Beguiling the Earl

by Suzanna Medeiros

  Brantford had been occupied with casting his eye over the room when he asked the casual question, but Kerrick zeroed in on the action for what it was. The question was of great importance to the man sitting opposite him, affecting the appearance of one who held only the slightest interest in the subject at hand. It was a tactic Brantford often used to draw attention away from just how interested he was in the answer.

  Kerrick’s eyes never left the other man’s face as he replied, his tone equally casual. “I believe Miss Hardwick possesses depths that she tries very hard to keep hidden from others. And I’ve discovered that I like her.”

  Brantford’s hand paused for only the briefest of seconds as he drew his watch from a pocket to glance at the time.

  Kerrick waited until he’d returned the watch before continuing. “The whole world believes we will be announcing our betrothal at any moment. Given the expectations of society and my own family, I’ve been considering whether I should continue to court her in earnest.”

  Kerrick wanted to crow with triumph when Brantford’s jaw tightened. “I take it that wouldn’t meet with your approval?”

  Brantford’s gaze settled squarely on him. “I fail to see what your personal relationships have to do with me. But won’t Miss Evans be disappointed?”

  Kerrick refused to be baited into changing the subject. “I know, Brantford.” He was bluffing, but every one of his instincts was telling him that the Unaffected Earl had feelings for Rose Hardwick.

  “If I find any information that would be of use to you in your investigation, I’ll make sure to pass it along. Until then, I have an appointment I can’t miss.”

  Brantford placed his drink on a side table, stood, and without another word strode from the room. His lack of response told Kerrick everything he needed to know.

  ooOoo

  She’d only been to one rout before that evening, but Catherine found she far preferred them to the formal balls and musical evenings. The smaller house parties were more intimate and, to her, far more enjoyable. She’d been relieved after learning from Rose that her family wouldn’t be in attendance. She didn’t know if Kerrick would be there, but if he was she wouldn’t have to watch him pay court to someone else. Even though she knew the truth of the situation, it was difficult watching her every step and taking care not to spend too much time in his company. But surely with the Worthingtons not in attendance, and with everyone aware of the great friendship between Kerrick and Nicholas, no one would look twice if she allowed herself to enjoy his company.

  She did feel a little twinge of guilt about Louisa. Normally the sickness that held her sister in its grips during the morning hours would have disappeared by the evening. And Louisa took a nap most afternoons so that she would be refreshed for their evening entertainments. Catherine couldn’t help but notice, however, that her sister wasn’t her usual self that evening. But since Louisa hadn’t said anything about not attending the rout, and because she had so been looking forward to going, she hadn’t asked Louisa if she wanted to stay home. A good sister, one who wasn’t acting selfishly, would have asked if her somewhat haggard-looking sibling was feeling up to going out. Louisa had always tended to sacrifice far too much for her family, and Catherine couldn’t ignore her suspicion that she was doing the same right now. The fact that Nicholas was being more attentive than normal supported that belief.

  She told herself that if Kerrick didn’t show soon, she’d insist they go home.

  When Kerrick walked into the Hastings’ drawing room shortly after their own arrival, looking particularly handsome in black and a waistcoat of royal blue that mirrored the color of his eyes, her guilt only increased because she knew they wouldn’t be leaving early. She tried to squelch the feeling by reasoning that her sister would never put her pregnancy at risk and could decide for herself if she needed to leave.

  His gaze swept across the room and halted when he saw her. He didn’t smile, but she could see the satisfaction in his eyes. Aware that Louisa was looking at her and that her sister knew her almost better than she knew herself, she looked away from him.

  “Lord Kerrick is here,” Louisa said.

  Her sister saw far too much. Out of everyone she knew, Catherine found it most difficult to know how to behave around her when Kerrick’s name came up in conversation. Louisa already knew her feelings for him went beyond friendship—Catherine had hardly been subtle about it in the past—so she couldn’t pretend disinterest now. But how could she be her normal self around the man and not betray that their relationship had gone a step further? Louisa and Nicholas must never suspect.

  As she struggled to think of what to say to her sister, she was glad that Nicholas had gone to fetch them drinks. For whatever reason, he was very protective of her.

  In the end, she opted for brevity. “Yes,” she said simply, allowing her smile of happiness to show. To do less would be to arouse her sister’s suspicions.

  They stood off to the side of the room, and when she glanced up, she saw him approaching. Awareness, sharp and swift, went through her and she found it impossible to look away again. To his credit, he did stop and speak to a group of men first so he wouldn’t appear too anxious to see her. But she knew otherwise.

  Louisa grasped her hand and Catherine turned her attention back to her sister.

  “Please remember that his interest lies elsewhere,” Louisa said.

  Relief went through her at the confirmation that her sister didn’t suspect there was already more between her and Kerrick.

  She couldn’t promise her sister that she would relinquish all interest in Kerrick, so instead said, “I don’t recall a betrothal announcement going out? Was it in this morning’s paper and no one told me?”

  Louisa sighed in exasperation and Catherine laughed.

  “You are truly incorrigible,” her sister said.

  “We already knew that.”

  Catherine looked up to see Kerrick had disentangled himself from his friends and now stood before them. Amusement lit his eyes and she knew he was remembering a certain brazen encounter that she had initiated not two days before. She didn’t know what to say but was saved when Nicholas returned with their drinks. She thanked him and took a sip of the ratafia.

  Kerrick turned his attention to Louisa. “You look beautiful as ever, Lady Overlea.”

  Louisa’s smile was quick, but behind it Catherine could detect signs of strain. Another wave of guilt swept through her when Nicholas took Louisa’s arm and she smiled up at him in relief.

  “Perhaps we should sit down. My wife is feeling a little under the weather tonight. On my way back I saw one of the card tables was free. We could venture to see if that’s still the case.”

  Nicholas didn’t wait for their response but turned and started for the morning room where tables had been set out for those guests who wanted to play.

  Kerrick offered Catherine his arm, and when she took it, warmth flooded through her. It took every ounce of her will not to sink against him and bask in his closeness. The way the fingers of his other hand tightened briefly over hers where it lay on his arm told her that he would enjoy nothing more. But instead they kept a circumspect distance apart while they followed Louisa and Nicholas into the morning room.

  As they passed through the hallway, Catherine was happy to see that the Duke and Duchess of Clarington had just arrived. The way Lord and Lady Hastings greeted the pair, however, told her that it would likely be some time before they would be able to extricate themselves from the host and hostess.

  Since everyone’s attention was on the newly arrived pair, Catherine paused and looked up at Kerrick. “I need to speak to you,” she said under her breath, the words barely audible.

  “I don’t think—”

  “I was with Rose this morning. She told me something you should know.”

  He nodded but said nothing as a group passed them. They moved forward again, and when they entered the morning room she saw that her brother-in-law had managed to secure
the open card table. Nicholas was sitting across from Louisa, holding her hands in his, and as she and Kerrick approached she overheard him urging her sister to go home.

  She could no longer ignore her guilt. Taking a seat between them, she turned to Louisa. “If you’re not feeling well, we can leave.”

  Her sister shook her head. “Nonsense. Nicholas is just being overly protective.”

  “I’m being the right amount of protective,” Nicholas said with a frown. “You push yourself too much.”

  Louisa gave him a fond smile and turned to Catherine. “I will be fine. If I become overtired, I will let everyone know. Until that point, shall we play?”

  Kerrick took that moment to interject. “Is there something I should know?”

  Catherine made sure not to meet his eyes as he asked the question. He was aware of Louisa’s pregnancy because she had let the information slip, but a formal announcement had yet to be made. He kept a straight face though when Nicholas relayed the news that they were expecting a happy event in the fall.

  “Is the father someone I know?” Kerrick asked, raising a brow.

  Catherine couldn’t hold back her surprised gasp at the suggestion her sister would betray her husband. She was even more shocked, however, when Louisa laughed outright.

  “You’re terrible.”

  Nicholas scowled. “It’s far too soon for such jokes,” he said. His annoyance was clear, but he wasn’t as angry as such a suggestion should have made him.

  The glance her brother-in-law cast in her direction, however, made her aware, once again, that something existed between the other three. Something they’d taken great pains to keep hidden from her. Louisa’s amusement at what anyone else would consider an insult was clear proof that Kerrick and her sister were on much friendlier terms than they should be. But it was Nicholas’s lack of reaction that puzzled her the most. Any other man would have been demanding that Kerrick meet him at dawn for delivering such an insult to his wife.

  They settled on a game of whist. Despite Louisa’s assurances that she felt well, it was clear that her mind wasn’t completely on their game when she missed several opportunities to win a trick. Nicholas was scarcely better. He was so concerned about his wife that he barely looked at his own cards. It was no wonder then that Catherine and Kerrick won the first hand with scarcely any effort.

  Louisa tried but couldn’t hold back her yawn and Nicholas threw down the cards he still held. The look on his face told her that the evening was at an end and that he would brook no denial. Louisa didn’t even try.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m such poor company tonight. I didn’t rise until almost noon.”

  Catherine had hoped to find an opportunity during the evening to speak to Kerrick alone—or as alone as one could be in a room filled with other people—but she couldn’t force her sister to stay when it appeared as though she might fall asleep at any moment. She would just have to leave it to him to find a way to speak to her soon.

  “I should have insisted we stay home tonight,” she said. “It was very selfish of me to make you come out tonight when I could see that you were tired.”

  “Perhaps I can suggest an alternative.”

  They all turned to look at Kerrick, who was leaning back in his seat, his arms folded across his chest.

  “The Claringtons arrived just as we were leaving the drawing room. I’m sure the duchess wouldn’t mind acting as Miss Evans’s chaperone for the remainder of the evening.”

  Catherine turned to her sister, unable to hide her eagerness at the proposition. “Do you think that would be fine? We had fun when we went to Kew Gardens. She might not think it too much of an imposition.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Louisa said. “If she doesn’t mind, I could then go home without feeling as though I had spoiled all your fun.”

  Nicholas nodded briskly. “I’ll go speak to Clarington now. I don’t want to place the duchess in an awkward position by asking her directly if they have plans to go elsewhere tonight.”

  He was gone only a few minutes, but when he returned he wasn’t alone. The Duke and Duchess of Clarington were with him. Charlotte went straight for Louisa and gave her a quick hug.

  “Overlea told us the good news. I would be very happy to stay with Catherine tonight.”

  “If you are certain. I do not wish to impose—” Louisa started.

  “It is no imposition at all. In fact, Catherine and I have some catching up to do since we last spoke, and I want to hear all about how she is enjoying London.”

  The gleam in the duchess’s eyes left Catherine in no doubt what she wished to speak to her about. Charlotte wanted to know if she’d managed to ensnare Kerrick’s interest. Catherine didn’t want to lie to her, but she couldn’t tell her the truth.

  Her mind at ease that a suitable chaperone had been found, Louisa allowed Nicholas to take her home. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of music and dancing, followed by a late supper. When the duchess told her that she and her husband would be leaving soon, Catherine still hadn’t found a moment to tell Kerrick about Rose’s plans to throw the two of them together at every opportunity.

  She looked around to see if she could catch one final glimpse of him, but he seemed to have vanished. She tried to quell her disappointment. Kerrick knew she needed to speak with him privately, and she had to believe that he’d find a way to make that happen soon. If not that night, then perhaps he’d visit their town house on the morrow.

  As she left the Hastings’ home with the Duke and Duchess of Clarington, she noticed absently that the carriage awaiting them was not the same one they’d taken on their last outing together. That one had been larger and had born Clarington’s ducal crest, but this one was bare of all markings. She reasoned that the Claringtons no doubt had several carriages and perhaps they used this one when they didn’t wish to attract too much attention.

  Charlotte settled beside her in the carriage while Clarington took the seat opposite her. She had only a moment to wonder at the curious expression on his face when the duchess spoke. “What exactly is between you and Lord Kerrick?”

  Not expecting the question, especially not in front of the duke, Catherine floundered for a response. She didn’t wish to lie, but she couldn’t compromise the trust Kerrick had placed in her.

  “He is a very good friend.”

  Charlotte was not about to let her evade the question. “You’re fond of him and wish to become closer. Despite the fact that he is openly courting another woman.”

  Clarington had remained silent, but the weight of his gaze seemed to settle heavily over her. Embarrassed, Catherine closed her eyes and wished fervently for a hole to open up on the carriage floor so she could escape. The duchess meant well, but she and her husband must truly think her pathetic. She half expected to receive a lecture about how she should let go of her foolish fantasies. She’d originally thought that Kerrick being a spy was exciting and romantic, but in that moment she hated what he was. Hated that she was forced to lie to everyone and that they no doubt saw her as a delusional, silly girl.

  “I don’t wish to discuss this—”

  The duke cut her off. “Given what is about to happen, not answering Charlotte’s question isn’t an option.”

  The undercurrent of anger in his words surprised her. She watched, dumbfounded, as Charlotte reached over and laid a hand on her husband’s knee, an action that was clearly meant to signal that he should leave the questions to her. Clarington gave her a dark look but said nothing more.

  “Do you care for Lord Kerrick?” Charlotte asked.

  Since it was clear they weren’t about to let her evade the question, she had no choice but to answer.

  “Yes,” Catherine said simply. They could think what they would, but she wouldn’t deny her feelings.

  Her answer seemed to satisfy Charlotte, though, and she shot a triumphant look toward her husband.

  “Alex isn’t happy about this, but I, for one, have always beli
eved in love. If I hadn’t… well, we wouldn’t be married now.”

  “This is not at all the same situation,” Clarington said.

  “Perhaps not, but I’ve learned that sometimes you need to take a risk if you love someone.”

  Clarington’s face softened as he looked at his wife, and it was clear to Catherine that he loved her very much.

  The carriage stopped at that moment and she was surprised when a footman opened the door. They couldn’t be home already, a suspicion that was confirmed when she looked out the door. They appeared to be in a darkened street, one which Catherine did not recognize.

  “Why are we stopping?”

  Charlotte smiled and, to Catherine’s shock, allowed the footman to help her down from the carriage. Clarington aimed a serious look her way.

  “Nicholas trusts me, and I sincerely hope I am not making a gross error in judgment.” He gave his head a sharp shake, his expression one of fond bemusement. “Charlotte is having a terrible effect on me.”

  With that cryptic statement, he, too, descended from the carriage. Catherine sat there in shock, unsure what to do. Did they expect her to follow them? But in the next moment everything became clear when Kerrick swung into the carriage, closed the door behind him, and settled into the seat Clarington had just vacated.

  Pure joy swept through her as she realized he must have made arrangements with the duke and duchess for them to have this moment of privacy. Anticipation was a steady thrum in her veins as the carriage started forward again. Here, where no one could see them, she allowed her feelings free rein as she drank in the sight of him.

  Chapter Eleven

  He was going to burn in hell for this—right after Nicholas called him out. It had only been two days since Catherine had come to his house. Two days since he had vowed to keep his distance from her. And yet here he was, already making excuses to see her again in private. He could have taken a moment to pull her aside during the evening. There would have been nothing improper in having a private conversation a few feet away from others but within their sight. Everyone knew of his friendship with Catherine’s brother-in-law. As long as he kept a respectable distance between them, no one would have raised a brow. But he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of arranging for this private rendezvous. He hadn’t had so little self-control since he was a youth.