Wedding Night With the Earl (26 page)

When the butler opened the door, Adam saw Katherine standing toward the back of the garden near a large fountain, holding a teacup in one hand and her cane in the other. She looked up at him and his stomach did a slow roll. Every long, boring lap he’d made around the block waiting for the viscount to leave had been worth it for this moment alone.

Katherine looked so incredibly fresh and lovely, he wanted to grab her in his arms and swing her around. She was like a ray of sunshine on a bleak and dreary day. He remembered how she’d responded to him, how soft and passionate she’d felt beneath him when he’d been with her at the orphanage. He hungered to feel her in his arms again.

She started walking toward him.

“No need to announce me,” he told the butler. “She sees me.”

“But my lord,” the butler said, “I really should.”

Paying him no mind, Adam hurried down the steps toward Katherine.

“Lord Greyhawke,” she said, meeting him halfway up the path. “This is a surprise.”

“Don’t tell the butler that.” Adam looked back and saw that the man was going back inside the house. “I told him you were expecting me. I hope you don’t mind that I came without an invitation.”

“No, of course not. But after our last meeting I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”

“Neither was I.”

“Has there been a change in your feelings or plans since we last talked?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to see you. To see how you’re doing.”

Her hopes dashed, she inhaled deeply and said, “You know I’m always happy to see you, but I—why are you here? Is something wrong?”

Yes, I was aching to see you.

“Nothing’s wrong. I saw your uncles sit down to a card game at the Heirs’ Club and I decided to take the chance I could see you alone for a few minutes.”

“My aunt went up to her chambers to rest a few minutes ago. I’m sure Hanson will tell her you’re here and she’ll be down shortly.”

“Then we will have to make the best of the time we have. Was Lord Rudyard here?”

Her brows raised. “Yes. He joined us for tea earlier.” She walked over to the table and placed her cup on it.

Adam followed her. She was still miffed at him, and he didn’t blame her. “How long did Rudyard stay?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps an hour and a half.”

“He stayed that long?” Adam asked. “You must have had a lot to talk about.”

She smiled. “I guess we did.”

“What kinds of things did you discuss?”

“That is a personal question, my lord, and you know what I think about personal questions.”

“You enjoy his company.”

It was impossible to not be affected by Adam’s charm, and she couldn’t hold on to her ill feelings concerning him, either. Katherine laughed and her eyes sparkled delightfully. “Did you just ask another personal question?”

“No,” he admitted. “I was making a statement.”

She shook her head and said, “I’m afraid the tea is cold now, but I’ll have hot tea brought out.”

“I didn’t come for tea, Katherine.”

She looked up at him and asked, “Why did you come?”

She knew, but he didn’t mind her asking. “I’ve already told you. To see you. To see how you are doing.”

“I’m well.”

“Still using your cane.”

She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. “When I’m not alone. But I’ve been practicing walking without it in my room. Besides, I’m not ready to let my aunt and uncles know I’m not using it faithfully as I used to. I know it would upset them.”

“I understand. I’ve seen how they dote on you.”

“Because they care,” she said softly. “Everything they have done for me for the past twelve and a half years has been because they thought it was best. They simply want me to be safe.”

“No one could doubt that,” he said, and moved closer to her. “Let’s dance?”

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in silent shock. “We can’t do that here in the garden.”

He looked around. “Why not? We’re alone. For now, anyway. It’s a beautiful day. It’s beautiful here. The grass, trees, and shrubs are budding and flowering. The ground is level. Show me your shoes.”

She lifted her dress up to her ankles and they both looked down.

“Flat slippers,” he said. “Perfect for outside dancing.”

“Have you ever danced outside?”

“I can’t say I have. I’m always willing to try new things. How about you, Katherine?”

She hesitated.

“Say yes,” he whispered huskily.

“You know there is a good possibility we could get caught dancing in the garden.”

“Yes.” He took hold of her cane and laid it against the table. “And there is always the possibility we won’t. Who knows how long it will take your aunt to rouse from her nap and join us in the garden?”

“You are forgetting about the servants. They are very loyal to the duke.”

Sensing her unease, he said, “As they should be. But it looks as if the gardener has gone for the day, and the other servants are probably having their tea, preparing dinner or who knows what they might be doing. Enough excuses. So what do you say, Miss Katherine Wright? Do you feel like tempting fate this afternoon and dancing with me?” He held up his hands in the dancing position.

Her features relaxed and she laughed softly. “I’ve been tempting it ever since the night I met you. I see no reason to stop now.”

Adam took her hand and embraced her. “Now show me how well you have been practicing.”

He started to move forward, but he felt her stiffen and stopped. “Is there someone behind me already watching us already?”

She looked at him with wry amusement. “No. I was just wondering why it is that whenever you touch me, I am more interested in kissing you than dancing with you.”

His gaze swept up and down her face. “I feel the same way, but for now, I will have to resist the urge and so will you.”

“Will you kiss me before you go?”

Her responses to him were always natural and came from her heart. “How could I not?” He swallowed hard. “That’s really the reason I came over this afternoon. Now, on the count of three…”

And so began her lesson. The grass had not fully grown out and the ground was still hard, making it easier than Adam had anticipated to traverse back and forth across the garden. Her movements weren’t fluid yet, but they weren’t nearly as choppy as the last time they’d danced. He knew it wasn’t easy for her to maneuver her stiff leg, but she wasn’t just walking the steps, she was dancing to his whispered count of one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.

“You have been practicing. I can tell.”

“A little.”

“I’d say more than a little. Do you realize I haven’t—” He landed on her toe. She stumbled and they stopped.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“No. It was my fault,” he admitted. “I was about to praise myself and say I haven’t stepped on your toes one time, when suddenly I did.”

“Perhaps I should wear boots as you do.”

“Now there’s an idea for us to consider.”

Adam danced her down to the large fountain he’d seen at the back of the garden and stopped, thinking that would be an excellent place to pull her to him for a few quick kisses.

“I do believe we are hidden from the house right here, are we not?”

Katherine unexpectedly started laughing.

He grinned. “Do you want to share the amusement with me?”

“I see no reason I can’t. I was just behind this fountain with Lord Rudyard not half an hour ago.”

He should have guessed. “Were you now?”

“Yes.”

Adam pulled her close to his chest and held her tightly. “Did he kiss you?”

Her eyes searched his without any guile. “Yes.”

It was a personal question, but it was one she wanted him to know the answer to. And it had her desired effect on him. He was jealous as hell that the dandy’s lips had touched hers.

Bending his lips close to hers, he whispered, “How?”

“Like a first kiss.”

Thank God,
he thought to himself. But he asked, “Did you enjoy it?”

“That’s a personal question, my lord. If I answer, you’ll have to answer one for me.”

“We have no time for our game of questions this afternoon, Katherine. I need to kiss you now.” He slanted his lips over hers in a long, passionate kiss.

Katherine responded with a sweet moan of pleasure. Though he needed no encouragement from her to continue his assault on her lips, Adam loved the way she always immediately gave in to the excitement of their kisses and abandoned herself to the moment.

She tasted of tea and smelled of sunshine. Aware of her every breath, he deepened the kiss, and she answered by instinct and parted her lips for his tongue to enter her mouth. His tongue played with hers, teased the roof of her mouth, and explored its depths with slow, sensual movements.

Desire grew quick and strong inside him. It was difficult to hold back his eagerness because his body was always hungry for her.

“Mm, I’ve been wanting to do this since the last time I saw you,” he whispered into her mouth.

“Then why did you wait so long to come see me?”

“I need to stay away from you, Katherine. Your name may be Miss Wright, but remember you are Miss Wrong for me.”

“I don’t believe that, Adam.”

“It’s true.”

“You taste good,” she whispered. “You smell good. I feel so good whenever I am in your arms.”

Her words thrilled him. His lips left hers, and he kissed his way down her chin, over her jawline, and down to the neckline of her pelisse. Her skin was cool against his hot mouth. His heart beat wildly and the blood rushed through his veins in a heady sensation that made him want to forget the danger he would put her in if he denied his fear and made her his.

“I’ve been ravenous to touch you again,” he whispered as his lips traced a pattern over her eyes, her chin, and her nose with soft, feather-light kisses.

His hand moved to her breast and molded it against his palm. Her body trembled beneath his hand, and he smiled. Spirals of heat curled and tightened in the pit of his stomach and between his legs. He gloried in the luscious sensations rippling through him. His tongue sought her mouth again as his body ached to tumble her to the ground, cover her, and make her his.

Damnation, he’d give anything if she didn’t feel as if she were already his. He had no rights to her, could never claim rights to her. Still, she felt as if she belonged to him. Only him.

Finally, he found the strength to let her go and step away. His breath was coming in ragged gasps as he said, “I have no boundaries when I am with you. You really should put some on me.”

She caught her breath and cleared her throat. “How can I when I don’t want there to be any?”

“Which is why, for the first time in my life, I have to be the one to do it.” He took hold of her elbow and started walking with her toward the front of the garden. “It’s not natural for a man, you know.” He inclined his head toward her. “We usually depend on the young lady to keep us in line and not let us go too far.”

“I suppose there is nothing about me that makes me a typical young lady.”

“No, you are very special to me.”

“Adam, there are things about you that I don’t understand. You say you can’t—”

“I know,” he said, cutting off her words. “And because of that I’ve tried to stay away from you. You know I have. I have declined all parties and social events, and for a time it seemed as if fate were demanding we be together.” He looked away for a moment and then said, “Your dancing was very good today.”

She could see in his eyes that he meant it, but still she shrugged as if his comment meant nothing as they stopped beside the table.

He picked up her cane and handed it to her. “I should go before someone comes out.”

“When will I see you again? Will I see you again?”

He wished he could just tell her no. No, he couldn’t see her again. But he couldn’t say that. He’d been trying to tell himself that since the first night he’d met her. So far, he hadn’t been able to stay away.

His eyes searched hers. “I shouldn’t,” he said, and he turned, bounded up the steps and into the house, and was soon out of sight.

Chapter 25

Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.

—Henry VI,
act 5, scene 6

The rain had been beating steadily against the windowpanes in Adam’s book room. Even with the fire blazing most of the day, a chilly nip lingered in the air. Adam’s solicitors had sat across the desk from him for several hours, answering his questions about his various properties, businesses, and investments. But thoughts of Katherine had never left his mind.

He’d finally dismissed the solicitors half an hour ago, and now the quiet of the house was closing in on him. Once, the solitude had been welcome. Not anymore. Now it was more like a burden.

Learning about the Greyhawke entailed property and other holdings had been challenging, but he was now feeling confident that he could visit the estates and properties. He knew the status of each holding, how it was managed, and who directed it.

The lamps had been lit. Pharaoh lay near the fire, and Dixon played quietly with his toy soldiers near the hearth. He’d been patiently waiting for Adam to play a game of chess with him.

But something was missing. Katherine. He wanted to see her sitting by the fire, stitching her embroidery, knitting scarves for orphans, or reading her book of poetry and occasionally looking up at him and smiling. He actually felt her absence.

In the two years he’d spent in isolation on the coast, silence had been all he’d wanted. He supposed he’d needed that time to himself. But now he wanted more. When Dixon had been left on his doorstep, it had given a reason and purpose to his life. Adam smiled to himself. He should find Mr. Alfred Hopscotch and thank him for bringing the boy to him.

The one part of his life that wasn’t settled was Katherine. He squeezed his eyes shut. He loved her more than his own life. It was easy to admit that to himself. Thinking about her was invigorating and maddening. He had no doubt he would be good for her. Already she was walking and dancing when she hadn’t even attempted to stand without her cane when he’d first met her. If only he could marry her. But he couldn’t overcome the harsh blow fate had dealt him.