How had his friend been thrown?Hugh was a horseman, known for his steady seat and easy command of any mount. But whatever had happened, those kinds of questions could wait.
“How may I be of service to your family? Is Hugh able to receive visitors?”
Before Lord Sutherland could answer, a door clicked softly above them, and every other thought vanished.
Kate stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a cream gown with a gauzy overlay that followed the lines of her graceful figure. Her hair was styled high, small pearls woven through her dark curls.
As she descended the staircase, James could not tear his eyes away, each step deepening his awareness of her.Would she fit as perfectly in his arms as he imagined?He exhaled slowly, dismissing the unwelcome thought. He had faced down loaded pistols and ruthless traitors; surely he could survive one evening in the company of a beautiful, intriguing woman.
Kate drew close, and the subtle scent of orange blossom and lavender weakened his resolve. He cleared his throat. “Lady Katherine, you look lovely this evening.” He placed a lingering kiss on the soft silk of her glove before forcing himself to release it. He needed some fresh air.
“I heard you asking after Hugh,” Kate said. “I am certain he would enjoy a visit from you, but he has been asleep since taking laudanum yesterday and will likely be so for hours still.”
“Are you certain you would like to attend the ball tonight?”
“The doctor assures us he will mend better with quiet and rest.” A touch of mischief brightened her smile. “Besides, tonight promises to be an adventure.” Kate tucked herself against his outstretched arm, the warmth of her touch stirring something in him that he refused to explore.
Tonight would be an adventure, indeed.
Chapter 6
Kate
Kate ought to feel nervous for the first ball of the Season, but excitement sparked instead as she took in the view outside the carriage window. Torches lined the street as their carriage neared the grand house. Light spilled out from every window, reflecting in the puddles left behind from the afternoon rain. A long line of carriages waited for their occupants to alight. The ball promised to be a veritable crush. Kate drew her gaze away from the elegant scene and found James watching her, his expression inscrutable.
She forced her eagerness back where it belonged, hoping she had not drawn his notice. Or his suspicion. She could not afford to let him guess why this ball was of such vital importance to her. If she were lucky, he would spend most of his evening in the card room, leaving her free to slip away among the crowd when midnight came.
Their carriage finally reached the entrance. James alighted first and offered his assistance. Kate slipped her gloved hand into his, aware of his strength before she pulled away morequickly than was strictly polite. As they ascended the steps to greet their hosts, James leaned in close, his voice hushed. “Before you are swarmed by gentlemen, may I claim the first set?” He paused. “And the supper dance?”
Another thrill ran through her, one that had nothing to do with her secret task. She attempted indifference, though her heart had already betrayed her.
“Two dances, my lord? Whatever will people think?” She kept her tone light and unaffected.
He drew closer, his warm breath on her neck chasing away the chill. “It’s James, remember? And I don’t think anyone here tonight will wonder why I am dancing with you twice.”
Heat raced up her neck as they threaded their way through the arriving guests. How much longer could she keep her girlhood infatuation at bay? As she walked at his side, she could not miss the debutantes’ lingering glances at his tall frame or their envious looks at her. His evening coat of midnight-blue superfine fit his form to perfection, and his brown hair was swept forward in the popular style, a few escaping strands only increasing his rugged appeal.
Fate saved her from having to respond as they greeted Lord and Lady Wycliff and made their way inside the ballroom, her mother following close behind. Golden light spilled from the grand chandeliers, washing the ballroom in a glow that set off the bright silks and satins of the gowns. The cacophony of a hundred conversations and the orchestra’s music likely swallowed the butler’s announcement of their arrival. She did not mind the anonymity.
Her eyes swept the crowd. Was someone else here bound for the library at midnight? She had never knowingly met a villain or a traitor, but she did not need her imagination to know that people were not always what they seemed.
“Are you well, Katherine?” her mother asked with quiet concern.
Kate took a steadying breath and gave her mother a reassuring smile. She could do this. She would endure her first ball with James and discover whether the mysterious note pointed to something real.
“Yes, Mother. I am quite well. I was only overwhelmed for a moment by the size of the crowd.”
“Lady Wycliff will certainly be pleased,” her mother remarked. “This will be the talk of society for weeks.”
As the current set ended and the dancers began to clear the floor, James stepped forward, bowing to her mother before turning his full attention to Kate. “I believe this dance is promised to me,” he said, offering his arm.
She resisted the urge to inform him she had never answered his request and took his arm instead. They walked onto the floor decorated with intricate chalk designs, and she took her place across from him. She was pleased the first dance was a cotillion. It would not allow for any lengthy conversation between them. The less she and James interacted, the better she would be able to fight her attraction to him. She searched the crowd once more, eager to discover who had written the note.
“You are scanning the room with the precision of a matron looking for gossip, Lady Katherine,” James remarked as they met for the first movement of the dance. “Is there someone in particular you are searching for?”
James needed only the smallest opening to suspect all was not as it seemed, and she had given him one. They exchanged places with the opposite couple before she could respond.
“I am simply enjoying the lovely room,” she replied as they continued the figures of the dance, moving around each other. “I find I am more comfortable when I am familiar with my surroundings.”
