by Gill, Tamara
The carriage moved down on the gravel road, weaving toward the estate and she lost sight of it a moment. She’d started to hope for something else. Something more. Unmarried and six and twenty, how could she not? This was likely her last chance of securing a gentleman who’d take her on. She pushed away the negative thoughts that wanted to mock her idea of landing the earl as a husband. Born into a family of builders, she might be from Cheapside, but she was a lady and had grown up with the best tutors and etiquette coaches. She might not have a title or be the daughter of a titled gentleman, but she was worthy and equal to them. In her own mind at least.
But would Lord Leighton see such things, or merely just wish to bed her and be done with it?
The carriage rocked to a halt and she startled so lost in thought. She waited for a footman to open the door and took his arm as she alighted. The afternoon sun bore down on this side of the home, and even though the slight wind was a little chilling, it was refreshing and invigorating being out of the carriage and out of the city.
The front door opened, and Cecilia came out, climbing down the couple of steps to hug her quickly before leading her indoors. “I’m so glad you were able to make it. You have been missed the last five days. I hope you were able to arrange it to return with us Wednesday next?”
“It’s all arranged, and I have the time off, but I would so desperately love a bath. I had some last-minute paperwork to do this morning and so have come straight from the office.”
“Of course, whatever you wish. I shall take you to your room immediately and send up some tea while they prepare you a bath. Dinner is served at eight sharp, and so once you are rested, we shall catch up more then.”
“Thank you, Cecilia,” she said, starting up the stairway. Making the first floor, they turned left along the extensive corridor and behind her Katherine could hear a multitude of voices and laughter. Was Lord Leighton in there, waiting for her?
“Maybe I ought to say hello first and then freshen up. I don’t wish to be rude.”
Cecilia ordered the servants to prepare a bath and refreshments and then took her arm, pulling her back toward the room the guests were gathered.
As much as she wanted to rest and refresh herself, the need to see Lord Leighton, to ensure he was in attendance was too much to deny, and as they made their way toward the room, Cecilia talking about the tidbits of gossip she’d heard the past five days, the entertaining nights and fun they’d had, caused nerves to settle in the pit of Katherine’s belly.
They entered the room, and Darcy stood, coming over and kissing her cheek in welcome.
“We’re so glad you’ve arrived. We almost expired of despair when you never came yesterday as planned. We thought you hadn’t been able to get away.”
Katherine smiled at some of the guests who acknowledged her and taking stock of the room quickly she noted one guest in particular who was missing. Her disappointment must have shown, for Cecilia tightened her grip on her arm, squeezing it a little.
“There are other guests of course. Lord Leighton is out riding with Lady Georgina Savile. They’ve become fast friends these past days, much in common with their mutual love of travel. I believe Lady Oliver mentioned her in London some weeks past. She’s recently returned from abroad, Egypt in fact. She’s particularly funny and smart.
And at that precise moment she entered the room, clasped tightly upon Lord Leighton’s arm, both of them chuckling on some unknown amusing discussion the rest of the room was not privy to. The woman was everything Katherine was not, and if the world had opened at that moment and swallowed her whole, she would’ve been thankful.
Lady Savile had rich auburn hair, and skin as soft and pure as milk. If she had travelled abroad, Egypt in fact, she’d certainly taken care not to freckle or brown. Her breasts filled out her green riding gown to perfection, and her cheeks held the slightest shade of rose after their exertions on the horses. She wasn’t as tall as Katherine, but not many women were, and she was also not as thin. In one word, the woman was beyond beautiful and it was no wonder Lord Leighton had enjoyed himself these past five days. Who would not with such company?
Katherine was dowdy, her traveling gown was well worn and brown and did nothing for her lifeless coloured hair. Her breasts didn’t come up half to snuff of those of Lady Savile’s and she could’ve cried regretting her decision to come and say hello to everyone before making herself more presentable.
What would most of these guests care that she was here? She was nothing but serving class to them. “Do you think my bath would be ready by now,” she asked, Cecilia quietly. “I think I shall return to my room.”
Darcy’s gaze slid to Lord Leighton’s and Katherine didn’t miss the exchange. Lord Leighton made past them and nodded slightly in her direction, wishing her welcome before he sat down on a settee, a servant handing him and Lady Savile a glass of wine.
Katherine excused herself and left, Cecilia following close on her heels. “Is everything well, Kat. You seem upset?”
“I’m merely tired. I’m going to go rest a while, have my bath and put myself to rights. I shall see you at dinner.” And then, once she was recovered, she would figure out a way to tell her friends that she would return to London. She didn’t belong here, and she could never compete with a woman of Lady Savile’s beauty and poise. And she didn’t want to.
Lord Leighton hadn’t seemed the least interested in her. It should not surprise her since he was famous about town for being a rake, easily bored and distracted. Perhaps it was best that she didn’t follow through with her plan to lay with him. If the jealousy she now felt was any indication, she didn’t need that to be one-hundred fold after knowing him intimately. The thought of his losing interest in her, maybe even finding a woman he wished to marry left a hollow sensation in the location her heart should sit. Such a notion would be unbearable.
Chapter 8
Hamish sat at table that evening, his attention snapping to Katherine with any opportunity. How beautiful she’d looked this afternoon after her arrival. Her hair had fallen down a little during her carriage ride to Yardley Hall, and her eyes were alight with possibility when talking to Cecilia and the duchess. That was, until she’d seen him with Lady Savile and all enjoyment, pleasure of being at the country house had vanished from her features. She’d looked devastated, if one could look such a way, and he’d cursed himself as a fool for being the one who’d put that look of disappointment in her rich brown eyes.
Lady Savile was a very beautiful woman, and certainly had he not known Katherine the way he did now, he might have tried his luck with the lady, but that wasn’t the case now. He wasn’t interested at all in the woman, only that of a friend, and before the night was out he’d make sure Katherine knew that fact too. He would not allow her to spend even one night fretting over something that didn’t exist.
To make matters worse, he was seated beside Lady Savile who unknowingly with her amusing countenance, and their new friendship had no idea that the small touches she placed on his arm, her chuckling banter during dinner was causing the woman he cared for, more than he’d known up until he’d seen the hurt in her eyes this afternoon, more pain than he ever wished to imbue on her.
Damn it, he inwardly swore. As the dinner progressed, he didn’t fail to miss that Katherine grew more and more quiet, refused to meet his gaze or converse in any conversation he was part of.
“Shall we play a game after dinner. I know of one that I think will be such fun,” Lady Savile said, beaming at everyone, her jovial charm making the gentleman present enthusiastic and the women more so. All except Katherine who sipped her wine without comment.
“What a wonderful idea,” Cecilia said, more than happy to get in on the act.
“The house is large, with numerous rooms and corridors, attics and cellars. And tonight, you’ll get to explore some of it, but there’s a catch,” Lady Savile said, standing now and meeting everyone’s eye to gain their attention.
“Oh, do tell.”
Katherine’s words dripped with sarcasm and the worried glance Cecilia threw her didn’t seem to temper Miss Martin’s growing annoyance.
Hamish knew the root cause for her ire, and it was him and his bad handling of her arrival. He’d hoped she would arrive today after missing her own arrival date the day before. Still, he’d hankered to get outdoors and had gone out on a horse ride, only at the stables running into Lady Savile who asked if she could join him since she wasn’t familiar with the grounds. He’d not been able to refuse, and when he’d seen Katherine’s carriage roll down the hill he’d turned back to the estate, eager to see her again.
Yet, the moment he’d walked into the room, he couldn’t allow anyone to see just how impatient he’d been and so he’d nodded in welcome, and that was all. And now, it would seem, Katherine was annoyed.
“Tonight,” her ladyship continued, “we’re going to play a game of hide and seek. After dinner, you will find in the entrance hall a footman who has a pack of cards in a hat. They are all black, bar two. You will each be required to pull out a card. The black card will mean you hide, the white card will mean you are the seekers. For those who pick white cards, you must find as many people as you can within one hour. Whoever remains hidden and is not found, wins,” she said, beaming with excitement.
Lady Savile resumed her seat, seemingly pleased with her instructions for the evening and Cecilia stood to speak. “You may continue with your dinner and we’ll get onto our little game in a short while.”
From there, dinner passed pleasantly, and as expected, the discussion turned to the game they were to play afterwards, each of them discussing what was in bounds and out about the house. By the time dinner had passed, Hamish was desperate to speak to Katherine. After her hasty departure to her room this afternoon, she’d not returned, and she’d been one of the last guests to arrive for dinner. That she was avoiding him was obvious, but he wouldn’t allow it to continue. He hated the fact she’d been hurt by his actions. And he hated the fact that he’d tempered his reaction to seeing her all because it was what was expected.
With the dinner at an end, and the guests coming to stand in the entrance hall, as promised, a footman waited for them all, holding a black beaver. A few of the women tittered in excitement. Was it because they were to explore the home, full of hidden passageways and secret compartments, or merely the possibility of finding oneself alone with a gentleman admirer.
Hamish waited back, wanting to see if Katherine would play at all, and because of the good humor from her friends the duchess and marchioness, she pulled out a card. It was a black card meaning she was to hide.
Hamish too took a card, it was white, before siding up to Katherine, leaning close to ensure privacy. “Do not hide too hard, Miss Martin. I’ll not be able to find you.”
This close, he felt the shiver that ran down her body, it gave him hope that she wasn’t through with him, had cast him out as a swine and rogue.
“You forget, I’ve been here before, twice in fact, and I know this house well. You’ll never find me.” She met his challenging gaze with one of her own and heat shot threw him. He wanted her. He wanted all of her and no one else.
Hamish grinned. “We will see, shall we not.” He left her, knowing full well as he made his way back into the library she watched his every move.
* * *
Katherine knew exactly where she was going to hide where no one would find her. The marquess and Cecilia’s home was a rabbit warren of rooms, corridors and hidden passageways, one of which ran along the gallery wall. Cecilia had shown her only the last time she was here. One simply had to hold back the tapestry of knights in battle, and a wooden door sat behind it. In fact, it wasn’t even a door, simply a door disguised as the wall panelling.
As she made her way up to the first floor, people ran past her, men and women both, laughing, squealing in delight. One or two even disappeared into rooms that were not part of the game. Katherine shrugged it off, and continued on to the gallery, happy to find that no one had followed her into this part of the house, which was sparsely lit and devoid of servants.
She found the tapestry and pulling it out a little, pushed on the panel behind. It opened with only the slightest creak and picking up a candelabra she slipped into the passage and closed the door. For a hidden passage it was reasonably clean, and someone had even placed a chair in the corridor. She would have to ask Cecilia if she’d done such a thing and why.
The sound of running footsteps outside and more laughter passed, and Katherine smiled. No one, not even Lord Leighton would find her in here. She supposed she might miss out on all the fun of being found being so well hidden, but it was too late now to change her mind. Not that she wished to be found by his lordship in any case. Today, he’d proven to her really what a silly numbskull she’d been to think he might possibly care for her more than he did. That he might actually like her for who and what she was, not simply because she asked him to deflower her.
Katherine shook her head, what a stupid fool she’d been. And it was not something she could take back. Even her friends knew of her idea regrettably. For the rest of her spinsterhood days, she would be thrown into his sphere simply because they had the same friends, and she would feel mortified each and every time. If only she had never asked him.
Footsteps sounded and stopped on the other side from where she sat. Katherine stilled, her heart surging in alarm. Surely no one knew where she was… The panelling pushed open and the dark head and teasing grin of Lord Leighton came into view. He shut the panel behind him before he spoke, leaving them alone. Quite alone.
“How did you find me here?” Not sure if she was affronted by being found so easily or that the nerves coursing through her veins were due to them being solitary and in a darkened space to boot.
“The tapestry in the gallery was kinked. I walked through here earlier today, and it wasn’t, and so I took a guess. And what a lucky guess it was.”
He came to stand before her, for the first time in forever, he made her feel a little small. After all, he was taller than her by a good two inches, not many men could boast such a thing in either her social sphere or his. “You were lucky, and one would say I was unlucky. I suppose we’ll have to return downstairs and you may boast that you found me.”
His gaze dropped to her lips and stayed there. “Or, you could grant me a winner’s boon.”
“Such as?” Katherine had the overwhelming urge to pull out her fischu and use it as a fan. For a hidden corridor that ran in either direction and was long and winding, it was awfully hot and crowded in the space.
“Maybe you will grant me,” he stepped even closer. “A ki–”
“I shall not kiss you, my lord. I find I’m not at liberty this evening.”
He grinned and damn it, her heart fluttered. “Not at liberty. May I ask as to why you scorn me? I have not seen you this afternoon, nor before dinner. I had hoped to talk to you before we dined.”
Katherine shrugged, and Hamish stepped back, the separation making her chest hurt.
“You’re angry at me. Why?”
Something in his tone told her he already suspected, but if she were to admit to her annoyance, her hurt, it would pave way to him knowing that she’d hoped for more. That she cared. And she would not have that. She would not be made a fool of twice.
“I made a mistake when I asked you to make love with me. I apologize, and I no longer wish to act on my curiosity. I’m sorry to have thrown myself at your head.” Katherine went to move past him and he blocked her way.
“I’m not sorry that you asked me. Although I know you’re aware I’m not seeking a wife, it does not mean with care that we cannot enjoy each other. No matter what you believe, Kat, for some weeks now you’ve become an important part of my life. You inspire me with your independence and your employment. You do not need a man to guide you through life, as you’re your own woman. I admire you and I desire you.” He stepped closer still and Katherine instinctively stepped back, only
to come up hard against the wall. “I want you, no one else, no matter what you think you saw today, it was all a show. It is you that my heart beats hard for, that my body reacts to. It is you and only you that I want to warm my bed.”
She swallowed, heat blooming on her cheeks, and she was thankful for the shadows about them. His words, thick and husky pulled at the part of her that was lonely, longing for a future that she thought lost. A moan rented the air, and Katherine jumped against him, clasping his lapels. “That sounded like what one would think was a ghost.”
He chuckled, wrapping one arm about the curve of her back and a delicious shiver stole down her spine.
“I think it came from up here.” He pulled her along. “Come, we will investigate further.”
“I’m not sure that is wise. I don’t want to see any of Lord Aaron’s ancestors floating past me, thank you very much.”
To her astonishment, he stopped and lifting her chin, kissed her. A gentle, feathered touch that shot straight to her heart. Oh dear, she was on dangerous ground, and not because of the dark…
“Do not fret, darling Kat. I shall save you.”
Katherine leaned close to his side as they started down the corridor, the single candelabra their only light. The corridor remained straight for some time, following the portrait gallery outside before it made a sharp left.
There was no warning other than a curse that echoed off the walls as his lordship tripped over, their only form of light guttered in the process. She froze, not wanting to trip over too. “Are you alright, my lord.”
“Hamish, please. No titles, it’s too formal.”
