Twice the Temptation

by Beverley Kendall

  Lucas chuckled. “That isn’t precisely how I see it. Marriage isn’t the lure, the lady is.”

  Granville’s smile broadened. “And her dowry? Are you aware she’s worth thirty thousand pounds?”

  “She’s worth a great deal more than that to me. If you will, let me put your mind at ease, as I myself have grown accustomed to dealing with fortune hunters. I don’t need nor do I desire Miss Rutherford’s fortune. I would take her if she came with forty thousand pounds of debt. I’m a very wealthy man, my lord. And what little I was given, I earned the bulk of my fortune honestly and through hard work. If Miss Rutherford were to marry me, she’d want for nothing. I hope you’ll pass that along to your sister.”

  Granville chuckled. “I believe my sister will be more than happy to hear what I have to tell her.”

  It appeared he’d won the earl’s approval. “Are you married?” Lucas asked, his curiosity about the man now piqued. If Lucas had to guess, he’d say not.

  “No, I’m not. And the duke won’t let me forget it either, I’ll have you know,” he said laughing, amusement lighting his eyes.

  “The duke?” Lucas asked, puzzled. Which duke and what does he have to do with the earl’s bachelor status?

  “My father, the Duke of Wiltshire. I am his only son thereby making it my responsibility to continue the line with an heir. So far, I’ve thwarted his plan that I marry by my thirtieth birthday, which incidentally was four years ago.”

  Hell, the man who’d presented himself at his door was the heir to a dukedom. Lucas knew enough about the peerage to know that dukes were as high as it goes. Beyond that was the monarchy. Things were so much simpler in America.

  “Then I take it you won’t be long for the altar? I’m sure you’re able to pick and choose at will.” Not many women would turn down a duke, much less a young and wealthy one.

  Granville gave a hearty laugh. “If you’re pursuing Miss Rutherford then you must also be acquainted with Lady Windmere, am I right?”

  Lucas nodded. The countess. Beautiful woman.

  “Well I’ll have you know she refused me ten years ago and only this past year, Lady Meghan Townsend rebuffed my suit. So whatever advantage you believe I have because of my current and future title, I should like to disabuse you of it right now.”

  The countess’ refusal didn’t surprise him given his observations of her and her husband and what Catherine had told him of their courtship.

  “From what I understand, the countess had been in love with her husband since she was a child. Perhaps Lady Meghan’s situation is similar,” he offered. Not that he needed or intended to assuage the man’s ego. For God’s sake, the man was going to be a duke one day.

  An emotion he couldn’t place flickered across Granville’s face. An easy smile followed thereafter. “Perhaps,” was all he said on that. “And you’re correct in regards to the countess. I knew full well that she’d refuse me before I proposed. But my proposal accomplished two things. Firstly, it spurred Rutherford into action. They were married and produced a healthy set of twins in the year that followed. I should have insisted they name me godfather for the critical role I played in bringing the whole thing about, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Lucas replied, highly amused. “And the second thing?”

  “My father didn’t broach the subject of marriage with me for five years,” the earl stated satisfactorily. “But alas, my reprieve could only last so long, so now I must get serious about the matter of choosing a wife. The duke is growing older not younger as he never fails to remind me with ever increasing frequency.”

  The responsibilities of being an heir.

  Lucas wouldn’t accept an English title if it were offered up on a silver platter encrusted with flawless diamonds. He particularly disliked the practice of primogeniture and entail. Should he have children, his daughters and younger sons should by law, have as much right to an equal portion of his estate when he died as his first-born son. And surely they should be able to sell off his properties to avoid financial ruin.

  “As I said, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick from a plethora of beauties.”

  “Well now that you’ve appeared on the scene, there’s already one less beauty for me to choose from, isn’t that right?” Granville asked, cocking an eyebrow.

  “It is. Miss Rutherford is very much taken,” he replied with the same facile smile. Now he just had to get her to agree by convincing her that he’s not secretly holding a torch for her twin.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Whoever said that eavesdroppers seldom hear good of themselves failed to mention that at times, the truth about oneself was painful but necessary.

  Catherine didn’t leave her room for the remainder of the day and missed supper altogether. Even had she desired food, she couldn’t present herself to dine with puffy, red-rimmed eyes and a blotchy complexion, which individually were bad enough, but together would set the servants whispering and cause her sister and brother-in-law even more distress.

  Knowing that at some point during the day, her twin would seek her out, Catherine had feigned sleep when Charlotte had knocked on her door and then, getting no answer, she’d quietly entered the room. When her whispers of Katie failed to elicit a response, she’d eventually left. Only then did Catherine open her eyes and roll onto her back. She stared sightlessly up at the pale-green, lace-trimmed canopy and thought of Lucas. More tears fell.

  Sleep finally claimed her well after midnight.

  A sun that sat high in an unusually blue sky brought in the morning. Catherine lifted her head from her pillow and blinked against the nearly blinding glare of the sun. Her gaze then sought the person responsible for her harsh return to wakefulness and found Jillian bustling about the room. She had already drawn the dark-blue curtains and was busy poking at the fire.

  Catherine pulled herself into a seated position and ran a weary hand through the tangled mess that was her hair. She’d been in no state to braid it as she always did before she went to sleep.

  “Good mornin’, Miss Catherine,” Jillian chirped happily, looking as beautiful as always in a simple, be-ribboned, white frock that still managed to showcase her lovely figure. “Miss Charlotte said I was to come back and draw the curtains if you wasn’t up by midday,” she stated almost apologetically. “She said you wa-were sure to be hungry when you woke up.”

  Midday? Catherine’s eyes widened in alarm. She hadn’t intended to sleep as long as that. And then as if the mere mention of food had been a cue to her stomach, its growl must have been one of agreement. Indeed, she was famished.

  “Good Lord, what time is it?” Catherine winced at the harsh, scratchiness of her voice.

  Jillian’s head turned sharply, her hazel eyes rounded in concern. “Half past. Miss Catherine, you don’t sound so well. You’re not feeling ill are you?”

  Catherine cleared her throat and swallowed several times, praying that would help with the worst of the hoarseness. “Nothing fresh air won’t take care of,” she assured her.

  And a restful night where I do not cry myself to sleep, added the voice in her head. But at least now she sounded less like she’d swallowed a mouthful of sand.

  “I was also to tell you that Mr. Beaumont will be calling on you at three this afternoon. It will be good to see him again. He was always so kind to me.”

  Catherine’s breath halted and her chest grew tight as if her heart had suddenly sprouted wings and hadn’t room enough to take flight. It wanted to soar and rejoice. But accompanying her unbidden response was the sobering reality of their circumstances. In the wee hours of the morning, she’d made herself accept that reality. She and Lucas would never be.

  Blast Alex for telling her. No, blast Lucas for not telling her from the beginning. If she’d known, she’d never have allowed herself to fall so hard and so quickly. She’d never have allowed herself to hope.

  But if he was to come at three that afternoon, she was determined that he wouldn’t fi
nd her waiting patiently, prepared to sit through the emotional torture of his visit. She’d intended to go to the school in any case. Get herself out of this house and hopefully out of the doldrums she’d been living in for too many days.

  “Where is my sister?” she asked, throwing off the covers and getting out of bed.

  “She and the master have gone to town.”

  Catherine thought it more likely that her sister had been anxious to get her husband out of the way before Lucas arrived. Which meant they probably would not be home until late.

  “Where is Esther?” Catherine asked of her own lady’s maid.

  Jillian straightened, restored the poker to its proper place, and turned around to face her. “Darning the trim on your blue gown. She come up earlier but told Miss Charlotte you were still in bed.”

  “Came up, Jillian. Came,” Catherine instantly corrected, as she’d gotten in the habit of doing whenever they were alone and Jillian misspoke.

  “She came up,” Jillian repeated obediently. “But I can help you with your toilette. I’ll go get your bath ready.”

  Before Catherine could form a reply, Jillian disappeared through the door connecting the bathing room.

  “I will be going out after I have something to eat,” Catherine said, raising her voice so Jillian could hear her over the running water.

  Jillian instantly poked her head back in the room. “But what about Mr. Beaumont?”

  Catherine’s heart thumped. “If I miss Mr. Beaumont’s call, please convey my heartfelt apologies. I’m certain, if not today, I shall see him another time.” She sincerely hoped that wouldn’t be the case. The only way she would be able to move past him is if she never had to set eyes on him again.

  Move past. That was all it could ever be for she’d never be able to forget him.

  Catherine had eaten until she couldn’t eat any more. She now waited at the front entrance for the driver to bring the carriage around. Alan, the second footman, would be accompanying her to the school. She hadn’t been there in almost a fortnight when they’d begun to work on the interior of the main building and construction on the student lodgings.

  With the emergence of spring came milder temperatures and the work was moving at a brisker pace, according to her brother.

  It was two o’clock, an hour before Lucas arrived. A pang of longing twisted her insides into knots. He’d arrive to find her gone and he would know it was deliberate. Then he’d climb back into his carriage and drive away. And that would be the end of their love story whose ending more befitted that of a Greek tragedy.

  The footman opened the door as the carriage stopped directly in front of the portico of the main entrance. Catherine pulled her cloak tighter over her shoulders and stepped out into the cool March air, which was actually quite warm for that time of year when temperatures tended toward a handful of degrees above freezing.

  “Catherine.”

  She heard his voice a moment before her head twisted, very nearly causing herself a grievous neck injury.

  There he stood, his broad shoulder leaned casual-like on one of the columns of the portico as if he’d been patiently awaiting her appearance for some time. With the slightest shift of weight, he gracefully came to his full height and started toward her with purposeful strides and an expression that was everything of pleasure mixed with steely resolve.

  So unexpected was his appearance that she didn’t have time to don her armor of indifference, currently her only line of defense against him. She all but drank in the sight of him in a single greedy gulp and like a street beggar, pushed out her tin cup to beg for more.

  “Lucas,” she exclaimed softly, “whatever are you doing here? It’s only—” She caught herself when she realized what she had been about to say—or confess to, as it were.

  Lucas halted before her and today for some inexplicable reason, she felt more dwarfed by him than ever. His half-foot advantage felt like twice that. He gave a curt nod toward Alan, who was currently holding the carriage door open for her.

  “I thought I should arrive early if by chance you’d already made plans to go out during the time of my visit,” he replied smoothly. “It appears I was correct in my assumption.”

  Catherine swallowed hard before she spoke. “I-I am on my way out.”

  He gave a nod toward the waiting landau. “Yes, so I see.”

  It was then she realized why his appearance had caught her so completely off guard. Turning, her gaze skirted the drive and when she didn’t spy another vehicle, she turned back to him. “But how did you get here? Where is your carriage?”

  “I had my driver drop me off on the main road.”

  “But that’s almost two miles.”

  He smiled a deceptively mild-mannered smile. “It’s a fine day and I rather enjoyed the walk. When I’m in New York, I tend to walk a fair bit.”

  If Catherine had been wary before, she grew even more so now. This was a Lucas she’d never seen before. He reminded her of a predator, all cunning watchfulness until he was ready to pounce. She shivered and it wasn’t from the cold.

  “I was hoping I could accompany you to wherever your off to and relieve—” he lifted his gaze to Alan “—your footman of the duty. No doubt he has other tasks he could be performing and you know you’d be safe with me.”

  Said the fox to the chicken, she suppressed the urge to retort.

  Catherine looked behind her at Alan, whose eyes silently asked her what she wanted him to do. Resignation came to her swiftly. She’d thought to outmaneuver him and she’d lost. Best she get this over with. By the end of this visit, Lucas would know she could not be swayed.

  “That is fine, Alan, Mr. Beaumont shall escort me to the school today. You may go back to your other duties.”

  “Very well, miss.” He gave a shallow bow and proceeded back inside.

  Lucas moved to the other side and grasped the handle of the door. “After you.”

  Catherine ignored his proffered hand and climbed unassisted into the cab. Lucas followed and sat across from her before signaling the driver. The carriage lurched into motion.

  They rode in silence, Lucas quietly observing her while she tried to look anywhere but at him, which proved to be an impossible feat requiring more willpower and fortitude than she could muster.

  “How will you get back to your residence?” she asked, finally breaking the silence, as it appeared he would not.

  “I instructed the driver to return two hours from now.”

  She sighed. “I haven’t changed my mind, if that’s what you’ve come to ask.”

  He didn’t say anything for a good while, merely continuing to watch her. Then in what appeared to be an uncustomary burst of curiosity, he began to examine the plush, dark-gray, leather interior. From the silk headrest to the brass doorknobs polished to a high shine, he took it all in.

  As they continued on a road that grew rockier the farther away from the grand country estates they drove, an undeniable tension built amid the lengthening silence.

  They sat feet across from one another, allowing for no physical contact. And at present, they weren’t even making eye contact. Yet a tension so rife with want and suppressed desires existed between them. Lucas Beaumont could no longer be considered a gentleman because it was clear he wasn’t about to make this easy for her.

  “May I inquire as to our destination?” he asked, completely ignoring her statement.

  “You caught me on my way to visit the site of the school my brother is building.”

  A devilish smile played across his lips. “Oh, I haven’t caught you yet but I’m confident I will,” he murmured.

  The heated promise in his eyes as he watched her from beneath his hooded gaze caused liquid warmth to pool between her thighs. Her face caught fire and she imagined it was the same cerise of her walking dress.

  “That is not what I meant as you very well know,” she stated primly while fighting the urge to touch him, kiss those beautiful lips. Instead, she shifted her
gaze to peer out the window closest to her.

  “So your brother is building a school? I thought he’d be content to send his son off to Eton, Harrow or one of the others. And his boy has yet to celebrate his tenth birthday, is that not right?”

  Catherine nodded. “The twins are nine years and Lily is only four. But my brother isn’t specifically building the school for his children. The school is intended to educate the less fortunate, particularly girls, for as you know, they do not receive an education as good as their male counterparts. This will be teaching children of all races and whose origins span all countries.”

  “I must say, I find that commendable. I didn’t realize your brother—an earl at that—was so progressive in his thinking. And what is your part in all of this? You appear to have taken quite an interest.”

  “I think the proper education of girls, especially girls whose prospects in life are most dire due to circumstances beyond their control is a most worthy cause. I am simply doing whatever I can to help.” How different might her mother’s life have been, had she had access to a school like the one they were building?

  “I take it you have experience in the construction of public buildings?” he teased, a certain softness entering his eyes. It was as if her admission had elevated her in his esteem.

  Catherine flushed and fought back a smile of pleasure. “I enjoy seeing the progress for myself. My brother claims it makes me feel part of the process.”

  “So that is all? You’re merely an inexperienced observer?” he asked, stretching his long legs and reclining further back. “Your sister informed me you’re the true architect of this very noble endeavor. That it was through your insistence that the school will become a reality.”

  How very like her sister to boast about her to Lucas.

  “Well it was Charlotte who first planted the seed of the idea in my head.”

  “Beauty as well as humility. What you are doing makes me love you—want you more. You know you’re everything a man could ever want,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to her mouth.