Unveiled (27 page)

Christopher sampled the fresh meat, then grinned in agreement. “They taste even better. Thank God the old man is such a good shot.” Studying Katie, he continued softly: “How are the singing lessons going?”

“Very well,” Katie said quickly. The last thing she wanted to admit was that her plan had been a failure. “In fact so well I’m thinking of taking on a few more students. Just a few,” she continued when she saw his disapproving expression. “But after all, we could use the money.”

There was a long silence after that. Katie poured the wine, then questioned softly, “And the job? How is that going?”

“Great,” Christopher said, but she noticed that he drank a huge gulp of wine when he answered. “The investments are doing very well. Charles is pleased and so is his father. They want me to continue as planned.”

“That’s wonderful,” Katie breathed in admiration. “I knew you’d make it a success.”

“Yes,” Christopher said dryly. “It seems I do very well at making everyone else money. Now if I can only do that for us.”

“It will happen,” Katie insisted. “Just be patient.”

Christopher reached out and took her hand, shaking his head in amazement. “You are the most remarkable woman. How did I ever find you?”

“At the Drexels’ party, remember?” Katie teased, though the contact of his hand on hers took her breath away. “You thought I was Fan Pemberton.”

He nodded, grinning. “How could I forget that? By the way, the rest of the world still thinks of you as Fan. I would prefer that they begin to call you Kate. I think we’ve lived enough lies, don’t you?”

Katie shuddered, her own fears resurfacing. He thought he knew the whole truth, but in fact, he only knew part. She had to tell him about her son, but there never seemed to be the right time. If she didn’t, and he found out…

“So I think I’ll start calling you Kate publicly, and just explain that it’s my name for you, and your middle name. No one has to know anything else. Is that all right with you?”

Katie beamed at him. “That would be wonderful.”

“Good.” Finished with his meal, he rose and lifted the lid of the music box. Instantly the room was flooded with song. “I know this isn’t the most elegant ballroom, but could I have this dance with my beautiful wife?”

Katie rose, her heart so full she thought she couldn’t stand it Taking his hand, she let him lead her to the vacant floor, where the missing furniture left more than enough room for dancing.

It seemed magical. In spite of the lack of furnishings and lighting, the room was bathed in candlelight and the warm glow of music. Katie felt Christopher’s body close to hers, his arm around her waist, and she was filled with longing. She wanted to be close to him, to know she meant something to him, to have a real life with him as his wife.

There had been so many lies, and still were. How could she go on like this? Yet as the lovely strains of the music filled her ears, and he held her closer, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Katie. My sweet Katie.”

It was just like their wedding night, before everything had been marred with ugliness. Christopher held her, then when she turned her face to his, his mouth met hers in a kiss that was achingly sweet and violently passionate. Stunned, Katie returned the kiss, her own desires, long suppressed, now out of control. Neither one realized that the music box had stopped or that the music had ended. They stood in the candlelight, locked in an embrace that neither of them wanted to break.

“Oh, my God, Kate,” Christopher whispered, when he finally eased his mouth from hers. His hands slid caressingly around her, down to her waist, then up her back. His eyes had turned darker, stormy with passion, and when Katie looked into them, she saw the same intense hunger she felt herself.

“Tonight I know I shouldn’t ask you this,” he continued, his voice ragged and hoarse. “But can I come to your room?”

Katie’s blood pounded. She didn’t know what this meant, though her mind screamed for answers. Was he truly committing himself to their marriage, or was it simply physical need? She had to know, but couldn’t bring herself to ask now, not when her head felt dizzy with desire, or her flesh was aching to feel him inside her.

She wanted him. With that one kiss, he’d made her lose all sense of logic. She nodded, her smile breaking forth, and like two children, they raced up the stairs and into her room. Giggling, Katie shut the door while Christopher approached her.

“Kate.” Christopher spoke softly, his voice filled with emotion. “I know I’m not much of a bargain right now, but if you’ll give me time, I’ll try to set things right. I didn’t want to resume our marital relations until then, because I didn’t want you to think…” He couldn’t finish the sentence and Katie, understanding, nodded. “But I can’t live in the same house with you and not want you. It’s been driving me mad.”

Katie sighed as he kissed her once more, then undid the buttons on her dress; slowly, achingly, he pressed a kiss to every area he exposed, taking a long time to remove the cumbersome gown and undergarments. Katie had to help him with the latter, and when the tight corset was finally undone and on the floor with the rest of her clothes, she turned to him, looking breathtakingly beautiful.

“Christopher.” She smiled, drawing him into her arms. “I’ve wanted you for so long, waited for this. I didn’t think you wanted me, that I meant anything to you except…”

His kiss stunned her with its intensity. Overwhelmed with desire, she rose on her feet and pressed against him, feeling his urgency as he quickly attempted to rid himself of his clothes. Grinning, she helped him, fighting the buttons on his cravat until he managed to tear through them and toss the damned shirt aside. Within moments, he was as naked as she, and standing near the edge of the bed.

They gloried in that moment. If the first time their lovemaking was filled with idyllic bliss, this time it was more intense, deepened by the bonds that had grown between them. Katie’s breath caught and she had to hold him for support when Christopher’s hand swept down her, caressing her breasts until they were aching and full, then lower, exploring her until she was writhing against him.

She returned his caresses, astonished to realize that she held the same sensual power over him. Emboldened by her discovery, she shyly touched him, and he closed his eyes in rapture, urging her to continue, wanting more. He taught her the motion while he continued to pleasure her, and the feeling was so intense that she thought she would fall.

It was as if he sensed what she was experiencing, for he slid her onto the bed, then firmly held her hands at her sides.

“But…” she whispered in protest, then he grinned at her, his dark eyes mesmerizing.

“I can’t let you continue that. It will be over too quickly. Let me pleasure you.”

His mouth burned against her skin, and she squirmed in sheer erotic joy. His tongue teased first one breast, then the other, making the nipples hard and prominent. Her body ached, throbbing and wet, wanting him shamefully, and when his mouth met her there, giving her what she longed for, she cried out in ecstasy.

His mouth dazzled her, loving her to the point of oblivion. Her body, youthful and without inhibition, responded wildly, making her arch against him, wanting every moment of joy he was giving her. When her climax made her cry out nearly sobbing with pleasure, he held her tightly, securely, bringing her slowly back to reality.

No one had ever made her feel this way. Even on their wedding night, the lovemaking hadn’t been this wild, this explosive. Wanting nothing more than to provide him with the same pleasure, Katie pressed hot, sweet kisses along every inch of his body, watching with the same erotic tension as he groaned, trying to maintain some kind of control. His hands dug into the covers of her bed as her tongue teased him, making him want her so desperately that he called out her name as if in prayer. And when she slid over him, his hard male warmth entering her with a shock of pleasure so intense that Katie gasped, he held her tightly, forbidding her to move.

“I can’t,” he said hoarsely, his body struggling for control. “We can’t yet…the risk…Oh, my God, I don’t think I can—”

His body surged inside of her, powerfully and almost frantically. Katie’s breath caught as the heat flowed within her like hot honey, culminating there where his body slid in and out of hers. He withdrew at the last wonderful moment, and she gave a cry of disappointment as his warmth shuddered against her. She wanted to feel that inside her, to know his pleasure, but when his arms encircled her and pulled her down against him, it was almost as good.

“Oh, Katie.” His voice rumbled in his chest a moment later. They lay sated in nirvana like two kittens, seeking each other for warmth. Christopher sighed. “My God, that was wonderful.”

She lay in his arms, feeling an overwhelming emotion that she didn’t dare confess. It was clear to her why he’d withdrawn from her—he didn’t want to risk pregnancy. Now was the time to tell him about Sean, and yet, as he lay beside her in sexual oblivion, she just couldn’t. He might be appalled, might hate her or worse. This part of their relationship was too new and too fragile to test that way.

And if she should lose him…

“Hold me, Christopher,” Katie whispered. “I want to feel you close to me.”

He did, and for that moment Katie was content.

N
INETEEN

H
e loved her. He had to. Katie turned over in the frilly, feminine bed and saw Christopher stretched across the white linens. He looked magnificent, his dark, muscular body a sharp contrast to the pale bed coverings. Her eyes ran over him, admiringly, and the thoughts of the previous night brought a bright blush to her cheeks.

He had to care for her—last night proved that Although she wasn’t very experienced with lovemaking, she knew that what had passed between them had been special. It was more than mere physical passion; the intensity spoke of something else, something deeper.

Never before had she felt so drawn out of herself. Never before had she experienced such great pleasure. And she knew that he’d felt it, too. The woman in her was reassured that way, for there were some things that a man just couldn’t hide. Christopher experienced the same erotic ecstasy last night that she had, and that must mean…

If she could just be sure. Worried, Kate bit her lower lip as she watched him sleep. She knew she had to tell him about Sean and soon. Yet she was afraid of what he would say, and worse, what he would do. Too often in the past those few words were enough to send her into disgrace. She wasn’t good enough, wasn’t worthy to keep company with gentlefolk. She had given birth to a bastard and, in all eyes, rich and poor, had sinned.

He thought he knew everything about her. He’d forgiven her deception about her identity, but could he forgive this? If she was certain of his feelings, she would tell him, but until he said the words, it was just too frightening. If he sent her away, especially after last night, she just didn’t think she could bear it.

Katie slipped from the bed and put on a robe. She stood in front of the long paned window, looking out onto the grounds. It was cold and gray, the sky the color of pewter. Summer had long since waned; she could see the curling wisteria vines, naked of leaves. Soon it would be winter. Her family would need coal for the fireplace, Sean needed new shoes. Somehow, she’d have to find a way to help them, without Christopher discovering her secret. She’d tell him, she had to. But not yet. Their intimacy was too new, too fragile to risk with such a confession.

He roused slowly, and looked around the bed in confusion. His eyes met hers as she stood beside the window, and he smiled invitingly. He was so damned handsome, Katie thought.

“Come.” He indicated the bed. “It’s cold in here without you.”

Katie grinned and came to stand close to him. She looked childlike, shy and not at all like the bold woman from the previous night. She indicated the window reluctantly. “It’s morning. You have to go to work.”

“I know.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bed. Shrieking, Katie tumbled beside him, then rose on one arm, giggling with him.

“What am I going to do with you, Christopher Scott?”

He grinned, tracing her freckled profile with his finger. “Last night you managed quite well, Mrs. Scott. Now if you just keep doing that—”

Katie swatted him playfully as he swept her into his arms. “We have to get up. Eunice will be awake, and I have to get breakfast.”

“Breakfast will wait.” His lips nuzzled her neck and Katie couldn’t resist the tingling sensations that thrilled within her at his touch “Till later…”

It was much later when they descended, flushed and giggling like two children, carefree and innocent. Their mood remained exuberant until they reached the kitchen, where Eunice sat with a worried expression. She was wearing her reading glasses, and spread around her were several sheets of ominous-looking papers.

“What’s all this?” Christopher took a seat beside her and lifted one of the notices. Eunice peered up from her reading and sighed as Katie removed a tin of flour.

“These are bills,” Eunice said with a scolding tone. “I’ve been going through them. Some can wait, but our taxes are due. You know what that means.”

Christopher groaned. “They will publish the fact that we’re late in the
Ledger.
Everyone will know of our financial state. Dammit, how did we get so far behind? I thought with the dowry…”