The Danger in Tempting an Earl

by Sophie Barnes

  “I know it may sound selfish,” she told him hesitantly, “but when we spoke earlier this evening, I was under the impression that you wanted the same. So yes, if you could wait a while to seek a wife, I’d love nothing better than for us to talk, catch up on lost time, perhaps even go riding together the way we used to—­mad races across the countryside.”

  The corner of his mouth tilted. “You are aware that I always let you win, right?”

  Her chin rose a little, the gesture angling her face as she said, “I’ve no such notion. As far as I am concerned, I outrode you every time.”

  This brought a helpless bark of laughter from him. “Very well, then,” he said, his voice still ringing with mirth. “You have convinced me, if for no other reason than to allow me the opportunity of proving myself a far superior equestrian than you.”

  “Do you remember when you took Patricia and me fishing that one time?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “At the lake on the edge of my property? How could I forget, when you refused to listen to reason and lost your balance as a result? You were a sight to behold, with your wet hair falling into your eyes as you sputtered and splashed about as if you were drowning.” He couldn’t help but smile at the memory. “If I’m not mistaken, the water was only knee deep.”

  “Not my proudest moment, I must admit, but I was grateful that you didn’t make fun of me at the time. Instead, you behaved very gentlemanly as you scooped me out of the water and dried me off.”

  Lucien felt his stomach tighten. Everything had changed between them that day—­for him, at least. Holding her slight body in his arms as her wet muslin gown had clung to her every curve, he’d become startlingly aware of his own masculinity and of the woman she’d been turning into. She’d been sixteen years of age and he’d been three and twenty.

  He recalled how much he’d regretted his sister’s presence that day—­was still embarrassed by it. But Patricia had denied him the opportunity of stealing a kiss. Later, when he’d had the time to contemplate the situation more clearly, he’d been glad to have been denied the chance to press his advances. It would only have complicated his friendship with Katherine, especially since she’d been destined for something greater than marrying a second son whose future had lain with the army. Since then, he’d withdrawn from her, kept his feelings in check, and breathed a sigh of relief when the army had called him away to fight against Napoleon. He’d needed distance.

  “I will call on you tomorrow,” he told her now. “If that is agreeable with you. We can spend the afternoon together, riding or fishing—­whichever you prefer.”

  “Why not do both?” she said as they turned down a walkway that would bring them back toward Kingsborough Hall. “I’ll ask Cook to prepare a picnic for us to enjoy, providing the weather isn’t too cold.”

  It was late April, but the last few days had shown a marked rise in temperature, particularly during the afternoons, which had been filled with sunshine and cloudless skies.

  Drawing her closer, Lucien lowered his head to whisper in her ear, “Just dress appropriately, Kate, and I’ll bring a blanket.”

  There was nothing suggestive about what he said, yet Katherine felt a slight tremor wash over her in response to his words and his closeness. She’d nearly been reduced to a bundle of nerves when she’d asked him to postpone a courtship. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she had a romantic interest in him, which, of course, would be absurd, even though she couldn’t dismiss that she’d found herself in a constant state of confusion the entire evening. Her reaction to Lady Julie had made no sense at all, nor had the persistent possessiveness she’d suddenly felt toward Lucien when he’d mentioned the prospect of marriage.

  She glanced up at him with a modicum of discretion, aware more than ever before of the strength that resided in the arm she was holding. He really was an incredible specimen, if such a term could even be used to describe a man. Charles had been handsome—­beautifully so—­but his body had been slimmer. Lucien, on the other hand . . . a fleeting image of what his chest might look like in a state of complete undress gave rise to thoughts of toned flesh and broad shoulders. She shook the image away, bewildered by her reaction. Never before had she considered him in that way, yet she’d done so repeatedly in the space of only a few hours.

  “You seem very preoccupied all of a sudden.” The sound of his voice breaking the silence startled her. “Anything you’d like to share with me?”

  Not in a million years!

  “I was just thinking about Sophia,” she lied, hoping he’d believe her. The orange glow from a torch flickered against the side of his face, illuminating it enough for her to see his frown. “I believe I would like to return home soon so I can check on her.”

  “Let us at least stay for the fireworks display. We can leave immediately after if you like.”

  Katherine nodded her consent, for she had been looking forward to seeing the sky light up with bright bursts of color. It would be a shame to miss it.

  “Will I have a chance to meet Sophia tomorrow?” Lucien suddenly asked.

  The question surprised Katherine, for Lucien was the first man to voice even the slightest interest in her daughter; why, even Katherine’s female friends had made it clear that an infant had no place in polite company. They preferred to enjoy their tea undisturbed while the children were left with their nannies. “If you like,” she said. “I’m sure she’d be happy to make your acquaintance.”

  “Truly?”

  “She’s only six months old—­she’s not very judgmental.”

  Lucien laughed. “I must confess that I’ve missed your wit while I’ve been away.”

  “Oh? Are they all very dull on the other side of the Channel?”

  “No, I can’t say that they are. In fact, most were very forthcoming, though I suppose my rank did help. But I should have liked to have shared with someone some of the things I saw and experienced during my travels. It would have been nice to be able to talk about them.”

  “I see no reason why you can’t still do so—­I’d love to hear about your adventures.” She meant it, for while he’d told her that he’d missed her wit, she had missed so much more, she realized—­she’d missed the companionship he’d always offered her, a companionship she’d never shared with anyone else, least of all with her husband.

  Even now Katherine’s throat tightened at the memory of what her wedding night had been like.

  “Are you all right?” she heard Lucien ask.

  Her breath caught. “Yes,” she managed.

  “You seemed so distant all of a sudden,” he said as they approached the stairs leading back up to the terrace. “I hope I’ve not distressed you in any way, for if I have, then I can assure you that—­”

  “You have not,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired, that’s all. I find that being a mother, as wonderful as it is, can also be quite exhausting.”

  “But you have her nanny to assist you. Surely you must be able to get a decent amount of rest.” He sounded genuinely concerned.

  “One would think so, but I find myself awoken now by the slightest sound. It is as if my body is on constant alert, and each time that happens, I rise to check on her.”

  “She sleeps close to you, then?” He did not try to mask his surprise.

  “In an adjoining chamber,” she said, annoyed that he would dare to judge her on something like this. He had no right.

  “I hope you do not think I disapprove, Kate. On the contrary, your devotion to your daughter is nothing short of admirable. Why, there are so many ­people who care not one whit for their children, abandoning them to their nannies and governesses at every available opportunity. I’m glad to see that you’re taking an interest.”

  It was not what she had expected him to say, and the surprise caught her off guard—­so much so that she failed to watch her ste
p, the tip of her slipper catching the hem of her gown and tripping her. For one faltering second, she felt the loss of control as her balance wavered. They were halfway up the stairs, so a plunge would hardly be painless, but just as she feared she would surely topple backward, a strong arm reached around her waist and held her steady.

  Katherine’s breath caught with relief as she tilted her head back and looked up at Lucien. “Thank you,” she said. His dark brown eyes stared back at her with an intensity she found most unsettling. It was then that she realized how close he was holding her and how rapidly her heart was beating against her chest. She took a breath, aware that she might be responding to him in a most inappropriate way, but then she caught herself and pushed the notion aside.

  Silly girl.

  Of course her pulse would be racing after what had just happened. To think that it had anything to do with Lucien would be ridiculous. Clearly Louise had muddled her head with all her talk of Lucien returning with the intention of courting her. And yet, when he distanced himself from her, she felt bereft. It had felt good to be held by someone, no matter how brief it had been.

  “Let’s get you inside,” he said as they continued up the stairs, their arms linked so he could assist her. “I believe a refreshment will do you good.”

  Chapter 5

  “Lady Huntley and Lady Winston,” Lucien said as they approached the two women who were standing close to the terrace doors. “Would you care for some lemonade? I’m about to fetch some for Lady Crossby and thought you might enjoy a glass yourselves.”

  “How very kind you are, Lord Roxberry,” Lady Winston said, her voice soft as she spoke. “We’d appreciate that very much, wouldn’t we, Lady Huntley?”

  “Oh, indeed we would.”

  “Very good, then—­I’ll be right back.” Leaving Katherine with Louise and Lady Winston, Lucien walked off, moving confidently through the crowd until he disappeared from Katherine’s sight.

  “How was your stroll in the garden?” Louise asked.

  Her question sent an uncomfortable rush of heat up Katherine’s arms and across her chest. “Quite lovely,” she admitted, immediately irritated by the gleam in Louise’s eyes. She decided to quash whatever notion her friend had of her and Lucien developing a relationship that went beyond the bounds of friendship. “Before arriving here, I was unsure if our relationship would ever return to what it once was, but during our walk it almost felt as if he never went away at all—­as if things were just the way they used to be between us. Once he marries, this will probably change to some degree, since his wife will require more of his attention, but that is how it should be, don’t you think?”

  “He’s spoken to you about his intention to marry?” Louise asked with marked curiosity.

  “He made it clear that since he must eventually do his duty, he might as well get on with it, or something to that effect,” Katherine said. Why on earth was her heart beating so fast?

  “And has he told you whom he intends to court?” Lady Winston asked.

  “It appears he may be considering Lady Julie,” Katherine replied, albeit a little reluctantly.

  “Well, I cannot accuse him of not having good taste,” Louise said. “Lady Julie will make a fine countess, to be sure.”

  The comment gripped at Katherine’s insides, filling her mind with images of Lucien saying his vows to Lady Julie. To her dismay, she did not feel the least bit happy at the thought of it. “If you will please excuse me,” she said, “I will just pay a quick visit to the ladies’ retiring room.”

  “I hope you’re not unwell,” Lady Winston said.

  “No, not at all,” Katherine told her, attempting a calm tone to her voice even though her stomach was turning itself inside out and she feared she might be ill. “Indeed, I feel wonderful! It’s so good to be out among friends again.” And then she turned and hurried away, hoping that neither woman remarked on the way in which her words had faltered.

  Reaching the other side of the ballroom, she was just about to turn down the hallway that would take her to the ladies’ retiring room when she spotted Lucien, his head bowed toward Lady Julie as he spoke to her. There was an intimacy between them that irritated Katherine beyond reason, and in spite of herself, she felt her whole body grow stiff as she watched the pair. Fearing they might see her, she made up her mind to continue on her way, when a low voice stopped her. “They make a fine match, don’t you think?”

  Vexed by the question, Katherine spun around to find Mr. Goodard, the Duke of Kingsborough’s friend, standing close to her, his deep blue eyes trained on the same ­couple she’d been watching moments earlier. While she had met Mr. Goodard once or twice before, she had never spoken overly much with the man, and it annoyed her now that he’d noticed where her attention had just been riveted. “I’m sure they do,” she said, her words a little terser than she would have liked.

  “I must confess that I’m a little surprised by Roxberry’s eagerness—­I wouldn’t have thought Lady Julie his type.”

  “No? And why is that? He’s been gone from here for quite some time, Mr. Goodard. Who knows what his tastes are like these days?”

  Tearing his gaze away from Lucien and Lady Julie, Mr. Goodard fixed his eyes on Katherine and frowned. “You seem . . . piqued, my lady. Do you not approve of the choice your friend has made for himself?”

  A nervous laugh escaped her. “Rest assured, sir, he has not made a choice yet. For heaven’s sake, the two of them have only just met.”

  “Hmm . . . perhaps that is true. However, love matches sometimes take little more than a minute to be formed.”

  A love match?

  Why, it was preposterous to think that Lucien had been so easily struck by Cupid’s arrow. She looked toward him again just as he laughed in response to something Lady Julie said, his hand reaching out to rest for a moment on her arm. Something awful rose inside Katherine at that moment—­something she did not like or understand in the least—­and it took every ounce of restraint she possessed to quell it.

  Feeling miserable, she bid Mr. Goodard a good evening and continued on her way, ignoring the hush that filled the room behind her and the dim sound of the duke’s voice as he started to speak to his guests. All she could think of at that moment was that she had to get away.

  Pushing open the door to the retiring room, she was thankful to find the space empty, allowing her some peace. She was sick of having to discuss Lucien’s intention to court either her or Lady Julie. Both notions aggravated her, and not for entirely dissimilar reasons. After all, Lucien had only just returned. Why couldn’t she and he just enjoy each other’s company in peace and quiet without everyone eager to draw unwarranted conclusions? Why had everyone decided that just because he spoke to Lady Julie, the two of them would likely be wed? It wasn’t likely at all, Katherine decided, no matter what his grandmother might think of the matter. Lucien would never attach himself permanently to a woman he’d only just met. Unless of course Mr. Goodard was right. What if it was love at first sight?

  No. It cannot be.

  Louise’s words from earlier filled her mind. “There are many who believe that 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.” It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? Katherine shook her head. Of course it wasn’t true. Louise was wrong. She had to be, but even if she wasn’t, what did it really matter? Katherine had sworn that she would never remarry, and she would not want Lucien to think that she might if that was what he hoped for. No, it would be better, then, if she encouraged him to pursue Lady Julie, even though the thought of doing so did not sit well with her at all.

  Lady Julie is perfectly lovely, Katherine told herself as she made her way back to the ballroom. Everyone said so, did they not? And besides, she ought to trust Lucien’s ability to determine whether or not a woman wou
ld make him a suitable wife. However, when she returned to the ballroom and found the two of them dancing and smiling happily at each other, she didn’t enjoy the emotion that flared up inside her. Dear God, she wasn’t jealous, was she? The answer came in a flash, unnerving her even further. But how on earth could that be? She made an attempt to focus on what she was feeling as she watched the pair move about the dance floor.

  This was what she’d always dreamed of when she’d contemplated her future, and as awful as it was, she couldn’t stop herself from wishing that it was she and not Lady Julie who was being gazed upon right now with adoration. Furthermore, she felt as if she’d just gotten her friend back, only to have him snatched away from her again without any warning.

  Swallowing the pain that threatened to return in full force, Katherine averted her gaze from Lucien and Lady Julie and headed for the terrace, only to find her path blocked by a tall, dark-haired gentleman with whom she was well enough acquainted to know that she had no desire for his company. “If you’ll excuse me, Lord Starkly, I’m in no mood to hear whatever proposition you wish to make at the moment.”

  The man, however, was as rude as always, and rather than allow her to pass, he took her firmly by the elbow and steered her forward. Well, at least they were heading outside, which had been her goal in the first place, but she would have so much rather accomplished it on her own. “What do you want?” she asked once he’d led her over to a low bench and she’d seated herself.

  “I sense you’re not very eager for my company,” he said. His voice was gruff.