The Elusive Heiress

by Gail Mallin

  The suite of brocaded furniture which graced this elegant room was modern and her chair was comfortable, but Kate felt she might as well have been sitting on a heap of nails as the conversation wore on. Was he deliberately ignoring her or was it merely a coincidence that he was devoting all his energies to answering Alicia, who was extremely interested in the genealogy of local prominent families?

  ‘I remember your Uncle Godwin saying that one of Sir Robert’s grandsons fought against the Dutch in the time of King Charles.’ Lady Edgeworth was in her element. ‘And several other Crawfords have been renowned sailors, have they not?’

  ‘It is something of a family tradition to go into the Navy,’ Randal affirmed with a polite smile that hid his boredom. Hellfire, how he wished the dear woman at Jericho!

  With Alicia out of the way, he could have it out with that baggage sitting over there looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth! He should have obeyed his instincts this afternoon and to hell with polite obligations!

  ‘Then why did you go into the army?’ Kate spoke up boldly, tired of being ignored.

  The bright blue gaze turned on her. ‘I had my reasons.’

  ‘Won’t you share them with us?’ invited Kate sweetly.

  ‘My motives can hold no interest for you.’ Randal’s velvet tones were cold. ‘And I make it a point never to satisfy vulgar curiosity.’

  Kate took a deep breath and was about to make a blistering retort when she realised that Alicia, who had been startled by his lordship’s savage set-down, was staring at the pair of them with puzzled anxiety.

  Reining in her annoyance, Kate managed a cool smile. ‘Then I shall say no more, sir.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Nixon.’ Mockery infused his smooth reply.

  Fortunately for Kate’s temper, Blake arrived at that moment to announce that dinner was served.

  She barely tasted a mouthful of the exquisite meal which followed. The fine old refectory table which graced the oak panelled dining room was spread with several of her favourite dishes and a small part of her mind registered the fact that Randal must have gone to the trouble of asking Alicia what she liked best, but she was feeling too angry and upset to appreciate the gesture.

  It was all she could do to respond to Alicia’s attempts to keep the conversation flowing smoothly!

  The second course was brought in. Strawberry fritters, salamangundy, boiled soles, green peas, a glazed gammon, a raised chicken pie and several other assorted dishes were carefully arranged by the footmen under Blake’s eagle-eyed supervision.

  ‘Try a little of this whim-wham, my love. It is delightful,’ Alicia urged.

  Kate accepted a small helping of the rich trifle, but half of it still remained untouched on her plate when the covers were removed and the dessert set upon the table.

  ‘We shall leave you to your port, my lord.’ Alicia gave the nod as soon as it was seemly and, glad to abandon the handful of almonds and raisins with which she had been toying, Kate followed her from the room.

  Lady Edgeworth managed to contain herself until they reached the drawing room but as soon as she sat down she exclaimed, ‘What on earth is the matter, Kitty? Why are you and Randal at daggers drawn?’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Kate answered stiffly.

  ‘Nonsense, child!’ For once Lady Edgeworth’s amiable tones were sharp. ‘Why, the pair of you barely exchanged a word over dinner! I hardly knew where to look!’

  ‘I’m sorry, ma’am.’ Kate sat down opposite the older woman, her expression suddenly penitent. ‘It was not my intention to embarrass you.’

  Alicia reached out and patted her hand. ‘I know you would not wish to upset me, my dear,’ she said in a much warmer voice.

  Guilt seared Kate’s soul.

  ‘Now, have the two of you quarrelled?’ Alicia’s painted chicken-skin fan fluttered with sympathy.

  ‘It wasn’t precisely a quarrel,’ Kate murmured awkwardly. ‘We…we just don’t agree about a certain matter.’

  Curiosity brightened Lady Edgeworth’s hazel eyes and realising that she was about to be questioned further, Kate quickly stood up.

  ‘I fear I have the headache,’ she said hastily. ‘If you will excuse me, I won’t wait for the tea tray but will retire immediately.’

  Alicia sighed. ‘Very well, Kitty. Run along if you must. I shall make your excuses to his lordship.’

  Relieved to be let off so lightly, Kate fled.

  * * * *

  Moonlight flooded the library. Kate set down her candlestick on the large central reading table and moved towards the nearest bookcase.

  Something light and entertaining, that’s what she needed.

  Intent on scanning the shelves, Kate didn’t hear the soft footfall behind her.

  Vathek. Maybe William Beckford’s renowned oriental tale would distract her restless thoughts. Kate reached up and plucked the leather-bound volume from its place.

  ‘A good choice, if you’ve a taste for exotic adventure, but not the most soothing of novels perhaps.’

  Kate whirled round. Damn, damn, damn!

  Clutching the book to her scantily-clad breast, she said in a slightly breathless voice, ‘I couldn’t sleep. I thought reading a book might help.’

  ‘So I gathered.’ Lord Redesmere’s tone was dry.

  Collecting her scattered wits, Kate drew herself up. ‘I didn’t think you would object to my borrowing one of your volumes,’ she said with crushing hauteur.

  A flicker of amusement passed over his regular features and, horribly conscious of her bare feet peeking out from beneath the hem of her lace-trimmed wrapper, Kate stiffened.

  Oh why hadn’t she got dressed instead of sneaking down here in her nightclothes! Not that she had expected to encounter anyone, of course.

  Anyway, what was he doing wandering about the house long after everyone else had retired for the night? Apart from the fact he had removed the coat and neckcloth he was wearing earlier, he was fully dressed so she didn’t think he could have gone to bed at all.

  Perhaps he too was unable to sleep.

  ‘Borrow the book by all means.’ Randal set down his own candlestick. ‘I hope you’ll find it enjoyable.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Kate forced a polite half smile.

  It was definitely time to make her exit. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to make your own selection in peace.’

  ‘I didn’t come in here to choose a book.’ Randal lent back against the edge of the library table and folded his arms across his chest.

  ‘Then why are you here?’ Kate hoped he wouldn’t notice her discreet attempt to edge away.

  ‘I heard a noise and decided to investigate.’

  Under his brooding stare Kate felt like a mouse trapped by a cat. ‘Well, now you know I’m not a housebreaker I’ll say good night.’

  She gave him a bright smile and stepped forward to move past him.

  So quickly that Kate didn’t see it coming, his arm shot out to bar her way.

  ‘No! By God, you’ll not run off again!’ he said in a low growl.

  He straightened slowly to his feet and stood towering over her. ‘You are not leaving this room until I get to the bottom of this mystery.’

  ‘I haven’t the faintest idea of what you are talking about!’ Kate strove to ignore the cold prickle of apprehension feathering down her spine. ‘Please let me pass.’

  ‘Stop stalling, my girl!’ Before she could divine his intention he snatched the book from her and slammed it down on the table behind him. ‘I want some answers. Now!’

  ‘Oh how dare you!’ He was so close that Kate had to tilt her head back to glare up at him. ‘You are behaving outrageously!’

  ‘You have that effect on me, sweet Katharine.’

  His eyes glittered in the candlelight and Kate suddenly realised two important facts. One was that, with the abrupt removal of the book she had been clutching, her loosely-tied wrapper had come open, and, secondly, Randal Crawford was not
entirely sober.

  ‘Well, are you going to tell me why you are pretending to be my cousin?’

  Kate decided to ignore this belligerent question. Francis had always got very quarrelsome in his cups and it had never paid to argue with him. He had blacked both her eyes on one particularly memorable occasion! She didn’t think Randal was likely to turn violent, but it seemed safest not to try his temper.

  ‘It is very late, my lord,’ she replied softly. ‘We can continue this discussion in the morning if you wish, but right now I want to go to bed.’

  The bellicose expression on his face faded.

  For one endless moment he stared at her in silence and then reaching out his hand he trailed one finger gently down her cheek and said softly, ‘So do I.’

  There was no mistaking his meaning!

  Kate sucked in a deep lungful of air and struggled to stay calm. ‘I shall ignore that remark, my lord. You are…not yourself.’

  ‘I may be bosky, but I ain’t lost my reason.’ There was a hint of indignation in Lord Redesmere’s voice.

  ‘Of course not,’ Kate murmured soothingly. ‘However, you may well regret this conversation in the morning.’

  ‘You think it’s the brandy talking, don’t you?’ His mouth curled in a self-mocking smile. ‘Maybe you’re right, but it don’t alter the fact that you are the most desirable woman I’ve ever met.’

  Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

  Now what should she do, Kate wondered frantically as his hand shifted its exploration to her hair, which lay loose upon her shoulders.

  ‘Soft as silk.’ Randal lifted up one shining sable lock and twined it around his fingers. ‘Such beautiful hair.’

  His gaze dropped to her bosom, exposed in her low-cut nightgown. In the soft light her skin appeared to gleam like pearl. ‘And such a lovely body.’

  Kate controlled a prim urge to snatch her wrapper together. She couldn’t afford to panic and, besides, it wasn’t the first time a man had seen her en deshabille for heaven’s sake!

  He released her curls, but Kate’s relief was short lived.

  ‘You know something,’ he confided with a slightly owlish solemnity. ‘It’s damned hot in here. Why don’t we go outside?’

  And without further ado he swung her up in his arms and strode out of the library.

  ‘Put me down,’ Kate hissed.

  ‘I won’t drop you, word of honour.’

  He grinned down at her so boyishly that Kate couldn’t help laughing, albeit in a slightly hysterical manner.

  No, he wouldn’t let her fall. His arms were strong, holding her effortlessly. All the same, it could do no harm to slide her own arm around his neck. Just for the sake of steadying herself, of course.

  She thought he would head for the front door. Instead he traversed the dark entrance hall with sure-footed ease.

  ‘You must have eyes like a cat,’ Kate muttered.

  ‘Blake always bolts the front door. God knows why, but I can’t open it and hold you at the same time,’ he answered reasonably.

  They entered the morning room. The heavy drapes which curtained the French window were not drawn and it opened easily to Randal’s touch.

  ‘Another of my father’s improvements. Never thought it would come in so handy,’ Randal remarked cheerfully and carried her out onto the flagged terrace.

  Kate thought he would set her on her feet and she couldn’t prevent a squeak of surprise when he immediately continued on into the moonlit garden.

  ‘Randal! Where are you going?’

  ‘Thought I’d show you the statues in the Knot Garden.’

  ‘Oh this is absurd! Put me down now! At once!’

  He came to a halt. ‘Why? Don’t you feel safe?’

  Safe! That’s the last thing she felt!

  How could she feel safe when they were so close that she could see the pulse beating in his throat, could smell the warm clean scent of his skin, could feel the throb of his heart beneath her hand?

  It’s not him I have to fear, but myself, Kate thought giddily.

  He wasn’t like Francis. Apart from the fact he could hold his wine a damned sight better than her husband ever had, he had too much honour to hurt a woman.

  And too much pride to force an unwilling one.

  She could trust him. It was her own desires she had to be wary of!

  ‘Randal, put me down. Please!’ He was holding her as gently as if she was made of fine porcelain and, dizzy with temptation, it was all Kate could do to resist the longing to lay her cheek against his.

  ‘Very well.’ He set her down carefully. ‘You can walk if you want to.’

  ‘Thank you!’ Kate shook out her creased skirts. ‘I am much obliged!’

  Unconscious of her sarcasm, Randal made her a slightly unsteady bow. ‘Knew you’d like it out here. Much better than frowsting indoors.’

  ‘It’s gone midnight!’

  ‘So it is.’ He looked faintly surprised at her objection. ‘Nice moon though.’

  Kate had to stifle a giggle. Just how much brandy had he consumed? ‘Very nice,’ she replied patiently, deciding to humour him. ‘But it’s still dreadfully late and we ought to be getting back.’

  She had often wondered what was going on behind his mask of cool reserve. Tonight her wish had been granted. His inhibitions drowned, he was making no attempt to hide his thoughts…or his feelings.

  ‘I don’t want to go in.’ He caught her hand urgently. ‘I want to go for a walk with you.’

  Kate hesitated, knowing she ought to insist on going back to the house. Young ladies did not wander about the garden after midnight. Particularly not in their nightgowns!

  ‘It would be wrong of me to stay,’ she murmured, but she let her hand remain in his.

  ‘You owe me a stroll in the moonlight.’ He smiled at her winningly. ‘To make up for refusing me at Lady Massey’s.’

  Kate dithered. She didn’t think he would try to detain her, his anger appeared to have evaporated, but dare she trust herself to behave sensibly?

  Taking her silence for consent, he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and set off in the direction of the Knot Garden.

  ‘Not going too fast for you, am I?’

  Kate shook her head, feeling overwhelmed by her own idiocy. She was behaving recklessly and she knew it!

  And yet prudence hadn’t served her any better. Her refusal at the Masseys’ ball had been prompted by caution. She had hoped to discourage him from pursuing her, but he was a determined man and all her subsequent attempts at coldness had failed miserably.

  Her thoughts in a hopeless tangle, Kate gave up the struggle to make sense of her situation and surrendered thankfully to the beauty of the night.

  The lightest of breezes stirred the warm, balmy air as they strolled along arm-in-arm and it was so peaceful she could hear a nightingale serenading the moon, which hung like a golden globe in the star-strewn sky. From somewhere nearby there came a waft of honeysuckle. Drinking in its sweet perfume, Kate could feel the tension draining out of her.

  Her behaviour might be foolish, but it was a beautiful night!

  And, besides, the fresh air might help clear Randal’s head!

  They crossed another well-tended lawn, the short grass tickling Kate’s bare feet, and Randal broke the companionable silence. ‘Not far now. Just past that big elm.’

  They reached this lovely old tree and in the darkness of its branches Kate thought she saw something move and instinctively slowed to a halt with a little gasp of uncertainty.

  ‘Don’t be alarmed. It’s only an owl out hunting,’ Randal said cheerfully.

  At the sound of his voice the bird flew up out of the tree with a loud screech of annoyance and, its great wings beating against the dark sky, disappeared in the direction of the Park.

  Feeling remarkably silly, Kate gave a rueful chuckle. She had lived too long away from the country! ‘You must think me a shocking coward,’ she murmured in embarrassment.
/>   ‘On the contrary.’ Randal placed his hands firmly upon her shoulders and turned her round to face him. ‘I think you are adorable.’

  Taken by surprise, Kate looked up into his eyes and, seeing the warm tenderness in their depths, was lost.

  Even as he reached out to draw her into his embrace, she was already swaying towards him, drawn by the magnetic pull of an attraction she could no longer resist.

  ‘Katharine. Sweet lovely Katharine.’

  His mouth descended on hers with swift eager hunger and, flinging her arms around his neck, Kate responded with equal fervour.

  The minutes ticked by unheeded. Deeper and deeper, they kissed, their tongues entwining in a passionately arousing duel. Closer and closer, Kate pressed herself against him, revelling in the feel of his superb body.

  Breathless and giddy with desire, they finally broke apart for want of air.

  ‘You taste of brandy,’ Kate murmured against his mouth.

  He gave a hoarse laugh. ‘I beg your pardon, ma’am.’

  ‘I don’t mind…kiss me again!’

  ‘Delighted to oblige,’ he muttered, his arms tightening about her slim waist.

  Their lips met and a fresh wave of desire swept over Kate. The blood drummed wildly in her veins, deafening her to reason, and she made no protest when his hand found her breast and his long skilful fingers began to stroke her nipple though the flimsy barrier of her white lawn nightgown.

  A tiny moan of pleasure escaped her and, encouraged by this wanton response, Randal tugged the thin fabric aside to caress her naked flesh.

  Once, long ago, she had caught a glimpse of how wonderful making love might be, but that promise had never been fulfilled. Now, vivid sensation searing every nerve ending, she was discovering that the reality was far beyond anything she had imagined.

  Randal lifted his mouth an inch away from hers. ‘You are utterly bewitching!’ he whispered, checking his sensuous explorations for an instant.

  Kate opened her eyes and smiled at him, happiness fizzing in her veins. ‘I like your touch.’

  He gazed down into her exquisite face. The moonlight had washed her dark eyes with silver and they glowed to rival the stars as she returned his hand to her breast.

  Slowly, lost in mutual delight, they sank to the greensward in a tangle of entwined limbs.