The Danger in Tempting an Earl (3 page)

Chapter 2

“I
t appears your return has caused quite the sensation,” Katherine said.

Lucien chuckled. “I doubt very much that their stunned silence is my doing, Kate.”

“Another compliment?” she asked as his words slipped over her. He was being every bit the gentleman, yet with the realization that all eyes
were
indeed upon her, she suddenly wanted nothing more than to disappear into the nearest wall.

“If you didn’t believe me earlier when I told you that you look stunning, you have no choice but to do so now,” he whispered.

With her heart fluttering in her chest, Katherine attempted a smile, only to feel as if her face was made of plaster. Gripping Lucien’s arm a bit tighter, she steadied herself and took a deep breath. The last thing she wanted was to make a spectacle of herself by collapsing on the floor. No, that wouldn’t do at all. Yet there was no stopping her body from trembling as they made their descent toward the ballroom.

“Are you all right?” Lucien quietly asked, his lips close to her ear.

Katherine nodded. “Yes. Perfectly, though I must confess that I am finding it a bit hot in here.”

“I can lead you straight through the crowd if you wish and out onto the terrace.”

The thought of escape was tempting, but just as she was about to agree, she caught sight of her friend, the Duke of Kingsborough’s sister, Louise, who was presently approaching along with her husband, the Earl of Huntley.

“I’m so happy that you were able to join us this evening, Katherine,” Louise said. She looked to Lucien. “You too, Roxberry. I’m sure you must have many exciting tales to tell us from your travels.”

“Lady Huntley,” Lucien said, offering the countess a bow, “a pleasure as always. And I see you’ve brought me someone with whom to pass the time while you and Lady Crossby share the latest gossip.” He grinned toward Huntley.

“I shall be more than happy to save you from having to participate in such inane conversation, Roxberry,” Huntley said. His face was serious, but there was a sparkle to his eyes that betrayed him.

“At least our discussions generally arrive at a conclusion,” Louise said as she smiled lovingly at her husband. “The same cannot be said of your political ones, where nobody ever agrees with anyone and nothing is ever solved.”

“And here I thought you weren’t paying attention,” Huntley muttered.

Katherine did her best not to laugh at their little exchange, which resulted in a somewhat strangled sound. Lucien glanced her way with a knowing smile, to which she responded with a shrug.

“In case you were unaware,” Louise continued, “there is a brain behind these lovely eyes of mine.” She batted her eyelids, while Lucien appeared on the verge of dissolving into a fit of laughter. Katherine didn’t feel as if she was faring much better. The Huntleys made a lovely couple, and the banter they so openly enjoyed in the company of others was always a source of great amusement—something Katherine craved. It seemed like an eternity since she’d laughed with complete abandon.

“Heaven forbid I should ever forget it,” Huntley said as he reached for his wife’s hand and raised it to his lips, placing a kiss upon her knuckles. Their eyes met, and for the briefest of moments, Katherine felt as if she and Lucien had been completely forgotten by the couple. They clearly loved each other, and something inside Katherine twisted.

“Shall we take a turn about the room then?” Louise asked, her question directed at Katherine.

“With pleasure,” Katherine said. Stepping away from Lucien and linking her arm with Louise’s, she glanced up at him and smiled in an attempt to push aside the awful sensation that gripped her. She’d never been envious of anyone else in her life. Discovering that she was helplessly jealous of her friend was humiliating. “Don’t forget to dance with Lady Deerford,” she said.

Lucien looked to Huntley. “I don’t suppose you’d care to help me flee.”

“And risk Lady Crossby’s fury?” Huntley asked. He stepped back as if considering the possibility of leaving Lucien to deal with the lady in question on his own. “My good man, when a lady sets her heart on something, whether it be a bonnet or a boon from a gentleman, she will have her way sooner or later, and since that is the case, you would only be a fool for prolonging the issue.”

“Is that so?” Lucien asked, eyeing Katherine.

There was something curious about the way in which he was looking at her—something that she was not at all familiar with. It unsettled her, and that in turn made her skin prickle and her stomach quiver in a most uncomfortable way.

“I just adore the comparison you choose to draw between gentlemen and bonnets,” Louise said with a laugh directed at her husband as she drew Katherine away, removing them from Lucien’s and Huntley’s company. “My dear Katherine, you must tell me everything. I had no idea that you were planning to arrive here on Roxberry’s arm.” This last part was said in a low whisper so no one else would hear.

“Truth be told, I didn’t know that he would be accompanying me this evening either. Not until a note arrived from him this afternoon, requesting the honor of offering me escort.” Katherine paused, hesitant of how much to share because of what the revelation might reveal about her problematic relationship with Lucien, but she eventually decided that if anyone deserved the truth, it was Louise. She’d become a dear friend during Lucien’s absence. “In fact, this is the first time I’m seeing him since his return.”

“He didn’t call on you before?” Louise asked, sounding properly dismayed.

Katherine shook her head, and they continued on in silence as they passed a few other ladies, nodding politely in greeting as they went. “You know what people will say about this, don’t you?” Louise continued when they were once again alone and with no chance of anyone overhearing them. “I mean, I hope that you are prepared, all things considered.”

“I can’t imagine what you mean,” Katherine told her friend. They had reached a small alcove with a bench tucked away inside it, offering a bit of privacy from the rest of the guests. The ladies sat and immediately opened their fans.

“Can’t you? Hmm . . . no, I suppose you wouldn’t have considered it, since you were away on your wedding trip at the time. But you see, the haste with which Roxberry departed England again following his return from the war has raised a multitude of questions that have since resulted in some very interesting theories,” Louise whispered. Hiding behind her fan, she leaned toward Katherine and added, “Theories that are likely to become more fascinating than the questions themselves, given that his first public appearance in what . . . four years or so . . . happens not only after you have been widowed but with you of all people on his arm.”

“What exactly are you saying, Louise?” Katherine asked, not liking the implication of her friend’s words in the least.

“Surely you must be aware of some of the notions that have flittered through every drawing room these past few years?” When Katherine numbly shook her head, Louise gave her a sympathetic look. “Well, if I may cut straight to the point, there are those who think him irrevocably in love with you. In fact, I daresay that this is the general consensus.”

It was as if Katherine’s entire world skidded to a screeching halt. Lucien in love with her? Preposterous! Her heart thumped madly in her chest at the very thought of such a crack-brained notion while she gaped back at her friend. “But that’s ridiculous,” she eventually managed. “Lucien and I have always been close friends. It’s only fitting that he would escort me this evening.”

Louise shrugged. “What can I say? I suppose there are always those who would like to turn the simplest thing into a complicated Banbury tale. Although . . .”

The word trailed off into obscurity. With a sigh of resignation, Katherine accepted Louise’s bait and asked the question her friend so obviously intended for her to ask. “Although what?”

“Well, if Roxberry
is
indeed in love with you, he couldn’t have arrived at a better time, considering that you are just now out of mourning and free to contemplate another gentleman in your life.”

“Good heavens, but this is madness!” Katherine would rather eat poison than consider attaching herself to another gentleman, so the idea that this might be the consensus of the entire
ton
was horrifying. “They’re wrong, Louise. I’ve known Roxberry my entire life, and I’m telling you that he has never considered me as anything more than a friend.”

Louise nodded. “Perhaps you’re right,” she said, patting Katherine’s arm as if to placate her. “After all, you do know him better than anyone else, so if you are certain in your assessment, then I have no choice but to trust your judgment.”

“Thank you,” Katherine managed. She felt as if she’d just run a three-legged race.

“However . . . ,” her friend added.

Oh dear God, there was more.

“From what I have heard, many believe that he quit England after the war because his heart had been so thoroughly broken by his unrequited love for you that he found it impossible to remain in your presence . . . let alone the same country. They say that this is the true reason why he left.” Louise wafted her fan back and forth with increased vigor.

Katherine gritted her teeth and did her best to calm her quaking nerves. “And why exactly am I only hearing of this now, my dear
friend
?”

Louise’s hand stilled, and she turned her head to look directly at Katherine. “First of all, it was such common knowledge that I thought you were aware—why, even the society columns made a mention of it for a while. And second of all, I must confess I found it a bit of an awkward subject to broach when you were married to Crossby . . . more so once you were widowed.”

Dear God
.

“They’re wrong,” Katherine repeated, desperate now to convince the world that it had made a serious error in judgment. “Lucien left because of the pain his brother’s death caused him and because he argued with his father, who was apparently quite determined to see his youngest son married in order to secure the line of succession. Lucien felt trapped, so he fled.”

“Or,” Louise offered, her eyes appearing unnaturally large all of a sudden, “he did want to marry but could no longer have the woman he desired and decided not to marry at all.”

Uncertainty pressed upon her, but Katherine urged it away. No, it wasn’t possible. She dismissed the notion with an awkward laugh. “Honestly, Louise! Have you been reading gothic novels again?”

Louise swatted her arm. “I’m being perfectly serious.”

Katherine sighed. “Lucien and I were neighbors growing up, and since I didn’t move farther away than Cresthaven after I married, we’ve pretty much remained so, but to make any more out of it than that would be ridiculous. You know that his sister and I are close in age and that we played together as children. Lucien was often there as well, no doubt to ensure that we didn’t get into too much trouble. He’s like a brother to me.”

“Are you sure he feels the same way?”

Following Louise’s gaze, Katherine found Lucien and Huntley striding toward them. Huntley’s gaze was fixed on Louise in a manner not entirely dissimilar to the way in which Lucien was regarding Katherine. She felt an odd fluttering sensation in the pit of her stomach, but she managed to give herself a mental kick. Surely she was imagining things. Yes, of course she was. Everything Louise had said had addled her brain. Why, the very idea that Lucien’s feelings for her ran deeper than friendship was pure nonsense. She straightened her back and rose to her feet alongside Louise, ready to meet the gentlemen. “Of course I am,” she quickly whispered, snapping her fan shut in irritation. She was suddenly annoyed that the
ton
would assume otherwise. It was outrageous, really.

“You will be pleased to know that I have just danced a lovely quadrille with Lady Deerford, who, I must add, has recently added a new doll to her collection. When I mentioned you, Lady Crossby, and how much you’d like to give a doll to your daughter, she immediately offered to show you her favorite shops.”

Katherine winced. She liked Lady Deerford and was terribly sad for her, especially now that she, like the older woman, was also a mother. It was heart-wrenching to imagine the pain of having your child snatched away from you and not knowing what had become of her, as was the case with the Deerfords, whose daughter had been kidnapped twenty years earlier. Still, the thought of shopping for dolls with the lady . . . “I never said that I was looking for a doll for Sophia,” she said, frowning at Lucien.

“You didn’t?” he asked, looking properly confused. His eyes brightened a second later, and he smiled at her broadly. “Well, then I suppose I must have made a mistake.”

Katherine’s eyes narrowed. “A mistake that’s about to get the better of you, since you have recently offered to take me shopping. We shall accompany Lady Deerford together at the first available opportunity.”

To her satisfaction, Lucien’s mouth dropped. A snicker brought her attention over to Louise, who was looking terribly amused. “Heavens,” she croaked in an attempt to contain her laughter. “For a ‘couple’ who’s not a ‘couple,’ you’re certainly having the most delightful quarrel.”