Kate: A Universal Truth (A Wish for Love Series Book 1) (7 page)

“You’re mistaken, I can give you all you have ever dreamed of.”

Could he give her all she had ever dreamed of?

She sensed he would be a fiery lover.  If the merest brush of his hand could stimulate such concentrated desire, she could only imagine the lust that would be aroused when her entire body would be exposed to his touch.  To his mouth.  To his lips.

But what about his lack of compassion and excess of pride?  What of all Lindsay had said about him? How could she give herself to so pitiless a man?  Even if she paid no heed to all this, what of the trail of broken-hearted women he always left behind?  What would become of her after a few hours, or at the very most a few nights, with him?

No.  The risk was too overwhelming.  It was hard for her to admit she was so vulnerable.  It was not the weak-willed and hypocritical Patrick she was facing but the Marquis Camedon, strong, sensual and overpowering.  A man one met but once in a lifetime.  If she should fall in love with him and he should tire of her, she would never be able to feel anything for another man.  She would rise above herself and overcome the mesmerizing attraction that caused her to practically fall in his arms.  She must gather the remnants of her self-respect and stand up to him.  No one, not even the Marquis, would break Kate Evans's heart.

She drew herself up and Matthew knew the chase was still on.  She had not yet conceded.

“I would be lying if I didn't admit the attraction I feel for you,” she spoke slowly, cautiously, choosing her words with care, “but it's an attraction of the body and not of the soul.  For you to give me all I've ever dreamed of you have to win my heart, and you are very far from that.”

“I wouldn't bet on that if I were in your place.  Sometimes I feel I know you better than you do yourself.  I'll let you go now.  You can enjoy your little victory for now, but tomorrow evening you and I will have dinner together and that, my dear, is not a request.”

Of course it isn't, thought Kate resentfully, it's an ultimatum.  The Marquis expected instant compliance.

“I'm returning to Oxford tomorrow,” she riposted, but knew that this time he would not relent.

He surprised her, “I'll drive you back to Oxford after the meal.”

Perhaps he was a gentleman after all. “Then I accept.” she said, leveling her eyes with his. 

As they returned to the apartment Margaret told her Jorge had invited them to the theatre the next night.

“I won't be staying over.  I've decided to return to Oxford tomorrow evening, so you can accept Jorge's invitation with a clear conscience.”  She hesitated whether to tell Margaret about the dinner invitation.

“Are you sure?  Despite the way things are going with Jorge I'd be delighted to stick to our original plan and have you stay over until Wednesday morning.”

Kate assured Margaret she preferred an early return to Oxford and Margaret finally acquiesced.  She continued talking enthusiastically about Jorge.  “It's great just to be in his company. I hope he feels the same about me.”

“I'm sure he's fallen captive to your charms.  How can somebody not fall in love with you?  You are so pretty and good-hearted and smart.”

“Thanks, sweetie, and as long as we're talking of falling in love you must have noticed the Marquis is absolutely mad over you.  The truth is I'm surprised to find you here with me.  From the impression I got, I would have expected you to be in his bed by now.”

“Thanks very much,” Kate flashed back sarcastically.

“Don't misunderstand me,” Margaret countered, missing the sting in Kate's reply.  “I'm partial to Matthew Camedon.  He's gorgeous.  Like a prince out of a fairy tale.  And if somebody deserves a prince, Kate, it's you.”

“He really has charmed you," sighed Kate.  “You're aware how he treats women.  His much publicized love affairs, the wreckage of broken hearts he leaves behind with not a backward look of remorse.  How can you even conceive I would get involved in a light-hearted flirtation after all that?”

“Who is talking about a light-hearted flirtation?” Margaret smiled, surprised.  “Allow me to open your eyes.  I haven't the slightest doubt that from the day Matthew laid his dazzling eyes on you his heart is in grave danger and I'd venture to guess that he himself is very aware of that.”

“You are stark, raving mad!  What on earth can you be thinking of?"

“A wedding, darling.”

Kate looked at Margaret in astonishment.

“Don't look at me that way.  I'm not crazy.  I'm a psychiatrist and I have a fairly good understanding of human nature.”

“Let me disagree with you on this specific matter,” Kate muttered.  She knew she could never convince her stubborn friend she was mistaken.  When Margaret formed an opinion a herd of elephants couldn't budge her.

Kate could not sleep.  It was two in the morning and she had said good night to Margaret only a few minutes ago, before curling up in the comfortable bed in the guestroom.  She hugged the white pillow.  What should she do?  Matthew Camedon needed no more than twelve days to get under her skin and she needed but a split second to conjure up his magnificent image, to feel the warmth of his hand over hers.  How would she ever get through the meal with him tomorrow?  Worse than that, how would she survive three whole days at Bellewoodplain in his company?  Dangerous cracks were breaching the tranquillity of the wall she had built around herself.  She knew he would know no peace until he stormed the entire wall.  Matthew Camedon was not a man to stop at half-measures.

Finally, exhausted by attempts to clear her head of him, Kate sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.

It was past ten when Kate awoke the next morning.  After washing and dressing she went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee.  Margaret had left for the clinic and Kate didn't expect her back until six that evening.  She left the apartment, locking it with a key Margaret had given her.  Later, on her way home, she would pass by Leonora's store in Notting Hill.

The weather was warm and balmy and Kate tied her sweater around her waist, resembling a high school student far more than a literature professor at Oxford. 

She started walking downhill when she heard a feminine voice call her name.  She stopped and turned around.  Rebecca Camedon, loaded down with groceries, rushed to her.

“Rebecca!  Good morning.  What are you doing here?”

“I live here, a bit further down the block.  And you?”

“Margaret also lives on this block.”

Although Kate was curious whether Matthew Camedon and his sister shared the same apartment when in London, and whether Rebecca was aware of the dinner Kate and her brother were to partake of that evening, she decided not to ask any questions.

“What are your plans for the next few hours?” Rebecca asked her.

“I thought I'd visit the Tate Gallery to catch a new show and then visit a friend.”

“How about a cup of tea with me?  I'd love to show you my place.”

Kate couldn't resist the entrancing invitation.  “Alright, but only on condition you let me give you a hand with all those packages.”

Rebecca laughed, “Nonsense, they're not heavy at all.”

Rebecca's apartment was in a late eighteenth century building.  Although approximately the same size as Margaret's, with a view on the river, it was far more modern.

“I designed it myself,” Rebecca told her.

Kate couldn't help herself.  “Does Matthew live here when he's in London?”

Rebecca looked at Kate as though she had fallen from the moon.  “Matthew?  Here?”  She laughed heartily.  “My God, no.  He has a splendid apartment in Belgravia Place.  Although Matthew is a wonderful brother and we're on excellent terms, he likes his privacy and so do I.”

Rebecca put up a pot of tea and they sat opposite each other by the window.  From her seat Kate overlooked the river, bustling with activity on the water and on the shore.  They talked easily, and Rebecca showered her with attention.

Suddenly the thought arose in Kate's mind that Rebecca might be starved for female companionship.  Growing up without a mother or a sister, she probably hungered for a woman to confide in, one who would guide and comfort her in difficult times.  I'm very fond of her, she thought to herself.  Despite the lack of affection and regard I have for her brother, there is no reason she and I shouldn't be friends.

But was she really so lacking in affection for Matthew Camedon?  To be candid with herself, she had to admit his openly avowed attraction to her had not exactly repulsed her.  To her dismay she felt an agreeable tingle of anticipation at the fact that she would be seeing him that evening.

“Tell me about your grandmother.  She sounds like a very interesting woman,” Kate prodded her companion.

“I adore her but she can be very tough and bossy.  My grandmother is convinced she can run everybody's life better than they.  She objected to my studying in Italy and thought I should stay home, find a suitable husband and start a family.  She had a big row with Matthew when he backed me and settled an ample annual allowance on me so that I could be independent and decide on my own life.”

“That was very generous of him,” Kate murmured.

“Yes.  Due to Matthew's love and magnanimity I won't ever be dependent on someone else.  Not even on him.  My grandmother was enraged when she heard about it and set up a commotion,” Rebecca giggled, “but Matthew knows how to handle her and valiantly withstood her attacks.”

“What about Matthew?  Does she press him to get married?”

“She doesn't give him a moment's peace.  The problem is that lately she has gotten it into her head that he must marry Gabriella, a distant cousin of ours from Spain.  Gabriella is only eighteen and Matthew almost had a stroke when he heard that.  He expressed his opinion in no uncertain terms but she is very stubborn.  Only yesterday he told me she's bringing Gabriella to Bellewoodplain.”

“And what does Matthew say to that?  Does he care?”

“Matthew never loses his self-control.  He has a great deal of patience for grandmother's infuriating behavior and her meddling in his affairs.  Although he didn't criticize grandmother in front of me, I think that this time he's really angry.  He told me that Gabriella has no place in his life and the sooner grandmother understood that the better it would be for everyone concerned.”

Rebecca leaned forward, scanning Kate's face closely, until she said in a tone of surprise, as though just this minute she had come up with a startling thought, “you know what?  I have the feeling his impatience has something to do with you.  I think for the first time in his life he has met a woman he feels he might fall in love with.”  A look of unabashed delight spread over Rebecca's face. “He doesn't want Gabriella at Bellewoodplain because he wants to devote all his attention to you.  That's awesome, Kate.  It's simply wonderful.”

“I hate to disappoint you but we are not even particularly fond of each other.”

“Nonsense.  Everyone who looked at you last night could see you were madly attracted to each other.”

Kate felt a blush spread over her cheeks, but Rebecca hadn't finished.  She seemed fascinated by the romantic possibilities.  “It's true my brother isn't an innocent lamb, but you saw for yourself how women throw themselves at his feet.  Since he was sixteen they don't leave him alone.  There isn't a man who could withstand such temptation.”

“I can't accept that.  He doesn't resist because he doesn't want to.  He is quite obviously pleased with his freedom and with his bachelor state just as they are.  He gives the impression of not exactly rushing to tie himself up with one woman.”

“But you must take into account that he’s never fallen in love before and I don't think it's because he's incapable of loving.  I know how much sensitivity is hidden behind that mask of indifference and frigidity.  He simply hasn't yet met the right woman.”  Rebecca's eyes were dark and full of emotion. “Give him a chance, Kate.  Matthew is a very special person.  His devotion and attachment for the people he loves are endless.  The woman he chooses for his wife will be the happiest person on earth.”

At this point Kate lost all desire to pursue the subject of Matthew Camedon.  She was simply too embarrassed.

“I must go.  I've enjoyed your company and I hope we'll see each other soon.  Will you be at Bellewoodplain this weekend?”

“Unfortunately, no.  When I understood you were the doctor coming to examine the manuscript John found, it was already too late to change my plans.  I'm going to France for the summer.”

Kate was surprised to see her blush.  “I'm going hiking with a friend of mine.  Like me, he's an Englishman studying in Italy and that's where we met.”

“Sounds marvelous,” Kate said, “I hope you have a great time.”

“Thank you.  I'll be in touch when I come back.”

Kate returned to the apartment in the afternoon and to her surprise found Margaret at home.

“I decided to leave work early so I would have time to rest and get ready for my date with Jorge.  How did you spend the day?”

“It was a good day.  Aside from visiting my friend Leonora and seeing a new exhibit at the Tate, I met Rebecca Camedon this morning and had tea in her apartment.  She lives up the street, only a few buildings away.”

“Does her brother live with her?” Margaret asked interestedly.

“No. He has his own place in Belgravia.”

Margaret looked at her with a faint grin on her face.  “It's probably a stunning apartment.”

Kate began to feel ill at ease.  Aside from being her best friend, Margaret was very reliable and discreet.  There was no reason she couldn't tell her about the dinner planned for this evening. “By the way,” she said, “Matthew invited me to dinner tonight and I accepted on condition that he takes me back to Oxford afterwards.”

“Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you that he called me about a quarter of an hour ago and said he would pick you up at eight. Apparently your phone was shut off the whole afternoon.”

Kate felt relieved she had confided in Margaret on her own initiative.  It would have been awkward for Margaret to pass on that message if Kate had not disclosed her plans.

“What do you plan to wear?”

“I don't know.  I hadn't thought about it.  The truth is, I don't have anything to wear,” she sighed.  “My dress is still at the cleaners and I didn't bring anything else that would be suitable for dining with a lord.”

“Don’t worry.  My wardrobe is at your disposal.  You can return the ensemble when we next see each other.  I can't let you go to dinner feeling glum.  Besides, I want you to keep the dress you wore last night.”

“You're very generous, but I can't accept a gift like that.”

“The issue is not open to discussion.  The dress suits you a thousand times more than it does me.  It looks as though it was made to order for you and you'll be doing me a great favor if you allow me to compensate you in some small way for the damage I caused your dress.”

After a weak argument Kate gave in, knowing her protests would be in vain.  At a quarter to seven Margaret was ready to greet Jorge.  When he arrived she left Kate with a hug and a kiss, making her promise she would call after the weekend in Bellewoodplain and tell her all the news.

After she left Kate returned the elegant suit Margaret had given her to its place in the closet.  She had no intention of going out of her way to find favor in Matthew's eyes.  Perhaps when he saw her tonight he would understand they had no chance together.  They lived in different worlds.  The impecunious young lecturer could have no place in the life of a rich, powerful lord.