A Hint of Seduction (5 page)

He was far more handsome than most men, and he’d been a perfect gentleman right up to the time she left him. She hadn’t turned back to look at him because she didn’t want to see his reaction to her taking his horse without permission. But she was sure the man was not happy.

It was unbelievable to her that he would leave the park without his magnificent animal. She was left no choice but to have the footman stable the gelding at a private livery so there would be no questions about to whom the animal belonged.

Something had told her he wasn’t the kind of man anyone would want to make angry, but Catherine was certain she had.

Over the hours she’d been at the party she’d danced until her feet hurt. All the young men were charming and lavished courtly compliments upon her, including the tall, blond gentleman who now led her around the crowded dance floor.

She had enjoyed herself immensely and was continuing to do so as she bowed and then turned under the arm of her partner.

With her father so ill, she hadn’t been to a dance in over two years. Instead, she had spent her evenings with him reading and playing cards. After her first dance of the night, she realized she was much better at playing cards than she was at dancing.

Victoria said they had been invited to six different parties for the evening, but this soirée was the only one they would attend. Victoria had explained that this event would be the biggest party of the night, and any person of importance would find their way to the ballroom at some time during the course of the evening. It was best to stay put so they wouldn’t miss anyone whom Victoria considered notable.

But what her sister didn’t know was that Catherine was only interested in hearing the names of three men: Mr. William Walker Chatsworth, Mr. Robert Beechman, and Mr. George Wickenham-Thickenham-Fines. She kept thinking that surely someone from one of these families would be present tonight and she would be introduced to them. Once she made contact with someone from each of the families, she would go about finding out which one of the men was her real father.

It would have been so easy to have just told Victoria about her mother’s journal and have Vickie make all the right introductions into the families, but she wasn’t certain how Vickie would react if she suddenly learned that they were not half sisters after all.

Would Victoria tell her to throw away the journal and forget she’d ever discovered the truth about her parentage? Or would she throw Catherine out of the house and leave her destitute since they didn’t have the same father?

Catherine didn’t want either of those things to happen. She wanted to find her father and make him tell her why he abandoned her mother. Was he already promised to another? Was he going away to fight in the war, or was he just a cold-hearted man who didn’t care about the woman he’d ruined?

Victoria was a widow with a home of her own, and to her nothing was more important than Catherine making a good match, preferably one with a titled gentleman, so she would collect the bonus that had been arranged for her by their father’s will.

But the evening wore on and Catherine hadn’t heard any of the names. It didn’t help her cause that men with titles were usually introduced only by their title names and not their Christian or surnames.

It was quite possible that one or more of these men were from the peerage—a group of people Catherine knew very little about since she’d lived far from London all her life. Unless a titled man was a recluse, he spent at least some of the year in London, and since her county was not known for hunting, fishing, or racing, very few had made it to her hometown.

Maybe it wasn’t rational to want to find her real father. She knew it would be a difficult task. But ever since she’d found out the truth, she’d felt as if a part of her was missing. She had lived a lie through no fault of her own.

Catherine wanted to know the truth. Who was her father and why hadn’t he married her mother?

The quadrille had come to an end. Catherine faced her partner and he bowed. She smiled and curtsied, hoping he hadn’t noticed that she had been distracted during the dance. Thankfully the tempo had been quite fast and there hadn’t been much opportunity to talk.

“You are an excellent dancer, Miss Reynolds.”

She first answered the Marquis with a smile and then said, “Your flattery of my skills is not warranted, my lord, but it is appreciated. Thank you.”

“Perhaps you will favor me with another dance before the evening is over.”

“It is already very late and I don’t think we shall be staying much longer,” she said, deliberately avoiding responding to his specific request.

Victoria had given her strict instructions not to spend too much time with any one gentleman her first evening and not to encourage any of them to ask for a second dance or to call on her tomorrow. Victoria had reminded her that men liked to stake a claim on a young lady’s affections early in the Season, and when they did so, it limited the lady’s options.

And Victoria would have none of that.

So it would be Victoria who would decide which gentleman was allowed to call on her.

“I’ll see you back to Mrs. Goosetree,” he said.

“Thank you, my lord.”

Catherine allowed the Marquis to lead her off the dance floor and back to her sister, who was standing with a tall, buxom young lady who was introduced as Lady Lynette Knightington. The Duke of Knightington’s daughter, Victoria emphasized, as Catherine forced herself not to stare at the dark red birthmark that covered most of the young lady’s cheek.

Catherine had not seen it until Lady Lynette turned toward her. From one side it wasn’t visible at all. She had large expressive green eyes and a deep voice. Even with the unsightly birthmark on her cheek, she was truly lovely, Catherine thought.

It was clear that the Marquis, Lady Lynette, and Victoria had known each other quite a long time as they chatted freely, engaging Catherine in conversation about the Northern Coast. Victoria complimented the Marquis on his knowledge of the area. A short time later the bell sounded for the next dance to begin, and the Marquis bowed and left the three ladies alone.

“Catherine, I must tell you that Lady Lynette is the perfect lady for you to talk to. She is always at the best parties and knows everyone in the
ton.
Not only that, but everyone adores her. You couldn’t make a better friend in all of London.”

“Enough of that kind of talk, Mrs. Goosetree, or I’ll start blushing, and my face is already red enough.”

Lady Lynette laughed at her own reference to her disfigurement, and Catherine marveled at what confidence the young lady must have to be able to make a joke about herself.

“In that case I will make my way to the buffet room and leave you two alone for a few minutes so you can get to know each other.”

“I shall be delighted to entertain your sister for a few minutes. Take your time.”

“Thank you, my lady. I’ll make another pass around the rooms before I return to see if anyone has arrived to whom I might present Catherine.”

After Victoria turned away, Lady Lynette looked directly into Catherine’s eyes and said, “So tell me, are you enjoying your first party of the Season?”

“Very much, but I had no idea the event would be so crowded. London Society is very different from the village where I grew up.”

“Is this your first trip to London?”

“Yes.”

Lady Lynette’s eyes took on a faraway quality and she said in a sighing voice, “Ah, there is nothing like a Season in London.”

“From what little I’ve seen, I’m sure there’s nothing to compare it to.”

“Not even close. Each year I so look forward to the parties, the opera, the clothing, the people and”—suddenly she hesitated and the faraway look was replaced with a mischievous glimmer—“and the gossip.”

Oh, yes, Catherine was getting acquainted with the gossip columns and how fast one little incident could get around Town.

“Do you stay in London the entire year?” Catherine asked, not wanting to be drawn into a subject she didn’t care to discuss.

“No, we travel to our home in Kent by the end of June each year. I would love to return to Town during the winter. I miss the sights and sounds and even the smells of London, but my parents always have too many guests visiting us for house parties, and they won’t let me travel back here with just a companion.”

“Well, perhaps that will change one day and you will get your wish.”

She smiled. “Perhaps.” Lady Lynette bent closer to Catherine and said, “Has any young man caught your fancy since you’ve been here? If so, tell me and I will let you know all about him.”

Catherine smiled. “I’m afraid I haven’t been in London very long, and as the Season just started, this is my first party.”

“But I’ve seen you dance with several gentlemen. Surely one of them has caught your eye.”

The one who had caught her eye was not in attendance, and she had no idea what his name was.

“Not yet,” she answered cautiously, “but the night is still young.”

Lady Lynette bent closer to Catherine and asked, “How did you like the Marquis of Westerland? He’s quite handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes. And he’s charming, as have been all the gentlemen I’ve met and danced with this evening.”

But the face of only one man had stayed in her mind.

“Hmm, I’m told that sometimes it only takes one look to fall in love.”

“Is that right?” Catherine asked, wondering what had made Lady Lynette make such a comment.

“Oh, yes,” Lady Lynette insisted. “You do believe in love, don’t you?”

Catherine looked into Lynette’s very pretty eyes, but it was the dark eyes of a stranger that filled her mind.

“One look to fall in love?” She questioned herself more than Lady Lynette. “I suppose I do. I’ve never had much reason to think about it.”

The duke’s daughter leaned closer to Catherine again. With a smile on her face she said, “Which can only mean you’ve never been in love. Am I right?”

Lady Lynette sounded wise beyond her years. Maybe from experience?

“You are right,” Catherine admitted with a smile.

“Good. I was sure of it. Now, is there someone here you would like to meet?” She looked around the room. “I know everyone.”

Catherine’s heartbeat quickened. Yes, there was someone she wanted to be introduced to and it wasn’t the handsome young man who kept invading her thoughts. This was
her chance to find out a few things about Mr. William Walker Chatsworth, Mr. Robert Taylor Beechman, and Mr. George Wickenham-Thickenham-Fines.

“As a matter of fact, you can help me. I remember my father mentioning the names of some gentlemen he knew years ago when he frequented London. Perhaps you can tell me if any of them are here tonight. I’d like to meet them and say hello.”

“Of course, what are the names?”

She took a deep breath, grateful for the opportunity to get some information about the men. “One is Mr. William Walker Chatsworth.”

“Oh, yes, Mr. Chatsworth.” A deep throaty laugh passed her lips. “You say your father knew him. I’m not surprised. He was all the rage a few years ago. One of those rare tall dark Englishmen. He was so handsome. In his day, he made all the young ladies swoon, but he’s a bit dotty now.”

Catherine pursed her lips in confusion. “Really? In what way?”

“He seldom leaves his house because he hates anything green.”

“He what?” Catherine asked, taken aback.

“He has nothing the color green in his house. I’ve been inside, so I can attest to this fact. Nor will he eat anything green. And of course many things outside are green with all the beautiful shrubs, yews, and trees and such, so he seldom leaves his house. And when he does go out, he always walks with his head down.”

How odd.

Could someone like that be her father? A dreadful thought. She knew her quest to find her father would be challenging, but she hadn’t expected it to be alarming. What could have happened to make him hate the color green?

“But he loves visitors,” Lady Lynette continued. “And he is an absolute champion at most card games. I’m told he enjoys it when someone will take the time to stop by and sit and play a game with him.”

It was good to know he loved to play cards. Catherine was quite good at most games. Perhaps she could figure out a way to meet the peculiar Mr. Chatsworth and see what she could find out about his past.

But she found it most disturbing to think that a man who was that stricken by the color of green could be her father.

“What about a gentleman named Mr. Robert Beechman?” Catherine asked.

Lady Lynette screwed her face into a frown as she pondered. “Yes, Mr. Beechman. I have to say he’s another peculiar person.”

Dare she ask?

“In what way?”

“I don’t know as much about him, but I do know that he walks everywhere he goes. He refuses to ride in a carriage or sit on a horse. He’s rather dour most of the time, but he will attend parties maybe three or four times in a Season as long as it’s not too far to walk.”

“That is odd. Why won’t he ride in a carriage or on a horse?”

“No one seems to know. I’m told he never goes to his estate in Kent anymore.” Suddenly Lynette’s eyes got bigger. “And I hear he has an exceptional display of snuff-boxes”—she bent close to Catherine’s ear—“if you know what I mean.”