by Jenna Jaxon
“How fortunate then that I shall never be required to stand up with Haversham.” Nathan laughed, and Kate clenched her hands. Just because her brother fancied himself a great wit did not make it true.
“Well, mark my words, I will never undertake a wager with you or anyone else again if the forfeit involves Lord Haversham.” Just saying the name was like biting into an unripe persimmon. It turned her mouth inside out.
Nathan watched her, rubbing his fingers over his watch fob. “You are in your third Season, Kate. You could do worse than Haversham, you know.”
“Worse than…” She stared at her brother, expecting devil’s horns to sprout from his dark curly head. “How could anyone be worse than Marcus, Earl of Haversham?”
“You sound as though the man’s a scoundrel or a cad. He’s a good man, Kate, though he has have fallen on hard times at the present. His father’s death affected him very deeply.” Nathan stared at her, frowning.
“I am sorry for his loss, but that doesn’t excuse—”
“He hadn’t expected to take on the mantle of responsibility for some years to come.” Her brother jumped to his friend’s defense. “By the time he got himself in hand, the estates had begun a downward slide. His uncle’s helping him take the reins of the family investments, so that should be all right. But Haversham himself is a good man. He’d make a good husband.”
Kate’s jaw dropped. “Do you seriously want me to marry him?” She grimaced and swallowed convulsively. “My mouth doesn’t even want to say the words.” That lemonade would’ve been welcome right about now. “I wouldn’t marry him if he were…were… There is no instance where I would consent to marry him.”
Her brother peered at her, amusement teasing a smile to his lips once more. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
“Think what you will, as long as you get that notion out of your head.” Kate sniffed. “What gives you the idea Haversham has any interest in me anyway?” Dear God, had he actually spoken to Nathan about her? Offered for her in some fit of devilment? “He hasn’t said anything about me, has he?” The idea made cold chills break out on her arms, despite the warmth of the room.
Nate bit back a laugh and steered her to an unoccupied corner. “No fear of that. He’d likely be as horrified as you at the notion. I seem to be the only one who thinks it a good match.”
“Thank goodness.” Relief swept through her. “You should be sent to Bedlam, dear brother, for entertaining such an idea.” Kate fluffed the ruffles of her bodice, brushing briskly where the clod had pulled her to his hard chest and crushed the delicate green fabric. Lord, but he’d been searing hot pressed against her. She shook off the phantom sensation. “You must allow me to advise you when you come to take a wife, Nathan. I assure you, I’ll return the favor in kind.”
“Peace, Kate.” He smiled and nodded toward the dance floor. “Enjoy this evening. Enjoy the rest of the Season. Find a gentleman you can love and respect then name the day for your wedding.” His face changed, the pleasant lines hardening, swiftly as quicksilver, into a fierce scowl. “But mark me well. Your time is almost up. You’ve squandered two Seasons, snubbing gentleman after gentleman until few dare approach you.”
Kate opened her mouth to protest. She’d simply not found a man who didn’t seem to fear her. Whenever she spoke her mind about any topic, they’d all politely turned tail and run from the room, figuratively speaking. The only one who actually seemed to relish her wit and strong opinions was Lord Haversham. Goodness, was that why Nathan thought they’d suit? Because they liked to argue with one another?
“As a result, you have only three months to find a husband. There is no such thing as a fourth Season.” His tone was once more serious. “Unless you’d like me to choose one for you?”
Kate squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “As long as he’s not Haversham, I probably wouldn’t object.” She flashed a challenging look at him. Two could play this game. “I spy Celinda coming toward us,” Kate said then grunted. “Ugh, she’s still in the company of the odious Haversham.”
“Katherine.” Nathan narrowed his eyes and his fingers twitched.
She smiled smugly at him. “I will go rescue her. You can take your friend off to the card room and try not to win the rest of his meager funds.”
“Kate!” Nathan muttered at her through clenched teeth.
Ignoring him, she hurried toward her cousin, who was actually laughing with Haversham.
“Oh, Kate. Lord Haversham has such a wicked sense of humor. Have you not found him amusing?” Celinda’s eyes sparkled, flitting from her escort, who now looked as dour as a sermon, to Kate. Did her cousin expect her to fawn over Haversham because he made a jest?
“Yes, well, Lord Haversham has an air of wickedness about him, I will grant you that.” Kate forced a smile at the earl.
“Your lemonade, Miss Locke.” Haversham offered her a tall glass, filled to the brim with the pale yellow beverage. “Have a care not to spill it.”
“You are too kind, my lord, to have brought…so much.” Gingerly, she accepted the brimful glass. “My cup runneth over, it seems.”
“Drink some before you spill it on you, cousin,” Celinda whispered, trying to steady the glass. “I tried to tell him not to fill the glass so full, but he insisted you were very thirsty. Be careful.”
Kate frowned, concentrating on not ruining her favorite gown. Curse Haversham. He’d done this on purpose, either to spoil her gown or simply vex her. If the latter was his intent, he was succeeding famously. Her scowl turned into a lopsided smile when she heard her brother approach behind her. “Thank you, my lord. I’m sure I’ll not be thirsty now.” She stared pointedly at several drips sliding gracefully down the glass. “Perhaps nevermore.”
“Did you drain the last pitcher, Haversham?” Nathan eyed the full glass askance.
“I couldn’t countenance the possibility that Miss Locke might remain unsatisfied by a less than full glass.” Haversham bowed, his face now as impassive as Nathan’s had been. “I do hope this will keep her occupied and sated.”
Her brother let out a strangled, choking sound.
Kate sent Haversham a scornful look and finally managed a sip that lowered the beverage to a less dangerous level. At least she no longer feared for her gown.
“Who are you engaged with for the next dance, Kate?” Celinda stared pointedly at the dance card that dangled from her wrist.
Her cousin was a lovely person but had moments when she relapsed into a total goose. “I’m sitting the next set out, Celinda. My feet are sore.”
“But you’ve only danced the one waltz.” Celinda’s brow puckered comically.
“Some partners are more wearing than others, Lady Celinda.” Haversham chuckled and turned his attention to Nathan. “Come, let me recoup my finances with you, Ainsley. I’m feeling lucky tonight.” His gaze flitted over her face, a momentary contact that startled Kate with its intensity.
“Yes, let us begin the slaughter.” Her brother laughed and started for the doorway that led to the rest of Lady Hamilton’s first floor. Almost at the entryway, he turned back to her. “Play nicely, Kate. If you feel you must make mischief with someone, at least have the courtesy to tell me. Don’t make me learn it from Lady Drayle’s footman, as I did last time.” He delivered that parting shot and turned, immediately in conversation with Haversham. They wound their way out of sight, and Kate sighed heavily.
“Lord, I don’t know which man has made me angrier tonight.” Kate tapped her fan against her hand several times then unfurled it and fanned herself. Serve Nathan right if Haversham took every penny in his accounts. Of course then she would have no dowry and end up a spinster. Though even that status had its charms tonight.
“You do seem ready to fly to pieces, Kate, and the evening is just begun.” Celinda’s tinkly little laugh grated rather than soothed at the moment.
“Well, you didn’t help matters either, cuz.” Kate rounded on her cousin, whose big blue eyes
widened innocently.
“Me? What did I do? I thought I’d give you time to engage yourself with another partner while I took Lord Haversham out of your path.” The petite blonde sniffed. “Is it my fault you’d rather complain about the man than replace him with a more pleasing partner?”
“How do you know I was complaining about Haversham?”
“Were you?” Celinda arched a delicate eyebrow.
“Well, yes.” Kate lowered her voice. She didn’t intend to be tomorrow morning’s prime on-dit if she could help it. “But you couldn’t know that.”
“Tsk tsk.” Celinda shook a finger at her. “You had that same pained expression on your face when we returned as when we left. How many times have I warned you to school your face if you want to veil your thoughts, my dear?” She plucked the still-full glass from Kate’s hand and set it on a nearby table.
“You always said that when we were growing up.” Kate rubbed her finger across her lips. Did she truly give away her feelings so easily?
“Yes, whenever we got into trouble, you were the last person we wanted to try to cover it up.” Celinda shook her head, lost in memory. “Now it’s even more imperative that you watch what you do and say—and how you look.”
“Oh, please.” Kate grasped her head then quickly turned a smile on the Dowager Countess of Wendley. Once the older woman, one of the ton’s biggest gossips, had passed by, she returned to her cousin. “I’ve had this same lecture from Nathan twice tonight. Behave myself and get a husband. His two edicts for me this Season.”
“You have to admit, Kate, your opportunities for marriage are shrinking.” Celinda peered around the dance floor. “There are simply no new gentlemen of any consequence or conversation out this year.”
“Then who, pray tell, is that?” Kate had been shifting from foot to foot, trying to get used to standing for long periods again, when the most handsome man she’d ever seen walked calmly though the doorway, more graceful in his movements than a cat on a fence rail.
His dark good looks caught her attention first. Wide shoulders that tapered to slim hips and strong legs supporting his tall frame kept her staring. He was dressed impeccably in elegant black evening clothes, and a snowy white cravat fastened with a modest gold-and-diamond pin made the man so devilishly handsome that she couldn’t quite catch her breath.
A couple danced by, passing in front of him, and when they moved on, he had vanished.
