“My lady,” he said, casting a quick glance up the stairs to where James and Emma were greeting Katherine’s aunt, though both were staring down at the two of them and neither appeared happy. “What a surprise.”
She folded her arms and looked up at him with a nod. “Indeed, it is that.”
He arched a brow at her cool tone. Dismissive, even. He wanted to get under her skin. “I believe I was invited here in order to avoid you.”
Her eyes went wide and her arms dropped away from their position as shield. “I—well…yes, I believe that was the same reason I was asked to come here.”
He chuckled at her honesty, forced from her by surprise. With her guard down, she was even lovelier. The flush to her cheeks made her look alive, made him wonder how low that blush traveled down her curves. How it would look if it were coaxed by pleasure and not shock.
He nudged his head toward the others. “Do you think they are secretly trying to put us together?”
Her lips parted as if she had not considered this option. Her gaze flew to the top of the stairs, and together they looked at James and Emma again. Now that Katherine’s aunt had stepped aside, the couple had their heads together and were talking, apparently at once, and staring down at Katherine and Robert.
“Judging from how all the color is out of Emma’s cheeks and the animation of their conversation, I would say no,” Katherine said.
“Well, at least we are entertained,” he said, looking back at her.
She glanced at their flustered hosts once more and then she smiled. Robert promptly forgot how to breathe as he stared at her. He’d never seen her smile. Not really smile, as opposed to some fake thing she wore as a mask. She was…stunning. All the life of the world was in her bright eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to keep that expression on her face forever. It was as warm as the sun.
He blinked, trying to clear his mind of these errant thoughts. He held out his elbow and winked, hoping she would not see past the cad he played in public. “Shall we make the best of it?”
She made a little sigh. Just the tiniest sound from the back of her throat. His body tensed because it was a sound of…surrender. Then she took his arm and let him lead her up the stairs to their horrified hosts.
Robert smiled. This was going to be a very interesting ten days, to say the least.
It took every fiber in Katherine’s being to control herself and not tremble as she held her hand in the crook of Roseford’s arm and moved up the stairs at his side. He was very warm and very handsome and very…hard. His arm was veryhard, and it was as distracting as his unexpected appearance was.
But ofcoursehe was here. She had come to Abernathe to escape him, but her life had never been about escape. She had been forced to face her demons, fight them and never quite win, for as long as she could recall. Why would it be different now? Roseford was here. How, why, she didn’t know. But she would have to deal with him and that was that.
They reached the top of the stairs and he released her, his warmth clinging to her body even after she moved away to greet Abernathe, then stepped toward Emma.
Her friend’s face was pale as paper as she drew Katherine in for a brief embrace.
“Katherine, I am so sorry,” she whispered. “I had no idea James had convinced Robert to join us. And somehow in the excitement of our coming, I hadn’t mentioned to him that you would be in attendance.”
Katherine drew back and smiled at the pretty duchess, whose brown eyes were now soft with concern and guilt. There seemed to be no treachery there. She looked truly horrified and that somehow comforted Katherine. At least she was only dealing with one enemy.
“You don’t owe me an apology, Your Grace, I assure you,” she said, and was pleased that none of the conflict she felt was present in her voice. “The Duke of Roseford is a friend of your family—I would never presume to be upset at who is at your estate. I will manage just fine.”
Emma did not look certain, but she smiled at any rate. “Well, Adelaide is already inside if you’d like to share tea with her. I see another carriage arriving, so we will have to stay outside a while longer. Otherwise, I hope we can talk in depth later.”
Katherine linked arms with her aunt, who was waiting for her a few steps away. Bethany gave her an odd look, which Katherine ignored as she cast one last glance down the line toward Roseford. He was talking to Abernathe, their heads close together in what seemed a very serious exchange. He didn’t look at her. Of course he wouldn’t.
“Thank you, I look forward to it,” she said to Emma, and then she and her aunt entered the house. The butler rushed to take their things.
“May I show you to your chambers?” he asked.
“I would love a lie down,” Bethany said even though concern still lined her face. “Are you coming up?”
Katherine paused. She actually wouldn’t mind a moment alone in her chamber to re-gather herself. But if the look on Bethany’s face were any indication, that would not be what would happen. Her aunt had questions, ones Katherine wasn’t ready to answer.
“No, I think I’ll stay downstairs,” she said, and turned to the butler. “The duchess mentioned something about tea?”
He nodded. “I will call on a servant to take you.”
“Oh, just give me the direction,” Katherine said. “I know your staff is busy, I can find it.”
The man looked relieved at her suggestion and quickly told her how to find the parlor. Then he and her aunt moved up the stairs so he could show her to her chamber.
