Wedding Night With the Earl (22 page)

Since they wouldn’t leave, Katherine was going to have to. With the possibility of Lord Greyhawke waiting outside for her, she simply couldn’t wait any longer.

“My lord, ladies, would you excuse me? Uncle Quillsbury was looking for Aunt Leola earlier. I need to see if I can help him find her.”

“I’ll go with you,” Penny said.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Katherine said with a generous smile. “I need no help. You stand right here and talk to Lord Rudyard. I’m sure he enjoys being surrounded by so many beautiful ladies, don’t you, my lord?”

“Ah, well, yes, of course,” he answered. “Of course.”

“Good. I’ll see all of you a little later in the evening.” And with that, Katherine turned and started walking away before anyone could say more and detain her further. She’d had enough of everyone delaying her. She had to know what the note said.

Katherine placed the punch on the first table she passed and then hurried behind one of the massive columns and leaned against it. She inhaled a deep breath and opened her palm.
Alone at last,
she thought with a smile. She placed her cane between her legs and started unfolding the note.

“What are you doing, Katherine?” Aunt Leola said, appearing out of nowhere.

Startled, Katherine glanced up, wincing inside.

“Here, let me help you with that. Take hold of your cane. You’re going to end up falling again if you aren’t careful.”

Before Katherine could react, her aunt reached for the paper.

Katherine snatched it up to her bosom. “No.” She swallowed hard and in a softer tone said, “I mean, I’m perfectly capable of opening a simple note, Aunt Lee.”

“Of course you are, dearest. But why should you be bothered when I can do it for you? That way you can use your cane as it’s supposed to be used. Now, don’t be a silly goose. Let me help you.” She slipped the small piece of vellum from Katherine’s clutched hand and started unfolding it.

Katherine’s breaths turned fast and choppy, and she felt light-headed. Her aunt was going to know that the earl was trying to make an assignation with her.

Aunt Leola’s eyes narrowed as she strained to read the note in the dim light. Katherine thought she might faint before she heard her aunt say: “‘Bring items to the Potts Orphanage at half-past three tomorrow afternoon. Same room as before.’ It’s not signed. But of course there was no need when you know who gave you the note as a reminder about the orphanage.”

Katherine let out a small gasp. Relief made her limbs weak.

“That’s all it says?” she asked breathlessly, thinking surely there must be more.

Her aunt turned it over and looked on the back. “It appears so.” She handed the note back to Katherine.

The earl was very clever to not sign his name. He must have known there was a possibility the note would be intercepted by someone other than her. His comment was simple and written so only she would understand its meaning.

“Did you forget to take some of the things you had collected with you when you went to the orphanage a couple of days ago?”

“There’s more for me to take,” she said. “I’ll take care of it tomorrow, if that’s all right with you.”

“Of course. I’m just sorry you forgot some of it and have to go again. It’s got to be a nuisance. If you aren’t up to it, I’ll take care of it for you, my dear.”

“Auntie, please. There is nothing wrong with me.” She stopped, took a deep breath, and smiled sweetly. “There hasn’t been for several years now. I am perfectly fine and more than capable of doing everything for myself, if you will only let me.”

She gave Katherine a curious look. “I do.”

“When you brought me my toast in bed, you put the butter and jam on it for me.”

“So?” she asked, seeming completely bewildered by Katherine’s comment. “Oh, all right. But you know I don’t mind helping those poor orphans any more than you do. I think it’s a wonderful act of kindness what you and the Tea Society ladies do for them each week, and I wanted to do my part.”

The steam popped out of Katherine’s argument. Her aunt couldn’t bring herself to say “Wilted Tea Society.” “Thank you, Auntie, and I do believe they appreciate your efforts, too.”

“Will you be meeting any of the other ladies there tomorrow?”

“I don’t think so,” she added, and felt a little guilty at the near prevarication. “I think Uncle Quillsbury is ready to go and so am I. Are you?”

Her aunt smiled. “That’s the reason I was looking for you. It’s time for us to go.”

With her good leg, Katherine pushed away from the column. Though there was sweet relief at not getting caught with a note from Lord Greyhawke asking for a rendezvous, there was also acute disappointment that the earl wasn’t waiting outside to dance with her.

Chapter 21

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

—All’s Well That Ends Well,
act 4, scene 3

Adam strode through the front door, taking off his hat. He laid it, and the package he held, on the side table in the vestibule. It had taken much too long at the apothecary’s shop, but it was a job that had to be done. He’d promised Dixon that he’d do his best to find Mrs. Bernewelt a different ointment for her hands, and he’d failed to make any effort to get that done until today.

Who would have known that there were so many different concoctions available to help one’s aches and pains? And none of them smelled like flowers. The man had Adam sniffing so many different ointments, liniments, and salves that his stomach started roiling in protest. He finally had to leave it up to the shopkeeper to pick the one with the least foul scent.

It was really a small thing to do for a little boy who’d lost his parents and was suddenly thrust into a household with a stranger and his large dog, who until recently had scared the daylights out of Dixon. Adam was happy that ever since Dixon had given Pharaoh a bite of his sweet cake in the park that day, he hadn’t seemed frightened by the Pyrenees anymore. And Adam hoped the new ointment would help Mrs. Bernewelt as well as make it easier for Dixon to endure when she was close. If not, there were certainly plenty more for them to try.

“Good afternoon, my lord,” Clark said, coming up to him. “Let me help you with your cloak.”

“I have it,” Adam said, swinging the heavy woolen cover off his shoulders. Pharaoh came running up to him, seeking attention. Adam reached down and gave the Pyrenees a couple of generous pats on his back, then rubbed his head a few times. “No, Clark,” Adam said when his butler reached for his hat. “No need to put my things away. I’m on my way back out again.”

“But you have—”

“Whatever it is,” Adam interrupted him, “I’ll deal with it later. I only stopped by because I wanted to bring you this.” He picked up the small package and handed it to Clark. “This is an ointment for Mrs. Bernewelt’s hands.”

The man looked puzzled but said, “I’ll be sure she gets it.”

Adam saw the blank expression on Clark’s face and knew further explanation was needed. “She’s not expecting it. You’ll have to tell her it’s from an apothecary and it will help ease the pain in her finger joints, but it doesn’t have the foul odor of what she’s using now. She should try this and let you know how it works. I certainly don’t want her using it if it doesn’t work as well.”

Clark’s brows rose. “You want me to tell her all that, my lord?”

Adam picked up his hat and cloak. “It matters not to me whether you tell her or if you give the message and package to the housekeeper and have her handle it. Just see to it that she gets it and that she uses it. I’d like a report back on how it’s working for her.”

“Yes, Your Lordship, consider it done. But I must tell you before you rush out again that Lord Thornwick is waiting for you in the book room. He asked to stay and await your return. I hope that was all right?”

Harrison?

“Of course it’s all right,” he said, handing his cloak and hat to Clark. “I’ll go see what he wants.”

Adam looked over at the tall clock standing in the corner by the door while he took off his gloves. He didn’t have much time before he had to meet with Katherine. He didn’t want to be late. If he wasn’t already there when she arrived, he was afraid she might not wait for him. The server last night had assured him that the note had been successfully delivered to the right young lady. Adam hoped that was true. If it was, he had no doubt Katherine had the courage and cleverness to find a way to return to the orphanage.

Harrison stood in front of the window looking out when Adam walked in, saying, “Good to see you, my friend.”

“You too.” Harrison greeted him with a handshake. “I expected I would find you at home working with your solicitors. I was surprised when you weren’t here.”

“I should be.” Adam knew he should ask his friend to sit down, but he really didn’t have the time to be polite. “I needed a day to do some other things, so I told them not to come today.”

“That’s right. You’ve been here a few weeks now. There’s a lot to learn, isn’t there?”

“More than I could have ever expected,” Adam said, feeling anxious to be on his way.

“But you are up to the task and no doubt probably enjoying learning about the estates more than you thought you would.”

“All true,” Adam admitted. He would also enjoy staying for a long visit with Harrison, but this wasn’t a good time. “So tell me what brings you here? Are you on your way to the club?”

“No.” Harrison smiled nervously. “I wanted to tell you that Angelina had the baby last night.”

Adam felt an instant jolt to his stomach. He hadn’t expected Harrison to say that. He hadn’t even known it was time for the baby to be born. Now that he thought about it, he realized he’d seldom thought about the fact that his two best friends’ wives were expecting babes. It was an easy thing to put out of his mind. He should have at least asked how they were doing once in a while, but he hadn’t. Miss Katherine Wright was the only lady he ever thought about.

“All went well,” Harrison continued when Adam didn’t respond immediately. “The baby and Angelina are fine. I thought you’d want to know.”

“Yes. That’s good news.”

“Yes, it is. You’re the first person I’ve told.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” He appreciated that Harrison had wanted to do that. “I’m happy for you.”

“I knew you would be.”

He shook Harrison’s hand and clapped him on the upper arm. “So, tell me, do you have a son or daughter?”

“Son.”

Adam laughed, and he was glad it was a genuine, cheerful laugh. “What every man hopes for, yes? Congratulations, my friend. And you say everything went well with both of them?”

“I’ll say. An hour after the baby was born, Angelina was sitting up in bed declaring she was starving and wanted a bowl of lamb stew.”

“A healthy appetite. That’s definitely a good sign that all is well. I’m glad.” Adam felt he was doing a pitiful job congratulating Harrison. But hell, he didn’t know what else to say other than that he was happy for him. “So what about Bray’s wife? I mean, is she … you know?”

“No babe yet as far as I know. I’m going to see him when I leave here. I’ll ask how she’s doing.”

Adam nodded. “You have a son. This calls for a celebration. Why don’t we all meet at the Heirs’ Club later for a drink? Unless, of course, you need to stay with Angelina.”

“No, no, later will be fine,” Harrison said. “She needs to rest. Let’s say we’ll meet at six and hopefully Bray can join us.”

“Good,” Adam said. “I’ll see you there. Come on. I was just leaving, so I’ll walk you to the door.”

Chapter 22

Be not afraid of shadows.

—Richard III,
act 5, scene 3

Katherine wasn’t nervous about her clandestine meeting with Adam. Making the arrangements to meet him hadn’t been easy, but she found it exciting. However, she had much trepidation about trying to dance.

At first she’d wondered what on earth had made her challenge the earl to teach her, as he’d claimed he could. But she knew. In the heat of the moment, she would have said or done anything to get him to stay in London a little while longer. The truth was that she didn’t want him to go. The thought of never seeing him again caused an intense dull ache inside her.

There were times she gave in to darker thoughts and allowed herself to insist that life had been so unfair to her. She’d lost her family way too young. The accident and later the fall down the stairs had left her with a limp. She had lived in a good but quiet house, always longing for the sound of laughter, chatter, or even shouts of anger. Something other than the always polite, unemotional conversations between her aunt and uncles or the whispered mutterings of the servants. She never allowed those thoughts to stay and fester. Her happy nature would always return quickly.

But now, the one gentleman who stirred her senses, who challenged her at every turn, who had somehow managed to reach beneath her armor and touch her soul, was going to leave London. She didn’t know if she would ever see him again after he was gone. So coming to meet him today was an easy decision for her.

Before sending her maid off to the other side of the orphanage with the basket of clothing, Katherine explained there were some things she had to take care of and she would be returning late to the carriage. Her maid was to wait and not to worry. After the woman disappeared down the corridor, Katherine headed for the room where she’d last met with the earl. The door was closed when she reached it. She inhaled deeply to steady her breathing, knocked lightly, and stepped back.

Lord Greyhawke opened the door. Katherine’s heart skipped a beat and then soared at the sight of him. Blinking so her eyes could focus in the windowless room, she took in the dark trousers and white shirt that had no neckcloth or collar. The garment fit his torso like a well-worn leather glove, showing the breadth of his muscular chest and shoulders. She had no idea his waist was so narrow and his hips were so lean and slim. The legs of his dark trousers fit seamlessly into the tops of his shiny calf-high boots. He was so magnificent, he simply took her breath away.