“Really?” she asked sarcastically, rubbing her nose with the handkerchief dramatically. “Because, you know, I was comfortably abed but someone was refusing to leave the front steps until I came down.”
Jack leaned across the space between them and reached out to gently push a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. To his pleasure, and despite her clear surprise, Kitty did not flinch at all but merely looked at him with wondering eyes. “I’m sorry, lass,” he whispered, “for having disturbed your rest. My only excuse is that, once my anger faded, I couldn’t bear any longer the thought of you being cross with me.”
Kitty could not respond but only stare into his fascinating amber eyes.
“Why were you so angry?” he continued softly, as his hand lingered to caress her cheek tenderly. “I have wondered for two days what I might have done to offend you so, that you were so irate with me that night. Was it our ‘talk’?”
She shook her head, remembering her first impulse was to apologize to him. “No, Jack, I wasn’t mad about that. More embarrassed than anything, and I intended to apologize for my rude behavior that afternoon. But…but then I saw you with those women at the opera house,” she answered, unable to lie to him even if it humiliated her to admit it. “I saw you flirt with them and kiss them and…” she broke off.
“And?”
Kitty shrugged, grasping for a reasonable explanation before resorting to simple honesty. “I guess I was a bit jealous. I wished you had been up in the box flirting with me.”
“I wanted to be,” he confessed with equal candor, stroking her cheek with the back of his fingertips. “I wanted nothing more, but after your sudden dismissal that afternoon, and your sister and Francis threatening me to leave you alone and to remember that it was ‘Eve’ up there and not you, I tried to stay away. I tried to drive from my mind the fact that you were so close by flirting shamelessly with every woman I saw. I never thought you might notice and I am sorry if I upset you.”
“Umm… did you, umm…”
“Have sex with any of them?” he asked the question for her, and she nodded with a flush. “Nay, lass, it seems I have but one woman on my mind right now and no other will do the trick for me.”
Warmth from his simple confession spread through her, and Kitty turned her cheek into his palm and smiled softly into his liquid gaze.
And sneezed.
“My God woman, I need to get you into bed!” he said sternly and then burst out laughing. “I never thought to say such a thing to you so platonically. Shall I call for your maid?”
“Sung Li will come in a few moments, I’m sure,” she assured him. “He has a way of knowing when I need him.” Kitty considered him for a moment. “If we take this step, you and I, I have some terms you must accept.”
“Terms on the loan?”
“No, terms for the affair,” she told him.
“You’d put terms on something like that?” he asked suspiciously. “What sort of terms?”
“I would like a long love affair, not just a night or two.” Saying the words aloud brought a blush to her cheeks that Jack thought most becoming.
“I’m sure I could manage that.”
Struggling with her embarrassment, she continued. “And affection. There must be affection.”
“Of course.” He struggled to contain his smile as she glanced nervously about the room, focusing anywhere but on him. Her edgy demeanor was simply endearing, given he was certain his straightforward American lass had never approached such a topic before. “Anything else?”
“Just one more thing.” Kitty stared up into his golden eyes, noting the playful amusement he did little to conceal. But beneath that was heat. That desire for her was simmering just beneath the surface. She wanted to experience it to the fullest, to submerge herself in that caldera of ardor, but if she were going to drown herself in him, she needed him to be fully committed to going down with her. She didn’t want to be in the depths of passion by herself. Would he be able to take the leap with her? Kitty met his eyes. “Monogamy, Jack.”
“Beg pardon?” The light in his eyes dimmed a bit. In confusion? Denial?
“You must be true to me while we are in the midst of our bargain.” There was enough uncertainty in her gaze that Jack realized she wasn’t aware of her own appeal. Her beauty and spirit were enough to bring any man to his knees in devotion, including him. In truth, he supposed he was ‘monogamous’ to her already and they hadn’t even begun their bargain. Couldn’t she see that he was already enthralled by her? That until he had her for a long, long while that none other would do? How could he confess such a thing?
“What say you?” she pressed. “Do we have a bargain, Jack?”
Jack thought about her ‘bargain’, which was really much more of a charitable donation than anything else. Why would she do this? he wondered again. There was no gain in it for her other than conditions that were no onus on him at all. Was it only that she truly wanted him to live a life without the millstone around his neck as she said? He couldn’t believe it. There simply must be more to it.
“I will think about it,” he relented, for he had no other solution readily available to him and he did want her so very badly. Still…
Kitty wondered whether his hesitance to make an immediate commitment to their deal had to do with his pride over accepting her money or his aversion to committing to a monogamous love affair. It injured her pride to consider that the latter might be the problem. He might want her physically, but not enough to give up his other women for the duration of their affair.
“Must I truly ask Evelyn, though?” he went on a moment later, the change of subject welcome in buffering her dark thoughts.
“I thought you said you had become friends?”
“We have, of sorts, but I can just picture the malicious glee in her eyes when I come to her on bended knee.” The very thought was enough to buckle his resolve.
“She would never! But think on it and let me know what you decide. I will look forward to hearing your answer. Ah,” she sighed, raising her head, “here is Sung Li to make sure I get my rest.”
“You’ve been down here too long, missy,” the old Chinaman chided her, and scowled at Jack. “You keep her too long! Now shoo!” He made a motion with his hands while Jack just stared at him in amazement. “See, missy, I told you no one around here has ever seen a Chinaman before.”
“Oh no, old chap, it’s not that,” Jack chuckled as he departed into the hall. “I’ve just never seen a grown man act like such a little mother hen before!”
To Kitty’s surprise, a wide smile split Sung Li’s lips. “Oh, I like him, missy, I do!”
Chapter 20
For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands.
- Christina Rossetti
“I have to admit I am a bit worried about you, Kat,” Eve said hesitantly as they were in the nursery the next morning, playing with their children. She’d expressed her worries to her husband and he had hit very perceptively on the real issue bothering Eve so greatly. Now she couldn’t hold back her concerns any longer.
Misunderstanding the worry in her sister’s voice, Kitty only shook her head. “I am feeling much better, truly!”
Grimacing, Eve reached over and clasped her sister’s hands. “Oh, Kat dear, I’m not talking about that! No, it’s not that at all. You know I only wish you happiness and peace, and will be happily by your side until you find it but, dearest, I must talk to you about Haddington.”
Kitty narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What about Haddington?”
“I’m worried for you, Kat!” her sister rushed. “At first I feared he was just going to make such a pest of himself he would drive you simply mad with his presence but now that you’ve begun this flirtation with him, I think ther
e might be a greater problem. You don’t know Haddington very well and I fear he might have given you the wrong impression.”
“What impression might that be?” Kitty asked, trying to hold back her amusement. Eve had never been much of a mother hen and it was humorous to watch her try to slip into the role of protector so awkwardly. Still, what a wonderful sister she had! They were perfectly matched as sisters and as friends. They complimented one another so well. Balanced each other out. Whereas Kitty’s edges were too rough these days, Eve’s were too smooth. Kitty was bold, outspoken, Eve was the epitome of utter reserve. Quite the antithesis of their formative years when those roles had been reversed.
“He is a rogue, Kat,” Eve told her flatly, misinterpreting her sister’s amusement. “A rake with a long history of affairs with women, many of them married.”
“You’ve told me all of this before, Evie,” Kitty reminded gently.
“That was before I thought he might try to turn his attentions to you.” Eve took a breath. “I’ve seen how you look at him, and how he looks back at you.”
“How does he look at me?”
“As if he’d like to eat you up,” Eve told her with a frown, while Kitty’s heart clenched in pleasure. “Are you thinking of having an…an affair with him? I mean, truly? With him?”
‘Of all people’ were unspoken words, making Kitty giggle as she helped Hannah and Laurie set up a battalion of toy soldiers. Pleased to see her mother smiling, Hannah dropped the soldiers much to her cousin’s displeasure, and climbed over them into Kitty’s lap to pat her cheeks with a lop-sided smile. Kitty laughed some more and tickled her daughter until she joined in.
“Oh, Evie!” she chuckled some more. “I don’t know why you dislike him so. He is actually fond of you, you know?”
Eve merely wrinkled her nose.
“He is.” Kitty raised her eyes to her sister’s, noting the gesture at the very idea that Haddington might like her. “I appreciate your concern, Evie, I really do. But I like Jack. A lot. Indeed, maybe more than I should.”
“Why?”
Kitty laughed aloud again and rocked Hannah back and forth in her arms like a baby, as she grinned down into the girl’s dimple-cheeked smile. “Oh, Evie! Because he makes me laugh! He’s funny, have you not noticed? And, I don’t know, he makes me feel so special. Yes, I realize that is just a particular skill of his, but I enjoy it. I enjoy everything he makes me feel.”
“Including romantic feelings?” Eve shuddered expressively, reviving the humor still lingering on Kitty’s lips.
“Including romantic feelings,” she confirmed with a broad grin. “I know you think I am a fool, but please understand I am walking into this with the blinders off. You and Abby have both made sure I am well aware of Jack’s faults, but I’ve decided a little romance in my life would not be amiss, however brief it might be.”
“He could hurt you so badly, Kat, if you relent,” Eve felt compelled to warn.
“Perhaps, but he would never hurt me, Evie.” Kitty said confidently. “And that makes a world of difference to me. I will protect my heart.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” was all her sister said, for even Eve had to admit she couldn’t imagine Haddington driven to such violence that he might strike a woman. Kitty was safe with him, in that respect at least.
“No lectures on morality?” teased Kitty.
“Not one,” Eve laughed reluctantly. “Who am I to judge, when this little thing might send the town’s brows to their hairline if it happens to come a bit ‘early’?” She rested her hand lovingly against her still flat belly.
“Are you really so very happy, Evie?” Kitty asked wistfully, resting her cheek against the top of Hannah’s head.
“I am happier than I ever imagined possible.” Eve’s eyes shone with emotion. “I love him so much.”
“He loves you so much,” she corrected her sister. “Ah, I envy you so, Evie!”
“You will find your true love one day, Kat, I know you will. More than anyone, you deserve your chance as much as I deserved mine. You will find your love,” was Eve’s firm prediction.
Ahh, but I might have found mine already! Kitty thought. Just the tiniest nudge or unguarded moment could find her plunging head first into love with Jack. She didn’t want to, and would certainly protect her heart from the possibility. If she didn’t, it would be so easy to do. The problem was that Jack, as charming and seductive as he might be, appeared to love no one quite so much as himself.
Chapter 21
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing.
- attributed to Edmund Burke
The Argyle Residence
Carlton Terrace
Edinburgh, Scotland
It was a short walk the next evening, indeed just a few doors down from the Glenrothes townhouse on Carlton Terrace, to the ball being held by the Earl and Countess of Argyle to celebrate their daughter’s betrothal. Though most of the guests attending would take a carriage regardless of the distance, so they might make a show of disembarking in front of the residence, Eve and Kitty’s more practical American side insisted they were more than capable of walking less than one-quarter of a mile on a mild summer evening.
Along with the Duchess of Roxburghe, the Countess of Argyle was one of the leading grande dames of Scottish society. So much power did the pair wield in their little kingdom of Edinburgh, the two had never bothered to take on the bigger fish in London. Here they ruled and their word was law. Upon learning that the Countess of Glenrothes’ sister was staying in Edinburgh, the Lady Argyle had insisted she attend her ball as well. Much like being confronted with an edict from the highest-ranking ladies of New York Society, there was no polite way for Kitty to decline, and nor could her friends.
So, they proceeded down Carlton Terrace in a quartet of partnered pairs, with Eve and Francis leading the way, followed by Moira and James MacKintosh, Kitty and Jack, and lastly Richard and Abby. Fiona had been so gravely disappointed by her eldest brother’s refusal to allow her to attend the function before her official coming out into Society, she had insisted Connor remain at home with her. Kitty was of the mind that she wished she had a similar excuse to stay home. She was queasy with nerves over making this first appearance at a public gathering following her round of confessions…er, morning calls, three days before.
She and Eve were understandably the targets of much curiosity and comment as they made their way through the long reception line. It seemed her visits with Abby earlier in the week only raised speculation that there was really just one of them. They hadn’t been seen together as Kitty had taken to her bed during the intermittent days while Eve had gone on with her regular social visits.
Now they were out in public together, and the populace could see that there were indeed two of them and that the countess did indeed look radiant and much attached to her husband while Lord Haddington paid marked attention to the countess’ sister. All would be well for Eve, Kitty was certain. It was a relief since the very thought of ruining her sister’s happily ever after was abhorrent, to say the least.
Kitty spent her first hour or more of the evening making a few rotations of the room with Eve, Moira and Abby. She was introduced to notable ladies while the gentlemen had taken themselves off to the card room. Moira’s dance card was already filled, as was Abby’s, though she left several dances open for her husband.
Kitty and Eve, however, had not been approached for dances at all. Kitty was confused by this until Eve admitted that Francis so intimidated the young dandies present, usually only a few older gentlemen would dare to beg a dance from her. “I would assume,” Eve added with amusement, as she and Kitty lingered near the refreshment table to watch the dancing, “given our similar appearance, the gentlemen cannot work out which of us it would be alright to approach. I’m sorry I have deprived you of more opportunities to dance.”
After assuring her sister she did not hold Eve accountable,
Kitty resigned herself to simply watching the others dance until the gentlemen began to reemerge. Francis came first, obviously unable to resist the lure of his wife, followed by Richard. Both had promised her a dance later after they had partnered their wives. Kitty felt awkward as a wallflower as she waited. Eventually, James returned from the card room to pursue a young widow whom, Abby whispered, he was having an affair with.
Moira swept by in the arms of a handsome lord, one of the dozen potential suitors who were vying for the hand of the very eligible heiress. Kitty was glad for Moira’s success, knowing her friend was eager to move forward with her life after many years of mourning the loss of Vin MacKintosh. She wanted a future, a family, and Kitty wished her luck in finding the perfect man to give her that future. She gave Moira a smile and a little wave as she whirled by.
The next set was already in progress before Jack joined her at the edge of the dance floor. “Are you going to ask me to dance?” she asked. Kitty had never spent so much of a ball sitting on the sidelines and was eager to join the dancing.
“I was thinking I might.” Haddington had lingered in the card room long after the others left, determined he would not make a fool of himself hastening to Kitty’s side, though it was what he had wanted to do within moments of leaving her company. Her proposal the previous day still tempted him from both a monetary and sexual perspective but he hadn’t been able to give her an answer yet. The reason had nothing to do with his willingness to commit to a monogamous affair and everything to do with his pride. He simply could not picture himself begging Eve for funds.
“I was really looking forward to dancing the night away so if it helps at all, I’ll say ‘yes’ if you do.” She smiled beatifically up at him and he had the overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.
“That does take the pressure off a bit, to be sure,” he teased, tamping down the arousal that always seemed to grip him when he looked at her. “I confess, given our erratic relationship thus far, I fear you might reject me purely for the perverse joy it might give you.”
Questions for a Highlander Page 71
