Page 33 of 10 Things I Hate About the Earl

Celinda and Lord Finley were part of the party as well, walking just in front of them, with Lady Letitia, Bertie Symmons, and Lady George Pye in the lead before them. The party was small by ton standards, but Kate was glad Lord Haversham hadn’t made it any larger. Lady Letitia seemed to be having a good time so far, talking to Bertie and laughing every so often. That was such a good sign, given the lady’s previous wallflower tendencies. If one could get over the idea that Bertie was someone’s preferred companion.

“You seem to have done well with Letitia, Miss Locke.” Lord Haversham might’ve been reading her mind. “I have returned to find my sister no longer a wallflower.”

“Well, it’s just Bertie. He’s harmless, but I think your sister could make a better match.” She looked up to find his dark gaze fixed on her and swallowed. “Still, I’m glad the plan’s working well for her.”

“I am certainly in your debt, Miss Locke.” He tucked her arm closer into his elbow. “However am I to repay you?”

Gazing into his hungry eyes, Kate’s heart took off, beating wildly. Her earlier trepidation about the dark alleyways of Vauxhall suddenly seemed less fanciful.

“What the devil is he doing?” Haversham’s gaze left her, his attention now focused on Bertie, who’d darted toward a set of vendor stalls. “Excuse me, Miss Locke. Ainsley, will you look after your sister a moment? I must attend to mine.”

“Of course, Haversham. Nothing new in that.” Nathan’s sardonic tone irritated Kate more than usual tonight.

“Brother, as you scarcely chaperone me in any case, why don’t you converse with Lord Finley and let me have a word with Celinda?” She’d been hoping for a chance to speak to her cousin all evening.

“Excellent plan, Kate.” He motioned her to go ahead of him. “You two put your heads together, and we’ll keep an eye on you. Finley,” he all but pushed Kate toward Celinda and buttonholed the viscount, “I hear you’re a good hand at cards.”

God help Lord Finley once Nathan got his hooks into him. Her brother was as masterful at the card table as he was at horses, fencing, boxing, billiards, and a plethora of other gentlemanly pursuits.

Kate turned to Celinda and drew her cousin a little ahead of the men. “Thank goodness Lord Finley is distracting Nathan. I would much rather talk to you than have to deal with my brother right now.”

Celinda’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned toward Kate. “I’ve been wanting to speak with you too, cousin.”

“Oh, really? What about?”

“Lord Haversham—I want to know if he’s proposed to you yet.”

Appalled, Kate shook her head wildly, pulling her cousin even farther ahead. “Of course not.” She blushed. “Why would you say such a thing?”

“After the spectacle you made of yourselves in the park, I’m surprised the banns weren’t read before Haversham left London.” The arch tone in Celinda’s voice wasn’t lost on Kate.

“Are people still talking about that?” Kate tried to be nonchalant, but she cut her eyes toward her brother. Thank goodness no one knew about her correspondence with Haversham. That would be the on-dit of the Season.

“Some are. I only know because Miss Hunt happened to be passing in a carriage and saw you throwing…” She wrinkled her brow. “What were you were throwing at Lord Haversham? And why?”

“Grapes…and an iced cake. But he started it.” Kate still couldn’t believe she’d done that in public.

“Oh.” Celinda still looked confused. “Well, anyway, Miss Hunt saw it, and she and her mother came to call last week and mentioned it to me.” Celinda giggled. “I told her it must be some new parlor game you were playing.”

“Lord, Celinda.” Leave it to her cousin to come up with an explanation for the oddest of behaviors. “But thank you.” Kate glanced surreptitiously at her. “Haversham’s been gone for ages, though. Why would you still believe he’s going to propose?”

“Because of the way he looks at you, Kate.” Celinda’s tone said she was stating the obvious.

Kate dropped her gaze to the ground. Could there be something to what Celinda said? Ever since that afternoon in the park, her own attitude had changed drastically toward Lord Haversham. Their letters had only strengthened her regard for him. And asking her to help look after his sister had shown her the depth of his trust in her. As Nathan had said, it was the type of responsibility he would have relegated to his countess.

“I think he’s in love with you.”

Kate sent her cousin a stricken look. “You do?” Had that been the meaning of the look she’d seen before?

Celinda’s eyes widened, her voice rising. “He might even propose here tonight!”

“Shhh.” Kate dragged her cousin even farther ahead of Nathan and the viscount. “Don’t let Nathan hear you. He’s been pressing me all Season to marry Haversham. I don’t want him to get any ideas.”

Or did she? The insistent beating of her heart now that she’d raised that question intimated that she might no longer object quite so strenuously to Nathan’s suggestion. It was all just a big muddle in her head. She’d need time to consider what she really wanted—

“Are you going to let him take you down the Dark Path?”

“Celinda!” Gooseflesh rose over her arms as Kate’s attention was jerked back to the present. The Dark Path had the worst reputation of all the poorly lit pathways at Vauxhall.