“She is,” Grayson said, feeling some of the strain leave his body.
“Then marry her at once,” Raleigh said, rising to his feet, “if only to have mercy on my spinning head, for I can’t stand to watch you pace a moment longer.”
Grayson halted his steps to glare at his friend.“I never pace.”
Raleigh grinned.“Just so.Beastly trait, isn’t it?I believe Wycliffe used to say the same thing.”
Grayson glared at him.“Do not liken me to that idiot Wycliffe and his wife, for my marriage will be entirely different.”
“Oh?”Raleigh said, raising his quizzing glass.
“Yes.The two of them fancy themselves in love, while Kate and I are embarking on a sensible arrangement that will benefit us both.She will have her fortune returned to her, along with my name and my title, while I shall have a wife to get me heirs.It is as simple as that.And put down that ridiculous thing,” Grayson said, knocking Raleigh’s glass aside as he stalked past him and out of the study.
Itwasa sensible arrangement, Grayson told himself, even as the sound of Raleigh’s laughter followed behind him.
***
Kate went through all the polite motions, ringing for tea and cakes and making introductions, just as though she was the lady of the house and not its poverty-stricken tenant.No doubt, the unwanted guests could guess at Hargate’s decline.But Kate told herself they had no way of knowing that the servants were here only temporarily and that there was no chaperone in residence.
She spoke loud enough for the odious Mr.Pimperington to hear, deflected Mrs.Parker’s barbed questions, and watched Lucy preen for a new audience.But despite her new clothes, she felt as drab as a mouse next to the visitors.
The man she pegged as a dandy, decked out in satins and silks of every hue, with a high starched collar and dangling watch and flashing rings.He nearly outshone the women, who were less colorfully, if no less splendidly, attired in low-cut gowns that made her own seem modest.They wore elaborate hats with plumes and feathers and carried beaded reticules and fans that they twirled and snapped and fluttered in some sort of mysterious communication.
And in between taking tiny nibbles of their cakes, they stared at Kate, their eyes narrowed, their mouths turned up into smiles that were patently false.They were like the illustrations of exotic vipers in one of her papa’s books—both beautiful and deadly—and Kate felt like tipping them over in their chairs and pouring tea upon their heads.
Instead, she gave them cool nods and ignored the voice inside that told her this was the world she had left and to which she could never return, no matter what that arrogant tyrant Grayson said.And when her thoughts tended to drift to the pain his abrupt announcement had caused her, she refused to acknowledge it, concentrating instead upon holding her own against the company.
“But surely you know Lady Bradley?She is most famous for her entertainments.Why, everyone has been to Bradley House,” Mrs.Parker said.It was on the tip of Kate’s tongue to put a halt to this devious conversation and begin some plain speaking, but just then Grayson returned, bringing the other dandy with him.
“Kate has not been to London recently,” he said easily, coming to stand behind her chair.“She spent several years in mourning after her father’s death and has not had the heart for such frivolities.”
“But you must bring her to Town soon,” Mrs.Parker protested as she lifted her fan.
“Perhaps after we are married,” Grayson answered, and Kate was startled to feel the tips of his fingers brush her shoulders.“You will forgive me if I am a bit selfish about what is mine.”
Kate saw Mrs.Parker’s mouth drop at Grayson’s possessive claim.
“And now, let me direct you back to Town.I’m sure you are in a hurry to finish your journey,” he said smoothly.
Raleigh would be denied his refreshments, but he did not protest and urged the others to depart.Kate was grateful, for she had seen enough of them.Rising to her feet, she bade them farewell, all the while aware of Grayson hovering closely near her back, as if to claim proprietorship over her.
Then they were gone, as remarkably as they had arrived, in a flurry of loud speech and giggling, and Kate breathed a long, slow sigh of relief before she turned to face Grayson.She was acutely aware of how alone they were, Lucy and Rutledge having escaped into the garden with the departure of the guests.And, suddenly, she felt very ill-prepared for her confrontation.
The marquess said nothing, but eyed her with an intensity that disturbed her, as if he would see into her very soul.Kate glanced away, unwilling to let him know her feelings, for despite her anger and humiliation, her heart had leapt briefly when he described her as his betrothed.
Luckily, her brain had quickly put a stop to that romantic nonsense, and now she was determined not to agree to such folly.Nor would she admit that her affections were engaged, for Grayson was much too sure of himself already.
Drawing a deep breath, she turned to face him.“No,” she said firmly.
“No, what?”Grayson asked, lifting one of those infernally expressive brows.
“No, I’m not going to marry you.”
“Of course you are,” he said.
“You cannot be serious.I appreciate your efforts to save my reputation, but it is not necessary, I assure you.I shall never see those dreadful people again, nor do I care what they say about me.”
His mouth tightened for a moment before curving into a slight smile.“Ah, but I do.”
