Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series) (7 page)

“Remove them if you must, or we’ll work around them.”

“I’m very eager to see how you manage that.”

“I thought you might be.” He tugged her toward him. “Turn around.”

Her breath hitched, but she nodded. “Yes, sir.”

* * * *

O
nce again Kat found herself in the inappropriate lap of luxury. Her best intentions had been to leave before curfew the night before, but Patrick’s best intentions had left her way too late to make it home in time.

She wondered how much it had to do with his current attempt at courting. Once again he’d found himself with a rather high and proper society girl, one with possibilities of a large dowry and vast family wealth bestowed on her lucky future husband. However, by all accounts, the lovely Miss Judith Leek was also notoriously prudish.

For her last suitor she had not even allowed a chaste kiss, and so far had denied even Patrick the pleasure of that. When Kat had questioned him to his continuing pursuit of the stodgy young woman, he’d offered his best wicked smirk and replied, “It’s the challenge, my dear.”

For her part, Kat would have felt quite guilty over her role in Patrick’s life as he pursued Miss Leek, except that she knew Judith was allowing several suitors at once. As it stood, when Patrick became serious about any young lady, Kat stepped back and allowed the courtship to evolve.

Somehow over the course of their continuing liaisons, Kat found herself not falling for the man, but instead attracted to him as a friend. He was uncommonly funny and had a secret kindness that Kat appreciated. She’d often told him that if he let the women he courted see that side he’d find one that would wait for him.

To which he’d pointed out that the kindest thing he could do for them was to let them only see the rake. For marriage was not in his future any more than it was in Kat’s. In that regard he did have an annoyingly valid point.

Kat could hardly believe that three months had passed since she had first met Patrick with her proposition. After the first two weeks their meetings had been at turns adventurous and she felt every inch a woman in his presence.

In the dim morning light, she turned her head to take in the man that lay beside her. Oh, she could see how so many fell in love with him, for his charms at his most devilish were unequaled.

One of his eyes opened partway, and his rakish grin spread across his features. “Now how did this happen?” As he spoke, he slid his hand across her waist and pulled her close. Before she could answer, his fingers trailed down her belly to tease her core.

She gasped, and bit her lip as she tried to hold the moan at bay. “It’s your fault. You’re the one that fell asleep in here.”

“My fault, hmm? I think it’s yours. You were insatiable, and you wore me out.”

“I was?” She gripped his wrist and pulled his hand away, with a great deal of regret. Her brief attempt to pin him down turned into a full on tousle. The rolled back and forth until Kat came out on top, which she was pretty sure he let happen. “You were the one that kept me here past curfew when I tried to leave. You were the insatiable one.”

“Fine. Your womanly curves and cries and desperate pleas, your dew-soft skin and vibrant hair, your strong and soft body touching mine, wrapped around me, makes me want more. There, it is still your fault.”

She snorted. “That was almost poetic. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were wooing me, but somehow I doubt as much.”

“Maybe I’m just attempting to coerce you into another lesson before you leave for work. You are right there, and I am right here.”

“But I must be at work in less than an hour, Mr. Warner.” She pressed her hand over his mouth when he began to protest. “And I must wash up so I don’t smell like a whorehouse, get dressed, eat, and tame this unruly head of hair. So no, that does not leave plenty of time.”

He scrunched his brows together in a disapproving glare.

“Oh, hush. You aren’t mad. You’re only disappointed you failed to win this time?”

Soon as her hand moved, he spoke, “Who says I’ve failed?”

She leaped off the bed before he could grab her and snatched her clothes from the floor. Pure luck got her to his personal washroom with the door closed before he’d caught her. Still chuckling, she leaned against the locked door. “I’ll only unlock when you swear to behave, sir.”

“Then I guess you’ll miss work—for I’ll never swear.”

Despite the threat, Kat knew Patrick would never keep her from her job. Unlike him, she hadn’t vast wealth enough for a personal washroom on the second floor of a home. She sighed as she filled the basin with water. Every time she came into the washroom she thought of her parents and how eager to throw around their wealth they’d once been.

She wondered if they still were as eager for the acceptance of high society. Or if they’d ever bothered to look for her, or still did. She sank onto the stool, her mind drifting back to the day she’d left home. Her ideas to send a letter to her father had never come to fruition, and as it often did, her guilt gnawed her belly.

The touch of a hand to her shoulder startled her out of her reverie, and she grasped Patrick’s wrist. He squeezed her shoulder, and she noticed he was fully dressed. “You were quiet for so long I became concerned.”

Kat frowned. Once she’d released his hand, she turned toward him. “I haven’t been in here that long.”

“Fifteen minutes.” He held out her chemise. “You won’t have time to eat at this rate. I’ll help you get dressed, on my best behavior, I promise.”

She tried to ignore how his brow remained puckered in concern, and instead snatched the chemise away and threw it on. They worked together to set her corset in place, and she re-tied the laces while he dug through her clothes for her petticoats and crinoline. By the time they’d set all her layers in place, she hoped his concern had passed, but it lingered in a tiny wrinkle between his brows.

“As always, you are dashing.” He flashed a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Although your hair is more unruly than usual. Why don’t I have Loren bring your food up while you try to tame it?”

“Could you?” Kat sank back onto the stool in relief.

“Gladly. You get started, I’ll take care of things, and of course you will use my carriage to get to work. I won’t have you late, no matter how much I might tease you otherwise. It would do you no good to lose your job.”

“Thank you.” She turned her attention to her hair, glad for the distraction from his worried gaze. By the time he reappeared with a tray, she had almost managed to pin her hair in place. “I thought you were having Loren bring the tray?”

“I changed my mind.” He set the tray down on the vanity. “Care to tell me what’s troubling you?”

“Not particularly.”

“Are you certain?”

“I...”

He lifted a brow and met her gaze.

“Not particularly.”

“You held the expression of one who was missing something. Or perhaps, someone.” He’d blocked her view of herself the moment she’d lifted her hands from her hair. Although, she didn’t need to see her face to know the heat of a blush lit her cheeks. He didn’t mock her in any fashion, only set his hand on hers. “I know because I’ve felt the same myself.”

“Patrick. This isn’t remaining acquaintances.”

“I believe we gave that up when you, Delphine, and I went to the Madam Levine’s Burlesque three weeks ago.”

Right though he may be, she didn’t dare enter that discussion. Not yet.

“Go on and eat. We’ll enjoy lunch together and discuss things then.”

Rather than answer, she sipped her tea. “I should be off. I don’t have time to eat.”

“You do. Eat.” He left the washroom with little more than another squeeze to her shoulder.

Kat did as instructed and scarfed down the eggs on her plate. On her way out of the room and downstairs she was still eating bacon. Luckily, she saw no sign of Patrick, but his carriage waited for her outside.

She made it to work with minutes to spare, and dove into work gratefully. For some reason the memories were painfully prevalent, almost as much as they had been when she’d first left home.

There were few things in her current life she was discontented about, but the occasional bouts of melancholy and homesickness were at the top of the list. Maybe she just needed more to do, to occupy her time, and to keep her free from these bouts.

Just when she’d determined to ask Delphie if there was something more to do with the suffrage league, her friend strode into the bank. For a woman never late, Delphie seemed appropriately uncomfortable with her current state.

Kat had never seen her friend so downtrodden. Delphie’s head hung, and she slipped into her seat at her desk without even a wave in Kat’s direction.

When Delphie finally lifted her head, Kat saw why. Powders didn’t completely cover the bruise around Delphine’s eye. Kat’s stomach churned in disgust for her friend. Without a doubt, she knew just how the bruise had happened.

Katherine stood with papers in her hand and carried them to Delphine’s desk. She set down the blank papers and whispered, “Charles?”

Delphine’s lips tightened and she sucked them between her teeth. When Kat didn’t move, Delphie finally nodded.

“Join Patrick and I for lunch.” Kat didn’t give her time to protest, only squeezed her friends hand before rushing back to her own desk.

At least now she had something else to focus on.

* * * *

“D
on’t think I’ve forgotten what the original plan was,” Patrick muttered in her ear when he held out her chair for her.

Kat had the decency to duck her head in embarrassment she didn’t wholly feel. After a moment she nodded. “I know. However, Delphie’s matter is more pressing.”

Patrick took the seat beside her, his attention effectively turned to the other woman at the table. “Delphine. I’m glad you could join us.”

“No you aren’t.” Though her wit was not as biting as usual, Delphine sat with her back straight, her pride evident. “Though I appreciate the attempt.”

Patrick set his hand on hers. “Would it offend you if I asked why you remain?”

“Where would I go?” Delphine sipped her water delicately. “Besides, Charles has never done this before. It’s an unprecedented event. I have no reason to believe it’s going to occur again. He much prefers gambling and whores to violence.”

Kat frowned. “Delphie. I don’t like this. What if he does beat you again?”

“He won’t.” She sighed and leaned closer. “If you must know, he was upset that I’d been hiding money from him so he wouldn’t drink it away. He’s gone and cleaned out one of my secret accounts, using his status as my husband to do so. I’ve not got enough of my newest account to leave.”

“I could help you.” Katherine set her hand on Delphie’s. “I would miss you terribly if you left, but sometimes you must. You just must.”

“It won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful.” Delphie shook her head, stubborn as ever. “If I leave it will not be under debt to others.”

“That is a foolish choice. Men like Charles Finney don’t change.” Patrick leaned back in his chair. “And when you have offers of assistance from friends such as Kat and I, than you should accept it.”

“You as well? You hardly know me, Mr. Warner.” Delphine adjusted the napkin on her lap. Pink hues darkened her cheeks and she shook her head. “It would be inappropriate. Besides, I am my own woman, and I make my own choices, and my own way.”

“I know enough.” Patrick sat back in his chair, his hands folded on the table. “You are a strong and independent woman, who encourages Kat to be the same. You are both women I’m proud to call friends. You are more the type of woman I’d ever entertain marrying than any of the obedient meek women I court.”

Kat and Delphine snorted at the same time, and Kat kicked Patrick’s shin under the table. “You’d best be careful. Someone might think you were thinking of marriage as a viable option if you continue talk like that.”

“You understand my meaning, and that’s all that matters. I respect women such as the two of you, and I’d hate for Delphine to lose my respect. I do rather enjoy her company on the occasion I’ve been in it.” Patrick winked at Delphine.

Delphine pursed her lips. “All flattery aside, I will make my own way. Charles will not strike me again; if he does I swear that I will accept your offer of assistance. I promise I will not remain.”

“That’s the best we can hope for, isn’t it?” Kat sighed when Delphine nodded. “You are a stubborn woman.”

“So are you,” Delphine chuckled. “It’s why we like each other.”

Patrick leaned forward again, this time his focus returned to Kat. “Your turn.”

“No. There’s no need,” Kat protested. “It was a moment.”

“It was twenty minutes.” Patrick quirked a brow. At Delphine’s obvious confusion, he whispered an aside, “Kat locked herself in my washroom this morning, and when she was gone for twenty minutes I found her melancholy and the pain of loss, missing someone, etched into her features like tears.”

“Your eloquent and overly dramatic poetic rendering of my state of mind is inaccurate and embarrassing.” Kat tried to focus on the soup in front of her, but Delphine ruined any hope of changing the subject.

“I’ve seen that once or twice myself. Plus, she seemed quite adamant about needing to get away sometimes.” Delphine leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. Clearly glad to have the focus off her, she wagged her brows. “I’ve known you for months and don’t know your story.”

“Thank you for not helping,” Kat muttered.

“Even Delphie has been kept in the dark. It must be scandalous, indeed.” Patrick grinned. “Gossip is good for the soul.”

“It is not. You’re just nosy.” Kat pushed her soup around her bowl with her spoon. “Can’t we just enjoy the rest of our meal in peace?”

“That wouldn’t be any fun.” Delphine tapped Kat’s arm. “Out with it.”

“There isn’t much to tell. My parents wanted me to marry up. I was fifteen and quite ferociously opposed.” Kat chewed her lip, unsure how much to divulge. “So I, with the help of a...”

“A what?” Patrick leaned in, apparently intrigued by the way Kat became incapable of finishing her sentence. “A friend, an enemy, a lover?”