Color of Deception (Sullyard Sisters Book 1)

by Ruth J. Hartman

  The carriage pulled up in front of Kitty’s house. Nathaniel had gotten halfway to the door when it opened. When he glanced up and saw Kitty with a huge grin on her face, he relaxed. As glad as he was to see her, he was nearly as glad that he wouldn’t have to endure seeing her sister again so soon. Had she assumed him a sad kind of buffoon for coming for Kitty when his cousin had beat him there? Kitty’s great-aunt slipped past them and headed for the carriage as if she owned it. The coachman raised his eyebrows at Nathaniel, but said nothing as he helped her onto the seat.

  Nathaniel turned back. “Miss Sullyard, how wonderful you look today.”

  She stepped nearer and whispered, “Hadn’t we agreed to address each other by our Christian names?”

  Leaning down until his lips nearly brushed her ear, he said, “Only when we are alone.”

  She glanced up at him. “Oh.” Her cheeks colored, a very becoming sight indeed.

  He hadn’t exactly meant the comment to come out as rakish, but had she taken it that way? So much the better. As difficult as it was for him to act the part of the rake, he’d take any help he could get.

  Kitty took his proffered arm. “Where are we to go today?” One side of her mouth curved up in an adorable teasing manner.

  All he wanted to do right that moment, the only thing, was to grab her, whisk her away in the carriage and kiss her senseless. After he’d removed her great-aunt from the carriage…

  Was playing a rake beginning to take over his mind? Or was it that Kitty was so delectable, so irresistible that he couldn’t stand not to be near her.

  “Are we ready to depart?” Kitty peered up at him, wide-eyed, her long lashes framing her eyes, her auburn hair glinting in sunshine as a few of the many clouds parted for a moment.

  He swallowed. Stop woolgathering. “Of course.” Get a hold of yourself, man. You mustn’t allow her to see you as you really are. How do you hope to compete with Stratford if she thinks you’re cork-brained?

  Nathaniel tugged her little closer, purposefully brushing his arm against the side of her breast. If her intake of breath was any indication, he’d hit his mark. He pushed aside a vision of what she might be like beneath the worn dress. Because if his mind kept pursuing its current course, he’d become a rake in more than name only.

  He helped her into the carriage and assisted her to her seat. Once he sat down and made sure Mrs. Caruthers wasn’t eyeing him, he leaned forward to be a little closer to Kitty. He gave her a wink and a slow, seductive – at least he hoped it was seductive – smile.

  Her fingers fidgeted with the fastener on her large cloth bag. “Where are we headed today… Nathaniel?”

  At the sound of his name from her lips, something warm and delightful coursed through him. How could a woman’s voice speaking his name cause him such a reaction? He reached for her hand, pulling it away from her bag, and cradled her fingers between his hands. “We are going to the London Tower Zoo. Have you ever been?” As soon as he uttered the words, he wished he could reel them back. How thoughtless. While she might not have been, everyone in his set would have attended multiple times.

  “Well, no. I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure.”

  He squeezed her hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of her glove. “Then it will be doubly delightful for me to be the first to show it to you.”

  Show it to you… Inappropriate visions of them disrobing and showing each other their—

  Kitty gave a small gasp, almost as if she’d heard his inner voice. When she glanced toward the window, Nathaniel got a delightful view of her graceful, ivory neck. He longed to stroke his fingers along the soft skin and then spread light kisses down the same path.

  Something was definitely coming over him, but it wasn’t simply lust. No, this went much deeper. To the center of his heart. How had he lived a whole life before meeting Kitty? Because when he was with her, colors appeared brighter, the air smelled more fragrant, the—

  “—today?”

  Nathaniel blinked. “Pardon?”

  “I asked if you had something specific you wanted me to paint today.”

  Your self-portrait as a gift to me. “I guess you’ll have to wait until we arrive.”

  She raised one eyebrow. “Are you being a tease, Nathaniel?”

  “Is that something you’d like?”

  Her mouth dropped open and she just as quickly snapped it shut. A pinkish hue traveled from her face to the top of her bodice. He didn’t even try to stop himself from following the path with his gaze.

  The coachman guided the carriage to the entrance of the Tower Zoo. After Kitty, her great-aunt and Nathaniel had stepped down, Nathaniel gave a nod to the coachman, who drove the carriage a few hundred yards down the street.

  Kitty tilted her head and watched the conveyance roll away.

  Nathaniel lowered his eyebrows. “What’s the matter?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at her great-aunt who was standing nearly in the middle of the pathway, forcing others to step around her as she read her book. “My dear great-aunt is not the most attentive, but I’m relieved we have a chaperone accompanying us. With Stratford…” She cleared her throat and then moved her gaze from his face to his shoulder.

  Anger jolted through Nathaniel. She also addressed Stratford by his Christian name? And what was that business about the chaperone not being with them? He bit the inside of his cheek and took a deep breath until the anger subsided. No use upsetting Kitty when she’d done nothing wrong. No, surely all the blame would rest with his cousin.

  He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

  They entered through the main gate, sidestepping a large group of men and women who corralled some rowdy children. An earth-shattering roar came from their left. Nathaniel jumped, but was fairly certain Kitty had jumped higher. The way she clutched his arm made him wonder if he’d made a mistake bringing her there.

  He tilted his head toward hers. “Are you frightened to be here?”

  “No… no, I love animals, especially cats. The lion’s roar was so loud.”

  “Indeed.” He guided them to a nearby bench. When he indicated to Mrs. Caruthers that she could take a seat, she shook her head and headed to a bench a few feet away. Did she not care for Nathaniel’s company or was she that way toward everyone? He shrugged. What did it matter if it gave him more opportunities to speak with Kitty alone?

  Kitty stopped in front of the bench and spun toward him. She gazed up at him for a moment, then away. Her fingers fidgeted. Was she nervous about something? About being with him with her aunt not sitting on the same bench? But she hadn’t seemed nervous at the race.

  He blinked. “Is something amiss?”

  She jumped as if startled, even though the lion at the moment wasn’t roaring. “I… No. I brought something for…”

  “For…”

  She opened her reticule and pulled out a small roll of paper. “It’s not much. I had a few moments before I retired last night and, well…”

  “May I?”

  She nodded.

  He reached out and took the offered paper, sucking in a breath as he unrolled it. Done in pencil, the majestic black stallion pranced with one front leg up, its tail whipping as if caught in a strong breeze. The horse had no rider, but was saddled, as if waiting for someone to climb on. “It’s amazing.”

  She brushed some strands of hair from her cheek and bit her lip. She said nothing but waited. Was there something she wanted him to notice about the drawing?

  Nathaniel leaned closer to the foolscap, running his gaze slowly over the image. Long tail, rippling muscles, flared nostrils, thick neck… It was a masterpiece but he didn’t see anything—

  Wait.

  Right at the corner of the dark eye, which was surrounded by a white patch, was a dark wavy sort of line. It was a…

  He lifted his gaze and grinned. “It’s an N.”

  She let out a breath and smiled. “Yes. I knew you would find it. You saw the S in the one from the race so
easily when most people, except for my family, never do.”

  He couldn’t believe she’d taken the time to draw something especially for him. And to add his own initial was a most precious gift. “I will treasure it always.”

  Color rushed up her cheeks. She waved a hand. “Oh, well… I just imagined since you’d discovered the letter in one, it might be fun to have one with your own initial from a place at which you’d recently spent time.”

  “It is, indeed. I thank you.” He gave her a bow.

  She giggled and accepted his help to sit on the bench. Nathaniel gently rolled the paper and tucked it into his coat pocket.

  Once he’d gotten Kitty settled on the bench, he sat down as well, but not too close. So many people were coming and going, he’d not want anyone to think there was anything improper going on. Still, Nathaniel wasn’t sorry Mrs. Caruthers had a mind of her own and enjoyed being a little apart from her niece.

  No, not in the least. His lips curved up until he remembered what Kitty had said about not having a chaperone while with Stratford. But then, why wasn’t he surprised? It was Stratford’s usual way, was it not?

  Aren’t you hoping for the very same thing? Glad that the great-aunt is not sitting right with you?

  It wasn’t the same. Not at all. He glanced at Kitty, a few wisps of her red hair dancing about her forehead as she dug into her cloth bag for supplies. No, what Stratford wanted was what he always wanted from women. To have them, use them and then throw them aside.

  I’ll not do that. Not to Kitty. Never to Kitty. While he might be playing to rake to try to compete with his cousin for Kitty’s attention, Nathaniel’s ultimate intentions were much, much different.

  “Are you going to tell me?”

  He startled. Had he spoken his musings aloud? Please not that. “Tell you—”

  “What is it you wish for me to draw for the magazine?”

  He let out a breath. “It’s really no secret. I’ll let you choose.”

  “Truly?” Her face lit up.

  “It that such a novel concept?”

  “Actually yes. The small drawing of the horse was an exception. I never get to choose what I draw and paint.”

  What a shame. “Well today, my dear, the choice is yours. Choose any animals here you’d like and capture their likenesses on a panorama.”

  Kitty’s eyes widened. Her expression was one of whom had just been presented with a special gift. But if she never got to use her talent for her own pleasure, perhaps it was a gift of sorts.

  Warmth filled Nathaniel’s chest at being the one to give her something she’d love. “Which animals will it be?”

  “Hmm…” She glanced to her right.

  Nathaniel followed he gaze. The majestic lion sat on his haunches licking a massive paw. “Splendid choice.”

  “Do you think your uncle will approve of the lion? I can choose something else.”

  He patted her hand, careful not to leave his there too long, though he wanted to. “He will approve of anything you paint, I assure you. My uncle’s magazine often has pictures of animals, both wild and domestic. I’d say any creature residing here will do. I realize I’m merely one of his workers, but I made sure to get his permission before our outing today.”

  “I can’t tell you what a pleasure this will be.” After retrieving her pencil and paper from somewhere in the murky depths of her huge bag, Kitty prepared to draw.

  “What is it about the lion that captures your interest?”

  She lifted one shoulder in an adorable shrug. “I adore cats. All kinds. However, I must admit this is my first chance to actually see a wild cat. Up until now, it’s only been in pictures I’ve had the chance to view.”

  Nathaniel watched, fascinated, as Kitty sketched out the outline of the giant cat, using the sharp point of the pencil. Then came the face, with large eyes, regal nose and muzzle with whiskers. The paws were next, followed by the tail. She flipped the pencil on its side and shaded in a few shadows beneath the eyes and around the whiskers. He nodded when he watched her draw a tiny S in the lion’s mane, his heart warming again that she’d taken time to draw him the horse.

  Kitty had only sketched in the barest of details so far, but already it was a masterpiece. What a shame that she’d never experienced even coming to the zoo. But then, if her cousin was as she’d said, there wouldn’t be time for Kitty and her sisters to do much beside work.

  Determination filled Nathaniel’s mind and heart. Kitty, I make you a vow. You shall have an abundant happy life in the future. I’ll see to it personally. He watched the lion in its enclosure for a moment and then peered back down to see the progress of the lion coming to life on the paper. Extraordinary. “How many cats will you draw?”

  She blinked and peered up at him. “I may draw more than one?”

  “Of course. Draw all of the cats if you’d like. You could create a wild cat parade. They could all be carrying parasols and wearing pink slippers.”

  Kitty snorted. Several people turned to glare at her. “Oh dear.”

  “Don’t mind them,” whispered Nathaniel, “many of the ton were born without hearts.”

  With a loud pop, Kitty smacked her hand over her mouth. Her eyes crinkled at the corners and moisture gathered on her lashes. Trying not to laugh? He handed her his handkerchief.

  Kitty dabbed at her eyes. Her grin was still wide. “You should not do that out in public.”

  “Hand you my handkerchief? I assure you, it’s a common thing. Everyone does it. I hear it’s all the rage.”

  “No,” She giggled. “Make me laugh so hard I… I—”

  “You…what? Appear even more beautiful than before? Which I hadn’t imagined could happen, yet you’ve proven me wrong.”

  “I…” She blinked. “Thank you.”

  “I’m only speaking the truth, Miss Sullyard. But, as I see I’m hindering your work, I’d best let you get to it.”

  She touched his sleeve. “You’re not leaving… are you?”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “As am I.” You have no idea.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kitty had completed her rough sketches of the cats. Next she needed to fill in greater detail. More shading around the haunch of the cat’s leg and between its giant paws, then some textured effects for the fur along the muzzle and tail. That would make it easier when she worked on painting the panorama that evening. She’d have to make sure she had the correct shades of tan and brown for the fur and mane.

  “Good day, Mr. Bexley.”

  She glanced up at the same time that Nathaniel stood and performed a quick bow to an older, white-haired gentleman.

  “Good day, Mr. Williamson.” Nathaniel glanced at Kitty and back to the other man.

  Mr. Williamson peeked around Nathaniel, catching Kitty’s eye. Quickly, she averted her gaze and continued to draw, feeling like she’d been caught spying on a private conversation.

  “Who’s your lovely companion, Mr. Bexley?”

  A nearly imperceptible sigh came from Nathaniel. Had he not wanted the other man to acknowledge her? “May I present Miss Sullyard? She’s doing artwork for the magazine.”

  The older gentleman nodded. “Good day.”

  “Good day.” Kitty set aside her paper, preparing to stand.

  “Please, stay seated.” The man inclined his head. “I’d not want to interrupt your work.” He leaned over slightly, glancing at her paper. “Marvelous.”

  Kitty smiled, not sure what to say. She’d been told not to stand, should she—

  “Listen, Mr. Bexley, might I have a word with you? In private?”

  Nathaniel looked down at Kitty, his eyebrows raised. Was he asking her permission? Surely not. Kitty lowered her head started sketching again, hoping it would send the message that she was quite busy and couldn’t be bothered to get in the men’s way. She was only doing work for Nathaniel’s uncle, not someone in whom Mr. Williamson would be interested.<
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  “Certainly,” Nathaniel said to Mr. Williamson. Then to Kitty, “If you’ll pardon me, Miss Sullyard. I shan’t be long.”

  With another nod, she watched them depart.

  Boot steps drew near. Had Nathaniel forgotten something? “Working on your little pictures again?”

  Kitty startled at the feminine voice. She peered up. Miss Queensbury. Perfect. “Little pictures? Well, the panoramas are miniature, so I suppose, yes.” Why was she here?

  Without invitation, Miss Queensbury took a seat next to Kitty. The nerve. The last thing Kitty wanted to do was spend any time with her. Maybe if she just ignored her, she’d go away.

  Movement from the corner of Kitty’s eye drew her attention. Miss Queensbury’s boot tapped out a rapid beat on the ground. Was the woman irritated about something? Take your worries someplace else, please.

  A gentle clearing of the throat came next. Was she not going to leave Kitty alone? After letting out a long breath, Kitty set her pencil down on top of the paper in her lap and gave Miss Queensbury her attention. But she didn’t say anything. Let her do the speaking. I’ll not go out of my way to accommodate her.

  “Miss Sullyard.”

  Kitty continued to watch her, unblinking.

  Miss Queensbury’s face colored a ripe-apple red. “It seems to me that you are insinuating yourself in places you do not belong.”

  “I’m quite certain I’m allowed at the zoo. Even wild animals are permitted here.”

  “Not the zoo,” she hissed out between clenched teeth.

  “We’re not at the zoo?” Kitty lowered her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side. “Imagine my embarrassment at sketching a lion. What must people think of me?”

  “Cease your inane jabbering.”

  Kitty bit the inside of her lip, hoping not to laugh.

  “What I meant was, you’re attempting to align yourself with your betters.”

  “How so?”