It dawned on him that Kate had somehow discovered Anastasia. “And how is that?”
Her pretty, pink lips firmed. He wanted very much to kiss them again and being thwarted made him extremely unsatisfied.
This was not turning out the way he’d hoped. He’d come back from the stables with the intention of making love to her. He should have been more patient. He’d lost his head. It was all this pent-up desire. Was he a callow youth for God’s sake?
Kate turned her back for him to do up her corset. “If you wish us to be civil to each other, you shall escort me out in the evening and stay by my side for much of the evening. You shall kiss my hand and compliment my gown and be nice to me.”
Robert obediently did up the hooks on her gown and was stabbed with a pin for his pains. He was in error, but Kate could push him only so far. “There are plenty of men in thetonwho will fawn on you and pay you fulsome compliments. And more if you should wish it.”
Kate stamped her foot. “I don’t want fulsome compliments. I don’t want other men. I want honest affection. I want to be cherished, and…”—she gave a sob—“…loved. If that is impossible, then I shall remove myself from beneath your roof.”
“That is a consideration, certainly.” Robert rose, his desire still an uncomfortable fact, tightening his breeches. His annoyance grew. He would not be dictated to in this fashion. If she’d been brought up a lady, she would know better than to question his behavior. But then she might find a lover of her own. The thought chilled him.
Kate gathered up the rest of her things and flew out of the room.
When the door shut behind her, Robert went to pour himself a brandy. He sat for a while brooding about her skin and how soft it was to touch. He tried to move his thoughts from the image of Kate’s full lips in a pout, her fine, straight brows scowling, and her full breasts heaving in indignation as she stamped her foot. She looked magnificent. But she demanded too much from him, she wanted his very soul. He was a private person. He never wished for that and, but for the need of an heir, hadn’t wished to marry. And now, it seemed, to have peace in his own house, or even make love to his wife, he must become one of those unfortunate husbands led about by leading strings.
Oh, no, not he. He didn’t know what love was, and this sensation in his chest, as if his heart had split in two, was surely just the result of frustrated desire. Intolerable!
He put down his glass and stormed out of the room. He would not be home for dinner, he instructed his inscrutable butler and left for his club.
