“You don’tknowwhat I’ve done.” She spoke with the annoyance of a big sister. “You can’t possibly understand how hard I battled to reach this point. To overcome the people who would not take me seriously, who attempted to undermine me every step of the way.”
Annoyance crossed his face, and there it was—proof that, no matter how earnest, he was like any other man of her acquaintance. Well, except for Silas. She trusted Silas.
“I don’t think you understand me,” Winderton said quietly with great drama. “I’min lovewith you.”
Kate could have laughed. She’d heard that before as well. Men wanted what they could not have. She drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I thank you for the compliment, Your Grace. Unfortunately, I am not searching for love.”
“I thought love was what we all want.”
“Especially women?”
He stiffened. “Don’t treat me as if I am naïve. Nor am I jaded like so many of my contemporaries. When I first saw you yesterday, my heartburst. There is no other word for it. Iburstwith love for you.”
But Katewasso jaded that she didn’t believe him. What she suspected was that he’d had a “burst” of lust, something very different from love. Lust could make men do irresponsible and astounding things... including lashing out at those they purported to “love.” Still he was young, and she knew he’d mistaken lust for love. He didn’t yet know the difference.
He took a step closer; she stepped back and hit the trunk of the tree. She had little room to move. He looked down at her, his expression intent. “I can’t believe you don’t feel what I do. You must. Or else you are lying to yourself. Trust me, Miss Addison—Kate.” He said her given name as if testing it and finding he liked it. “Trust what is between us, Kate.” He leaned toward her, his lips puckering—
She gracefully stepped aside and avoided those lips. “Your Grace, I cannot.”
“Because you won’t believe.”
There was that. And men never liked hearing she didn’t share their feelings.
The one thing that worked was a crisp telling of the truth. “My place is on the stage. I was born to it. My mother was an actress and her mother before her. I will not let anything or anyone stop me from going to London. It may surprise you to learn that I was once lauded as the most talented actress in the city. And then my opportunities were stolen from me. I was disgraced, humiliated.”Betrayed.
Bile rose in her at the memories. She’d been such a goose back then. She was wiser now.
“I go to London to reclaim my place on the stage, and no one will ever chase me off again. I’ll look the devil in the eye, if I must, and he’d best be afraid.” Her words gave her strength.
Winderton listened with unwavering gray eyes. Eyes that seemed to tickle a memory in her. “Do you believe me afraid of strong women? I’ll be right beside you to meet the devil.”
His offer startled her. He would take up her cause? For a second, she believed him—it had something to do with his haunting eyes—until he added, “Come to the dance with me.”
And then she knew the truth. He hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Men were infuriating—
“No, don’t deny me outright,” he cautioned, as if he believed he could read her mind. “Think on my request. It is a simple one. I will wait for your answer.”
“But you won’t accept a no?”
“That is right.” He punctuated his words with a roguish grin that brought out a charming dimple and began walking out of their forest hideaway. Kate followed.
“You are a dreamer, Your Grace.”
“That I am. I dream of you.” They were out from under the tree’s limbs. “Send word when you are ready to say yes.”
“That won’t happen.”
“It might.” He walked the distance to the tents and picked up his hat off the trunk where he’d set it earlier. He placed it on his head at a rakish angle, and then untied his horse from a tree branch. He mounted. With a wink at her and a cocksure wave to her actors, he was on his way.
Silas sauntered over to her. “He acted happy when he left.”
“You know me better than that. Come, we have much work to do.” She clapped her hands toward the others. “Places. Let us rehearse ‘Mr. Fox and the Crows’ twice more. Then we will do Silas’s prologue followed by ‘Country Mouse and City Mouse.’ Later, while we build the stage, Robbie and Jess, you will take some handbills around and spread the word of tomorrow’s performances.”
“Going to the dance on the duke’s arm would spread the news fast enough that we are here,” Nestor commented.
Kate didn’t bother looking at him. Her coldness didn’t deter the Irishman. He added slyly, “Who knows? He seems taken. Isn’t a duke who all you women dream about?”
He was being provocative. She ignored him and focused on the business at hand. “Nestor, we’ll start with your line. Begin—”
