“I shall, too. I bought her a shawl, yesterday. We must invite her to dinner.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That was thoughtful.”
Kate opened her reticule. “I bought something for you, too, Robert.”
“Really?”
He looked pleased when she handed him the snuff box wrapped in silver paper. “I cannot give you anything as wonderful as these,” she said, touching the cold gems at her throat. “It is only a small thing.”
He pulled the silver paper away and studied the enameled box with the chestnut horse painted on the lid. “It’s charming, Kate.” He reached for her hand and kissed it, his smiling blue eyes seeking hers. “Thank you. I shall fill it with my special mixture.” He took a far grander silver box from his coat pocket and opened it, transferring its contents to the new one.
“Isn’t that my godfather’s snuff box?” Kate moved closer to examine it. “It’s the one with the pig. I thought it so unusual when he showed it to me.”
Robert stared at her, an odd expression in his eyes. “He showed you this?”
“Yes. I suspect your uncle preferred pigs to people.”
“I do believe you are right.” He laughed.
She giggled. It was heartwarming. As if they were friends. More like husband and wife. For a breathless moment, she thought he might kiss her, but he escorted her to the door. She left the room a little flat. But she supposed he wouldn’t want to spoil Brigitte’s careful maquillage.
In the foyer, a maid brought Kate her velvet cloak. Robert took it from her and settled the cloak over Kate’s shoulders, the ermine tickling her chin. “Come, allow me to show you off to society.”
His voice sounded impersonal and brisk. As if she was a new acquaintance. He’d done it again! Retreated and become aloof as if they hadn’t shared an intimate moment only a few minutes ago. With the light touch of his hand on her arm as he escorted her to the carriage, she wondered if she had done something to provoke it. Or perhaps she had not done enough to make him realize that she cared for him? It was so dreadfully hard when he appeared not to welcome it. Or was she just a possession, like this mausoleum of a house with its endless corridors and cold marble columns? Her interest in him had grown, along with the desire for more intimacy between them, but would he ever want the same?
As the carriage drove through the London streets, Kate asked Robert to tell her more about King George and Queen Charlotte.
“He’s a good king. He takes a very real interest in the policies of the government, so much so he annoys his ministers on occasion.”
“Yes, but tell me what they are really like as people. One hears rumors, of course.”
“You mean his illness? He is well at present. He and the queen are good people and devoted to each another.” An approving gleam appeared in his eyes. “After all, they have fifteen children.”
Kate flushed and bit her lip. She was glad the light in the carriage was dim. He looked at her differently since he’d seen her without her clothes. The expression in his eyes made her feel desired and womanly. She wanted to ask him how many children he hoped they’d have, but found she couldn’t say the words, because the act which produced them was yet to take place. “Tell me more about the king,” she urged.
“He likes to dress as a farmer and even lives like one on occasion.”
“He sounds nice.”
Robert raised an eyebrow. “Do you think everyone is nice?”
She made a moue with her mouth. “You’re not always nice, Robert.”
She held her breath as he took her hand. “I’m sorry if you think that. You look lovely tonight. Quite delicious in fact.”
When he flirted, his frank gaze was highly disturbing. Even his lightest touch made her body respond. Kate didn’t know quite how to deal with it. She turned to the window.
“We must have arrived.” The carriage was slowing to turn in through a pair of ornate gates. “The drive is strung with lanterns, how pretty.”
“We have, and just when things were getting interesting,” Robert said enigmatically.
Why was he more enamored of her in the carriage? Why not in the bedchamber, she thought crossly. But she had only herself to blame for that. She wondered what she might do to change it without becoming a hoyden.
