Katherine tried to smile, but it was almost impossible as she faced the group of duchesses, all looking at her like they believed she would one day soon be one of them. But they didn’t know the truth. They didn’t know she couldneverbe with him.
“You haven’t,” she managed to say.
It was true to a point. She was overwhelmed, but it wasn’t entirely by them. It was her own heart that overwhelmed her. Her own mind. Her own desires, that whispered, then spoke, then screamed in her head that what these women described was something she couldn’t deny.
“She looks like she’ll faint,” Helena said, getting up. “Katherine, sit down. Drink your tea. We are all going to stop regaling you with competitive stories about our scandals and trying to convince you that Robert is a safe bet for a future. Instead, we are going to talk about Emma’s gown, which is brand new and beautiful. Emma, where did you get that fabric?”
Katherine thumped back into the settee and half-listened as her friends loudly changed the subject for her benefit. But in her mind, the subject would not be changed. And she would have to face the topic soon enough when she came face to face with Robert again.
Chapter Sixteen
Katherine had been avoiding him since their kiss in the parlor. Robert supposed he should be accustomed to that. After all, this was the same woman who had fled from him after her return to Society weeks ago. The woman who had set him down and thrown him aside and denied him ever since, even though she clearly wanted him.
If avoiding him were an art, she would be a proficient.
At first, it had created amusement and interest in him. But now, watching her across the room as she played a hand of whist with Meg, Emma and Charlotte, the fact that she would not look at him was…
Well, annoying was the word. It sat in his gut, making him think about her face earlier in the day when they were caught together. His imprudence had caused that sick expression, that dull fear, and he felt…guilty for it.
Guilt was not an emotion he normally let take root in his mind. Too dangerous.
“You look mightily aggravated,” Simon said as he moved to Robert’s side and observed the room with him.
“You’rehere,” Robert muttered. “Who wouldn’t be aggravated?”
Simon grinned at his ill-natured quip but didn’t back away or press him on it. At least for a moment.
“I’m fine,” Robert added when the silence became too much. When he felt Simon’s questions and judgments hanging in the air like a noose between them.
“Good,” Simon said. “Never implied otherwise.”
“Yes, you did.” Robert turned toward him, folding his arms in what he knew was a display of petulance that was far beneath him. “You said I looked aggravated.”
“Youare,” Simon corrected him. “You are practically throwing yourself on the floor and having a fit like Bibi does.”
“You compare me to an eighteen-month-old child,” Robert asked, thinking of James and Emma’s little girl. Although none of the children in attendance had been to many of the events, he knew they were around. Saw them with their parents from time to time.
“I suppose that’s unfair,” Simon said with a smile. “Bibi at her worst is more charming than you are at present.”
Robert turned away from him with a harrumph and hoped his friend would go away. Instead, Simon bumped him shoulder to shoulder. “Should I guess what is bringing on this little fit?” he asked.
Robert ground his teeth. “Have you nothing better to do?”
“Nothing at all.” Simon laughed. “You like her. And it’s driving youmadthat this is becoming more to you than just some wager.”
“Like who?” Robert grumbled.
“The queen of bloody Spain,” Simon huffed. “Katherine, of course, you great idiot. Everyone can see it.”
Robert squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want everyone to see what he was having a hard time admitting to himself. “You and Meg,” he snapped. “With your stupid theories.”
Simon nodded. “Ah, so youdon’tlike her. Then you won’t mind if I invite her to join Meg and me for a few weeks after the party here is over.”
“Of course not,” Robert said, ignoring the twinge that accompanied the idea of the party ending. When it did, he wouldn’t see Katherine every day, no matter where she went. “I’m sure she’d love the country. You have a pretty estate.”
“Thank you. I’ll pass along your compliments,” Simon said with a chuckle. “Meg enjoys her company, of course. No need for her to go back to the lion’s den that is London so quickly, eh? Only bad influences there.”
Robert pursed his lips. “You are trying to get a rise out of me. It will not work.”
