Beguiling the Earl (5 page)

Catherine’s curiosity was piqued. “What type of concerns?”

Louisa was silent for a moment and Catherine suspected she was considering whether to tell her the truth. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Just know that I am sure he had a very good reason for declining our invitation on such short notice.”

She was torn between irritation and resignation at her sister’s reply. Louisa was eight years her elder and at times still treated her as a child that needed to be protected. She waited while the maid finished, her impatience growing by the second.

Her sister dismissed the maid after a few minutes and stood to face her, by which time Catherine’s emotions had clearly settled on irritation.

“You seem to have forgotten with whom you’re speaking. After such a mysterious comment, surely you don’t expect me to just shrug my shoulders and carry on as though you’ve said nothing.”

Louisa gave her head a slight shake. “I’d hoped you could leave the matter alone, but it’s clear that is not about to happen.”

“I am not a child, Louisa. You must stop treating me as one. I’m in town searching for a husband, after all. You seem not to have learned anything after what happened when John left.”

Her sister flinched at the accusation and Catherine felt a pang of remorse for having reminded her of the conditions under which their brother had left them before enlisting in the army.

“I’m sorry,” she said, reaching out to clasp Louisa’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “That was uncalled for.”

“Yet unfailingly accurate.”

Catherine didn’t deny it. They both knew it was the truth. Having lost their mother soon after Catherine’s birth and being so much older than her and John, Louisa had always trod a fine line between acting like a sister and an overprotective mother.

“I know you have a particular interest in Kerrick. I’d hoped it was just a youthful infatuation when you met last year and that you’d forget him when your season started and you met other men closer to your own age. But I see that hasn’t happened.”

“Kerrick is only eleven years older than me. Just last night I heard that Lord Hendricks is looking for a new wife, and he’s at least in his fifties.” She shuddered. “I pity the poor girl who will no doubt be forced by her parents into that union.”

Louisa looked away for several moments and then let out a resigned sigh. With that small exhalation, Catherine knew she had won. Louisa sat, again, in the chair before her dressing mirror, but this time she’d turned so she faced her. Catherine sat on the edge of her sister’s bed and waited.

For what, she wasn’t certain, but given the grave expression on her sister’s face, her curiosity began to take a darker turn. After their outing the day before, she’d almost forgotten about that little scene between Kerrick and the Worthingtons. And about how he had left her to dance with Rose Hardwick first.

Dread began to rise within her. Surely her sister wasn’t about to tell her that Kerrick was courting Rose.

“Tell me, Louisa,” she said when she could no longer stand the silence.

The startled expression on her sister’s face told her that what had seemed an eternity to her had likely been only a few moments.

“Do you remember last fall, before we learned what was happening with Nicholas, that Lord Kerrick had returned to London?”

Catherine wanted to scream as the suspicion began to take firm hold that her dreams of a future with Kerrick was about to be crushed. She managed a wordless nod.

“Kerrick had certain connections he was able to call upon to help uncover what was happening at the time. He’d returned to town to ask for assistance from one of those connections.”

Her stomach began to unclench as she realized this had nothing to do with the Worthingtons. “He returned with the Earl of Brantford.”

Louisa winced at the name. “Yes, he did. The Earl’s presence was a surprise to Nicholas, but he’s come to realize that Brantford is not all that he seems.”

Catherine frowned, now completely confused. “What does Brantford have to do with all this?”

Louisa shook her head. “I am being silly. If I’m to tell you what I know, which I admit is not much, I should be direct. What I’m about to reveal isn’t generally known, and you must promise not to repeat it.” She paused, but at Catherine’s vigorous nod she took a deep breath and continued. “Brantford works for the Home Office, gathering intelligence for the government.”

“Intelligence?”

“He is a spy. Or at least we believe that’s what he does. Nicholas has never spoken to him about it. And even if his suspicion is correct, Brantford would never admit to it.”

While her sister’s revelation came as a surprise, she wasn’t sure why her sister was telling her about the Earl of Brantford’s secrets.

“And?”

“And Nicholas believes that Kerrick might be one as well.”

That was the very last thing she’d expected to hear. “A spy?” Her mind went momentarily blank as she tried to take in this new piece of information.

Kerrick was a spy. A thrill of excitement spread through her after the initial shock had faded. He was certainly handsome enough for the role, and she knew firsthand that he had the charisma someone in such a position would need.

“Catherine!” Louisa’s voice broke into her thoughts and her annoyance was plain to see. “This isn’t a romantic novel. This is real life, and being a…” She waved her hand, obviously not willing to say the word again. “Well, it’s dangerous.” She frowned. “Or I suppose it could be. Nicholas told me that Kerrick regularly disappears, sometimes for months at a time, and no one knows what he is doing during that time.”

“Of course not,” she said, trying, but failing, to keep her true emotions hidden. “You are right, this is quite serious.”

Louisa looked toward the heavens, as though for strength, before meeting her eyes again. “I didn’t tell you this to engage your romantic sensibilities. I don’t know what Kerrick does, but it’s possible he could be engaged in work that puts his life in danger. You should look to someone more appropriate.”

“More boring, you mean.”

“No,” Louisa said, the word drawn out to indicate her displeasure. “Someone who might not disappear, never to return.”

She couldn’t help but smile at her sister’s announcement. “Not too long ago you believed Nicholas had an illness that would soon lead to his death.”

It was several moments before her sister replied, and the anguish on her face was clear to see. “Yes, I did. But I didn’t know of his condition when we married.”

Catherine crossed the distance that separated them, kneeled at her sister’s feet, and took hold of her hands.

“And if you had known? Would you not still have married him?”

Louisa closed her eyes. When she opened them again she could only nod.

“You see,” Catherine said. “These things have a way of working out. I am sure the same will happen for Kerrick and me.”

ooOoo

Almack’s. Hell. Just the year before he’d been poking fun at Clarington for his attendance at the annual London marriage mart, and now here he was, playing the part of a man courting the woman all of society assumed would be his future bride.

His arrival did not go unremarked. He’d already decided to play into everyone’s expectations. The sooner he learned the truth about Worthington, the sooner he could distance himself from the man’s daughter. He felt a twinge of guilt for having to deceive her, but he doubted that any one man could claim her heart.

She had just finished her current set and was making her way back to her mother’s side. In moments, the young man who had partnered with her was shouldered out of the way by the group of men that seemed to follow her everywhere. She tossed her head back and laughed gaily, reveling in the attention.

Kerrick refused to be just another member of that group. Fortunately—or unfortunately, as the case may be—her mother went out of her way to scatter Rose’s entourage. He wasn’t quite sure how she accomplished it, but when he reached them, the coterie of young men was gone.

“Lady Worthington,” he said with a slight bow before turning to greet the object of his deception. “Miss Hardwick. You are lovely tonight, as always.”

And she was. Her hair was swept up into some complicated arrangement, with several curls left to frame her pale, rosy-cheeked complexion. She wore a dress of demure white, but it was impossible to overlook her obvious bounty. And her eyes shone with amusement, as though she were sharing a private joke with him. He could understand why all those young pups sought her favor. It would make things easier if he shared their enthusiasm for his task of wooing her. His mother would certainly be happy if a match was made between him and the daughter of her good friend. It was almost impossible, however, to keep his thoughts from drifting to another whose beauty was far different, but no less affecting, than that of the young woman before him.

“Lord Kerrick,” she said, dipping into an abbreviated curtsy.

“How glad we are to see you here tonight,” Lady Worthington said. “We didn’t know whether to expect you.”

“With such a fine inducement as your daughter, I could hardly keep away,” he replied smoothly.

The compliment earned him a look of smugness from Lady Worthington. Rose, however, appeared less than impressed. Given the compliments she normally received, he knew his would be mild in comparison. But he wasn’t up to playing the role of besotted fool. He wasn’t that good an actor.

He smiled down at Rose. “I hope you thought to save a dance for me tonight.”

She aimed a frown of dismay at him. “I’m not sure,” she said. “I’ve have had so many invitations.”

Lady Worthington’s gasp was almost comic. “Nonsense, Rose,” she said, falling just short of stumbling over her words. “In fact, didn’t you say your next dance was free?”

Considering Kerrick could spy a young man standing just at the periphery of his vision, shooting daggers at him with his glare, he recognized the statement for the blatant lie it was. If he hadn’t been so put out about being asked to play this ridiculous role, he would have found the entire situation amusing.

“I’d consider myself the most fortunate of men, then, if you’d consent to dance with me.”

For a moment he thought Rose was going to deny him, and he realized she didn’t want to go through with this charade any more than he did. A reproving look from her mother, however, had Rose inclining her head in acceptance and placing her hand in his.

He thought the look of triumph he aimed at the now-glowering suitor was a nice touch. That look was almost wiped off his face when he turned and saw the Earl of Standish leading Catherine Evans to the ballroom floor. Standish liked his women young, fair, and beautiful, and Catherine was all three. What she wasn’t, however, was easy, but that had never before stopped the man.

He kept his expression of good humor firmly in place, but he wasn’t about to allow Catherine to fall victim to Standish’s less-than-honorable intentions. To that end, he made sure that he and Rose were in the same set as Catherine and her partner. As they moved through the figures of the dance, he divided his attention between his own partner and Standish. The dance was familiar and didn’t require much of his attention, but he had to be careful that others in their set didn’t notice his distraction. It wouldn’t do for everyone to see that he was more interested in Lord Standish than in Rose Hardwick. But what took the most effort was keeping his gaze from seeking out Catherine’s slim form as she moved gracefully among the other dancers.

He struggled to keep his temper in check every time he saw Standish bestow his smug smile upon her, and he thought he’d managed it well enough. But his control snapped when the dance came to a close and he saw the other man standing too close to Catherine, his head bent low as he murmured something in her ear. She actually blushed, then laughed before giving his arm a friendly pat. When Standish stepped back, that smug smile firmly in place, Kerrick wanted nothing more than to smash his fist into the other man’s face.

He turned his attention back to Rose, and when he saw the speculation in her eyes he feared he had ruined his supposed courtship before it had even begun. He heaved an inner sigh of relief when she brightened again and gazed up at him with the same flirtatious smile he’d seen her give countless other men. He would have to be more careful in future to ensure he didn’t betray his feelings.

He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and started to walk her back to her mother, all the while hating that he’d turned his back on Catherine and Standish. They’d only taken a few steps when another of Rose’s many admirers intercepted them. He was only too happy to hand her over, but he had the presence of mind to affect the appearance of one who was annoyed. He moved off to the side and forced himself to converse with one of his acquaintances.

A few minutes passed before he felt it was safe to search out where Catherine had gotten to. He was relieved to find she was now with her sister and the Duchess of Clarington. He thought about approaching her to ask for a dance, recognizing that it would be better for both their sakes if he kept his distance, but knowing that he wouldn’t be able to pull off such a feat. Not if Standish had taken an interest in her.

He had to warn her about him. Catherine wasn’t like many of the foolish young women present, but she was still far too innocent to risk wading into those shark-infested waters. The fact that she now had her brother-in-law to watch out for her didn’t comfort him. For his own peace of mind, he had to make sure Catherine wouldn’t be the next young woman to fall victim to Standish.

When he saw her start, alone, for the door that led to the hallway, he followed at a discreet distance. Talking to her in private would be infinitely better than trying to snatch a few words here and there as they made their way through the figures of another seemingly endless dance.

He followed as she made her way to the ladies’ retiring room, seeking out an empty room where he could wait for her. Five minutes later, he was relieved to see her alone when she came back down the hallway. When he stepped from the shadowy doorway, she started. She was about to speak and he raised a finger to his lips to silence her. He slipped back into the room without a word. When Catherine followed, he closed the door behind her.