Page 3 of 10 Things I Hate About the Earl

“Your lemonade, Miss Locke.” Haversham offered her a tall glass, filled to the brim with the pale-yellow beverage. “Have a care not to spill it.”

“You are too kind, my lord, to have brought…so much.” Gingerly, she accepted the glass. “My cup runneth over, it seems.”

“Drink some before you spill it on you, cousin,” Celinda whispered, trying to steady the glass. “I tried to tell him not to fill it so full, but he insisted you were very thirsty. Be careful.”

Kate frowned, concentrating on not ruining her favorite gown. Curse Haversham. He’d done this on purpose, either to spoil her gown or simply vex her. If the latter was his intent, he was succeeding famously. Her scowl turned into a lopsided smile when she heard her brother approach behind her. “Thank you, my lord. I’m sure I’ll not be thirsty now.” She stared pointedly at several drips sliding gracefully down the glass. “Perhaps nevermore.”

“Did you drain the last pitcher, Haversham?” Nathan eyed the full glass askance.

“I couldn’t countenance the possibility that Miss Locke might remain unsatisfied by a less than full glass.” Haversham bowed, his face now as impassive as Nathan’s had been. “I do hope this will keep her occupied and sated.”

Her brother let out a strangled, choking sound.

Kate sent Haversham a scornful look and finally managed a sip that lowered the beverage to a less dangerous level. At least she no longer feared for her gown.

“Who are you engaged with for the next dance, Kate?” Celinda looked at her eagerly.

Her cousin was a lovely person but had moments when she relapsed into a total goose. “I’m sitting the next set out, Celinda. My feet are sore.”

“But you’ve only danced the one waltz.” Celinda’s brow puckered comically.

“Some partners are more wearing than others, Lady Celinda.” Haversham chuckled and turned his attention to Nathan. “Come, let me recoup my finances with you, Ainsley. I’m feeling lucky tonight.” His gaze flitted over her face, a momentary contact that startled Kate with its intensity.

“Yes, let us begin the slaughter.” Her brother laughed and started for the doorway that led to the rest of Lady Hamilton’s first floor. Almost at the entryway, he turned back to her. “Play nicely, Kate. If you feel you must make mischief with someone, at least have the courtesy to tell me. Don’t make me learn it from Lady Drayle’s footman, as I did last time.” He delivered that parting shot and turned, immediately in conversation with Haversham. They wound their way out of sight, and Kate sighed heavily.

“Lord, I don’t know which man has made me angrier.” Kate tapped her fan against her hand several times then unfurled it and fanned herself. Serve Nathan right if Haversham took every penny in his accounts. Of course, then she would have no dowry and end up a spinster. Though even that status had its charms tonight.

“You do seem ready to fly to pieces, Kate, and the evening is just begun.” Celinda’s tinkly little laugh grated rather than soothed at the moment.

“Well, you didn’t help matters either, cuz.” Kate rounded on her cousin, whose big blue eyes widened innocently.

“Me? What did I do? I thought I’d give you time to engage yourself with another partner while I took Lord Haversham out of your path.” The petite blonde sniffed. “Is it my fault you’d rather complain about the man than replace him with a more pleasing partner?”

“How do you know I was complaining about Haversham?”

“Were you?” Celinda arched a delicate eyebrow.

“Well, yes.” Kate lowered her voice. She didn’t intend to be tomorrow morning’s prime on-dit if she could help it. “But you couldn’t know that.”

“Tsk tsk.” Celinda shook a finger at her. “You had the same pained expression on your face when we returned as when we left. How many times have I warned you to school your face if you want to veil your thoughts, my dear?” She plucked the still-full glass from Kate’s hand and set it on a nearby table.

“You always said that when we were growing up.” Kate rubbed her finger across her lips. Did she truly give away her feelings so easily?

“Yes, whenever we got into trouble, you were the last person we wanted to try to cover it up.” Celinda shook her head, lost in memory. “Now it’s even more imperative that you watch what you do and say—and how you look.”

“Oh, please.” Kate grasped her head then quickly turned a smile on the Dowager Countess of Wendley. Once the older woman, one of the ton’s biggest gossips, had passed by, she returned to her cousin. “I’ve had this same lecture from Nathan twice tonight. Behave myself and get a husband. His two edicts for me this Season.”

“You have to admit, Kate, that your opportunities for marriage are shrinking.” Celinda peered around the dance floor. “Although you might console yourself with the idea that this is the Matchmaker’s Ball. Surely, that must mean someone you meet here tonight will take your fancy.”

“Huh.” Kate pouted for the briefest moment then schooled her face back into more pleasant lines. “I might take comfort in that, Celinda, had this not been my third Matchmaker’s Ball. Apparently, the magic of Lady Hamilton’s soiree does not work on me.”

“Or me either, cuz.” Celinda shook her head sadly. “This is my second, and I’ve seen no one here tonight who would tempt me to matrimony.” She sighed, her lips now forming a charming moue. “There are simply no new gentlemen of any consequence or conversation out this year.”

“Then who, pray tell, is that?” Kate had been shifting from foot to foot, trying to get used to standing for long periods again, when the most handsome man she’d ever seen walked calmly though the doorway, more graceful in his movements than a cat on a fence rail.

His dark good looks caught her attention, but wide shoulders that tapered to slim hips and strong legs kept her staring. He was dressed impeccably in elegant black evening clothes, and a snowy white cravat fastened with a modest gold-and-diamond pin made the man so devilishly handsome that she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

A couple danced by, passing in front of him, and when they moved on, he had vanished.