Charming a Spy (9 page)

“Of course,” Geoff said. He waved to the butler and suddenly a glass of sherry appeared in Aunt Ellie’s hand. She sipped the drink gratefully, beaming at Geoff. Kat sighed. Crisis averted.

“Thank you,” Kat said to the duke.

“It’s nothing,” he replied. He looked at her for a long moment, held her gaze and added, “But if there is anything I can do to make either of you more comfortable, anything at all…” His pause was full of unspoken promises. She knew what he was really offering. An apology. It was the first time they spoke since she’d seen him in the park and he was offering a truce. Clearly he knew taking Jessica out the morning after their assignation offended her.

“There may be something you could do,” she said in a quiet whisper, turning away from her aunt’s ears.

“Anything,” he answered, rising from the sofa to hear her request.

“I will ask you later,” she said. He raised one eyebrow at her, clearly intrigued by what she might have to say once they were away from prying ears.

She stared directly back into his eyes and did her best not to falter. Kat even added a mischievous smile for impact because she wanted to stoke his curiosity, make him wonder what salacious secrets she might have to impart. Remembering the third piece of advice from her aunt, Kat touched Geoff’s hand discreetly, lightly brushing her fingertips over his skin. Her touch was so quick and light, no one else could have noticed, except for Geoff, who stiffened all over at the sensation.

“Now you have truly stoked my curiosity, Ms. Dubois,” he said, taking her by the elbow and steering her around the room. To the others, it must have been innocent enough, the host taking a guest for a turn, but his grip was firm on her elbow and his strides were purposeful. “I want to make you comfortable in my home, of course. If there is something you desire,” he said, then pausing and starting again. “If there is anything you desire, I want to make sure you have it.”

“I
will
ask you a favor, Your Grace. But perhaps it would be wise for me to wait for a more opportune time when I can request it with less possibility of being overheard,” Kat said, letting her last words trail off to an almost whisper.

“There is no need to wait,” he said. “Speak in metaphor. Give me some clue of what I can do. I would hate for a moment to pass when I could be doing you a favor for your comfort,” he said. By now he was stroking past her elbow, holding on with his thumb to the soft side of her arm at the crease, just above where her glove ended to the unclothed skin. It was a proper touch, undetectable and only on her arm, but it made her feel very improper. The place between her legs tingled as he stroked.

“I appreciate your attention,” she said. She appreciated it too much. If he continued, she thought she might rip off her gloves and beg for his attention all over her body. But this really wasn’t the time or place and she wasn’t completely ready yet. This already felt dangerous. Incredibly good, but perilous, and she hadn’t even made her proposition yet. “But my request truly requires privacy,” she said.

As she said the words, she realized she had been outmaneuvered. Geoff had led her right around a potted plant hiding them from view from the others. They would only have a moment, but it would be enough and no one could possibly overhear.

“Tell me, now,” he commanded in a gravelly voice. She recognized that tone from the first night they met when he discovered her in his office. He was turning into the intimidating giant again, anger and something else, maybe primal, brewing up inside him. The last time she’d heard it, he’d grabbed her waist and kissed her for the first time. She wanted that again. But not yet.

“Later,” she insisted again and sashayed back into the room alone.

‡

A
fter dinner, the
women retired to the drawing room while the men stayed in the dining room. Kat always hated this part of the evening. She had no idea what the gentlemen did while sequestered together, but she knew all too well this was when ladies went to battle with each other. Outwardly, it all appeared very civilized, but their genteel conversation was laden with cannonballs meant to cut one another’s confidence down. Tonight would be the initial skirmish when each lady was prepared to fight for the duke’s favor.

“Ms. Dubois, Ms. Chaplin… won’t you play a quick game of whist with me and Rosemary?” Jessica asked. Not surprising, Jessica would be the first to go for blood.

“Our pleasure, Ms. Grier,” Maribel responded to both of them. Kat was sure it wouldn’t be her pleasure at all, not Maribel’s either, but they had no way out.

The foursome sat at the table. Before the first hand had been played, Jessica started firing bullets, “Ms. Dubois, it was such a surprise to see you here. I don’t know how the duke even knew of your existence, with you being absent from society for so long. Of course, he is quite charitable.”

Kat was determined to deflect her barbs. She wasn’t here to fight with Jessica. “I was also surprised. I didn’t expect to see your brother either. How lucky that he was able to make it.” He was lucky. If only her
own
brother could be there.

“Yes, Rafe wouldn’t have missed this party for the world. He took a boat back from Germany when he received the special invitation from the duke. And I’m not one to spread gossip,” Jessica said, “but he may have hinted to my brother about when he’d solidify his choice of a bride. Naturally, Rafe wanted to be here in person.”

Clearly Jessica thought she was first in the running for the duke’s hand and, unfortunately, she most likely was. She could think of no other reason for Geoff to summon Jessica’s brother back from Germany. It was a long trip for a mere house party.

Kat couldn’t blame Geoff for wanting to marry Jessica. She was the most beautiful woman in attendance and had a generous dowry. Those were the qualities every man of breeding sought in a wife. In time, he would come to see through her thinly veiled niceties to the greedy, mean-spirited witch who lay beneath. Jessica who would spend his fortune and complain it wasn’t enough. But it wasn’t Kat’s concern. If a pretty rich plaything is what Geoff wanted in a wife, he could have it.

Rosemary leaned forward and whispered to the foursome over her cards, “Goodness, Jessica, do you think he may actually propose while we are here?”

“I’m not one to speculate, Rosemary,” Jessica said, although of course she was about to do just that, “but it could be. When the duke took me for an ice last week…” she said in Kat’s direction and then paused for a reaction. Kat smiled sweetly back at her. So he’d been escorting Jessica Grier around town.
No emotion. Do not react.
“There was the most adorable child eating on his mother’s lap. Do you know what he said?” Jessica drew out the question, daring the ladies to hang on her every word. “He said he wants children someday.”

Kat didn’t know how much more of this she could take. Luckily she apparently wasn’t the only one because Maribel quickly changed the subject. “Rosemary, I hear you grow the most enormous tomatoes in your vegetable garden. Tell me, how do you do it?” Rosemary launched into a lengthy monologue about the proper horticulture of tomatoes, which, while deadly boring, was at least more tolerable than listening to Jessica throw her courtship with the duke in their faces.

The whist game ended when the men rejoined the party after enjoying their port and whatever else it was they did together. She had anticipated the men’s return and decided to steer clear of Geoff for now because her courage was failing and she frankly couldn’t stand up to him any longer. If he asked her one more time, she would make her outrageous proposal in front of the entire house party.

Besides, she wanted to speak to Rafe Grier to ask him about the last time he saw Luke. She didn’t know Rafe well, but they grew up in the same social circles and it wouldn’t be improper to talk to him. Despite his horrid sister, Kat didn’t have any sort of bad feelings towards him. She’d danced with him a few times before leaving society and he’d always been very cordial, even gentlemanly. Perhaps he
would
have some information about Luke. She might not even have to go through with her planned proposition after all.

“Mr. Grier,” she said, approaching him directly. “What a pleasure to see you in person again.”

“Ms. Dubois, you grow more lovely every day,” Rafe said, bending over her hand.

“Thank you,” Kat smiled. Unfortunately, she could not say the same of him, but the war did take a toll. “I am so happy you are home safe.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your brother,” he said. She was glad he brought it up actually, because she wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with him. No way to avoid the painful memories… better to ask outright.

“May I ask exactly what you heard?”

He seemed surprised by her question, and most likely by her directness, but he managed an answer, “He died bravely. So tragic, so tragic,” he said.

“You were in the same regiment as Luke, correct?”

“Yes. He was a good man. Brave. Fearless. I swear he was the first man to rush onto the battlefield.”

“Then you saw him fighting?” Kat asked anxiously. No one else she had spoken with who had come home from the war had even remembered seeing him that day. Each morsel of fact he fed her was a magical gift, a memory of her brother.

“Of course.”

“Did you see him… did you see him get killed?”

“It was so chaotic. Men charging one another, weapons raised, so much bloodshed.”

“You didn’t actually see him die?” Kat asked. No point mincing words.

“Ms. Dubois, I know how difficult this must be for you…” he said, touching her arm gently. She subconsciously jerked it away… not trying to be rude, but she didn’t want to be comforted or treated like a fragile female. She wanted the truth.

“But are you sure he is dead? I mean, you didn’t actually see him die, right?” She knew she shouldn’t push so hard. But if there was a chance for closure, she had to know.

Rafe put his hand on his temple.

“Are you alright?” Kat asked.

“No, it’s fine, it’s only that remembering that day is so painful. Sometimes my head feels like it will explode with the thought of it.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Grier. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.” She’d pushed too hard. She certainly didn’t mean to make anyone else suffer. “I miss my brother so much.”

“I know Ms. Dubois. I know you didn’t mean any harm. If you’ll excuse me for a second, I think I need a drink.”

Kat watched him walking away to the side table where he poured himself a generous draught of whiskey. She felt bad about being so forward with him. Obviously she hadn’t meant to open old wounds for Rafe. For Luke’s sake though, she had to ask the questions.

“What was all that about?” Maribel asked, joining Kat.

“Oh, I’m a terrible bother. I brought back painful war memories for Mr. Grier. I only wanted to know if he knew anything about my brother, but talking about it hurt his head.”

“Did he have any new information?”

“He was there and saw Luke rush into battle, but nothing else.”

“I’m sorry, Kat darling,” Maribel said, grasping her by the shoulder.

“No, I’m alright,” Kat said, bolstering herself up. “Please, don’t mention anything to my aunt. I don’t want her to have an attack of hysterics right now. She hates it when I talk about Luke… keeps telling me I should let him rest in peace.”

“Of course I won’t say anything,” Maribel answered. It was the second time in one evening Maribel had come to her rescue. It was good to have friends when you needed them.

‡

G
eoff could not
wait to get Katherine alone. Ever since she used her female charms and said there was something he could do for her, he was salivating about the possibilities, most of them inappropriate and likely even impossible. Untying her corset. Removing her stockings. Scratching her itch. A deep, wet itch. What she needed was probably less titillating, but when it came to Katherine, he could not prevent his lesser mind from doing the thinking.

Throughout the night, he sought opportunities to talk to her without the prying ears of others… to no avail. He shouldn’t be surprised that in a house full of mothers and daughters, all vying for his attention, privacy didn’t exist. His impatience gnawed at him like a dog, regardless.