GypsyDukeEpub (16 page)

"She must have done something dreadful, indeed, to send him into hiding for this long."

Kitty gulped hard. They could only be speaking of her and John.

"I don't know," said one doubtful voice. "The duchess seems quite happy with Lady Katherine, and I thought her lovely."

"Oh, Priscilla, what do you know? You never leave your mother's side long enough to make an informed decision. Lady Katherine is desperate for a husband, or she would not be here. Somerset has abandoned her."

Kitty didn't wait to hear another word. She picked up her skirts and vaulted down the dim hallway to the outer courtyard, before anyone came along to witness her humiliation. Once in the obscurity of the dark garden, she leaned against a pillar, her breath coming in little gasps.

Why had John put her in this position? She would have been perfectly happy to stay at home, marry her duke, and never set foot in London. Now she was the scourge of polite ladies' ondits.

She peered into the gloomy recesses of the garden. There was little
lighting outdoors, leading Kitty to believe their hosts expected the guests to stay indoors or thereabouts.

She didn't care. Off to the side, a pathway looked promising. There was probably a garden bench somewhere, and she would find it. She was in no mood for any more polite conversation.

When John's dance with Lady Clarisse came to an end, it was nearing midnight. When he returned Clarisse to Lady Renalda's side, it took another ten minutes to break away. Clearly, he was considered prime husband material, and they didn't even know who he was.

Robert was seated with John's mother, and he expected to find Kitty somewhere nearby. When he didn't see her, he searched the crowd. He spied her just over the top of a ridiculously short green goddess and hurried to intercept.

He slowed his steps when he recognized her path toward the ladies' withdrawing room. He would wait for her, but if he hung about outside the door, it would cause a stir. Everything caused a stir among the ton.

He hastened through a vestibule that opened into the hallway near the ladies' room. He arrived just in time to catch a sight of Kitty's trim ankles as she lifted her skirts and ran for the outer door as if her life depended on it.

That was dashed odd. She hadn't taken time to visit the withdrawing room, but he knew that was her intent. Her ear had been bent toward the door before she picked up her skirts and ran.

He strolled slowly past the ladies' room, studying nothing and anything on the walls to explain his slow progress. His ears strained to catch any conversation from inside, and he was rewarded with the barest ondit.

"Well, if I have anything to do with it, Lady Katherine will be known as nothing more than Somerset's castoff. She is not about to entrance all the eligible men this Season."

John bolted for the door. Kitty had been wounded, and it was his fault. He regretted, more and more, the impulsive decision five years ago that took him away from his home.

The darkness of the gardens required several seconds of adjustment, but the cool night air provided a welcome respite from the close crush inside. He searched the surrounding area for Kitty's white gown. It should stand out in the darkness, but he didn't find it.

He began a slow meander past the rear of the house. He looked through the tall windows. She hadn't slipped back to the party, so she had to be in the gardens somewhere. He retraced his steps to the door he had exited then took the first path trailing away from the house.

He kept his steps light so he wouldn't startle any couples utilizing the darkness for an assignation. After several twists and turns, he realized his stealth was unnecessary. Kitty was seated on a bench,
sobbing as if her heart would break, and wouldn't have heard anyone's approach.

Thankfully, he had been the one to find her. Some more unscrupulous gentleman could easily have taken advantage of her...as he intended. But that was different…Kitty was his betrothed. She needed to be awakened to his interest.

A breeze swept through the gardens, bringing the scent of unknown flowers and lifting tendrils of Kitty's hair. She shuddered, as she took a deep breath and tried to dab at her eyes through the mask. She must have found this ineffectual because she reached up and removed it, laying it on her lap.

John paused. His heart beat faster. What countenance would he find under the mask? He continued to watch, fascinated, as Kitty dabbed at her eyes. If she would just raise her face, he'd be able to see.

Kitty lifted her face just as the moon broke free of the clouds. John gaped as the indulgent light of the moon caressed eyes damp with tears. It fell with adoration on hair that seemed to have a light of its own, giving the impression of a silvery halo. Light-kissed cheekbones left a plane of shadows where John knew nestled the elegant curve of an ear that he longed to kiss.

His Kitty was breathtaking, and his desire for her was an overwhelming wave as he rushed forward to claim her. This moment would be perfect.

And it was…until Kitty closed her eyes and began to pray. With one word, she destroyed the magical mood her presence had created.

"Father…I beseech you, care for John as you have cared for me. I know you love him, even more than I. Show him your love, and call him home to us. Tell him we need him, dear Lord. And help me to stand against those who would bring dishonor to your name and to John's. Thank you, for all you blessed us with and help us bless others. Reveal your will and give me the strength to make the right decision…for John and for me. In the precious name of our Lord, Amen."

A decision? So the harsh words of meowling females had not completely deterred her from wanting to marry him. She was a strong woman, indeed.

But John was strong as well, and now that he had decided to keep Kitty, not even her propensity for prayer seemed off-putting. In fact, it was rather endearing. Her heart had been wounded, yet she prayed for him.

John stepped into the light.

Kitty gasped when she saw the dark gypsy move towards her. Could God have sent the answer to her prayer so quickly? But the hungry look in his eyes churned more feelings of uncertainty.

He dropped to his knees and took both Kitty's hands in his. They shouldn't be alone in the garden together, but it seemed less important
than hearing why he'd sought her out.

"Why do you cry?" John tilted his head to look at the sky. "Do you not know that the moon and the stars yearn for your smile as much as I?" They stared into each other's eyes, and Kitty shivered, the poetry of his words soothing the anxiety in her heart. "Is there any chance that I could bring you some small happiness? I would do anything to make it so."

He lifted one of her hands for his kiss, and Kitty thought how odd that Lord Knight's lips could burn through her gloves, branding her skin with the most invigorating fire. Could this be the flame of love? She'd never felt this way around John.

"You haven't answered me, my Kitty. What can I do to restore your happiness?"

His Kitty! The deep, soft voice cast a spell on her. She opened her mouth, but no sound came forth. She could see him waiting for her, for something…

As he moved ever closer to her face, her longing increased. He could make it better, make everything better, if only he would…

When John reached his arms behind her to pull her close, Kitty closed her eyes, surrendering to the utter fulfillment of the moment. She felt cherished.

"Darling," he whispered, "tell me what you need."

"John."

She needed him.

The breathless yearning in her voice answered the desire he felt. He nuzzled the hair at her nape with the barest of caresses.

"Kitty," he breathed against her ear, "you are infinitely precious."

When John heard her sigh of contentment, he turned his lips to hers. This was a kiss as it should be, what it had never been before. He could lose himself in this sensation.

"John! What in God's name do you think you're doing?"

Robert's shocked accusation broke the couple apart.

John stared into Kitty's tormented eyes. He had to make her understand that he was sincere.

"Kitty, I…"

"Lord Knight…we have to go."

John turned on Robert in exasperation. "I'm coming, Westley, just a moment."

"There's no time. The duchess is waiting at the side door to escort Kitty back to the ballroom. It's past midnight and everyone has removed their masks. Come. Now."

The urgency in Robert's command communicated itself to John. He pulled Kitty off the bench, crushed her briefly against his chest, and tilted her chin so he could look in her eyes.

"I have to go, darling. I know you have questions…I'm begging you to trust me. Will you wait for me, Kitty? I will come for you."

Fear sprang into her eyes, and he realized that yet again he was leaving her with no explanations.

"Please, darling," he urged.

Kitty's eyes clamped shut for a moment then burst open with a confident light. "I'll wait as long as I can."

Then she tore herself from his embrace and rushed past Robert to join the duchess.

John let her flee. His eyes met Robert's briefly, feeling his censure, before Robert, too, rushed toward the palatial manor.

John stepped back into the shadows of a tall hedge. It wouldn't do for anyone to see him now. He wasn't about to remove his mask and reveal his identity to the ton.

He waited impatiently for Robert's return. What had he just done? One second he was listening to Kitty's sweet voice offering up prayers for his safety, the next he was throwing himself upon her like a drowning man.

Once she had time to think about this encounter, she might well regret her promise. He felt more uncertain than ever about his future with Kitty, but even more determined to make it happen.

If only this spying business was finished, he'd be free to woo her like a gentleman…but he wasn't a gentleman, not any longer.

Robert came tearing down the pathway, and John stepped into the light. Robert jerked to a stop.

"You idiot! What possessed you to pull a stunt like that? Half the ton saw you follow her out of the ballroom, and the other half know about it by now. Are you trying to ruin her for life? Because if something happens to you, she's done for. I doubt even your mother's patronage can extricate her from this. You are lucky it was I who discovered you together and not someone else. Oh, how I'd like to plant you a facer!"

John's shoulders drooped. Robert was right, as usual.

"Go ahead, Westley, draw my claret. It will be no more than I deserve."

When Robert stood there staring at him, John moved away, hurrying toward the gate at the back of the garden. "All right, then. Best be on our way if you aren't going to clobber me."

He heard footsteps behind him then felt Robert at his shoulder.

"I would love to pound you, Somerset, but you look so Friday-faced, I have not the heart."

John grimaced. Now he would have to make explanations to Robert, and he wasn't sure he knew what to say. He needed time to consider the events of the evening.

They reached the alley and climbed in the waiting carriage. Robert knocked against the roof, and the carriage lurched off.

The lanterns on the interior were snuffed to protect their identity, and John leaned against the seat, eyes closed, brooding about all he'd learned that night. Kitty was still waiting for her knight in shining armor to come and save her from the ton. His uncle, Bartholomew, remained an annoyance. And if he had correctly gauged his popularity with the matrons of the ton and their daughters, he'd have little problem regaining his place in society.

He had his mother, Robert, and even Kitty, to thank for that. They were all above reproach and had given him their stamp of approval. The little disdain Kitty had experienced at the hands of the beau monde had come solely as a reaction to his abandonment. When they married, it would dissolve.

If only he could convince Kitty he was the right one for her. It bothered him that Kitty expected God to tell her whom to marry. They had an agreement. Now was no time for her to get religious scruples. Come to think of it, she'd always been the praying sort.

Robert kicked his foot, breaking into his revelry. "Well? What have you to say for yourself?"

"Were you aware that my uncle is still bothering my mother for money? I thought Sir James said all that would be tended to."

"That is not at all the problem we are attempting to solve."

"Sometimes, Westley, you can get a little high in the instep. I know we have to deal with Kitty's situation, but it bothers me that my mother is not as safe as I had assumed." He tired of peering into the darkness. "Light the lanterns, Rob. We've no further reason to skulk about."

He waited while Robert attended the lights.

"You know, it would behoove me to have a lengthy discussion with my mother. Kitty is no doubt staying with her parents, so my mother's townhouse would be safe enough for a late-night appearance. I think I will likely attend the duchess this eve."

Robert yawned. "It is morning, but I agree. Speak with the duchess. Mayhap, she can make you see reason. I do not see why you wish to
remain a secret."