Page 73 of Return to Satterthwaite Court

“Goodness,” she said shakily. “I thought they’d come in here.”

Charles frowned. “They might easily have done so.”

“Yes, but they didn’t.”

He slowly released her from his arms. “I won’t compromise you, Kate.”

Kate reluctantly slid her hand from his neck as he backed away from her. She felt the loss of his warmth as keenly as if she’d been removed from a cozy place in front of the fire and thrust out of doors, straight into the snow.

“You haven’t compromised me,” she said.

Though, admittedly, it had been a very near thing.

Charles put a respectable distance between them. “From now on, our friendship—or whatever it is—must be conducted with absolute decorum.”

She smoothed her rumpled gown. “How dreary that sounds.”

“I mean it,” he said.

It was her turn to frown. “Yes, I can see that you do.”

“It’s not my habit to…to…”

“To passionately kiss young ladies?” she volunteered helpfully.

“No,” he said, scowling. “Not the ones I’m serious about. I respect you too much to—”

“I’d rather you respected me a little less.”

“Kate—”

“But if you insist on conducting our friendship—or whatever it is—with absolute decorum, then…I suppose you’ll have to court me properly.”

Charles lapsed into silence.

Kate refused to be discouraged by it. “You’ll have to come to town next month and call on me in Duke Street. But only if you’re serious about me. Only if that kiss was something more to you than a careless liberty taken in the moment—”

“You know it wasn’t,” he said fiercely.

“Then come to London. Pursue me there, as I’ve pursued you.”

He looked at her intently. An expression of resolve gradually settled over him. “If I pursued you, then I’d have you. There would be no turning back.”

Her heartbeat quickened. It was practically a threat.

A romantic threat.

“I’m all anticipation,” she said.

“This is no jest, Kate.” He tilted her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to meet his eyes. His gray gaze was as solemn as a vow. “I don’t take on a challenge idly. When I set my mind to something, I see it through to the end.”

“So do I.” A smile tipped her mouth. “And here you thought we had nothing in common.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Charles and Hannah left Beasley Park the next day. The Beresfords all assembled on the snow-covered front steps to bid them farewell, wishing them a safe journey and inviting them to return with their parents as soon as they were able.

Kate embraced Hannah like a sister. “You must come again when I return from London. We had so little time together this visit to discuss your come-out.” She kissed Hannah’s cheek. “Promise me you won’t depart for Bath without talking to me first.”