An Unsuitable Duchess (20 page)

After the four of them had finished eating most of the delicious food that had been packed into the basket, Hart took off his coat and reclined on the blanket, placing his hands behind his head. ‘That was the finest picnic fare I have ever eaten.’

Had his friend forgotten entirely how to act around proper unmarried women?

‘Hart, ladies are present. Put your coat back on,’ chided Julian.

Hart tilted his head back. ‘I am comfortable this way. We are on a picnic, far from prying eyes. Ladies, are you offended by my shirtsleeves? Honestly, it isn’t as if I were attempting a seduction.’

In exasperation, Julian threw a strawberry at Hart’s head.

‘Hey, what was...? Oh, I love strawberries.’ He bit into it.

‘You will apologise for that last remark.’

‘About strawberries? But I really do like them.’

‘Not
that
comment, dolt!’

Miss Forrester snorted.

Hart jerked his head around. ‘Did that sound come out of such a delicate lady?’

‘Apologise,’ scolded Julian, losing his patience.

‘Fine!’ Hart spun around and stood. ‘Ladies, I am terribly sorry I have offended you with my shirtsleeves and my glib tongue. It is not often that I find myself in such estimable company, and I will try my best to refrain from offending you in the future. However, I feel I must state that chances are great that I will offend in some way.’ He bowed down low with great flourish.

The women exchanged a glance and laughed. ‘You are forgiven, Hartwick,’ said Miss Forrester with a wave of her hand. ‘Keep your coat off if you wish. I assure you Katrina and I will not be offended. It is not such an unusual sight back home.’

Hart turned to Julian. ‘America sounds like a place I would enjoy immensely.’ He reclined back on the blanket and crossed his hands behind his head.

It was difficult for Julian not to kick him.

Katrina bit into a strawberry and studied Hart’s relaxed pose. ‘Why do you suppose it isn’t proper for a lady to see a man in his shirtsleeves?’

Hart flipped onto his stomach and rested his chin in his hand. ‘I was wondering that very thing myself.’

Miss Forrester, who was sitting next to him, raised her wine glass. ‘It isn’t as if we would swoon at the sight of a man’s arms. At least
I
would not.’

‘You need to take a closer look at my arms,’ Hart stated.

‘I see your arms now, Hartwick, and I find myself amazingly upright,’ she replied.

Katrina turned to Julian. ‘Do you suppose someone thinks a woman might lose control of her actions if she sees a man’s broad shoulders and muscular arms?’

‘Not
all
arms are muscular,’ commented Miss Forrester.

Julian shrugged, tying not to think of spending time with Katrina in a state of undress. His blood pounded through his veins. ‘We could test your theory.’

Bloody hell! When had he lost the ability to think before he spoke?

Hart choked on his Madeira. ‘Capital idea, Julian. Why don’t you take your coat off as well?’

Miss Forrester smiled brightly. ‘Yes, do, Lyonsdale. Apparently Hartwick, while finely made, simply is not causing Katrina and I to question our moral fibre.’

Hart narrowed his eyes at her.

‘Well, I did acknowledge that you were finely made,’ she amended. ‘However, to test the theory properly we need more than one subject.’

Both Miss Forrester and Hart stared at him.

‘You want me to remove my coat?’

‘It was your idea,’ Miss Forrester pointed out.

‘His Grace never does anything improper,’ Hart muttered, refilling Miss Forrester’s glass.

* * *

Katrina thought that Julian had done nothing
but
act improperly with her since the moment they’d met. However, she was not about to voice that thought. She had seen men in their shirtsleeves before. Why was the mere thought of Julian in his making her feel different? Suddenly she was very eager to see him remove his coat.

He looked over at her. ‘What is your opinion on the matter, Miss Vandenberg? It is your question we are addressing.’

She rubbed her lips. ‘Hartwick in his shirtsleeves is having no effect on me. I suppose if we are to be scientific on the matter we need you to remove your coat as well.’

He smiled at her and her stomach flipped. ‘I am glad to hear he has no effect on you.’

‘Yes, yes...we know. I have no effect on the ladies,’ Hart said impatiently, with a wave of his hand. ‘Just take your damn coat off.’

‘Tut-tut, Hartwick. There is no need to resort to such language,’ Sarah said in amusement.

‘Very well,’ Julian said.

Reluctantly, he stood and removed his coat.

The air left her lungs as she watched his brown coat fall away, revealing a broad chest behind his yellow waistcoat and a pair of strong, curved shoulders. Maybe the English were correct. Maybe women should not see men in their shirtsleeves.

‘I am sorry,’ Sarah said. ‘It appears we still have no answer as to why men need to remain in their coat-tails.’

‘Wait, Miss Forrester,’ Hartwick said slowly. ‘Miss Vandenberg hasn’t given us her opinion.’

What could she say?
Could you remove your waistcoat and shirt as well?

She scratched the back of her neck and bit her lip. ‘You look very nice without your coat.’

He looked triumphantly at his friend.

‘Just because she gave you a compliment it doesn’t mean you look better than I do. Miss Vandenberg is being polite and doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.’

‘This is not a comparison of who looks better, Hartwick,’ Sarah said. ‘We are trying to determine if seeing a man in his shirtsleeves causes us to act irrationally.’

‘Are you sure, Miss Forrester, that you have no desire to act the least bit irrationally?’ Hartwick asked, wiggling his brows.

‘No, Hartwick. I have no desire to do so at all.’

Katrina shifted her gaze to Julian’s yellow silk waistcoat and bit her thumb. She had a longing to slide her hands over his firm chest to his broad shoulders. Her gaze edged to those inviting lips of his...

‘I have already showed you the view of the river, have I not, Miss Forrester?’ Hartwick called out.

‘Yes, but I suppose one can never fully appreciate such a lovely view unless one sees it for a second time.’

Julian was staring at Katrina, making her feel incredibly warm.

‘We
can
hear you,’ he bit out.

Sarah laughed, and Hartwick cleared his throat. ‘Would you like us to leave the two of you alone?’ he asked.

‘That would be highly improper, Hartwick,’ Sarah said, ‘since His Grace is in his shirtsleeves.’

‘Sarah! Honestly...’ chided Katrina, narrowing her eyes at her friend.

Julian turned to Hartwick. ‘So when I finally do something improper
this
is how you react?’

Hartwick raised his hands in surrender. ‘We are only trying to be accommodating. So, I think we have determined the reason why it’s improper for men to be seen in their shirtsleeves by ladies.’

Katrina turned to Hartwick. ‘No, we have not. Sarah and I are completely composed.’

‘Well,
I
am anyway,’ muttered her traitorous friend.

‘What other rules can we test today?’ asked Hartwick eagerly. ‘Is there some article of clothing you are not supposed to remove in our presence? I am open to suggestions.’

‘You rake!’ replied Katrina, laughing. ‘Are you trying to get us to show you our ankles?’

‘Your hair,’ Julian said suddenly.

All three turned to him, and he shrugged.

‘A lady’s hair is usually pinned up.’

Hartwick sat up. ‘That’s the spirit. We are in our shirtsleeves and you owe us a boon. I think Julian has a fine idea. You ladies should take down your hair and Julian and I will see if we can resist you.’

Sarah eyed Hartwick. ‘Suppose you lose your senses and your over-amorous nature overcomes you?’

‘That’s what Julian is here for. He is forever proper.’

‘
He
is sitting here in his shirtsleeves,’ Katrina pointed out sceptically as she eyed him up and down.

‘Oh, please... He has so much restraint that even if his life depended on it he would never touch you.
He
is the epitome of the proper English aristocrat,’ Hartwick said, with sarcasm in his voice.

Julian turned to his friend. ‘You speak as if being responsible and acting honourably is a bad thing. Maybe you would find yourself in less trouble if you tried it.’

Katrina peered through the lowest hanging branches towards Sarah’s barouche. ‘What do you think the footmen will say if they see us like this?’

‘Do not fret. No one can see us,’ replied Hartwick as he chewed on a long piece of grass.

‘Why do I believe you have said that before?’ Katrina muttered.

‘Why, Miss Vandenberg, I am offended,’ Hartwick said, bringing his hand to his chest. ‘I think there is a bit of fire in you.’

She turned to Julian. ‘Was that a compliment?’

The enticing man with the broad shoulders shrugged. ‘It’s difficult to tell.’

‘Of course it was a compliment. A lady with a bit of fire in her is much more enjoyable than a milksop.’

‘You thought I was a milksop?’

‘No. As I said, you have a bit of fire in you. Miss Forrester, on the other hand, is infinitely boring.’

Sarah shook her head. ‘You are only saying that because I did not swoon when you removed your coat.’

‘No. For that, I think you may need spectacles. But we are getting away from the point. I believe Julian challenged you ladies to take down your hair?’

‘It was hardly a challenge. I was simply curious.’

‘I am trying to help facilitate your request,’ Hartwick replied impatiently. ‘Perhaps you could persuade the ladies. They seem to trust you more than me.’

‘I can’t imagine why,’ muttered Katrina.

Sarah cleared her throat, catching their attention. ‘I believe we are testing theories today. Katrina, please remove the pins from your hair.’ Sarah began to arrange her own hairpins on the skirt of her cinnamon-coloured gown. ‘We can easily re-pin each other shortly.’

Hartwick laughed out loud. ‘Well done, Miss Forrester.’ He made a show of studying her. ‘Now, what colour is that, exactly?’ His eyes dropped to his mud-splattered boots and he smiled. ‘Oh, I know. You hair is an earthy colour.’

‘It is chestnut, Hartwick,’ Sarah said, shaking out her hair. ‘A gleaming, glossy chestnut. Which you would realise if you weren’t so self-absorbed,’ she teased.

‘
I
am self-absorbed? How many times today have you admired your slippers?’

‘What has that to do with anything? I like my new slippers.’

‘Apparently so. Julian, have you seen anyone look at their feet...?’

* * *

The moment Katrina removed one pin from her hair Julian was transfixed. He watched as little by little ringlets of golden silk cascaded past her neck, down her back, and over the slope of her breasts.

Many nights he had pictured her in his bed with her hair down, and he had wondered how long it was. Would it cover her breasts if she rode him? Would it bounce against the small of her back as he took her from behind? Now he knew that the ends of her hair curled against the lower curves of her breasts. His mouth began to water as he imagined the feel of her hair against his cheek as he slid his tongue along those breasts...

Before he was aware of what he was doing, he slid his fingers into the soft strands. Everything around them fell away, and the only thing that mattered was the woman next to him. He kissed her softly and she placed her hand on his chest. He deepened the kiss, certain she must feel his heart and soul pounding against her hand.

‘I thought you said he was always proper?’ Miss Forrester’s voice broke the silence.

‘He was until he met your friend,’ Hart replied.

‘Maybe it’s your influence.’

‘I’ve tried for years to get him to follow his desires. This is none of my doing.’

‘I don’t believe they should be doing that, even with us in attendance.’

‘It is just a kiss.’

‘That is
not
just a kiss, Hartwick.’

‘No. I suppose you are correct, Miss Forrester. That definitely is not just a kiss.’

It was the last thing he wanted to do, but Julian managed to pull his head back. Katrina buried her face in his shoulder and he rubbed his cheek against her soft hair.

‘We can hear you.’ His voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.

‘We know,’ Hart said, taking a sip of wine.

It had taken all his restraint to leave his hand on Katrina’s jaw and not move it to any other part of her body. He was finally able to position one of his legs to hide the strain in his breeches. How could he have kissed her in front of Hart and Miss Forrester? How could the simple act of her taking down her hair have made him so excited? When could he get her alone to continue what they’d started?

‘Don’t you think it would be a good idea to show Miss Forrester the view?’ he suggested to Hart.

His friend smirked at him. ‘I have already done so.’

‘Perhaps she hasn’t seen all that this hill has to offer.’

‘I believe I have seen quite a bit of what this hill has to offer,’ Miss Forrester said dryly, raising her glass to her lips.

‘Do the two of you have something important to tell us?’ Hart said, as he crossed his legs in front of him and rocked his boots from side to side. ‘You have kissed each other in front of Miss Forrester and me. Should I be requesting pistols at dawn to defend Miss Vandenberg’s honour?’

Julian was about to chastise Hart, but Katrina spoke up first. ‘Don’t be nonsensical, Hartwick. You of all people should understand. It was simply a kiss.’

What did she mean, it was simply a kiss? Had it not been her lips he was kissing? Had she not felt that...that...
thing
?

‘So there is no impending announcement you wish to share with us?’ Hart asked.

‘Heavens, no,’ exclaimed Katrina with a light laugh.

Julian studied the woman whose lips were still wet from his kiss. She had moved away, putting distance between them. Did she have to sound so relieved that she would never need to marry him?