His Obsession (6 page)

The determined man walked toward her along
the path and Kate finally struggled to her feet, wiping the excess
dirt from her hands.

“Oh, my,” Lionel gasped.

“What is it?” Kate asked.

“You have – you have a small bit of dirt on
your cheek,” he pointed out.

Immediately, Kate raised her hands to her
face, then stopped herself. Her hands were filthy.

“My lord, if you have a handkerchief, you
could perhaps -?”

“Certainly,” Viscount Marbury agreed, happy
to be of service.

Kate had expected the nobleman to surrender
his lace edged scrap of linen to her, but he did not. Instead,
Lionel bent over her, gently swiping at the stain himself.

From the study, Richard stared out over the
Faversham’s lush gardens, thoughtfully sipping his drink. In his
mind’s eye, he once again saw Kate’s horrified face as the groom
held the pheasant aloft for all to see. She’d been stricken,
abhorred by the sight of the dead bird. Until that time, Richard
thought he might be making some progress in learning a little more
about her. Somehow, he would have to make amends.

With that idea in mind, Richard started to
turn away from the window to seek her out, but a movement outside
in the garden caught his eye. Why it was Viscount Marbury and Kate
Overton. Richard scowled as the nobleman bowed over the petite
woman, carefully wiping at her cheek. Richard’s eyes narrowed as
the handsome gentleman continued his attentions, pursuing Kate
Overton around the flower bed.

The sight of them together made Richard’s
blood boil. Indeed, this was something new. Could he be jealous,
Richard wondered? Surely not. It had been some time since he’d felt
the green eyed emotion, but now that he analyzed his feelings, he
sensed that he might be. How extraordinary!

Lionel laughed suddenly, making Kate blush
and whirl away toward the house. What had the man said to her? Had
he insulted her? Richard balled his hands into fists, wishing he
could strangle the young pup.

“I say, Richard, Marbury seems quite taken
with Lady Overton, wouldn’t you say?” Herbert noted in amusement,
walking to stand beside the earl.

Wisely, Richard didn’t offer a reply.

“I thought he favored Kate’s older sister,
but perhaps not,” Faversham continued, pausing to sip his
drink.

A muscle twitched in the earl’s cheek. Lord
Faversham grinned at the earl’s mounting color.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Richard said tightly
and quickly departed the study.

Faversham grinned all the more as he stood by
the window of his study, watching the Earl of Devonshire swiftly
enter the garden outside.

“Marbury,” Richard snarled, as he approached
the viscount.

Immediately, Viscount Marbury took a step
back from Lady Overton.

“Richard!” Lionel gasped. “I – I’m glad you
could join us. I didn’t see you standing there.”

“That is obvious,” Richard quipped. “Tell me,
how long were you going to attempt to clean Lady Overton’s cheek of
that imaginary piece of dirt?”

“Imaginary?” Kate gasped, frowning at the
viscount with suspicion.

“It isn’t there now, of course. It must have
fallen off somewhere,” Marbury quickly replied.

Kate was angered by the viscount’s deception.
She’d considered it very sweet of the man to attempt to set her
appearance to rights, but it seemed the eager young nobleman had
other thoughts in mind.

Richard wasn’t pleased with Marbury’s
actions, either. His frosty gaze leveled on Lionel, as the nobleman
opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.

“You look a little parched, Marbury,” Richard
grimly noted, struggling to control his rage. “Perhaps a drink
might help quench your thirst?”

Nervously, Marbury glanced from the earl to
Kate. A hasty rebuttal rose to his lips, but one look at the Earl
of Devonshire made him reconsider. The young nobleman quickly
sketched Kate a bow and hurried away. Richard tracked the overeager
young whelp until he disappeared through the doorway at the far
edge of the garden.

When the earl turned back around, he saw Kate
once more on her knees amidst the green grass. Richard’s heart
lurched when he thought she might have fainted and he reached for
her. However, before he could touch her, Kate leaned forward and
began pulling weeds with great vigor. In disbelief, Richard stood
beside her for a few moments, but she didn’t utter a word. Her
anger was clearly demonstrated in the way in which she savagely
ripped each weed from the ground by its roots.

“You cannot ignore me, you know,” Richard
softly told her.

“I wish to be alone now,” Kate firmly
decreed.

“I’m sorry if Marbury embarrassed you,
madam,” Richard apologized. “He doesn’t have a way with the
ladies.”

Kate uprooted a large weed and slapped it
onto the ground beside the earl’s polished black boots.
Unfortunately, a clod of earth flew up into the air and landed with
a resounding smack on Richard’s toes.

The autumn breeze caught a stray curl of
Kate’s red hair, tugging it free of the bun at the nape of her
neck. Gently, Richard reached down and guided the soft, burnished
strands back into place over her ear.

“Thank you, my lord,” Kate murmured.

“You’re welcome.”

Unbelievably, the earl sank to his knees
beside her on the grass.

“Lady Overton.”

Kate continued her task with greater zeal,
determined not to allow the man’s nearness to unnerve her. The
earl’s sudden gasp alerted her that something was wrong and her
eyes widened in horror as she glanced beside her.

A handful of dirty weeds now lay in the
earl’s lap. Muddy chunks of dirt stained his dark brown trousers
and elegant green coat. One particularly moist clod had embedded
itself into the lacy folds of his white cravat and another clung
precariously to the side of his jaw. Kate expected Richard to be
angry, but his dark brown eyes lit with amusement.

“May I assume that I have just been given the
cut direct?” Richard quipped.

Kate was horrified.

“Oh, I am so sorry! If I’d realized you were
so close, I would have -”

“Aimed a little higher, perhaps?” the earl
jested.

Kate flushed to the roots of her hair as
Richard dislodged the bits of offensive dirt and greenery.

“No harm done, Lady Overton,” Richard
chuckled, the sound rumbling in his broad chest. “Although my man
will be a little dismayed.”

“Please forgive me, my lord. How can I
possibly apologize?” Kate asked.

“Go riding with me?” Richard quickly
suggested.

“What?” Kate gasped.

“This afternoon, perhaps? Just a short
ride.”

“I’d really rather not,” Kate sighed.

Richard frowned at the speed of her
refusal.

“Oh, it’s not you, my lord. Horses and I –
well, we don’t get along. I like them well enough at a distance,”
Kate objected. “But up close, they seem to have me at a
considerable disadvantage.”

Richard nodded. “Very well. A carriage ride,
then? Perhaps, we can find some measure of privacy that way.”

“Alone? Really, my lord. I hardly think that
would be proper,” Kate added.

“Bring one of your sisters along as a
chaperone then. It doesn’t matter.”

Kate turned thoughtful for a few moments. If
Kate proposed such an outing with the handsome Earl of Devonshire,
Penelope was certain to object. If he had instead asked Dorothea or
Helen on such an adventure, Penelope would have supported it
wholeheartedly. And why not, Kate mused. The earl was handsome and
wealthy. A woman could certainly do worse in a potential husband,
Penelope would reason, and if a lady’s reputation had to suffer a
trifle in order to secure her future, so be it.

“After all, you do owe me some sort of an
apology,” the earl reminded her.

Oh, he was good. He was very good, indeed.
Richard Warwick had Kate feeling sorry for him and the insufferable
man knew it, too.

“Very well,” Kate sighed in defeat.

“Excellent. I’ll meet you outside in an
hour.”

As it turned out, Lady Faversham decided to
accompany them. When Kate informed Penelope Overton of the earl’s
invitation, her mother was quite put out. She and Kate’s older
sisters were playing whist with several of the young gentlemen in
the library. Penelope was winning and at the moment, she couldn’t
be spared.

Lady Faversham helped Kate select a clean
gown from several that had once belonged to her daughter. The dress
was hopelessly out of date, of course, but Winifred said the color
suited her and Kate had to agree with her hostess.

The dress was of deep green silk, which
offset Kate’s flawless complexion and the color of her hair and
eyes. A high backed collar narrowed over her chest, dipping low
over Kate’s breasts. The edges of the bodice were thankfully edged
in a pale white lace, which effectively disguised any hint of
cleavage revealed above the neckline.

Lady Faversham’s own maid brushed and
restyled Kate’s hair as well, pulling the heavy copper curls into
an artful knot at the crown and leaving a few strands dangling near
her ears. The style was a trifle more relaxed than Kate usually
wore it and the maid assured her that the style was most
becoming.

As Kate paused in front of Lady Faversham’s
mirror, she had to agree with the girl’s assessment. She couldn’t
believe that the elegant, polished young lady staring back at her
was Kate Overton. The gown molded itself to Kate’s gentle curves
with loving perfection and Kate’s auburn curls were a vivid
contrast against the pale green material. Her eyes glowed with
excitement and a becoming blush tinged Kate’s cheeks a pale rose.
Lady Faversham came to collect Kate for her ride and cried out in
delight at her transformation.

“Oh, Kate! You look lovely,” Winifred happily
decreed.

“Thank you for the dress, my lady,” Kate
softly replied.

“You are a vision. The man will be completely
speechless,” Lady Faversham told her. “And that is a consequence
that I cannot wait to see. Let’s be off then, shall we?”

Lady Faversham bustled Kate out of the room
and down the hall. Kate heard voices in the foyer, however, and
paused at the top of the stairs. Richard and Lord Winslow were
conversing at the base of the steps. Suddenly, Winslow looked up,
saw Kate and whistled through his teeth.

“By all the saints. It looks as though Lady
Overton’s been holding out on us,” Lord Winslow quipped.

Richard’s dark eyes lifted to the woman
paused at the top of the steps and his gaze swept over her
appreciatively. Dressed in the subdued, dark tones that Kate
usually wore, she was passably pretty, but in brighter colors, she
was radiant. As Richard stared at Kate, a shy smile briefly curved
her lips.

Richard grinned and nodded his approval. He
started forward to meet her at the base of the stairs.

Lady Faversham urged Kate to proceed her down
the steps and Kate complied. Kate felt as though all eyes were
focused on her. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she
couldn’t seem to catch her breath. As the Earl of Devonshire
mounted the steps, her anxious anticipation grew, but at least the
man had the kindness to narrow the distance between them.

“Lady Overton,” Richard murmured, finally
bowing over her pale hand.

“My lord,” Kate breathed.

“You look very beautiful.”

Kate blushed at the earl’s compliment. “Thank
you.”

“In fact,” Richard chuckled in amusement. “I
may just have to abduct you before young Winslow steals you
away.”

“There’s little chance of that, I fear,” Kate
acknowledged. “For this afternoon at least – I am yours.”

Richard’s eyes blazed with an emotion that
Kate could not name. He continued to stare at her, his head nearly
even with her own as she stood on the step above him.

Did the woman understand the implication of
such a remark, Richard wondered? No. Kate seemed far too innocent
for that. Still, a lesser man might have taken advantage of that
offer.

“You should be careful to whom you say such
things, Lady Overton,” Richard warned.

“You sound as though you’re prepared to slay
a few dragons for me, sir knight,” Kate quipped.

“If need be,” Richard proudly declared.

Kate chuckled.

The earl guided her hand onto his arm and
gallantly led her down the remaining steps. Lord Winslow and
several other men immediately rushed forward.

“Lady Overton, your dress is absolutely
stunning!” Winslow gushed.

“Thank you, my lord,” Kate politely replied,
pleased to be the momentary center of attention.

“I hope that you’ll stay for dinner upon your
return?” another asked.

“Well, I – I don’t know if my family will be
able to -”

“Of course, you’re invited, my dear,”
Winifred quickly offered.

“Good,” Winslow agreed. “And I shall be happy
to take you in. It’s all settled then.”

Richard’s eyes narrowed into slits as Lord
Winslow reached for Kate’s hand. The earl looked positively
murderous. Lord Winslow uncomfortably tugged at his cravat and
wisely returned his hand to his side.

Lady Faversham paused on her way out to say
something to one of the servants, so Kate and Richard preceded her
outside. Richard was a little reluctant to release Kate now that he
held her hand, but he nonetheless led her toward the coach and
handed her inside.

A sudden gasp of pain behind him alerted
Richard that there was some sort of trouble. Turning quickly, he
saw Lady Faversham sitting at the base of the steps, her skirts
spread out around her and her hair slightly askew. Richard Warwick
reached her side in three strides.

“My lady? Are you all right?” he asked with
concern as he bent over her.

Kate climbed down from the coach and hurried
after him.