Kenneth groaned. “I told you both, I have no intention of marrying anytime soon.”
“Be reasonable. We know you need an heiress, so why fight it? Let us help.”
Froste acted as if selecting one’s wife could be done after a cursory glance. The whole idea made Kenneth nauseous. However, his friend had the right of it. He needed to marry an heiress.
His visit with Mr. Spinner in London proved very enlightening. Although his investments were sound, the funds he needed would not come fast. He closed his eyes for a brief second as the reality of the situation sunk in.
“When I am ready to make my selection, you shall be the first one I notify.” Kenneth shook his head at his friend’s answering grin.
As the next set began, Kenneth excused himself to find a partner. Suffering through a dance with a faceless lady would be better than having to endure the conversation any longer.
Even as he joined in, dance after dance, with different partners, his mind ventured back to Samantha. He wondered what it would be like to twirl her around the dance floor. With her on his arm, he’d be the envy of the room.
Her ball gown would be glorious and show off the luscious breasts he’d had the privilege of seeing just once. The downside was her curves, which he recently noticed prominently displayed in those trousers, would be hidden. The very thought of the previous day when he’d seen her in the stables brought an ache to his groin. He couldn’t believe he’d never noticed before.
“Kenneth,” Catherine called, ending his lecherous thoughts. “After the Season, I had thought you’d given up on finding a bride.”
He sighed and gave his cousin a tolerant smile. “The idea hasn’t entirely been ruled out.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Brianna, Abigail, and I discussed the merits of the unattached ladies just last week. Together we have a list of candidates for you.” Catherine nearly clapped as pleasure shone on her face.
Kenneth ran a hand across the back of his neck. He would never understand women. Marriage wasn’t nearly as important as they made it out to be.
“I appreciate the help.”
Froste immediately appeared at his side. “You readily accept her help when you shun mine? Honestly, that’s not very well done of you, Berwick.”
On the verge of a retort, Kenneth froze as an older woman turned and looked directly at him. Recognition pricked the back of his mind, but he couldn’t place her. To his surprise, she kept her eyes on him as she continued her conversation with another woman.
“Sorry,” Kenneth murmured.
“This discussion isn’t over, but I see a lady itching for me to spin her around the floor. Please excuse me.” Froste bowed and then left as quickly as he appeared.
Kenneth shook his head. He couldn’t understand his friend’s eagerness. Froste had no intention of marrying soon, so Kenneth expected him to run from the marriageable ladies, not to them.
“Why is Lady Laramie looking at you like that?” Catherine whispered to him.
As he had no clue to the lady’s thoughts, he shrugged and waited silently as she approached them. To date their only interactions had been brief greetings at her yearly event. Kenneth could see no reason for her appearance here at a country dance near Berwick, or her interest in him.
“Lord Berwick, how fortuitous to see you here,” she began upon reaching him.
“It’s always been a pleasure, Lady Laramie.” He inclined his head slightly.
Her gaze slipped over to Catherine, and the women exchanged a few words before the lady’s piercing blue eyes found him again.
“I wondered if I could impose upon you tomorrow for tea. You see, I do not travel to the country often and am always seeking familiar faces.”
Although her smile remained open and friendly, Kenneth read something in her eyes. An emotion he’d seen before in another set of blue eyes. Desperation. Clearly the lady needed something from him.
With all her riches, he couldn’t understand how he, a penniless baron, could be of value. But he never could resist a woman.
“I would be honored to host you tomorrow.”
Relief crossed her face as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Excellent. I am very much looking forward to it.”
After Lady Laramie politely excused herself, Catherine faced him, her eyes full of interest. He knew his cousin wanted to rain questions down upon him, but he had no answers.
“Is there something you are not telling me?” she asked.
“Not a thing.”
“What reason would Lady Laramie have for visiting Berwick?” Catherine moved her mouth to the side in contemplation. “And did you see how relieved she acted upon your acceptance?”
“I noticed, and as far as her reasoning, I imagine I shall learn about that over tea tomorrow.”
The following day provided a dark and gloomy setting. Kenneth had hoped to spend the morning with Samantha, who had followed orders and remained home, but his mother kept him busy readying the manor for Lady Laramie’s visit. He didn’t understand the necessity of making this into a huge ordeal.
“You must have done something grand to receive the honor of the countess’s visit,” his mother informed him as they waited in the drawing room for their guests. “Surely she doesn’t grace the drawing room of just any noble family in the country.”
“I can’t think of anything I’ve done to be worthy of her deference.”
“Perhaps I shall ask her.”
Kenneth’s heart sped. His mother had spent too much time out of Society to understand the rules. “No mother, one doesn’t question a countess about her motivations.”
She waved her hand in front of him in a dismissive gesture. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
The remainder of their wait passed in silence as he further dreaded this visit. It had never occurred to him to not request his mother’s presence. After all, he wasn’t sure how to host a gathering over tea, and he had no intention of serving it either.
Once Lady Laramie was announced, he stood as she swept into the room. Her large presence came as a direct contrast to his mother’s timid one. They exchanged greetings and inane conversation as tea was served and consumed.
Kenneth uncomfortably shifted in his chair. His attendance seemed unnecessary and out of place. Perhaps the lady truly wished to share a cup of tea with him and his mother.
When he was on the verge of excusing himself, the countess drew his attention.
“Lord Berwick, would you mind taking a turn about the garden with me? At my age, I need a bit of fresh air every so often.”
“I’d be delighted.”
Kenneth rose and offered his arm, then they departed, leaving his mother beaming behind them. She obviously saw nothing odd in the countess’s request, but he felt uneasy. The time had come for him to discover the true nature of her visit.
As they neared the poorly kept garden, thoughts of when he’d brought Samantha there filled his mind. She’d been overly sensitive and anxious. He hoped Lady Laramie would quickly state her purpose and depart so he could pay an overdue visit to Samantha.
“The garden is . . . very full.”
Tugging on the collar of his shirt, he tried to ignore the embarrassment. “Locating an acceptable gardener hasn’t been an easy task.”
“Certainly not.” She patted his arm. “This is a pleasant spot, and that bench looks inviting.”
“Please have a seat.”
She sat down and folded her hands on top of her lap. “I suppose you are wondering why I invited myself over and asked you out here.”
“It had crossed my mind.” He kept his tone dry, uninterested.
Her musical laughter filled the air. “What a delightful boy you are.”
He bowed as if his intention had been to entertain her while he tried to hide his irritation.
She straightened her back as her amusement faded. “Now, I have been assured by those who know you that you’re a trustworthy fellow. In addition, having the endorsement of th
e Duke of Donetic and the Marquis of Stonemede, among others, speaks highly of you.” She took a deep breath. “The information I intend to impart to you is of a personal nature, and I request that you keep it to yourself.”
Resisting the compulsion to drop his mouth, Kenneth remained still. Considering he had no prior relationship with this woman, he couldn’t understand her desire to divulge secrets to him. His curiosity mounted.
“You have my word.”
“I need to enlist you to help me locate someone. I have reason to believe my granddaughter has found herself on, or around, Berwick lands. As you are more familiar than I, your help will be invaluable.”
“There are many more qualified than I to locate another person. I can direct you to someone if you’d like.”
“Thank you, but I’ll do this my way. When my granddaughter is retrieved, I’d prefer the least amount of people to know about it.”
Kenneth drew his head back as he surveyed the woman. How could she care so little for her granddaughter to hold her reputation higher than the girl’s safety? After all, if the little girl was lost, one man could do very little to locate her in a timely manner.
“Without a search party, I’m not sure there is much I can do for a lone girl.” His voice came out harsh.
She held up her hand. “Please allow me to explain myself before you make your decision. And know I am prepared to pay you for your aid.” She took a deep breath and then exhaled. “My daughter, Georgina, fell in love with a local merchant, Douglas Jenkins. Neither my husband nor I condoned the union, so they ran away and eloped.”
“That is very unfortunate,” Kenneth said, unsure of what this had to do with the missing girl.
“Yes. More unfortunate was the fact I hadn’t heard from her until a few months back. I received a letter informing me my daughter and her husband perished in a fire. That’s when I discovered I was left with a granddaughter to care for.”
“I’m sorry.” Kenneth’s heart went out to her when he saw tears forming in Lady Laramie’s eyes, but she blinked them away.
“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I have no name or address. And I’d like my granddaughter to be launched into Society, so I don’t want her current living arrangements or my daughter’s rash decision to ruin her chances.”
“I understand, and I promise to do whatever I can to help locate her for you.”
Although he infused his voice with assurance, he didn’t know if he would be able to find a girl who he knew nothing about. His mind rebelled at the idea of a woman alone on his property, but he needed to stay focused. He would do as requested and not arouse suspicion when he put out inquiries tomorrow.
Immediately his thoughts turned to another woman who found herself alone as well. With his plan for the granddaughter settled, he intended to continue his pursuit of Samantha. Beginning today.
Samantha grabbed a stack of bowls and one of the buckets, and then began setting them around her house before the rain came. She wished she had the ability to patch the roof instead of catching the leaks. It wasn’t even the old leaks causing the problem. It was the new ones. They appeared randomly, and she was running out of receptacles to catch the rainwater.
Halfway through her task, a knock sounded at the door. Anticipation welled up inside of her. After all, she knew of only one person who would visit her. Not bothering to waste the time to set the bowls down, she crossed the room and opened the door.
Kenneth’s welcoming smile made her heart flutter.
“I came to see how you were doing, but if you’re busy I can come another time,” he said, glancing at the dishes in her hand.
“I’m not busy.” She moved out of the way so he could enter. “I must put out my bowls before the storm.”
“Why?”
Ready to be done with her chore, she continued placing them about the room. He watched her with curiosity in his expression.
She placed the last one before facing him. “To catch the water from the leaks. I don’t want to ruin all my belongings.”
His face darkened in anger before he shook his head, blew past her, and left. Shock held her immobile for several seconds. She couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong. Clearly he had no desire to remain in a house that leaked during the storm. Honestly, she couldn’t blame him.
Attempting to ignore the stinging disappointment at his departure, she moved around the space, adjusting the receptacles to their proper position. A rustling noise came from outside, followed by a thump. Concerned, she ran outside to see the cause.
Her breath froze in her lungs to see Kenneth removing thatch from the house beside hers, and using it to repair her roof. Was there no end to the selfless acts he would do? She wanted to cry in gratitude, but instead she remained rooted to the spot, watching.
He’d discarded his waistcoat and remained in his shirtsleeves and trousers. The bulge of his muscular arms enticed her as he lifted the heavy material, dragged it up the ladder, and carefully laid it on her roof. She definitely saw the appeal of having an able-bodied man around the house.
True to its warning, the sky opened up and poured rain on top of them. As the cold water penetrated her worn dress, she shrieked and dashed into the house. She expected Kenneth to follow, but he didn’t. Judging from the noises coming from the roof, he didn’t intend to stop.
She waited, hearing the rain increasing in strength. Worried about him remaining in the weather, she built up a fire and selected a pair of trousers and a shirt that belonged to her father to give to Kenneth.
After a loud thud, the rustling noises ceased and so did her heart. Had he fallen? Was he hurt? She threw open the door and heaved a sigh of relief to see Kenneth grinning at her.
“Did I miss any leaks?” he asked, pride in his voice.
As she glanced around the room, she noticed, for the first time, no water descended from the roof. Her heart skipped. He had done it again—offered his time freely to give her life more ease.
She launched herself into his arms, uncaring as his wet clothing seeped into her own. His greedy lips met hers, causing her to melt into him. Kenneth attracted her on every level. She’d never felt so strongly about someone.
His mouth moved from her lips to trail down her face and across her neck. She shivered. Her body ached and pulsed, making her want to be closer to him still.
Much to her dismay, he pulled back and looked upon her with amusement shining in his eyes.
“We must stop or your clothes will become as soaked as mine, and I will be forced to remove them from you.”
Sucking in a breath, she could envision his strong hands sliding the fabric from her body and caressing her bare skin. She leaned closer to him, but he simply chuckled and moved away.
She put her hands on her hips. “Then, by your statement, I should be removing your clothes. After all, you are the baron and can’t afford to catch a cold.”
“You’re right,” he readily agreed. “However, you have already tended to my comfort. With this fire and dry clothes, I have nothing to fear.”
Crossing her arms, she lifted an eyebrow. “True. So, go ahead and dress.”
He shrugged and yanked his shirttails out of his trousers. Having not expected him to comply, she resisted the urge to display her surprise. Her heart sped to see the slow display of flesh as he lifted his shirt over his head. When the fabric hit the floor with a plop, her mouth dried.
His smooth male flesh, boasting a dusting of black hair, called out to her. Perfectly formed muscles remained rigid, allowing her inspection. She could hardly breathe.
“Do you plan to turn around?” He slid a button on his trousers free. “Because I have no intention of stopping.”
She bit her lip as indecision warred within her. Although curiosity compelled her to watch, everything inside her called out to give him his privacy. When another button popped open, she knew she couldn’t stand there any longer.
Twisting around, she was grateful he couldn’t see the heat craw
ling up her face. What did he think of her? To date, she’d never acted which such wanton behavior. Why did she feel compelled to do so now?
“You are unlike any woman I’ve ever met.” He grasped her shoulders and turned her around.
With embarrassment still gripping at her, she kept her gaze focused on his bare feet. The intimacy created by his lack of shoes created a tingling in the pit of her stomach. It spoke of the level of comfort he felt here. The knowledge increased her longing for this man.
She wondered if he, being a baron, could possibly want to deviate from Society’s strictures and desire a common girl. The absurdity of the thought brought tears to her eyes.
He gently slid his hand underneath her chin and lifted her face to his.
“Why are you crying? I didn’t mean my words to upset you. It’s a compliment. The world would be much better filled with people like you.”
“Wanton women who disguise themselves as boys?” She couldn’t hide her disgust at herself, but he only laughed.
“That just served to make you more interesting. I am referring to your kindness, determination, loyalty, and stubbornness.”
She rolled her eyes, but he shook his head.
“I’m looking at the ‘you’ beneath what even you can see.”
His sweet words made her heart want to burst. No one had spoken in such a way to her since her parents died. Mr. Lemange only wanted her father’s funds, which now belonged to her guardian, who Francine discovered was a grandmother she knew nothing about. And Francine only helped when it didn’t inconvenience her to do so.
Overwhelmed, Samantha lightly touched her lips to his. The warmth of his now dry body seeped into her flesh. He smelled of linen mixed with a manly scent that had driven her senses crazy over the past months.
Catching the Baron Page 7