A Most Unsuitable Earl (Regency Collection Book 3) Page 17

  “My sister was in need of a chaperone.”

  “Ah. You’re a good sister to bring her here.”

  “Ethan,” she began, after glancing over her shoulder, “how well do you know Mr. Robinson?”

  “I wondered when you’d ask me about him since you were talking to him when you gave me your book earlier today.”

  “It was a meeting by chance.”

  “I thought as much. You wouldn’t go around dressed as a gentleman so you could chat with other gentlemen.”

  “You seem to know him well.”

  “We go to White’s, and we play cards from time to time. He’s an affable fellow if you’re looking for someone suitable for your sister, though he lacks a title.”

  “Maybe…”

  “If you wish, I could introduce him to your sister.”

  “They were introduced,” she replied. “She fancies Lord Dabney, so she danced with him instead of Mr. Robinson.”

  He noted the nonchalant way she said Mr. Robinson’s name and suspected a hint of interest in her voice. “Oh, then you were inquiring about Mr. Robinson because you’ve taken an interest in him?”

  “Of course not!”

  The music ended, and he bowed. With a glance at Catherine who was still talking to Lady Roderick, he wondered if it would be wise to approach her. Before he could make a decision either way, the Duke of Rumsey hurried over to him, and by the scowl on his face, Ethan knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant encounter.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Why were you dancing with someone who isn’t your wife?” Catherine’s father demanded, his jaw clenched and hands clasped in front of him.

  “It’s a ball, Your Grace,” Ethan replied, not knowing whether he should laugh or be intimidated. “Gentlemen dance with ladies, ladies they aren’t married to.”

  “Which isn’t a problem unless the gentleman in question has a reputation for being London’s most notorious rake. Considering your past, I don’t want you dancing with anyone except my daughter.”

  Ethan hesitated to respond. On the one hand, he didn’t want to annoy the duke any more than he already had. But on the other, he didn’t want the older gentleman to keep dictating his life for him either. Bracing himself for what unpleasantness might result from his reply, he said, “With all due respect, Your Grace, I don’t believe you have the right to tell me who I can or can’t dance with.”

  The duke’s jaw clenched and his eye twitched. “I have every right, considering you’re keeping my daughter prisoner.”

  “Prisoner?” If Catherine was miserable, he wouldn’t have the urge to laugh at such a ridiculous statement. “Your daughter isn’t a prisoner. She’s with me because she wants to be. I assure you that she’s happy.”

  “You must not mistake courage for happiness. She’s always been a quiet girl, bravely accepting whatever fate has given her. She never questioned why she had to lose her mother, why she had no friends, or even why she had to marry you. Her entire life has been less than ideal. Nothing has worked in her favor, and it seems as if it never will. But I won’t stand idly by while you make a fool of her. She will not have a husband who flaunts his indiscretions.”

  “I’m not flaunting anything because there’s nothing to flaunt.”

  “Then there’s no need to dance with anyone but her. I mean it, Lord Edon. I won’t have you disgracing my daughter.”

  “I’m not doing anything inappropriate with Lady Richfield.” How many times did he have to say it before the older gentleman believed him? And for goodness’ sakes, he was dancing with her in a room full of people.

  Christopher stepped up to the duke and offered a polite smile. “He’s right, Your Grace. Lady Richfield and I have begun a friendly acquaintance.”

  The duke turned to him and narrowed his eyes at him. “You have?”

  “Yes. In fact, I danced with her before Lord Edon did,” Christopher replied.

  “A dance doesn’t prove anything.”

  “With all due respect, Your Grace, I believe Lord Edon was trying to tell you the same thing.”

  Ethan’s eyebrows rose in appreciation at Christopher’s reply. He was right, of course, and it delighted him that Christopher managed to twist things around on the duke so he lost the argument. If only he had such wit…

  The duke’s mouth twitched before he turned his cold eyes to Ethan. “I’ll be watching you.”

  Ethan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

  As the duke walked away, Christopher shook his head at the gentleman’s retreating back. “So that’s your father-in-law.”

  “Yes. He’s been a thorn in my side ever since my mother arranged the marriage. Thank you for intervening when you did. I thought for sure, he was ready to challenge me to a duel.”

  “Surely, you jest.”

  “You haven’t fenced with him.”

  Christopher chuckled. “No, I haven’t had the misfortune.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Ethan, how well do you know her?”

  Ethan followed his gaze to where two ladies were talking. “Who? Lady Cadwalader or Lady Richfield?”

  “Lady Richfield, of course.”

  “Fairly well.”

  “Well enough to be on a first name basis?” Christopher asked, turning his attention back to Ethan.

  Ethan paused. While he was good friends with Christopher, he couldn’t exactly disclose the nature of his friendship with Agatha without possibly exposing her secrets, especially since their friendship involved a lot of secret meetings.

  “Is the duke right to be concerned? Is there something going on between you and Lady Richfield?”

  “No, there isn’t anything going on. She’s a friend.”

  “Good.”

  Ethan searched the room for Catherine and finally found her. She was laughing at something her father was telling her, but her father didn’t seem amused. He wished he could hear their conversation. With a sigh, he said, “I happen to love my wife, even if her father can’t stand the sight of me.” Returning his gaze to Christopher, he saw that Christopher was smiling at Agatha who quickly looked away from him.

  “I had the opportunity to dance with her,” he told Ethan. “Something about her fascinates me.”

  “You’d be better off pursuing her sister.”

  “Miss Garrison?” He grimaced. “She holds no interest for me.”

  “Well, Lady Richfield is opposed to marriage. You’d do better to pursue another lady.”

  “Ethan, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from you, it’s that people are only opposed to marriage until the right person comes along. All she needs is a gentleman who’ll give her a reason to want to be married.”

  “And you think you’re that gentleman?”

  “I do,” Christopher said, “She’s meant for me.”

  “She is a wealthy countess who’s a widow. She has no use for an untitled gentleman who can’t give her a substantial amount of money.”

  “But I can give her the benefit of my company,” Christopher countered, looking intrigued by the challenge. “I believe she and I will be very well matched together,” he added, once again turning his eyes in her direction.

  Ethan snorted. “You underestimate her determination to remain unmarried.”

  “I don’t mind proving you wrong.”

  “Few gentlemen are as arrogant as you, Christopher.”

  “Arrogant? I’m hurt.” When Ethan rolled his eyes, he added, “I tell you, I am. I’m not arrogant. I’m confident.”

  After a long moment, Ethan said, “You’re determined to be the gentleman who breaks through her wall. So what do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to arrange it so that she and I will meet again.”

  “Dare I mention that you’ll be there when I arrange this meeting?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you. I think she would like knowing I’d be part of this arranged meeting, but if you think a surprise is better, then I’m all for it. You know her better than I do.”
>
  Ethan thought how he might arrange such a meeting. If he had a dinner party where Agatha would be in his townhouse, his father-in-law might rest assured that he wasn’t having an affair with her. No gentleman in his right mind would bring a mistress to his townhouse for a dinner party. “All right,” he told Christopher. “Look for an invite in short time.”

  “Thank you.”

  Satisfied, Christopher bowed and left.

  Ethan turned his attention back to Catherine, relieved when he saw her father finally leave her. Without checking to see if anyone was coming up to him, he headed for her. He came here to dance with her and to let her visit with her friends. He hadn’t come to play matchmaker or be accused of infidelity. At times like this, he really wished he was at his country estate. Thankfully, in a couple months, he would be safely there.

  He came up quietly behind her and tapped her shoulder. When she glanced over her shoulder, he dodged around her so that she didn’t see him. Biting back a chuckle, he tapped her other shoulder, but this time she was too fast for him and caught him before he could dodge her again.

  She giggled and rested her hand on his arm. “Why Lord Edon, who knew you had such a devious side to you?”

  “I like to think there are a few surprises left between us,” he replied with a bow. “Dance with me. I promise not to bore you.”

  “You could never bore me.”

  As he led her into a dance, he said, “I seem to remember you yawning a few times when we danced in the past.”

  “That was because you went into detail on what people were wearing.”

  “Not just any people. I was discussing the Prince Regent.”

  “And why would you think I cared what he was wearing?”

  “Would you rather have me tell you what he was doing?”

  She grimaced. “No. I suppose you were doing me a favor by saving me from that.”

  “Ah, so your ears are delicate after all.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “And why would you think they weren’t?”

  He chuckled. “Because you aren’t as delicate as you pretend to be.”

  “I don’t know if it’s a matter of having delicate ears. I just don’t find him interesting. He takes nothing seriously. All of life is one big ball to him. I used to think he was your hero.”

  “No, I just pretended he was. I saw your father talking to you.”

  “He wanted to make sure I’m feeling all right. I told him he’ll be a grandfather earlier this week. I think he worries I might need some rest.”

  “How did he take the news when you told him about the child?” She seemed hesitant to respond, so he pressed, “Was he upset?”

  “He’s still a bit apprehensive about our marriage, but,” she quickly added, “I keep assuring him everything is fine. I don’t know why he won’t believe me. I would’ve run home to him if I was miserable.”

  “Does he want you to return to his home?”

  She lowered her gaze, and though he realized she meant to hide the truth from him, he already knew it. Her emotions were easy to decipher. “I’m not surprised,” he said.

  “You can’t let him bother you. Sooner or later, he’ll understand that I want to be with you.”

  He didn’t share her optimism, but it was certainly nice of her to try to ease his mind. At least, things were going well between them. Forcing aside all thoughts of the duke, he returned her smile and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “A dinner party?” Catherine asked from beside Ethan.

  “Yes,” Ethan replied as he cut into his poached egg the next morning. “I thought it might be nice. We can invite Lady Roderick, Mrs. Morris, and their husbands. What do you think?”

  “It sounds lovely. Would it be a small affair?”

  “As small or as big as you want. We can even invite Lady Hettinwood if Mother so desires.” He glanced across the table where his mother was sipping her milk. “What do you think, Mother?”

  “I don’t know what you need my opinion for,” his mother said, her slight smile betraying the fact that she was honored he still considered her wishes though Catherine was the countess.

  “I meant what do you think of inviting Lady Hettinwood,” he clarified, unable to resist teasing her. “I know you’d like to show her your porcelain doll collection.”

  “Oh, really, Ethan!” his mother admonished, setting her milk down and looking appropriately offended.

  He shook his head and told Catherine, “Mother’s been in a sour mood ever since Lady Hettinwood insisted on showing off her pottery collection.”

  “I haven’t been in a sour mood.” His mother cut into her portion of ham. “I just don’t see how pottery is better than beautiful porcelain dolls, that’s all.”

  Ethan glanced at Catherine and rolled his eyes.

  Catherine giggled.

  “Think what you will,” his mother continued with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

  Clearing her throat, Catherine picked up the cloth napkin from her lap and dabbed the corners of her mouth. “I’d like to invite my father.”

  Ethan, who was chewing some of his egg, paused for a moment then forced himself to swallow. Even though he expected her to want the duke to come, it still made him queasy. But he had to do it. Whether he liked it or not, the duke was a permanent member of his family.

  “I want him to see how happy I am,” Catherine added. “Once he sees how well I’m doing here, it’ll ease his mind.”

  “It hasn’t eased his mind yet,” he argued, though he realized it was pointless.

  “But he hasn’t seen me at a social affair in my own home,” she pressed. “When he’s here, he’ll see us with our friends. It’ll be a relaxed atmosphere.”

  One could only hope it would be a relaxing evening. He had to invite Agatha, and she might not enjoy him playing matchmaker, even if he was doing it reluctantly.

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” his mother chimed in. “It’ll be good for him.”

  Catherine placed her hand on Ethan’s arm. While he enjoyed it when she intimately touched him, he found this type of touch—a more tender and innocent one—to be far more pleasing. It was a touch that spoke of companionship and love, something lasting and strong.

  “Who will you invite?” Catherine asked him.

  “Well,” he began, “Mr. Robinson has always been a good friend.”

  “Though not a good influence,” his mother commented before she bit into another piece of her ham.

  “His influence is fine, Mother,” he insisted. When she sighed, he turned his attention back to Catherine. “He doesn’t bore me with political talk. As nice as Lord Roderick is, all he does is talk politics. Even when he plays chess, he discusses politics.”

  “His wife mentioned his tendency to do that.”

  “She’s right. I hope he doesn’t do it to excess when she’s around.”

  She chuckled. “He doesn’t bore her with it.”

  “That’s good.” Noting that his mother and wife were done eating, he quickly finished eating his other poached egg and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “We should adjourn to the drawing room and make a list of people we want to invite for the dinner party.”

  He gestured to the butler they were done and joined his wife and mother as they headed for the drawing room.

  ***

  On the evening of the dinner party, Catherine couldn’t help the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. This was the first time she had friends—real friends—over for a formal engagement. Claire and her sister, Lilly, would be attending, and while she had visited with them a few times now, this seemed much more important. For once, she wasn’t going to be at a dinner party where ladies pretended to like her because of who her father was. This time they genuinely enjoyed her company. But even though they shared a certain familiarity with each other, she still couldn’t help but worry she’d say or do something to mess things up.

  A knock on her
bedchamber door interrupted her thoughts.

  “Would you like me to answer it?” her lady’s maid asked, pausing as she was brushing her hair.

  Catherine looked at Opal’s reflection in the vanity mirror. “Yes, please.”

  As Opal went to the door, Catherine took a deep breath and pinched her cheeks to give them more color. When the door opened, she saw Ethan was there and waved him in, thinking he looked wonderfully handsome. Ever since she became aware of her feelings for him, she experienced an unexpected thrill every time she saw him.

  Ethan stepped into the room and shut the door while Opal went back to her and resumed brushing her hair. “You’re a beautiful sight, my lady,” he told her.

  Her heart skipped a beat when she caught his adoring gaze. Even if he didn’t say it, she sensed he loved her. Clearing her throat, she motioned to her dress. “I haven’t tried wearing a russet color before.”

  “It’s lovely on you, and I’m not just saying that so you won’t change into another dress.”

  She grinned and glanced at Opal who picked up a few pins to put into her hair.

  “Do you mind if I see what you’ve drawn recently?” he asked as he walked over to her daybed where she set down her drawing pad earlier that day.

  “No. Go ahead.” She mostly drew pictures of him, though she hid the ones of him naked in a drawer she locked. There was no need to let him know she delighted so much in exploring his body.

  He picked up her drawing pad, and she turned her attention back to Opal who was finishing with her hair. After she was done, she left the room. Catherine stood up and went over to Ethan who was flipping to the last drawing in the pad.

  “Don’t you draw anything but me?” Ethan asked.

  “I draw what interests me,” she replied and kissed his cheek.

  His grin widened. “And I interest you so much you draw me?”

  Clasping her hands behind her back, she batted her eyelashes at him. “You’re a handsome gentleman.”

  He reached out and drew her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he kissed her. His lips were soft and warm, his embrace protective and gentle. There was nowhere else she’d rather be.