If the Earl Only Knew (The Daring Marriages) (15 page)

Men attended her in a manner Kate found strange, bordering on the bizarre. It was one thing for those she knew were in desperate financial straits (Tristan was an impeccable source of gossip), but there were also a few who did not have need of an heiress, which baffled her. Why would they wish to spend time in her company? And why was Wynbrook glaring at them from across the room?

It was a good wedding by all accounts. The bride was glowing and the groom was bursting with pride. Everyone wished the happy couple well, and they were surrounded by a chorus of happy voices. It was a new beginning for them…and an end for her and Robert.

When the pianoforte was brought out in the evening for some spontaneous dancing among the happy crowd, Kate and Robert retreated to the library. Dancing was not going to happen. Not ever.

“How long do you wish to visit with the family after Jane and Gareth leave tomorrow?” asked Robert.

Kate did not wish to leave, yet she knew she must. Wynbrook was meant for another. There was no reason to stay. “We can leave tomorrow as well,” she said.

“Back to London or to Portsmouth, to return to Gibraltar?”

Kate sighed in defeat. She had hoped Robert would find a bride, but he seemed more reluctant than ever. “We might as well return to Gibraltar.” Kate did not say “home,” for Gibraltar would never be that. Truth was, they had no home. Robert would go back to sea and she back to her ledgers. Though they honestly had no need for more financial gain, she did not know what else to do. Ironic that they had regained their fortune to take their place in society only to discover they no longer belonged.

“I thought I might find the two of you hiding in here,” said Wynbrook, entering the library. “Came to tell you cake is being served.”

“Cake?” asked Robert, always interested in good food.

“What is this about Gibraltar?” asked Wynbrook.

“We will be leaving tomorrow to go back to Portsmouth and then Gibraltar,” said Kate in a matter-of-fact tone.

Wynbrook stared at her like a puppy that had just been kicked. He blinked and his cool reserve returned. “So soon? I’m sure we expected you to stay awhile at least.”

“We have already encroached on your hospitality long enough. We have completed the tasks we set for ourselves, concluded our business with our investors, and wished Jane well at her wedding. We should return to our business now and allow you to return to yours.”

“But what of your mission to find Dare a bride?”

Kate shrugged. “Seems a hopeless case.”

“Yes,” said Wynbrook without emotion. “Yes, I understand. I wish you a safe journey.” He turned to leave and paused by the door. “Too bad you will not be here longer, for I’ve made a tangle of my accounts, can’t make sense of them. Thought you could help. Oh well. I’m sure it can be sorted out somehow.” He gave a quick smile and left.

Kate watched him leave. Was that all the good-bye she was going to get? A lump formed in her throat. If this was all the farewell she could hope to receive, then she did not care that she was leaving either. In fact, she was glad to leave. The sooner the better!

Several hours later, after the house had gone to sleep, Kate lay awake thinking of Wynbrook’s words about the difficulty with his accounts. How could she leave with it uncorrected? It would bother her forever. With a sigh, Kate grabbed a wrap, shoved her feet into slippers, and padded down to Wynbrook’s study. A “tangle of the accounts”? He would “sort it out”? She had no confidence in his ability. At least she could set things to rights before she left. Besides, this was as clear an invitation to correct his books as she was going to get.

The ledger lay open on the desk, beckoning her to fix it. Kate sat down before the ledger, brushing her long, brown hair out of the way and beginning her work. Strange how six years ago she was in the same place, doing the same thing, and here she was again, just like last time. Just like a few weeks ago too. In truth, it did seem a bit too coincidental. Her suspicion grew.

“Wynbrook?” she called out.

John emerged from behind the drapes in the shadows and strolled forward, still immaculately dressed as he had been all day. “I knew you could not resist correcting my ledger.”

“You lured me here!” cried Kate, feeling at a distinct disadvantage for being clothed in only a nightgown and wrap, while he looked like he’d stepped off the pages of a fashion plate.

“Yes,” replied Wynbrook, completely unremorseful. He stepped closer, the light from her candle casting him in a rosy hue. “Other ladies might be tempted with wine or jewels, but your head is turned by the prospect of solving math equations.”

“It is more the thought of your errors not being corrected,” growled Kate.

“It is a worthy concern, for I am not the most attentive when it comes to my sums.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Kate made a final notation on the ledger. “What I do not see is why you would wish me here, especially considering your future bride lies sleeping upstairs.”

“My future bride?”

“Do not play coy. Everyone speaks of your connection with the Devine family.” Kate was not one to mince words.

“Ah yes, I have heard the rumors too. Hate to be disobliging to anyone, but I fear there is no truth in the tale.”

Kate’s heart tapped faster in her chest. “Truly? That is to say, please tell me what you wish to discuss.” Kate used her most businesslike tone to cover the hope that surged through her.

Wynbrook cleared his throat and motioned for her to sit in a chair beside the waning embers of the fire. He took the chair opposite her and Kate waited in silence.

“The last time you left was so sudden, I did not have the chance to say good-bye. This time, I wanted to be able to express my gratitude for your service to my family.”

Kate gave him a short nod. “Duly noted.” She knew this was not the reason he had wished to see her alone.

“I was surprised to hear you are leaving so soon,” commented Wynbrook.

“Our business is concluded, our investors paid. There is no reason to trespass on your hospitality any further.” She attempted to keep her face neutral.

Wynbrook gave her a quick nod. “Then there is only one more thing to discuss.” He cleared his throat. “The kiss.”

Kate was so surprised, she gaped at him. “Whatever do you mean?”

“The night before you left six years ago—”

“Was terribly difficult for you,” said Kate, attempting to change the subject. “You had suffered a grievous loss. I am sure your recollections of that time are hazy at best.” She was giving him a way out.
Take it.

“No, it will not do,” said Wynbrook after a moment’s pause. “I must beg your forgiveness for such inexcusable behavior.”

“Nonsense. You were sick with grief. If anyone took advantage, it was me,” said Kate.

“Do not be absurd. My behavior that night was unconscionable. As a gentleman, I cannot abide it.”

“But you have already told me you are no gentleman.”

John gave her a slow smile. “Very true. If anyone had seen my behavior, an offer of marriage would have been expected.”

“But no one did see it.”

“You could have told your brother. I would not have denied it. In truth, I do not know many young ladies who would not have confessed what happened, knowing the outcome would be a wedding.”

“If you think I would trap you or any man into marriage, you are very much mistaken.”

“Yes. You are unique in that.” He gazed at her with frank admiration in his eyes, bringing to the fore all the difficult emotions she had worked so diligently to repress.

“I have no desire for a proposal.” Was she telling him or reminding herself?

“I do not blame you for holding me in low regard. The only thing worse than kissing you when you were under the protection of my own house was to do the thing badly. I fear my kiss was poorly executed, and for that, I apologize.”

“It was not… That is to say…I would not have said it was poorly done,” she faltered.

“So you liked the kiss?” He sounded sincere, but his eyes blazed with mischief.

“You are incorrigible. If you would excuse me.” Kate stood. It was past time to make her escape.

John stood as well. “Forgive me, please. It is not my intention to cause discomfort, truly. Is there anything I can do to make amends?”

“For one thing, it is hardly fair to have a conversation with me in such dishabille and you fully clothed.”

“You are beautiful as always, but I grant you the point.” He shrugged out of his formfitting jacket.

“Lose the cravat,” she demanded.

He untied it with a flourish, tossing it aside with the jacket. The waistcoat followed.

“And unbutton the shirt,” said Kate slowly, feeling powerful and very, very naughty. It was delicious.

“As you wish.” John undid the three buttons at the top of his shirt, revealing a glimpse of a perfect, muscular, chiseled chest.

Kate swallowed on a dry throat. When had it got so unbearably hot? She was playing with fire. It would not end well. Nothing following this moment could be good for her. She should leave.

But she didn’t.

They stared at each other in the near darkness. What would happen next?

“If anyone were to catch us having a tête-à-tête together at this time of night, particularly in this state of undress, we should surely be forced to marry. We should retire to our separate bedchambers.” There, she had said the right thing.

“You give sensible advice,” he agreed.

But neither moved.

“Since you are leaving tomorrow,” began John, “and I know not when I might see you again, I feel compelled to confess that though I am not unfamiliar with feminine charms, your kiss is the only one that haunts my memory.”

“Why is that?” Her pulse skipped in a merry dance.

“I do not know. I believe you are the only one who can help me.”

Kate stared at him, fearing it was some cruel jest. He remained earnest, and she feared even more that he was sincere. Truth be told, Kate had given more than enough thought to that kiss as well, but she reasoned it was because it was her first and only. If John also thought often of the kiss, what did it mean?

“How many other debutantes have you gone about kissing?” asked Kate, getting down to the practicality of his request.

“None! Save you,” he amended.

“Then who have you been kissing?”

He shifted and looked away, answering her with false carelessness. “Truth be told, none of late. But in my younger, wilder years there were young widows, the unhappily married, professional courtesans, the typical fodder for a disreputable lad, but I recall none the way I remember you.”

“Then you have your answer. You have had connections with others who want something from you. They wish for your money, your body, or your name. Their kiss is currency.”

He turned back to face her. “And yours was a gift. Given freely.” John stood a small step closer, a half smile of wonder on his face. “Thank you.”

They stood in silence staring at each other. This was her last chance to have any interaction with the man who haunted her dreams and she could think of nothing to say. “You say the kiss was a poor one?” Had she said that out loud?

“One of my worst.”

It seemed a shame that if one kiss would haunt her dreams forever that it not even be his best. If she was to cling to one memory of a kiss for the rest of her lonely, celibate life, should she not at least taste what the man could truly offer?

“I am willing to attempt the process again, and you can judge whether or not my performance is improved.” He was so somber and matter-of-fact, she almost missed the fact that he had offered to kiss her again.

That will not be necessary.
Those were the words she should say, but somehow they were stuck in her throat.
Kiss me!
were the words she wanted to say, but she held that in check as well.

“In truth, I should beg your indulgence to give you a corrective kiss,” he suggested slyly.

“A corrective kiss?”

“Yes, one to correct the memory of the poor one I gave earlier.”

“You are asking to repeat the kiss?”

“Yes.” John smiled a smile Kate bet few women could resist. “As a favor to me.” He stepped forward. “Lady Kate, may I give you a
proper
kiss?”

Her heart pounded its acceptance of the proposal. Yet there was nothing proper in his request. This was the truth from which she was running. This was why she had demonized Wynbrook in her mind. She was madly, wildly infatuated with him. Now here he was, alone with her at night. This was her last chance to live out the dream.

“As you wish,” she acquiesced, but she felt powerful in the acceptance.

He stepped slowly forward, placing his arms around her, taking his time with every movement. He drew her closer, but she did not care for the agonizing slowness of his actions and wrapped her arms around him.

He tilted his head down and brushed his lips against hers, sending shock waves down her spine. She could not wait for him and stood on tiptoes to press her lips to his. He drew her in closer, holding her tight down the length of him. He deepened the kiss, and she feared she would melt into the floor. She’d had no concept of the powerful emotions that could be aroused from the joining of their lips and the intimate dance that followed.

Finally, he broke the kiss, only because of the need for air. Kate gasped herself, tingling in places she hardly knew existed.

“Marry me,” he whispered, touching his forehead to her own.

Nothing could have restored sense to her more than those words, which were like a slap across her face. She stepped back. “Fortunately, as I have said before, I am not one to trap a man into marriage, so such an offer is unnecessary.”

He took a breath. He was still the same man but somehow a bit deflated. “Yes, quite true.”

“I hope this time we may part friends,” said Kate, unsure what had just happened but feeling bereft from the loss of something she could not quite name.

“Yes. Friends.”

Kate sped from the room, wiping the tears from her eyes. She had been a fool to play with fire. She thought the worst thing in the world would be never experiencing what she wanted more than anything in the world.