Page 44 of A Daring Desire

There was a frustrated tut of impatience. “I know very well how I look and how to use it to good advantage, you impertinent devil. Desire is one thing, but if you think there will be a woman there tonight who does not pity Catherine to the bottom of her heart for her marriage to me, you’re a bigger fool than I believed. I might be good enough to dally with, but the idea of being seen with me in public at a respectable event like this….”

He made a sound of disgust, and Perry wondered at it. He had always believed Lord Kilbane had revelled in his notoriety, and perhaps that had been true once. It did not seem to hold now.

“I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Perry soothed.

There was a darkly amused crack of laughter. “So you say.”

“We agreed you had to do this for her. You must show society she’s brought you to heel. I know that’s going to stick in your throat, but you owe her that much.”

“I know it!” he shot back, glaring at Perry indignantly. “You think I don’t? I don’t have to like it, do I?”

“Well, no, but there’s nothing to get in such a tizzy over.”

“I am not in a tizzy,” his lordship replied in glacial tones.

Perry shrugged. “And there’s no need to take a pet because you’re afraid.”

“I am not afraid either,” he retorted angrily before relenting. “Not for myself, at least,” he added, his dark brows pulled together into a frown of anxiety.

Perry smiled, reassured to know he had not misjudged, and neither had Cat. Whatever he might be guilty of, whatever his past sins, Lord Kilbane sincerely wanted the best for his wife. “Buck up. Faint heart and all that.”

“I’m going, aren’t I?” Kilbane grumbled. “Though I’m still not convinced it’s a good idea. They might not even let me in, and if they do, it will cause an almighty stir.”

“Oh, you’ll cause a stir, all right,” he said, smirking. “No one in town knows you’re here yet, and they all think Cat and I—” Perry broke off as tension crackled in the carriage. He glanced at Kilbane, whose jaw was set. “You do know it was all for show?” he said carefully.

Kilbane stared at him. “All of it?” he asked, though there was more sadness behind the question than anger.

“Yes, by God!” Perry exclaimed. Sighing, he thought he may as well make things plain. Kilbane was notorious for unashamedly taking lovers of both sexes, so he ought to be safe enough to confide in. “Kilbane, if you must know… Catherine is a very beautiful woman, but she’s really not my type. Not in the least,” he added with emphasis, holding the man’s gaze.

The dark brows lifted, and Kilbane’s expression eased. “You’re really just friends, then?”

Perry nodded, smiling now. “Very close friends, but that is all. My word of honour.”

Kilbane seemed to chew this over and then sent Perry a glittering look through narrowed eyes. “In that case, what exactly are your intentions towards my secretary?”

Perry choked, shaking his head, but Kilbane slid closer, his tone menacing. “Berrycloth is a serious fellow, not one for… well, you know. He’ll take it to heart.”

Perry stared at him, realising he’d an answer to the question he had not yet dared ask. His heart lifted. “Then so shall I,” he said honestly.

Kilbane grunted, settling back into his seat. “See that you do.”

“Does that mean I have your blessing?” Perry asked, grinning now.

“Go to the devil,” Kilbane muttered, folding his arms.

Perry laughed and sat back to watch the world go by before turning back to him, puzzled. “Did you really think Cat and I…?” He hesitated, not wanting to spell it out but too curious not to ask. “That our relationship was more than friendship?”

Kilbane only shrugged, not looking at him.

“Then why didn’t you kill me?” he asked frankly.

The look returned to him made his blood go cold. “Don’t think for a moment I did not want to, but what right did I have, after all I have done, to begrudge Catherine comfort and companionship when I had abandoned her to her fate?”

Perry nodded and reached over to pat the man’s shoulder. “You know,” he said thoughtfully. “I’m beginning to quite like you.”

Kilbane's expression was guarded, but his mouth quirked at the corners. “Well, if someone had to bear Catherine company these past years, I suppose I’m glad it was you,” he said begrudgingly.

Perry put his hand to his heart. “Oh, Lord Kilbane, I think I may swoon,” he said on a theatrical sigh.