Color of Deception (Sullyard Sisters Book 1)

by Ruth J. Hartman

  Nathaniel was shaking his head before she’d even finished. “You saw how Stratford reacted to the cat.”

  Indeed.

  “Maybe you should take him?”

  What would Robert think of that? Probably would hate it. He despised the stray cats that she and her sisters fed out in the yard. But, if Kitty told him Mr. Bexley – she needn’t say which one – suggested it, Robert just might go along. “I think I will.”

  The cat let out a contented purr, as if he knew he’d just found a home.

  “What will you name him, Kitty?”

  “No. I won’t name him Kitty.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean—”

  Try as she might, Kitty’s lips quivered.

  “Ha!” Nathaniel pointed to her mouth. “You’re having sport with me.”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “All right, then. What will the name be?”

  “Hmm. I think I’ll have to spend a little time with him before I decide.” She took a step away from him, intent on putting some distance between them physically and otherwise. She’d need to make it clear that she was interested in both cousins for her job’s sake, but that she didn’t want anything more. Now she was starting to regret her impulse to have drawn the horse for Nathaniel. What had she been thinking? As much as she’d like to think he’d have an interest in her, he was a rake. If she allowed herself to get too deeply involved with him, it would be even harder to walk away when her work for the magazine was concluded.

  Nathaniel blinked and tilted his head as if trying to fathom why there was a sudden change in Kitty’s demeanor. “Certainly.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nathaniel chortled at his cousin’s joke. When had Walter developed such a grand sense of humor? “Well, if you must know, Walter, I—”

  The front door slammed shut and loud footsteps came toward the parlor. Everyone in the room, Uncle Gilbert, Aunt Hortense, Walter and Annabelle, stared at the open doorway.

  Stratford, seething, stood there. Hands clenched into fists at his sides. Chest rapidly moving in and out. Face a horrific shade of dark red. He glanced around the room, his glare landing on Nathaniel.

  That did not bode well.

  “Problem, Stratford?” Nathaniel stayed in his chair, hands calmly in his lap, but his insides quivered like pudding.

  “How dare you?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Aunt Hortense held up a hand. “Stratford, what is—”

  He cut her off with a sharp slice of his hand through the air.

  “Now see here.” Uncle Gilbert stood and set the book he’d been reading on his chair. “Please explain the reason for storming in here, frightening your mother and siblings.”

  And his cousin….

  Stratford, not bothering to look at his father as he spoke, advanced toward Nathaniel. “My issue is with him.”

  Uncle Gilbert lowered his eyebrows. “I still don’t think—”

  “Father… please.”

  With a frown, Uncle Gilbert reclaimed his seat. “At least take your anger out-of- doors where the women can’t hear.”

  “Fine by me.” Stratford stared at Nathaniel and raised one eyebrow in challenge.

  Letting out a slow breath, Nathaniel stood. He faced his aunt and inclined his head. “Please excuse us.” Without another word, Stratford left the room in a flurry of loud boot steps and curses under his breath. Nathaniel followed, but his limp slowed him down. He knew not what the trouble could be, yet he had an inkling. The longer he followed his cousin, the stronger the feeling grew.

  This is about Kitty.

  Stratford didn’t stop until he reached the back garden, which was not visible if one glanced out a house window. Had he does that on purpose? So whatever happened between them couldn’t be seen?

  Finally spinning around, Stratford glowered at Nathaniel. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Knowing full well, yet loath to enter into an argument, Nathaniel gave a shrug. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Stratford barked out a humorous laugh and stepped closer. “Of course you know. Why are you sniffing around Kitty Sullyard?” The harsh stench of liquor hung on his breath.

  “Why are you?”

  This time his laugh held some humor. “How long have you known me, Nathaniel? I live for finding beautiful women and seducing them. Bending them, figuratively and literally to my needs. It’s all about the conquest. The chase.”

  “And you think you’re the only man who enjoys beautiful women?”

  Stratford shook his head. “Since when do you give a damn about women? How many times have I offered to help you find a woman to spend time with?”

  “Your idea of spending time and mine are vastly different.”

  “There’s my point. Where you might be content to sit and talk to a woman, I can think of nothing but throwing her on the nearest flat surface and lifting her skirts.”

  “You disgust me.”

  “And why would that be? I’m only being honest about what I desire. You, on the other hand, never give a damn about women, but suddenly, you’ve developed a tendré for Kitty. And isn’t that just the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?” He fluttered his eyelashes like a woman.

  Nathaniel’s hands formed into fists. “Shut your mouth.”

  “Why?” He stood taller and leaned so close, Nathaniel had to take a step back. “I can say whatever I wish. Always have.”

  “That’s true enough. You get away with so much.”

  “It’s not my fault that my parents are wealthy and yours were not, dear cousin.”

  Nathaniel shook his head slowly. Was Stratford really so self-absorbed that he didn’t see anything wrong with the way he seduced women and tossed them aside? “That’s not even the point.”

  “Then what is?”

  “You take advantage of… of women and…”

  Stratford snorted. “You can’t even say the words. What a clown you are. Such a joke. What woman would ever be interested in you?”

  Nathaniel’s gaze drifted down to his fisted hands, which he then relaxed. He whispered out her name. “Kitty.”

  “Now I know you’ve gone mad. She would never look twice at you.”

  “Then why all the anger?” He spread his hands. “Why are you so upset? If you’re not worried that I—”

  “You could never cause me a second’s worry.”

  “Then all this is for naught.”

  Stratford crossed his arms. Was he trying to appear nonplussed or did he do it to hold in his anger? “I don’t for one second fear you could ever gain Kitty’s affections, but you are causing me difficulty in making a play for her myself.”

  “Why? Because I’ve spent some time with her?”

  “You’re stepping in where you don’t belong. Where you’re not wanted. Kitty doesn’t want you.”

  “And she wants you?”

  Stratford puffed out his chest like a peacock. “She longs for me. For my touch.”

  Negative thoughts crept in. Was that true? Had he misread her interest? “She’s told you this?”

  “Didn’t have to. I see it in her eyes. Hear it in her whispered words.”

  Nathaniel crossed his arms to mirror Stratford’s earlier gesture. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Believe it, Nathaniel. When she’s with me, I have her so full of desire she practically writhes in my arms.”

  An image of Stratford and Kitty holding each other and kissing nearly made him ill. “You’re revolting, speaking of her like this.”

  “No, I’m honest. You can trust my words.”

  “You’re as trustworthy as a viper.”

  Stratford grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You would,” he spat out.

  “This is getting us nowhere.” Stratford came a step closer, his warm breath fanning across Nathaniel’s face. “What I came out here to say to you is this – stay away from Kitty.”

  “I beg your pard
on?”

  “I did not mince my words.” Stratford poked Nathaniel once in the chest. Hard. “You understood me perfectly.”

  “That doesn’t mean I’ll comply.”

  “Why are you doing this? Thwarting my plans? You’ve never done so in the past.”

  Nathaniel shrugged, trying to keep his voice nonchalant. Because if Stratford knew how much he really cared about Kitty, nothing would stop him from trying his best to seduce her. “Maybe I enjoy spending time with her.”

  “Well, stop. She’s not yours to spend time with.”

  “And you think she’s yours?”

  “I know it.”

  “One of these days your overconfidence will get the better of you,” Nathaniel uttered through clenched teeth.

  “At least I have confidence.”

  “At least I have scruples.”

  “You amuse me, cousin.” Stratford shook his head.

  “How so?” Nathaniel wanted to take a step back, not be so close to his cousin, but he also had no wish to act as if he would back down from his interest in Kitty.

  “You make it sound as if having scruples somehow means something.”

  “It does to me. To most people, in fact.” Why am I not surprised it wouldn’t to him?

  “Perhaps, but does being in possession of them bring you good fortune? Help you attain your desires?”

  Nathaniel blinked. Did it? When had being the good cousin ever gotten him anywhere? Not in business, not in finance. Not in life. Certainly not in love.

  “I see I have your attention now. So hear this.” He grabbed a fistful of Nathaniel’s cravat, making it difficult for him to catch his breath. “You will stay away from Kitty. I will have her. She will be mine.” He gave a small shove, just enough that Nathaniel barely caught himself before tumbling over backward. Damn his lame foot!

  Stratford straightened his own coat, smoothed his hair, and turned. His walk back to the house was much slower, much more controlled than his angry stalk to the garden had been. His words rang in Nathaniel’s ear. “She is mine.”

  No, cousin. On that point you are wrong.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kitty was relieved to have slipped out the door without her sisters coming along. She knew it wasn’t proper for her to be strolling about without at least one of them, but a part of her wanted, needed the independent feeling that came with being on her own. At least for a time. Ever since she’d been little, it had given her tiny thrill to be out alone, walking.

  She carried the parcel she’d purchased from Lambert’s colorman’s store, careful not to bend the pages of the precious tome. The art instruction book was small enough that she could slip it inside her largest reticule for safe keeping. Her cousin had taught them the basics of drawing and painting, but there were times when Kitty felt the need for other advice.

  Since they could not afford a private tutor for art, she occasionally found help in an instructional book. It pained her to have parted with even the small sum, but since it was something that she and her sisters could refer to time and time again, she desperately hoped Robert wouldn’t put up too much of a fuss.

  The toe of her boot caught on a large stone and she stumbled. Thankful to have only fallen on her knees and not her face, Kitty stood up and brushed off her skirt. Hopefully no one had witnessed her clumsiness or—

  The unmistakable plod of horses’ hooves in dirt and the squeak of carriage wheels came from behind. “Say there! Miss Sullyard?”

  Oh no…

  Kitty smoothed down her wrinkled skirt and turned. It was the Bexley carriage. She hated to be caught in such a predicament, alone on a seldom used back road, but the thought of seeing Nathaniel again caused her heart to tumble madly about against her ribs.

  As the carriage slowed and pulled up beside her, Kitty gulped. Stratford. Why did the cousins have to look and sound so similar? Wishing she hadn’t gone on her quick errand alone, Kitty eyed the carriage. Stratford was driving. Where was his coachman?

  He climbed down. His gaze took a lazy stroll over her face. And then downward. A shiver ran down her back. She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat.

  “I saw you stumble. Are you unharmed?” He took her hand, tugging her closer.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Pleased to hear it. I’d be quite upset if something happened to my special lady.”

  What? She couldn’t have heard him correctly. He made it sound as if—

  “I was hoping to come across you, actually.”

  “You were?” Out on this barely used back road?

  “I stopped by your house and spoke to your sister, Patience. She told me of your errand. She was even so kind as to tell me the route you normally take to the colorman’s shop.

  “Did she? How sweet of her.” The fingers of Kitty’s other hand fidgeted wildly. How had Patience known what Kitty’s plans were? Did I say something and not realize? Talk in my sleep?

  By now, Lydia had probably heard what Patience had done, guessing that Kitty could possibly be in Stratford’s company.

  I’ll surely have another lecture from Lydia on my behavior when I return home. But today it’s Patience’s fault. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Bexley—”

  “Stratford.”

  Kitty let out a sigh. “Stratford. I can assure you, however, that I’m quite unharmed.” She hoped he’d be on his way. Too much time spent in his company alone might get her into trouble. “Good day.” She turned, but was brought up short when his hand clasped around her upper arm.

  “Wait, Kitty. There’s a reason I was trying to find you.”

  She’d hoped he’d forgotten about that. “Oh?”

  “Yes, you see… after my first art lesson with you, I’d hoped we might, that is…” He sighed. “I would love another lesson, if you’d be so kind.”

  She blinked. “Today? Now?”

  He shrugged. “I find I can think of little else since our encounter. Could I perhaps entice you to accompany me back to my father’s estate? You’ll have to admit it was quite lovely there beside the water’s edge.”

  “I… I couldn’t possibly.”

  “Why ever not?”

  “I…” Think Kitty. “I don’t have my supplies with me. So you see it wouldn’t do any good to have a lesson.”

  “Ah, that’s but a minor point.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  “When I stopped by your house, your sister was so good as to lend me your art supplies.” He tilted his chin toward the carriage. “I have your bag in there.”

  Kitty clenched her teeth together. “My sister is just brimming with good intentions today.”

  “Very much so. Shall we?”

  It’s a bad idea. I shouldn’t go. I mustn’t be alone with him again. With the refusal on her lips, ready to be given voice, Kitty opened her mouth.

  Stratford took a step closer. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, much as she’d done to him that first day in the colorman’s shop. She swallowed hard. Wanting to turn and run away yet held in place by the reminder that she needed to keep him as an ally for her employment, Kitty didn’t budge from her spot.

  He reached up and ran one gloved finger down the side of her face. “So incredibly lovely.”

  She tried to pull away. “I really shouldn’t go with you.”

  “Kitty.” The word came out on the wings of a whisper. “It would mean a great deal to me, a very great deal, if we could continue our—” His eyes lowered to her bodice and back up “—lessons.”

  On the inside, Kitty’s pulse raced, the words I couldn’t possibly ran in a continual loop through her mind. Yet, her answer came out simply as, “Of course.”

  As she allowed herself to be propelled toward his carriage, she still couldn’t believe she was going with him. The man was a rake. Heaven only knew what he had in mind. But every time her impulse was to refuse one of Stratford’s requests, an image of Robert, angry and volatile at Kitty not making enough money, ran through her
mind. There’d been times when Robert had blamed Kitty for something or other but ended up taking out his wrath on one of her sisters. And that would not do.

  Not at all.

  If she could absorb some of the worry and trouble away from Patience and Lydia, then do it, she would.

  Once they were seated side by side in the carriage, she glanced to her left. And today, it seemed, Kitty would be giving another art lesson to Stratford. At least, she hoped that was the only type of lesson he had in mind. But try as she might, she couldn’t convince herself of the fact.

  Stratford chatted on about this and that as they made their way to his family’s estate grounds. Kitty answered his direct questions and would nod in affirmation, but otherwise kept quiet. Every so often, she would glance around, hoping no one she knew saw her sitting there with Stratford. Alone.

  She twisted her hands together around her reticule. A cold layer of perspiration had coated her back beneath her dress. Kitty could barely contain the urge to reach around and unfasten the top of her gown in order to help her skin dry.

  Relief swept through her, though she didn’t know why, when he brought the carriage to a stop not far from their place by the water.

  Their place…

  She shoved the thought away, determined to give him an art lesson and nothing else.

  He helped her down from the carriage. Her back tingled as Stratford placed his fingers on her gown just above her bottom. Did he realize how low his hand was and where exactly he touched her? With a glance up at him she had her answer. His wink spoke of his love of being flirtatious.

  But was it only flirting? Or was it more?

  Taking her hand in his, he led her back to the same spot beneath the large tree. Once again, there was a blanket spread over the ground.

  She inhaled sharply. How had he known he would even find her today that he’d had the blanket arranged ahead of time? Or did he keep one there at all times in the event he wanted to entertain a woman? Any woman?

  After Kitty was situated on the blanket, Stratford joined her. And sat very close. Sudden panic grabbed her heart. What was she doing? Out there where no one else was nearby with a handsome, wealthy gentleman who— she gave a quick peek to the side —whose hand was at that moment making its way toward hers.