Page 54 of Only Scandal Will Do

After that morning, her attitude changed toward him. She did not avoid him as before and seemed more willing to talk with him both in company and private. With this tantalizing change, he now had hope.

Duncan turned once more so he could gaze down on his wife out in the garden, and thought with relish about his plan for the afternoon: a new scheme to seduce his wife. One he knew Katarina would find impossible to resist.

CHAPTER 23

A servant approached the ladies in the garden below to announce luncheon. Duncan joined them in the breakfast room, and was regaled anew by Juliet with her delight over Mr. Sutton’s charms. Though he listened and smiled at her raptures, he rarely took his eyes away from his wife. She noticed because though she kept up her end of the conversation, she also darted glances at him throughout the meal, blushing when she discovered his attentions focused on her alone. By the time lunch was over she seemed more than a little flustered, especially when he asked for a word alone with her.

Juliet shot Duncan a quizzical glance, but obliged by escorting Lady Honoria out. Katarina still sat at the table and seemed restless, removing her napkin from her lap, folding it, laying it beside her plate. At last, she raised her head.

“You wished to speak with me, my lord?”

“Yes, Lady Dalbury. About an urgent matter.”

The look in her deep blue eyes became guarded. “Whatever is it? Have you received unwelcome news this morning?”

Duncan smiled, shaking his head to reassure her. “Not unwelcome, but urgent nonetheless.” He crossed around the table, took her hands and raised her from her chair. “I simply realized that we have been married just over a month. Which means…” He paused to enhance the drama of his words with rakish aplomb. “Neither of us has held a sword for far too long.”

Her expression changed from a frightened pucker to a smile that reached all the way to her eyes. One such as he had never seen from her before. He was completely dazzled.

“Indeed, you speak the truth,” she said, laughter in her voice.

“I thought perhaps we should remedy that lack this afternoon, if you would care to meet me. I have foils in the study and we can of course use the ballroom--”

He stopped short, horribly afraid the mention of that room would stir unpleasant memories and banish her enchanting good mood. For she was in a good mood. Was this all it took to make her happy? He would fence with her every day of the year if that were true.

“Yes, of course,” she said with a girlish lilt. “I have not held a blade in an age. I always

managed to practice with Jack or one of my father’s men at least once or twice a week before we came to London. Since arriving here I have been sorely lacking in partners.” Her lips curved upward with a rueful twist. “I trust you will not disarm me too soon this time, my lord?”

His heart soared and the roaring in his ears kept him from answering straight away. He returned her smile and managed to reply, “No, my lady. I would not have our match end too soon. And who knows, you may discover how to defend against it.”

Her answering laughter was heady stuff. He had stepped into a different world, where he and his wife enjoyed each other’s company. If that were the case, pray God he never returned to the real one. For this vision of Katarina, warm and laughing, he would not give up now he had found it.

She still smiled at him, cerulean blue eyes snapping with excitement. Suddenly he was all too aware that her green and gold gown molded to her luscious body in a way that seemed most proper and shockingly indecent. Duncan had schooled himself over the past month not to think about that body, though he could conjure it up in an instant if he allowed himself the sinful luxury. Such indulgences served no purpose, for her coldness toward him meant any thought of easing his very real needs with her died a chilly death at birth. But this new Katarina gave hope to his desires. The first part of his little plan had worked magnificently.

Startled, he realized that he continued to hold her hands, that she had not withdrawn them. He lifted them one at a time for a brief kiss. “Will you go to change then, fair adversary, and meet me in the study in say, half an hour’s time? We can choose weapons and proceed to the practice room.” Yes, practice room sounded much better.

“In half an hour then.” She seemed to fly to the door, but paused before leaving the room. “Pray do not be late, lest you lose the wager this time.” Katarina threw a glance over her shoulder with an impish grin.

“We are to bet again, Lady Dalbury?” He should have known she would come up with the same idea as he.

“But of course, my lord. It makes the match much more exciting, does it not?” Her clear eyes sparkled. “Much more dangerous, even. Depending on the stakes, that is.”

“And what do you have in mind this time?” Fascinated by this turn of events, Duncan could not help but wonder if she had set a trap for him. He must never underestimate his wife in anything.

“But that would be telling.” She laughed gaily at him. “In half an hour?”

At his nod, she flashed another grin and was out the door. He almost pinched his arm, afraid he was dreaming, and then hurried to his bedchamber to dress for what he hoped would prove the best afternoon of his short married life.

* * * *

She was in danger. As she flew up the stairs to change into her fencing costume, Kat tried to impose caution and restraint. This match was another trap her husband had laid for her. Most of his attempts to lure her into spending time in his company the past month had failed, but this one...this one called like a siren song. To fence again. She could not restrain her glee at the prospect when he’d proposed it, especially when she’d expected him to refer to another, more disquieting matter--the unconsummated state of their marriage.

But he wanted to fence with her instead. She would fence with the devil himself just to be able to hold a sword again. “I suppose that is what this amounts to.” The snide remark sprang forth of its own accord, though it was hardly fair. Dalbury had made quite an effort to be kind.

Oh, why did she defend the wretch?

Because Jack had deserted her since the wedding so she’d been forced to get used to being around her husband. That’s all it was.