Miss Kathleen's Scandalous Baron (Honorable Rogue Book 2)

by Vikki Vaught

  He raised both her hands to his lips and kissed them. “I’m pleased you’re beginning to see the aristocracy is much more about protecting heritage than idle young men sowing wild oats. While my peers do enjoy their entertainments, the majority of them work hard ensuring their future generations survive and flourish.”

  “I see that,” she replied. “I was very narrow-minded when I first arrived in England. My eyes are now wide open. When we return home, I want you to teach me about your ancestors so I can explain the importance to Arianna and our future children. I’m proud to be a part of such a distinguished family.”

  “I shall be happy to.”

  Renwick came over and let them know everyone was leaving. Andrew offered his arm, and they joined the group in front and returned to the estate. Since the entertainment planned that evening was a ball, the ladies needed plenty of time to prepare.

  After dinner that evening, Andrew escorted her to the ballroom, where they joined Effinger, Renwick, and their families. Soon after, the dancing started. Her husband led her onto the dance floor and the opening strains of a cotillion filled the air. Kathleen jumped and swirled across the floor with her husband.

  She met his gaze. “You know this is the first time we’ve danced since our wedding. I don’t think I told you how much I enjoy dancing with you.”

  He smiled at her. “And I the same. You look particularly fetching tonight in your emerald green gown. Are you having a good time, my sweet?”

  “Oh, yes. I’m ever so pleased we came. I thoroughly enjoy Deborah’s company, and it’s nice that she lives close by. She’s going to take me to my first committee meeting when we return home. There’s one on Wednesday.”

  “It pleases me that you want to be involved. I think it’s important for our people. They shall respect you much more if you make your presence known, and there is no better way to do that than becoming involved with the parish.”

  When the music ended, they joined the rest of their party. The men excused themselves and made their way to the card room. Kathleen watched as Andrew left the ballroom. She realized that not only had she fallen in love with him, she was beginning to accept living in England. Making some friends had certainly helped, and now she looked forward to getting actively involved with the community when she returned home. Life had a way of working out when one least expected it.

  ****

  Andrew and his friends moved to an empty table in the card room. They found another man to make up four for a game of whist. He partnered with Effinger, hoping to minimize his friend’s losses.

  After an enjoyable hour of play, and with several healthy wins on his side, Andrew and his friends returned to the ballroom to join the ladies. Both Effinger’s sisters were on the dance floor, but they found his friend’s mother standing on the side. Andrew looked around the ballroom. He couldn’t find Kathleen anywhere.

  When Maybelle and Eva joined them, he asked, “Do you ladies know where my wife is? I don’t see her.”

  Eva spoke up. “Lady Billingsley is with Lady Deborah. They went to the retiring room. I’m sure they should be returning momentarily.”

  He watched the entrance to the ballroom. As he glanced around the room, he realized Noreen wasn’t there, either. Surely she would stay away from Kathleen. She had so far, and she had made no attempt to talk to him. His stomach clenched, still worried the woman would try to make trouble. He didn’t trust her and would not be at ease until he saw Kathleen.

  Turning to Effinger, he told him, “I’m going to see what is keeping my wife. If she returns while I’m gone, tell her I’m looking for her.”

  “Certainly,” he replied. “I’ll watch for her, and if she comes back before you return, I shall let her know.”

  Andrew asked a footman where the women’s retiring room was located. Of course he couldn’t enter. He asked a young woman going into the room to check if Kathleen was in there. A few minutes later the woman came out, and told him it was empty.

  Where the hell could his wife be?

  Wandering back downstairs, he started searching each of the rooms, but none of them were occupied. He passed the library. There were a couple of gentlemen talking to Blythe, still no Kathleen.

  A footman approached and told him Lady Billingsley wanted him to meet her in the conservatory. Ah, his darling wife wanted a stolen moment away from prying eyes, then remembered she left the ballroom with Lady Deborah. Kathleen must want him to see an interesting species of a plant. He entered, but neither his wife nor Renwick’s sister were there.

  Thinking she had gotten tired of waiting and had returned to the ballroom, he turned to leave. Then Noreen strolled into the room. “Ah, Billingsley, I wanted to talk to you. So…how are you enjoying married life? I would imagine you’re bored out of your mind by now.” She drew closer, giving him a come-hither smile. “I’ve missed you. Have you missed me?”

  Damnation!

  I don’t have time for her games.

  Of course, if Noreen were here, he didn’t need to worry that she’d cornered Kathleen somewhere, and was trying to cause trouble. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but I’m far from bored, the exact opposite actually. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my wife. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

  When Andrew went to step around her, the woman plastered herself against him, throwing her arms around his neck. Before he had a chance to pull away, she jerked his head down and passionately kissed his lips. He heard the door to the conservatory open as he tried to disentangle himself from Noreen’s embrace. He heard a feminine gasp and pushed Noreen away, then turned around. There stood his wife and Lady Deborah. Kathleen’s face turned deathly pale. Her entire body stiffened.

  “This isn’t what it looks like, my love.” Desperation radiated in his voice. The look in his wife’s eyes would live with him for the rest of his days as she turned and ran from the room. Lady Deborah gave him a scathing look and rushed after her. He started to follow but then turned back to Noreen. “Why the hell did you kiss me?”

  She gave him a triumphant smile. “It’s time someone taught you a lesson. You can’t toy with a woman’s affections, and then cast her aside the way you did me and get away with it.”

  Andrew gave her a murderous look and ran from the conservatory. He had to find Kathleen and explain. He remembered what she had told him if he ever gave her any reason to doubt his fidelity, and icy waves of anxiety rushed through him.

  God, I have to find her.

  Oh, please Lord, let her believe me.

  He doubted she would return to the ballroom. Perhaps she’d gone to their room. He took the stairs two at a time in his urgency to get to her and explain what had happened. When he reached their chamber, he flung open the door. She wasn’t inside. He grabbed the door frame with a shaking hand, at a loss as to where to look for her. Pain jabbed at his heart, so intense it stole his breath. He had to find her. Where could she be?

  He took several gulps of air, trying to calm his rioting nerves. Perhaps Lady Deborah took her to her room.

  But, how do I find her room?

  Renwick will know.

  Andrew raced back to the card room, hoping Renwick would still be there. His friend was leaving as he ran into the room. He blurted out, “Where’s your sister’s room?”

  Renwick grabbed him by the arm. “Why do you want to know that? Billingsley, what’s going on?”

  Realizing people were staring, he lowered his voice, and quickly told him what had happened in the conservatory. Keeping his voice down, his friend pulled him from the room and into the darkened corridor.

  Renwick cursed. “Damn. I was afraid she would cause trouble. Did you check your room?”

  “Yes, damn it,” he snarled, as he ran his hand over his face. “She’s not there, and I’m sure she isn’t in the ballroom. She ran from the conservatory without speaking to me. I have to find her. The only place I can think of is your sister’s room. Perhaps Lady Deborah took my wife there to comfort
her.”

  “It’s worth checking. Follow me, and I’ll take you.” Renwick led him upstairs. It was all he could do to keep from pushing his friend up the stairs faster. He had to find Kathleen right away before she blew this completely out of proportion. When Renwick stopped in front of a door, he held his breath.

  Please, Lord, let her be here and let her listen to me.

  His friend lightly knocked. “Deborah, are you in there?” Andrew heard a rustling noise coming through the door, and he thought he heard someone crying.

  The door opened and Lady Deborah stepped into the hall, closing off the chamber behind her. When she saw him, she hissed, “You are not welcome here. Kathleen doesn’t want to see you. Haven’t you done enough damage for one night?”

  Then without saying another word, she slipped back into her room and slammed the door in his face.

  Fear so intense it had him shaking, he pounded on the door. He called Kathleen’s name, so far gone that thoughts of propriety never entered his mind. As the door remained closed, his frustration grew. He drew his leg up, ready to break in the door, but Renwick jerked him away and shoved him against the wall.

  Before he could voice his protest, his friend hissed, “Desist. You’re making matters worse. Not to mention, I’m surprised we don’t have an audience by now. I suggest you leave her be and try to talk to her in the morning after she has a chance to think. Surely she’ll realize you’re not stupid enough to plan an assignation under her very nose. I don’t know your wife well, but she seems to be sensible and not given to histrionics.”

  He slumped against the wall. Defeated and finding it impossible to draw a breath, the anxiety so severe, it had his heart thumping. Knowing he would not help matters if he continued to rant like a mad man, he forced himself to calm down. “She isn’t normally. Although, she does jump to conclusions rather quickly. You didn’t see her face when she saw me with Noreen. Oh, God, Renwick. What am I going to do?”

  He raised a brow. “You’ve fallen in love with her, haven’t you?”

  “Yes…yes, I have,” he whispered, anguish coloring his tone. “More than I ever thought possible. I don’t know how it happened. I certainly didn’t expect to fall in love with her when we married. Over the past three months, she’s wormed her way deep into my heart. She’s the only woman I shall ever want or need.” He kicked the chair beside him. “God, why did that bitch do it? We engaged in a flirtation, nothing more. She doesn’t love me. She just can’t abide that I married Kathleen. I would like to wring her bloody neck.”

  “Rumors were flying around the ton. Lady Holcombe thought you would marry her. When the news filtered into the ballroom that night, I happened to be standing close to her. She looked ready to explode when one of her friends told her what the Duchess of Brentwood was saying.”

  Andrew flung himself in the chair and rubbed his face. Tears pricked his eyelids, but he refused to let Renwick see him as weak. He’d never cried in his adult life and he would not start now. Why in God’s name had Noreen been so sure he would marry her? He’d never given her any reason to believe he wanted more than an affair.

  God’s teeth!

  I never even bedded the woman.

  Remembering he’d planned to, remorse shot through him. The one reason he hadn’t…every time he’d spent time with Noreen, Kathleen’s lovely face appeared in his mind. On the night of his wife’s come-out ball, he’d decided he would give into Noreen’s seductions, hoping to sate his overwhelming desire for Kathleen. Thank God his wife had shown up instead.

  He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, gaining some control, before he spoke. “I never thought Noreen could be this vindictive. If I live to be a hundred, I will never understand how a woman’s mind works. Obviously my wife isn’t going to see me tonight. I hope she’ll see things differently in the morning.”

  “Come, my friend,” Renwick urged. “Let us find you some libation. I’m sure this will turn itself around in the morning.”

  He sighed, “I pray you are right. Thank you for keeping me from making a complete idiot of myself. A stiff drink is exactly what I need.”

  If there was ever a night he needed to escape, this was it.

  ****

  Deborah slammed the door, blocking Andrew from Kathleen’s sight. As he pounded on the door, his muffled shouts coming through the barrier, she looked at her friend with tears still swimming in her eyes. After a moment, the shouts and pounding stopped.

  She gulped back her tears and asked, “What did he say?”

  Her friend huffed. “I didn’t give the cad a chance to say anything. I still can’t believe he would betray you this way, and with Lady Holcombe. I don’t understand why he would engage in an assignation with her here. Surely he realized he could be caught. No true gentleman would do such a thing. Of course…he’s been a notorious rake ever since his school days.”

  “I don’t understand it either.” Her heart was splitting in two, from the betrayal. “I’d thought we were growing closer. I must have been wrong. I need to leave. There’s no way I want to face those people tomorrow, wondering if they know of his deceit. I don’t want to see him until I’ve had a chance to think. How can I leave without him? I can’t take the carriage and leave him here. How am I going to retrieve my belongings? Oh, this is an untenable situation.”

  Deborah sat beside her and put her arm around her shoulders. “This is what we’re going to do. I very much doubt he will go back to your room right now. If I know my brother, he’ll take him off to get foxed. In the meantime, you will have your maid pack your belongings and bring them here. Then in the morning, you can ask Lord Blythe to lend you a carriage to take you home. I’m sure he will oblige.”

  “I’ll write Andrew a letter asking him to go to London to give me some time alone. Surely he’ll do that. Oh, Lord, I don’t have anywhere to go, except the Hall. My family is gone. Besides, I don’t want to be separated from Arianna.”

  “If you word the letter correctly, I’m sure he will do as you ask. Now, let us ring for Louise, before that viper goes back to your chamber.”

  Her maid managed to retrieve her belongings from the room without detection. Deborah convinced Kathleen to rest for a few hours. When she awoke at five in the morning, she dressed and sent for the butler, asking him for the use of one of Lord Blythe’s carriages. A footman came and told her his lordship would see her in his study. She followed the man downstairs.

  When she entered, Lord Blythe stood. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Lord Blythe. I need to borrow a carriage.”

  He looked over at her. “I shall be happy to do that, but why do you need one? I’m sure your husband would be willing to take you wherever you need to go. Has there been some emergency, Lady Billingsley?”

  “Y-yes, there has,” she stammered, fighting back tears. “I w-wrote a letter to my husband explaining why I n-need to leave without him. He will understand completely. Please, I need to go.”

  Looking concerned, the man said, “You seem upset, Madame. Let me find your husband for you. I’m sure he would not want you leaving by yourself.”

  “No,” she retorted, “please, lend me a carriage, or at least take me to Salisbury where I can find a mail coach going south. I must leave immediately. It’s all in the letter.”

  “I must insist on finding your husband.” He stood to pull the bell pull.

  Kathleen rushed to his side and pleaded, “Please, don’t. I assure you my leaving is in everyone’s best interest. My husband will be grateful you helped me. I promise.”

  He still hesitated. His hand hovered over the bell pull for a moment. Her heart ached; she wanted to scream at the man. He sighed, then capitulated. “If you insist. I shall order a carriage. I hope you’re correct and your husband will understand.”

  She trembled from the adrenaline coursing through her body. Refusing to give into her anguish, she locked her knees, stood straight and kept her tone even. “Thank you, my lord. Could a footman carry down my trunk?
My maid has everything ready.”

  “Certainly. The carriage will be in front by the time the footman brings it down. Godspeed, my lady.” Kathleen curtsied, then rushed from the room before she broke down.

  Within thirty minutes, she was in the carriage, ready to depart. She’d been certain Blythe would seek out Andrew before she could leave. He either couldn’t find her husband or ceded to her wishes. Once she was on the open road, she wanted to rant and rave at the injustice, but she couldn’t allow her maid to see her come apart. She pulled herself together and looked out the window.

  Oh, God, why did this happen?

  They’d found so many things they had in common, she’d started to hope their marriage had a chance of turning into a loving one. Now, what did she do? Her family had left for America, and she had Arianna to consider. While she might not be the child’s natural mother, she loved the babe as much as if she had given birth to her. She would never be separated from her, regardless of the state of her marriage.

  Pain ripped through her heart. She would need to find some way to live with Andrew, but she would not give him her heart, not after this betrayal. And she would never let him back in her bed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Hours later, Andrew stumbled to his room and fell into bed without even taking his shoes off. When he awoke the next day, his head pounded, his stomach churned, and he barely made it to the chamber pot before he cast up his accounts. After rinsing his mouth, he looked at the clock.

  Devil take it!

  It was past the noon hour. When he glanced around the room, he noticed Kathleen’s belongings were missing. He must have been so foxed he’d never noticed the items were gone. Or, had the maid entered and removed everything, and he’d slept through it? His stomach rolled, and he barely made it back to the chamber pot for a repeat performance.

  Deuce take it!

  Why did I overindulge?

  Icy chills raced along his spine. He needed to be clear-headed, not done up from a drinking binge. He had to find Kathleen. Not wanting to take the time to ring for Ensley, he rushed through his ablutions, nicking himself several times while he shaved. Once he finished dressing, he rushed to Lady Deborah’s room. The door stood open and the room empty.