Read Online His Obsession by Ann B. Keller - Free Book Online

her shoulders. I have no use for a
silly female without a single thought in her head except for the
latest gossip or the cut of a lady’s gown. She must be poised and
gracious, the perfect hostess.”
    Kate crossed her arms in silent challenge.
“And what of beauty, my lord?”
    “Well, yes, if that’s possible.”
    “I thought so,” Kate acknowledged in
triumph.
    “I want children, Lady Overton. I’ll not rear
a house full of dogs,” Richard quipped.
    Kate laughed openly and Richard found himself
grinning at the merry sound. He rather liked it.
    “And would you add modest and shy to your
list of virtues? What about a woman who is chaste and demure?” Kate
suggested.
    “God willing. Of course,” Richard agreed.
“I’d rather not spend the rest of my days confronting former lovers
or challenging suitors for her hand.”
    Sadly, Kate shook her head, a smile curving
her lips. “You’ll never meet such a paragon of virtue.”
    Leaning back against the back of the seat,
Richard crossed his arms as his dark eyes speared Kate from across
the coach.
    “You might be surprised, Lady Overton. You
might be surprised.”
    Later that evening, Viscount Marbury happily
claimed Kate for dinner. Although Kate found his company pleasant
enough and he was conversant on a suitable number of subjects, she
was secretly bored. The man chattered on almost non-stop about his
estates or his latest victory at cards. Indeed, Kate could just as
well have been a vacant chair at the table for all of the notice he
took of her.
    Unfortunately, Kate couldn’t say the same for
her sisters. Helen and Lord Winslow couldn’t seem to stop staring
at each other across the table. Kate’s mother and father appeared
delighted by the young man’s interest. Kate wouldn’t be surprised
if Lord Winslow proposed within the next day or two.
    Viscount Marbury sat several chairs away from
Dorothea. Clearly, he was unhappy with the seating arrangements,
but his eyes never left Dorothea as the meal progressed.
    Dorothea had apparently made her choice, too.
Seated beside the handsome Earl of Devonshire, she positively
glowed with happiness. To all outward appearances, Richard was
suitably attentive to his dinner partner, but the glance or two he
cast Kate were filled with anything but amusement.
    Kate was startled by the intensity of the
earl’s gaze. With but one look, Richard seared her with his dark
brown eyes. His stare was probing and intimate, asking questions
for which Kate had no answers. The earl made her decidedly nervous.
So, Kate attempted to ignore him during dinner and she was grateful
when the Overton coach and horses finally led them away toward the
sanctuary of home.
    The following day, Lord Winslow came to call
at the Overton estate. He was followed shortly by the Earl of
Devonshire and Viscount Marbury, who had apparently shared the
earl’s opulent blue coach on their way to the manor.
    Penelope grasped her husband’s hand in
excitement, as Lord Winslow requested the opportunity to speak with
Helen alone for a few moments. Penelope swiftly ordered tea for her
guests and the group settled into the parlor to await the much
anticipated happy news.
    The squeal of joy that pierced their ears
from the library a few minutes later was all too conclusive. With
Helen in tow, looking radiant as ever, Lord Winslow then asked to
speak with her father about a matter of some importance. The two
men retired to the study.
    “You’ll see, Kate,” Dorothea whispered into
Kate’s ear. “The earl is quite taken with me, too. I expect a
proposal any day now.”
    Although she was stricken by Dorothea’s
declaration, Kate bravely averted her eyes and tried to smile at
those seated across the room from her. Soon, her green eyes came to
rest on Richard Warwick. The earl returned her gaze, then for some
reason, he abruptly rose to his feet.
    “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take a turn about
the gardens, if you don’t mind?” Richard suggested.
    “Yes,