The Elusive Heiress (12 page)

They parted and when their paths crossed once more, she tilted her chin at him and demanded to know if he thought she talked too much. ‘Otherwise why should you think me troubled when I am silent?’ she quizzed.

He smiled at her. ‘I did not mean to accuse you of being a chatterbox. However, I do think you are a woman of decided opinions.’

Parted by the dance before she could ask for further clarification, Kate thought this remark over. Had he meant to criticise? She didn’t think so. His tone had sounded almost admiring.

A spurt of pleasure shot through her at the thought that he might not deem it necessary for a woman to be an empty-headed doll.

The music ceased and Kate fanned herself vigorously, hoping her cheeks weren’t as pink as they felt.

‘Would you care to take a turn about the terrace before going in to supper? It will be cool.’

Kate hesitated. She was hot and his thoughtfulness pleased her, but was it safe to lay herself open to temptation? The idea of being alone with him in an unchaperoned darkness was quite unnerving! ‘Alicia might not approve,’ she murmured.

Randal smiled. ‘I promise to behave myself.’

The colour in Kate’s cheeks deepened. Heavens, what must he think of her! A proper young lady would never have made such a betraying remark!

Taking pity on her mortification, Randal suggested they ask Lady Edgeworth for her permission.

‘Of course, you may go, Kitty. It is quite
comme il faut
.’ Alicia beamed approval, but turning to Randal added a gentle warning not to stay out too long.

The terrace was wide and surrounded by a handsome stone balustrade which came up to Kate’s waist. She could see three other couples out for a stroll and it wasn’t as dark as she had feared. The moon was up and lanterns had been arranged at intervals to give light to those who sought the air.

‘Better?’ Randal asked as they wandered over to the edge of the terrace and stood looking out at the dark garden below.

‘Much, thank you.’ Kate lifted up her face to better appreciate the gentle breeze which was wafting over the balustrades. ‘What a lovely new moon.’

Randal stared at her the pure lines of her profile and felt a surge of tenderness which surprised him.

It is the moonlight, he told himself sternly. You are just imagining she looks fragile and in need of your protection.

Kate became aware of his intense regard and panic fluttered along her nerves. Oh heavens, why didn’t he say something!

The silence stretched on and desperate to break it, Kate blurted the first thing that came into her head.

‘Do you like gardening, sir?’

Shaking off his idiocy, Randal laughed. ‘To be honest with you, cousin, it is not a subject that I know much about.’

‘I just wondered,’ Kate improvised. ‘The grounds at Crawford Hall are exquisite.’

‘You must thank my gardeners for that. If it is a pastime you esteem, you might enjoy talking to Lady Massey. She is something of an expert.’

‘I made her acquaintance earlier. Alicia hopes to secure me an invitation to her rout next week. I understand it is one of the highlights of the summer.’ Kate played with the sticks of her fan in what she hoped was a casual manner. ‘Shall you attend, my lord?’

Randal, who until this moment had no intention of doing so, nodded.

A wide smile turned up the corners of her generous mouth in response, straining Randal’s self-control.

Kate saw his broad shoulders tense. He wants to kiss me, she realised and, torn between delight and dismay, her heart started to thump in a dizzying fashion.

‘I shall be pleased to see you there. It is always pleasant to encounter old acquaintances when venturing somewhere new,’ she murmured, knowing she sounded inane but desperately anxious to defuse the tension spiralling between them.

‘Then I hope you will you save a dance for me, little cousin.’ Randal could hear the husky catch in her voice and his gaze was drawn to the rapid rise and fall of her bosom. Partially exposed by the low-cut neckline of her gown her breasts were full and enticing, the smooth delicate skin gleaming like pearl. He longed to draw her into his embrace and discover more.

In the moonlight his brilliant eyes glittered with desire and Kate sucked in her breath, knowing that it was only his earlier promise which was preventing him from making the first move.

She dropped her gaze in confusion. ‘Perhaps we should go back,’ she whispered. ‘I think we must be the last ones here.’

Randal took a step closer. ‘Not quite. There is one other couple over there at the other end of the terrace,’ he said quietly.

Slowly he reached out his hand and gently tipped up her chin so that he could look down into her face. Her velvet dark eyes met his and he could see his own passion mirrored in their depths. ‘Won’t you stay a moment longer?’

The blood drummed in Kate’s ears and she trembled at his touch. Just a few feet away there was a pool of shadow. No one would see them there. All she needed to do was give him the slightest signal of encouragement and she would be in his arms.

Waiting for her answer, Randal realised he was holding his breath. God, but he hadn’t felt such an intense carnal longing since his youth! He wanted her so much that his pulse was racing. All he could think of was kissing her delectable mouth!

A loud burst of laughter from the other couple on the terrace made Kate flinch, startling her back to reality.

She stepped away from him quickly. ‘I think we should go in now, sir.’

‘Of course.’ Randal acknowledged her request with a rueful smile.

The moment was lost, but, alleviating his disappointment, was an utter certainty that another opportunity would soon arise to find out whether her mouth was as kissable as it looked.

Chapter Five

The presence of Lord Redesmere at Morning Service at St Peter’s on the Sunday following the Leghs’ rout caused something of a stir.

‘What a nice surprise to see you here, Randal,’ Lady Edgeworth said, greeting him as she emerged from the old church which had been her preferred place of worship for many years.

‘I had business in town,’ he murmured, aware that his decision to attend St Peter’s would attract curiosity. The congregation contained many members of the
haut ton
, but none had travelled so far for the sermon.

Alicia’s mouth dropped open a trifle, but she was too polite to ask what kind of business demanded attention on the Sabbath.

Watching him greet Kitty she realised she didn’t need to enquire. Elation surged in her plump breast. She was a simpleton not to have realised before now that Kitty had caught his interest!

It had troubled her a little that Kitty’s arrival had deprived Randal of an inheritance which had looked set to become his. He was a very likeable young man and heaven knows that unpleasant old misanthrope had been demanding. Not that Randal had ever complained. He was not the kind of man to shirk family responsibilities.

What’s more, he possessed a strong sense of honour and she was sure he didn’t begrudge Kitty her windfall. But if they were united in matrimony the money would stay in the Cheshire and so would Kitty. She would not lose her after all.

Glowing with satisfaction, Alicia invited Randal back to Abbey Square. ‘Come and eat a nuncheon with us. It is a long drive back to the Hall and the wind has turned chilly today.’

Randal accepted with alacrity and Kate shot him a quizzical look.

She would lay odds that he had planned this outcome all along! ‘Tell me,’ she said softly. ‘What have you done with your carriage?’

‘Stabled it at the Falcon Inn,’ Randal replied promptly. ‘I could hardly bring a curricle and a pair of greys into the churchyard, now could I?’

His expression was so innocent she couldn’t help chuckling.

‘I shall take a chair home, Kitty,’ Alicia announced, capturing their attention. ‘Shall you do likewise? You may walk back with his lordship if you prefer.’

Kate was happy to walk. It was only a short distance back to Abbey Square and she would have Randal all to herself.

They saw Alicia off and then Randal tucked Kate’s arm into the crook of his elbow. ‘Let’s not stand dawdling about,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Look at those clouds. I think it is going to rain.’

‘I hope not,’ Kate replied. ‘I like sunny weather.’

Randal glanced down at her. She was looking particularly pretty this morning in a pale jonquil coloured muslin worn with a neat little bonnet in white Italian straw. ‘Do you? I thought the climate in Massachusetts was cold?’

‘Only in the winter, sir,’ Kate answered, devoutly relieved that she had taken the trouble to ask Kitty a few simple questions on the subject. ‘We have hot summers.’

‘Then for your sake I hope I’m wrong and this fine spell lasts.’

Kate dimpled up at him and thanked him prettily and Randal’s flicker of suspicion faded.

He hadn’t meant to test her knowledge. He had made the remark on the spur of the moment, although he supposed he ought to be laying traps to catch her out. It would be the sensible thing to do, but such behaviour seemed shabby. He had given her his word to wait for news from Ireland and he meant to keep it.

Blister it, be honest, his conscience protested. It’s got naught to do with your promise. You don’t want her to let slip that she is an impostor because you want to keep the present status quo.

Maybe in a few weeks time he would be glad to see her go, but for now he was deriving a great deal of pleasure from her company and he didn’t want the idyll to end.

‘Am I walking too fast for you?’ He slowed his long stride to match her pace.

‘You have the advantage of wearing breeches, sir. Skirts are so restrictive.’

His eyebrows lifted in astonishment and Kate realised her mistake. She had been thinking of the freedom of movement she had enjoyed strutting about the stage in her favourite breeches part as Sylvia in
The Recruiting Officer
.

Frantically cudgelling her brains, she remembered Kitty saying what little ruffians her stepbrothers were. ‘No doubt you will think me shameless, but when we first moved to Amherst I often used to borrow my stepbrothers’ clothes,’ she explained brightly. ‘They were much more comfortable for exploring the woods.’

‘Your Mama approved?’ Randal did rapid mental arithmetic. She would have been sixteen or so, a little old to be playing the tomboy.

‘Not at all.’ Kate essayed a bright laugh. ‘She put a stop to it as soon as she found out. I have never forgotten that sensation of freedom though. You men don’t know how lucky you are!’

‘Ah, but I do.’ Randal smiled at her lazily. ‘You might have been born a boy instead of merely liking to wear breeches.’

This unexpected compliment silenced Kate and her rosy blush was still in evidence a few moments later when they reached Abbey Square.

Lady Edgeworth had arrived before them. She offered them an excellent sherry and announced, ‘Our meal will be ready shortly.’

Kate’s eyes widened at the size and magnificence of the nuncheon laid out in the dining room. Up to now she and Alicia had always partaken of a simple, informal meal, just a few cold meats and some fruit and cakes taken to bridge the gap between breakfast and dinner, which Lady Edgeworth liked served at the fashionably late hour of six.

She could understand Alicia ordering additional dishes. What surprised her was the sheer scale of the offerings. Poor Mrs Hibbert must have been run off her feet to provide so much extra food at such short notice.

Kate glanced across the table at her hostess, curiosity nibbling at the fringes of her mind. Even allowing for Alicia’s desire to appear hospitable this show of lavish bounty was excessive. After all, it wasn’t as if Randal was a stranger.

Then another thought struck her and she almost choked on a piece of cold roast chicken.

‘Are you all right?’ Randal threw back his chair and leapt up as she began to cough and splutter.

‘Pat her back, dear boy!’

Randal willingly obeyed this advice until Kate begged him to desist.

‘I’m perfectly well now,’ she gasped.

Randal poured a glass of water and handed it to her.

‘Thank you.’ Kate sipped it and hoped her reddened cheeks would be excused by her fit of coughing.

Nuncheon finished, Randal made a move to leave.

‘Oh do stay a while longer,’ Alicia invited. ‘We shall be sadly bored if you go, shall we not, Kitty?’

Kate managed a weak smile of assent. Torn between her own wish for him to stay and the suspicion which had raised its head during their meal, she didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry when he agreed to remain.

They repaired to the drawing room and after a while when it was evident that his lordship was again poised to say his farewells, Alicia commanded Kate to play the pianoforte. ‘You must hear her, Randal. She puts all our local damsels to blush.’

‘I’m sure his lordship isn’t in the mood for music,’ Kate demurred, her suspicions hardening at Alicia’s fulsome praise.

‘On the contrary, Miss Nixon. It would be delightful.’

Convinced he was merely being polite, Kate continued to shake her head.

‘Please, indulge me, my dear,’ Alicia trilled with an inexorable smile and Kate reluctantly got up and went over to the pianoforte.

‘You will turn the music for her, won’t you, my lord?’ Alicia demanded with an arch smile that made Kate’s blood boil.

‘I should be happy to do so.’

There was a note of amusement in his deep voice and Kate wondered if he thought her reluctance to play was based on nervousness.

Does he think I lack skill, she conjectured indignantly.

In fact, she had been well taught in her youth and had kept her natural talent honed. When not required on stage, she had often helped provide music for performances given by the Gillman Players.

‘I can manage without your help, sir,’ she answered waspishly, a determination to prove herself overcoming her intention to appear a demure miss.

Flexing her fingers and hoping her memory would not let her down, she launched into a vigorous rendition of
Heart of Oak
, a song that was always popular.