“I confess, Miss Campbell, that you have shocked me.”

“I would make you a good countess,” she said. “I have always enjoyed excellent health. My mother bore six children, four of them sons.”

“You do seem eminently qualified for the role,” he said mildly, noting the calculating gleam in her eye.

“I’ve been trained to run a large household, to manage servants and the accounts. I shan’t let anyone cheat you.”

At least the old mausoleum would never be quiet with Miss Campbell ordering servants about while playing at being his countess. Good God, was he actually considering it? “I see I have much to think on.” He paused. “And if I were to decline your generous offer?”

For once she seemed at a loss for words. “I haven’t decided.” The expression on her face hardened. “But I am weary of Kat reigning over all of us as though she were the Queen of England.”

“I took the two of you for friends.”

“We both know she isn’t perfect and I think maybe Laurie should know it as well, before he binds himself to an inconstant woman for life.”

“You would take pleasure in hurting Kat.”

“Someone needs to knock her down a peg or two. We came out during the same Season and she’s ruled all of this time. It is tiresome to see how all of the gentlemen flock to her.”

Miss Campbell’s jealousy was certainly understandable. She was a colorless shadow next to Kitty’s vital beauty. If marrying her would ensure Kat’s future happiness, he would gladly do it. He and Miss Campbell might actually deserve each other. After a few more minutes, Rand escaped Miss Campbell by heading to the cards room, where he found his brothers, except for Will, assembled at a table.

“Why if it isn’t the estimable Earl of Randolph,” said Basil, the youngest of the five brothers. “I’m surprised you’ve time for a round of cards.”

Rand took a seat between Cam and Sebastian. “And why is that?”

“I’d have thought you’d be far too engaged entertaining Miss Campbell,” Basil said with a smirk as he dealt the cards.

Cam sipped his drink. “I confess it surprises me to see you paying court in that direction.”

“It should not surprise you in the least.” Rand reached for a cheroot, already beginning to regret joining the game.

Blue eyes twinkling, Basil leaned forward and lowered his voice. “You do realize that as an earl and a war hero, you could aim much higher than Miss Campbell? Hell, I’m a youngest son in possession of neither a title nor a fortune, and I could do better.”

“Perhaps your real attentions are focused elsewhere.” Sebastian’s unwavering dark gaze accentuated his dusky good looks. “If so, you should not delay.”

“
I
should not waste time?” Rand lit his cheroot and took a long inhale. “This advice from the man who left his bride untouched for the better part of seven years.”

“She was a child bride and ours was an arranged match,” Sebastian said.

Basil grinned. “And once she was of age she traveled across the Continent to escape you.”

Sebastian played a card. “But I ultimately succeeded in tempting Bella to my bed.” His probing gaze returned to Rand. “You should not waste time pursuing the woman you desire.”

Basil reached for his drink. “Sebastian has the right of it. With your title, you could lure the toast of the
ton.
” His expression turned contemplative. “As a matter of fact, I do seem to recall you carrying a torch for Nugent’s daughter, and she is the reigning incomparable.”

Rand didn’t look up from his cards. “She is also very much betrothed.”

“She certainly waited long enough to accept an offer,” Cam said.

“It was almost as if she awaited someone’s return,” Sebastian murmured.

“Nonsense.” Frustration roiled in his chest. “This discussion has no purpose. She is to be wed.”

“But she isn’t yet married.” Cam spoke in serious tones. “There is nothing here that cannot be undone. As a family, we could survive the scandal it would cause.”

“Wrong.” Anger and frustration stirring in his belly, Rand threw down his cards and pushed to his feet. “There is much here that can never be undone. Nothing will be as it was.”

He left them, striding out of the cards room and through the front hall, eager to make his escape. He almost bumped into Toby coming through the door in the opposite direction.

“Leaving so soon?” He about-faced and followed Rand down the steps. “I’d have thought the lovely Miss Campbell’s company would entice you to prolong your stay.” Lengthening his stride, Rand shot him a dark look. “Doesn’t seem your type, that one.”

They set off in the direction of Rand’s townhome. “And you know my type.”

“If Elena is any indication, you like them dark and buxom.”

Of course, he couldn’t tell Toby his tastes ran toward only one woman; a wisp of a beauty with flaxen curls framing her delicate face. “In truth, I admire Elena’s character more than her form.”

Toby guffawed. “That seems to be the minority opinion when it comes to men, Elena, and her…ah…more voluptuous attributes.”

“Elena and I are no longer involved.”

“I cannot claim to be surprised. You never do stay with any one woman for long. Did you break her heart?”

“I doubt it. I’m rather certain she’s already entertaining a new admirer.”

“Indeed? Who is the lucky sot?”

“I’ve not a clue. She’s been surprisingly discreet about it.”

“Elena? Discreet? Not a behavior I’d attribute to our fearless Maid of Malagon.” Toby pursed his lips. “Perhaps he’s married.”

They rounded a corner. “Unlikely. Elena is not the sort to consort with married men.”

“True. She does have standards. Just not the same ones as the rest of polite society.”

They reached Rand’s doorstep. The idea of entering the big, empty structure alone did not appeal. “Join me for a nightcap, Hobart?”

“No, thank you. I’ll just push on.” He raised his hand to hail a passing hackney. “I depart on the morrow with Drummond. We’ll see what he can do for my addled mind.”

Rand raised a hand in farewell to his friend before turning to ascend the stairs. The huge manse cast a hulking shadow across the square. A few doors down, one of his neighbors was entertaining. Lights blazed from every window, and the chatter of people and music filtered out onto the street.

He wondered what Kitty was doing at the moment. He’d seen her this evening, of course. How could he not? She wore a silver gown that glittered in the candlelight, her short curls adorning the delicate beauty of her features. He noted others had copied her style. There were a number of debutantes sporting short curls at this evening’s musicale. Of course, none of them to the effect of Kitty. Incomparable indeed.

Entering the house, he dismissed the footman who’d waited up for him and made for his study, the clicking of his boots echoing through the silence. At least if he married Miss Campbell, the house wouldn’t be so damned quiet. Although having her incessant chatter crowding his mind for the rest of his days might well drive him to bedlam.

He slowed as he neared the music room. Coming to a stop on the threshold, he exhaled and stepped into the darkness. No one lit candles or a fire in here because he never entered this chamber, yet tonight he felt the familiar old pull to lose himself in his music. He paused by the pianoforte to run his fingers over the cool keys and thought of the beauty he could coax from the instrument. Once, long ago, he’d entertained the idea of becoming a serious musician, which was pure folly for a gentleman. Now he no longer played at all, not even for himself.

Music brought back memories which were best left buried; remembrances of Kitty, who had happily sat beside him when he’d practiced for hours. He hadn’t touched an instrument since the night he’d left her. Music opened something deep inside of him and laid him too bare. He would never allow himself to be that vulnerable again.