In Bed With the Devil(64)
Whit closed his hand around the coin. “Please, sir, may I have more?”
Claybourne snapped his fingers. Whit opened his hand, his eyes wider than before. The ha’penny was gone. A sixpence rested on his palm.
Frannie tapped Claybourne on the head. “You silly man. That’s not a shilling.”
Catherine realized they were performing, and she wondered how often they’d worked together on something similar. Was this how they’d fleeced people? Was this performance a remnant of their childhood? They seemed so natural, so comfortable with each other.
“You’re quite right, Miss Darling. What was I thinking? Shall we give it another go, Lord Whitson?”
Grinning broadly, Whit bobbed his head up and down and closed his pudgy fingers over the coin. “Please, sir, may I have more?”
“Why, yes, sir, I think you may,” Claybourne said, snapping his fingers.
Whit opened his fist and crowed. “Look! A shilling!”
Catherine realized he wasn’t the only one with a wide smile. Winnie was grinning as well, as though her troubles had disappeared as easily as the coins.
“How did you do that, my lord?” Catherine asked.
“Magic.”
“Why, yes, I could see that. But what’s the secret?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. It’ll ruin the fun.”
“Your Grace, may I take your son over to get some refreshments?” Frannie asked.
Winnie bobbed her head, then said, “I’ll come with you.”
Catherine watched as the threesome strolled toward the refreshment booth. “We should probably go with them.”
“Probably,” Claybourne said, offering his arm.
It would be rude to ignore it, so she placed her hand on his arm.
“You do realize you’re creating a scandal having Frannie with you without a chaperone.”
“Good Lord, Catherine, we grew up sleeping together, spooned around each other. Do you really think our relationship warrants a chaperone?”
Catherine was hit with an unexpected spark of jealousy and imagined them doing a good deal more than innocent spooning. “Appearance is everything.”
“Very well, but she’s nearly thirty. Isn’t that the magical age when a woman no longer needs looking after?”
“She’s that old? She doesn’t look it. Still, seeing you together out in public, people will assume she’s your mistress.”
“I’ve never bedded her.”
Catherine was surprised by the relief that hit her with that inappropriate confession. “Are you going to wear a sign on your back stating so?”
“You’re the one who suggested I do something with her.”
He didn’t bother to mask his impatience with her.
“I assumed you’d have common sense enough to realize you needed a chaperone.”
“There’s no hope for it then. We’ll have to spend the rest of the day with you and the Duchess of Avendale, who as a married woman can serve as her chaperone in order to save Frannie’s reputation.”
Catherine narrowed her eyes at him. Had he just pulled some sort of trick on her in order to be included in her party?
“If I didn’t know better I’d think you’d arranged this meeting on purpose, deliberately not bringing along a chaperone so I’d feel obligated to protect Frannie’s reputation.”
“Does it make me a scoundrel to enjoy your company?”
“You’re a scoundrel simply because you’re a scoundrel.”
“I suppose I can’t deny that, but Frannie learns by imitation. I thought a day of observing you out and about would serve her well.”
“So today is a lesson, not an outing to enjoy each other’s company. It defeats the purpose.”
“How can it defeat the purpose when it brings you and me one step closer to obtaining what we each desire?”
Catherine’s attention was drawn to the pounding footsteps. Whit approached, holding a lollipop.
“Sir, are you going to come with us now?”
Claybourne crouched. “Would you like me to?”
Catherine was astounded by his rapport with the child.
“Yes, sir.”
“Have you ever seen an elephant?”
Whit shook his head.
Unfolding his body, Claybourne extended his hat and walking stick toward Catherine. “Do you mind?”
She took them. Claybourne turned his attention back to Whit. “Come on then, my young lord.” He hoisted Whit upon his shoulders and the boy crowed once again, his lollipop becoming lost in Claybourne’s thick, curling hair.
When Winnie and Frannie joined them, they all began walking, Claybourne leading the way. He seemed to know where they were going, and even if he didn’t, he was keeping Whit occupied, which allowed Catherine to enjoy the exhibits a bit more.