Page 4 of 10 Things I Hate About the Earl

Chapter 2

“Did you see him?” Kate stared at the far side of the ballroom so hard that Lady Fauntleroy raised her quizzing glass and glared back at her. She shook herself. Had that been the handsome face she’d been in search of for two long years? She must seek out Lady Hamilton and beg an introduction.

“See whom? The room is filled to bursting with guests, Kate.” Celinda had been gazing at the dancers forming the next set. “What I need is for one of them to ask me to dance. Would you mind if Lord Haversham stood up with me?”

“Of course not,” Kate said, peering distractedly through the knots of people, unable to spy the mysterious gentleman. “Why should I mind?” She stepped around one of the Grecian pillars that graced the ballroom to get a better view. Nothing. Had he truly vanished into thin air? Perhaps they should try the card room. He might have headed there.

“Well, you two always seem to quarrel so spiritedly, I wondered if you were really attracted to one another.”

“What?” Kate jerked her head back toward her cousin, boggled by Celinda’s outrageous suggestion.

Celinda turned wide, innocent eyes on her. “Oh, you know, like Kate and Petruchio in Shakespeare. Or Beatrice and Benedick, for that matter. They always get together in the end.”

“I assure you that will not be the case with me and Lord Haversham.” Kate shook her shoulders. The very thought made her cringe. “So please, take him and welcome. Although why you would want to waste your time, I do not know. Lord Haversham is a dismally old-fashioned man who won’t even let his sister, out for her first Season, dance a waltz.” How cruel to deny her that most wonderful experience. “How is the girl going to find out if a gentleman’s an acceptable partner if she can’t dance closely with him?”

“Is the waltz your test for a husband then, Kate?” Celinda’s mouth twitched.

“I suppose it is.” She hadn’t thought of it like that before, but truth be told, she often dismissed gentlemen who couldn’t waltz well. “Do you think that a bad thing?”

“I think it a trifle odd. There are truly characteristics other than dancing that are requisite for a good husband,” Celinda said soberly, her blue eyes now fixed on Kate. “You must take his character into consideration, and his disposition. One can waltz well and still be a rogue.”

“That is part of the test as well.” Kate laughed. “But all things being equal, if a gentleman has every other sterling quality but can’t acquit himself credibly on the dance floor, he is not for me.”

“Then you must admit, Lord Haversham should be a mighty contender for your hand.”

“What?” Madness must have overcome the girl.

“He has an excellent character, a very kind disposition, and according to my own observation, is an impeccable dancer.” Her cousin nodded fiercely.

“Has Nathan put you up to this…this matchmaking?” She certainly wouldn’t put that past her brother.

“No, I’m simply stating the obvious.”

“Well, it’s not obvious to me.” Kate wanted to scream. “I cannot see how you can call him kind when he treats his sister so shabbily. And if he does that to his own kin, how well do you think he’ll treat his wife?”

“I know he seems to have old-fashioned ideas about the waltz. I agree that it is unfortunate. However, I am sure Lord Haversham is doing his best given his recent tragic circumstances.” She leaned toward Kate and lowered her voice. “Mamma had it from Lady Fairfax, his aunt, that her nephew is still grievously mourning the loss of his father.” Celinda shook her head, her mouth strained. “I know I would be completely distraught if Papa were to die, and he is ever so much older than the previous Lord Haversham. The current earl and his sisters have not gotten over his death. Perhaps he thinks a waltz too gay a dance for Lady Letitia at this time.” Celinda waved to the slight girl in question, who was standing beside her aunt, her pink cheeks complementing her sweet gown.

“I doubt it, Celinda.” Still gazing around the ballroom, Kate sighed. The handsome gentleman had completely disappeared. “Lord Haversham is an old fogey, even if he is young. Nathan wanting me to marry him is quite unfathomable.”

Celinda’s brows rose nearly to her hairline, and she grasped Kate’s hand in a vise-like grip. “My dear, do open your budget. Has he arranged the marriage? Or has Lord Haversham offered for you? Why did you not tell me?”

“Because there is nothing to tell.” Lord, both those men would drive her to distraction. “Nathan wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing without consulting me, and he knows he needn’t waste his breath because I would refuse. Haversham has never had a kind word to say to me, and looks dour whenever we meet, which is too often as it is.” Kate wrinkled her nose. The thought of being leg-shackled to the man made her slightly ill. “I won’t marry him, and I don’t care if I am in my third Season.”

“You could always attract the attention of Lord Somersby.” Celinda sniggered and cast a look over at that gentleman, so dashing in his extremely well-cut evening clothes. “The two of you would make quite an elegant couple were you to partner in a dance or…something more permanent. I wonder if he would pass your waltz test.” The gleam of mirth in her cousin’s eyes exasperated Kate that much more.

“I heard about his antics at Lady Marbury’s Christmas party, Celinda—from you!”

She burst out laughing, making the gold ringlets beside her face dance and bob. “Perhaps he has reformed in the New Year.”

“In a pig’s eye. You’d have a better chance of reforming that pig than Somersby.” Kate grimaced and shuddered, bringing another peal of laughter from Celinda.

“It will take a special woman to tame that one.” Celinda cocked her head, giving Kate a hopeful look. “Are you certain you are not up to the challenge?”

“I’d probably plant him a facer before all was said and done. No, I am happy to leave his lordship alone and hope for better things,” Kate said absently, her attention reverting to the search for the dark, handsome stranger.

“Who are you looking for?” Celinda peered in the same direction as Kate.

“That gentleman. The stranger I asked you about just now. Did you really not see him?” Had she imagined the man? “Where did he go?” she muttered.