Was that discomfiture that flittered across his face? It was gone in an instant. His fingers returned to rake his hair, leaving it to flop over his forehead in that attractive way that always made her catch her breath. “I’m sure I don’t know what women want.”
She wouldn’t let him get away with that. “Perhaps you should give it more thought.”
He frowned. “I don’t like it that you kept this from me. You’re too secretive for my liking, Kate. How am I to trust you?”
“Iam secretive?” she spluttered. “I don’t disappear at night to visit my lover!”
He looked wounded. “And neither do I!”
“Not now, perhaps! But you can’t say you haven’t visited her since we married.”
They both breathed heavily. “That’s unfair!” he snapped. “I haven’t touched another woman since I married you!”
Rage at his duplicity and the unfairness of his criticism bubbled up in her throat to choke her. “Do you expect me to believe that? When you have disappeared at night, sometimes until dawn?”
“You can believe what you like.” He went to fling open the door. “I’m going to the salon to break up this charmingtête à tête. The responsibility of Merry’s welfare rests on my shoulders, remember?”
“Which you have happily left up to me, until now,” Kate snapped.
“Which I shouldn’t have done by the looks of it.” He cast her a glance of such dislike she shivered. “You may rest assured I shall take over this task you’ve found so distasteful.”
“I don’t find it distasteful.” Her voice trembled as she followed him down the corridor. “I’ve enjoyed having someone to talk to.”
Robert opened the salon door and the couple inside broke quickly apart. They turned shining faces toward them.
Robert walked into the room. “What goes on here?” Robert asked sternly.
Merry danced across the floor to them, leading Mr. Foster by the hand.
“Robert, I should like to introduce my fiancé, Mr. Hugh Foster.”
Foster sheepishly offered Robert his hand. “I beg pardon, my lord. This is conduct unbecoming. But it’s the first chance I’ve had to straighten things out with Merry.”
Robert gave his hand a hearty shake. Kate suspected there was more than a soupcon of relief in the gesture. “Glad to meet you, Foster. I gather this is what you want, Merry?”
Merry hugged Kate. She swirled to give Robert a teary smile. “Yes. Mama and Papa will be so pleased. I can’t wait to tell them.”
“Then I wish you both happy.” Robert glanced at Kate. “It seems everyone’s happy.”
“You must come to our wedding,” Merry cried. “It will be held in Bath after my eighteenth birthday.”
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it.” Kate thought to quiz her about Armand once they were alone, but she decided against it. Best left well alone. She suspected the Frenchman had only ever been a means to make Hugh jealous. She hadn’t underestimated his power of persuasion, however. She spared a sympathetic thought for him even though his conduct in this affair was ill judged. It might well be that his circumstances were as he said. And she suspected he really was in love with Merry.
They all turned at the knock on the door.
“My lady’s portrait has arrived,” Hove said. “Do you wish it hung, my lord?”
“Thank you, Hove,” Robert said. “It’s to replace the mirror over the mantel.”
Two footmen carefully carried the painting into the salon. They stripped off the brown paper. The portrait had been fitted into a heavy, ornate-gilt frame.
After it was hung, they gathered around to view it. It dressed the wall and suited the décor in the room. Kate had to admit she did look regal. With an intake of breath, she acknowledged that she really was a marchioness.
“Oh Kate,” Merry said a throb in her voice. “It is so beautiful. And so very like you. Especially that spark of wisdom in your eyes.”
“A very fine work,” Mr. Foster said, “from the hands of a master.”
Kate looked at Robert, praying he did like it. “Indeed, it is,” he said quietly. “A very fine work.”
