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Authors: Lorraine Heath
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comparison.
“Farthingham indicated that her Christian name was Mary Ellen,” Richard said.
Mrs. Robertson’s smile warmed considerably as though she were touched by a tender memory. “She’s always had a fondness for cats, kittens especially. Whenever my husband was trying to find her, he’d simply call out, ‘Here, Kitty, Kitty.’ And whenever a cat answered his call, our daughter was not far behind. I can’t remember exactly when he started calling her Kitty exclusively, but as she grew into a young lady, it seemed to suit her.”
He agreed wholeheartedly. The name reflected a lightness that seemed to capture her spirit. He couldn’t imagine her as Mary Ellen. The name was too common, and she was incredibly uncommon.
“Am I to understand, then, that you and Farthingham are friends?” his hostess asked.
“Yes. We’ve known each other for many years. Attended the same schools.” The same clubs, the same brothels, the same gaming hells. But again, he didn’t think she’d appreciate knowing the entire truth.
“Strange that our paths haven’t crossed before now,” she said with a hint of suspicion and protectiveness.
Strange indeed. “You’ve known him for a while then?” Richard asked.
“Over the years, we’d see him from time to time when we came to visit the Earl of Ravenleigh and his family. The earl and my husband have some joint business ventures that require they meet occasionally. Kitty has always had a soft spot for Farthingham. I think they make a lovely couple.”
Was that a bit of warning he heard in her voice? Don’t interfere. Don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.
“He seems quite smitten.”
“I’m sure he is. My daughter has many admirable qualities.”
“I doubt that not for a moment.”
The door clicked open, and Richard was grateful that his reason for coming had finally made her appearance, and he thought the wait was quite worth every second. The lines of her pale lilac dress were elegantly cut, enhancing her perfect form so it resembled a work of art. Lace at her throat revealed a hint of skin, but other than that, she was dressed almost as completely as a nun. And yet still, desire speared him, hot and unrelenting. He couldn’t explain it. He only knew he experienced it each time his gaze fell on her.
Shoving back his chair, he came to his feet.
“Your Grace,” she greeted, before he could speak.
Her speech was stilted, carried a hint of disapproval that made him want to smile, a reaction he could not have explained had his life depended on it. “Miss Robertson.”
“Shall we take a turn about the garden?” she suggested.
“I would be honored.”
She glided past him. He quickly excused himself from her mother’s presence and joined Kitty where row upon row of red, pink, and orange blossoms added fragrance to the air.
“I thought I made it clear that you were not to call,” she said, as soon as he was within hearing distance and her mother was not.
“You did.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I couldn’t stay away.”
“Am I to deduce, then, that you are a man who possesses absolutely no willpower and lacks complete self-control?”
He smiled at her tartly delivered assessment of him, certain her intent had been to insult him with her sharp barb. “Apparently, that is indeed the case where you’re concerned.”
Her gaze darted over to him for only a heartbeat before she looked away. “Truly, why are you here?”
“I believe I understood you to say last evening that you and Farthingham have made no formal announcement regarding your betrothal.”
“Indeed, we have not. Farthingham, Father, and the lawyers only recently finished haggling over the settlements.”
“Then I am here to ask you to marry me.”
She came to an abrupt halt and faced him, abject horror clearly etched over her lovely features. He supposed he shouldn’t have continued, but he’d gone too far to stop. From his pocket, he withdrew an envelope
“Farthingham indicated that her Christian name was Mary Ellen,” Richard said.
Mrs. Robertson’s smile warmed considerably as though she were touched by a tender memory. “She’s always had a fondness for cats, kittens especially. Whenever my husband was trying to find her, he’d simply call out, ‘Here, Kitty, Kitty.’ And whenever a cat answered his call, our daughter was not far behind. I can’t remember exactly when he started calling her Kitty exclusively, but as she grew into a young lady, it seemed to suit her.”
He agreed wholeheartedly. The name reflected a lightness that seemed to capture her spirit. He couldn’t imagine her as Mary Ellen. The name was too common, and she was incredibly uncommon.
“Am I to understand, then, that you and Farthingham are friends?” his hostess asked.
“Yes. We’ve known each other for many years. Attended the same schools.” The same clubs, the same brothels, the same gaming hells. But again, he didn’t think she’d appreciate knowing the entire truth.
“Strange that our paths haven’t crossed before now,” she said with a hint of suspicion and protectiveness.
Strange indeed. “You’ve known him for a while then?” Richard asked.
“Over the years, we’d see him from time to time when we came to visit the Earl of Ravenleigh and his family. The earl and my husband have some joint business ventures that require they meet occasionally. Kitty has always had a soft spot for Farthingham. I think they make a lovely couple.”
Was that a bit of warning he heard in her voice? Don’t interfere. Don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.
“He seems quite smitten.”
“I’m sure he is. My daughter has many admirable qualities.”
“I doubt that not for a moment.”
The door clicked open, and Richard was grateful that his reason for coming had finally made her appearance, and he thought the wait was quite worth every second. The lines of her pale lilac dress were elegantly cut, enhancing her perfect form so it resembled a work of art. Lace at her throat revealed a hint of skin, but other than that, she was dressed almost as completely as a nun. And yet still, desire speared him, hot and unrelenting. He couldn’t explain it. He only knew he experienced it each time his gaze fell on her.
Shoving back his chair, he came to his feet.
“Your Grace,” she greeted, before he could speak.
Her speech was stilted, carried a hint of disapproval that made him want to smile, a reaction he could not have explained had his life depended on it. “Miss Robertson.”
“Shall we take a turn about the garden?” she suggested.
“I would be honored.”
She glided past him. He quickly excused himself from her mother’s presence and joined Kitty where row upon row of red, pink, and orange blossoms added fragrance to the air.
“I thought I made it clear that you were not to call,” she said, as soon as he was within hearing distance and her mother was not.
“You did.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I couldn’t stay away.”
“Am I to deduce, then, that you are a man who possesses absolutely no willpower and lacks complete self-control?”
He smiled at her tartly delivered assessment of him, certain her intent had been to insult him with her sharp barb. “Apparently, that is indeed the case where you’re concerned.”
Her gaze darted over to him for only a heartbeat before she looked away. “Truly, why are you here?”
“I believe I understood you to say last evening that you and Farthingham have made no formal announcement regarding your betrothal.”
“Indeed, we have not. Farthingham, Father, and the lawyers only recently finished haggling over the settlements.”
“Then I am here to ask you to marry me.”
She came to an abrupt halt and faced him, abject horror clearly etched over her lovely features. He supposed he shouldn’t have continued, but he’d gone too far to stop. From his pocket, he withdrew an envelope
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