GypsyDukeEpub (15 page)

Lady Sefton reluctantly settled to the business at hand with a light touch to the Cleopatra tiara she wore in her hair. When she seemed satisfied that her already immaculate appearance could not be improved, she settled her eagle's eye on Kitty. "Lady Katherine, do you anticipate the announcement of your nuptials?"

Kitty was uncomfortable with any reference to her agreement with John, especially in front of Lord Knight. What must he think of her, parading herself before the ton as if she had no previous alliance? Still, she would not cower before these women.

"The duke's interests on my behalf are a deep topic, one that he has not seen fit to discuss with me. With no indication of his intentions, my parents have chosen to involve me in the Season. I hope this meets with your approval?"

Lady Sefton looked from Kitty to the duchess. She appeared hesitant, and Kitty realized she and the duchess were speaking at cross-purposes. Certainly, it was not Kitty's fault if the duke had not been brought up to snuff, but she feared that would be the exact opinion of the ton.

She held her breath, waiting for the nod from these two dragons of Almack's, She very much wanted to dance with Lord Knight, fickle woman that she was.

Lady Sefton smiled benignly at Kitty then shifted her gaze to John. "Lord Knight, I believe you have asked Lady Katherine to a waltz. It is just beginning, sir."

After giving the two patronesses the full effect of his charm, John lost no time in escorting Kitty to the floor. "At last, we are alone together."

Kitty made an obvious show of looking around the crowded ballroom floor. "Yes, only you and I…and about three hundred other people."

John chuckled, drawing her closer into his arms. "None of whom will be privileged to hear what we have to say to one another during this waltz."

She should discourage him. They had just met, but flirting was so delightful. "And what would that be, Lord Knight?"

"John. You wanted to call me John, remember?"

"I recall no such thing, but you change the subject. Could it be you have no topic for polite conversation?"

His seductive smile caused a restless yearning in Kitty, and she jerked her eyes away. He sighed with obvious pleasure. "I never said it would be polite conversation, merely private. Look at me Kitty. Tell me about your duke. Have you made promises to him? If you have, you must break them."

A thrill went through her at the words. Although he spoke exactly the sort of thing she desired, he was a rake and not to be trusted.

"Why should I do that, Lord Knight? So that a rake might squire me about with a free conscience?"

"It's John, Kitty." He bent his head until his breath tickled her ear. "And, if I'm a rake…I don't have a conscience."

"John, stop that. You will ruin me right here on the dance floor."

He straightened with a triumphant look on his face. Could he tell she was attracted to him? She had called him John with very little urging.

"I have never ruined anyone on a dance floor. Would you care, instead, to take a stroll outside?"

"That is quite enough. There will be no more talk of ruination…Well then, how do you know the duke and Robert?"

"I have known them since birth. We are old acquaintances. But, I would rather hear about you and the duke. Does he hold a place in your heart or is there room for another?"

Kitty nearly missed a step. The man was relentless. Surely, he could not be serious about his preoccupation with her. He was trying to seduce her, and she would not succumb.

But, ohh, wouldn't it be lovely to feel his lips pressed…she brought herself up short. She would not consider the possibility. She owed all her kisses to John.

She gasped, her eyes flying to his face. They were both John. What was hidden behind that black mask? A heart as black? She couldn't chance it.

"My parents have had an understanding with the duke's family since I was born. Though he is three years older, we were always close. When I was old enough, he took me riding each morn."

John felt warm inside. Kitty's face glowed as she spoke of him and their past relationship. Obviously, she remembered him with fondness. He would win his Kitty, because he was now certain he wanted to, but it wouldn't do to let the little miss think she had won too easily.

"Did he ever speak to you of his intentions?"

"He did, indeed. Most every day, in fact. He once offered to duel Robert for me."

John laughed. He remembered the day. "And what did poor Westley do to earn the duke's displeasure?"

"Robert insulted me because I was naught but a snotty-nosed brat, intent on messing up his fishing holiday. John championed me. He said I
was his lady, and he could not allow Robert to speak to me in that manner."

Chapter 7

What a beguiling wench she was. John felt besotted by her, by their shared memories, and he was determined to take Kitty's affections along with him.

But who to make her care for? Lord Knight or the duke? He couldn't leave her with her childish dreams and expect her heart to remain his.

"Why did this paragon leave you to yourself without announcing a date for your marriage? When was the last time you saw the duke?"

At his words, the light faded from Kitty's eyes and John could have kicked himself, but he had to know how badly she thought of him.

"I have not seen him, since I was but five and ten. He does write…occasionally."

He recognized the misery in her face and knew it was his fault she had been brought to the marriage mart. He had failed her…in every way.

Ever since, as a child, she had asked him for a love letter, John had fulfilled none of Kitty's dreams. How could he make it up to her?

He would ply her with love letters and soft words. He would woo her with passionate kisses and tender glances.

"Kitty, is there anything I might do for you that the duke has never done? Any way that he has failed to measure up to your expectations?"

"We were children. I had no expectations. I have none now."

But a knot of pain settled in her chest. This handsome stranger was right. She didn't owe John anything. Even when he wrote, his letters were vague, more like postscripts from a stranger. Where had he been all this time? His uncle was long gone. There was no reason to hide away. And he'd never mentioned their wedding date. He never referred to their arrangement at all. There were so many things she and John had never had a chance to do together. So many ways he'd let her down. And the first had been…the love letter. He'd had years to send one, and he never had.

John steeled his features. Kitty had no expectations from him? He would soon remedy that. It was time to turn her thoughts to more pleasant matters.

"What would you say if I told you I have expectations?"

Her tinkling laughter was delightful.

"I would say the expectations of a rake are well-known."

"Am I condemned without a trial?" John bent his head close to hers. "If I whispered sweet nothings in your ear, would you be mine?"

"Ahh, but it would be as you say…sweet nothings. That is all you get from me, Lord Knight."

"Alas, Kitty, you make a man dare much to hear your laughter and see you smile. One wonders what it would take to win your heart."

She batted her eyes at him. "Much more than you are prepared to wager, sir."

"Then I will seek but to win your lips in a kiss."

"That too, is beyond your glib tongue."

The dance was nearly at an end, and he would have to hand Kitty back to his mother and her line of endless suitors. He swung her around in a wide arc and positioned her underneath a column. The music ended, but he ignored it.

"Oh, Kitty," he said with intensity. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee, the most beautiful woman in the world."

He bent over her hand, ecstatic with triumph at the dreamy expression on her face.

Kitty scarcely dared to breathe as he quoted her favorite poetry. How had he known her heart beat fast for romantic tomes of tender phrases? And how to guard oneself from such a man? What could she say to his declaration? Her lips parted, and she moistened them.

He watched her with a desire she didn't understand. She was literally melting in his arms. Her legs felt weak. Her heart pounded. Why…even her ears were pounding! What was happening to her?

"If we were anywhere else, I would have kissed those tempting lips, but as it is, we are already drawing a crowd of onlookers and your next dance partner approaches."

Kitty's head jerked around in a panic. She mustn't reveal her feelings in front of this rogue or any other man. She faced Lord Knight without meeting his eyes, schooling her expression to reveal none of the excitement she felt. That should put him in his place.

He bowed over her hand again, letting his teeth nip the tip of one gloved finger. Try to ignore him, would she? Let her think about that, while those insipid bucks trounced her feet for the rest of the night.

"Until later, my darling Kitty."

As he raised his head, he saw Robert waving like a madman from under a column across the way. He released Kitty into the hands of her next partner and strode around the room.

"Whatever is the matter, Westley? You resemble some type of acrobat, jumping and waving up and down."

"I've got bad news. Though it's usually the way, I had hoped we could ignore it, you know, do our own thing…"

"What are you blathering about?"

Robert must be extremely nervous about something because he never babbled. He was usually the most levelheaded of chaps.

"The masks. Everyone is supposed to take off their masks at midnight…And they usually do…it's just that…Lady Everly's made a game of it. She arranged some ridiculous prize for the best man's and the best woman's costume, and you were the judges' pick. They are going to unveil you. Kitty's going to take one look, and…"

"Never mind. We'll leave long before midnight. How long have we got?"

"Less than an hour. Have you decided what to do about her?"

"I'm going to keep her. She's mine, and no one is going to take her from me."

"Does the lady feel the same? I could not help but notice the two of you on the dance floor. You made a lovely pair…the gypsy and the shepherdess."

Robert might be trying to tell him something, but he didn't care. Kitty was his, and he'd seen the desire in her eyes. Given more time, he could make her fall for him. "She will. I can see she is…interested. But, right now I have an obligation to fulfill on the dance floor with two young ladies. Hopefully, Kitty will see and become violently jealous."

"Or...she could think you an insincere rogue and despise you."

John grinned at Robert. "I prefer to think positively. Go dance with someone, Robert."

"I see none that appeal."

"Dance with my mother; dance with Kitty. It will keep the other bucks away."

"There's no way I'll get trapped in an interrogation from Kitty about who you are and how I know you. I'm not that clever."

John laughed. Robert exaggerated. He cultivated that bumbling look for the purposes of his clandestine activities, and now it had become a habit when in public.

John completed a quadrille with Lady Priscilla and searched the room for Kitty. The dance had kept him too busy to catch sight of her because her partner remained at the opposite end of the ballroom. When he located her, she was watching him with a pinched face. Was she jealous already?

He smiled and sauntered to a group of young ladies to claim his next partner, the Lady Clarisse. She could prove more of an issue than the withdrawn Priscilla. Clarisse looked ready to launch herself at him.

That was a problem at masquerade balls. It gave people a feeling of freedom that led them to do outrageous things.

The idea brought him up short. Perhaps he could entice Kitty to do outrageous things. He wasn't without expertise with women. Unlike his uncle, he never left a woman with child, but that didn't mean he hadn't learned to kiss with a certain expertise. A short stroll in the garden, and Kitty would swoon with pleasure.

Lady Clarisse was speaking to him, had been speaking throughout the dance. He watched her animated face. She had more hair than wit, but talked continuously, nonetheless. Thank goodness, his Kitty wasn't like that. When she spoke, he wanted to listen.

Kitty turned her back on the spectacle of Lord Knight dancing with Lady Clarisse. Who did that bold rogue think he was, spouting poetry to her then dancing the night away with every available woman in the room?

He was as she'd supposed. A heartless, unfeeling charmer. It behooved her to keep her affections fixed firmly on John. He would never treat her thusly.

As soon as she was able, she slipped away from her companions to approach the ladies' withdrawing room. What she needed was a cool cloth pressed to her head…and a week to forget the intensity of Lord Knight.

When she reached the door, she heard other young ladies inside. "Can you believe the way Somerset deserted her after having the marriage contract in place since birth?"