Or she would have if her attention hadn’t been focused on Claybourne.
It occurred to her that this was the first time she’d seen him when it wasn’t night. He seemed less sinister with the light pouring in through the glass ceiling and windows, illuminating him. She’d known he was tall, but he somehow looked taller. She’d known he was broad, but he appeared broader. He strode with confidence, pointing things out to Whit.
She’d never before been able to imagine him with children, and now she couldn’t imagine him without. He’d been gentlemanly toward Winnie and utterly charming with Whit. He’d told Catherine that he knew coin tricks, but she’d never imagined one such as he’d performed. Removing a coin from behind someone’s ear—even her father had been able to do that. But what Claybourne had done required very clever hands.
She tried not to think what other wondrous things those very clever hands might do—to the buttons on a lady’s bodice or the lacings on her corset. She felt the heat rush to her face with those inappropriate musings.
Seeing him in the daylight was quite literally allowing her to see him in a very different light, which she feared—for the sake of her heart—might not be a good thing, because she found herself longing for something she couldn’t have.
The Great Exhibition was fascinating, but it paled when compared with Catherine and Frannie staring in awe at the massive Koh-i-Noor diamond. It was locked inside a cage, lit from below with gaslight. Luke was as intrigued by the enclosure as he was by the diamond itself. But still it couldn’t hold his attention for long.
His head had begun hurting as soon as he’d dropped the boy on his shoulders. It had spiked at the stuffed elephant exhibit. He suspected because the boy’s enthusiasm had him fairly bobbing up and down, hitting Luke’s head.
But he fought back the pain because he wasn’t going to give up these moments of watching Catherine and Frannie together. Talking, smiling. He wondered if they’d become friends once he married Frannie, if perhaps they’d go on outings together.
He found an interesting contrast between the three women. The Duchess of Avendale’s gaze kept darting around as though she feared being attacked any moment. He thought perhaps she wasn’t comfortable in crowds, although her reactions were more along the lines of someone doing something she wasn’t supposed to and fearing discovery. Catherine seemed oblivious to the fact that she was being watched. Jim had been there for a while, until Luke arrived with Frannie. Then they’d taken over, striving to determine who was following Catherine. It was possible the man couldn’t afford admittance. Frannie was observant, her gaze wandering, measuring people, looking for an easy target. Not that she’d take advantage. They’d stopped fleecing when the old gent had taken them in off the street. But habits born in childhood were difficult to break.
His attention kept drifting back to Catherine and her delightful smile. He’d probably never have another day with her such as this one. Their relationship would once again become confined to the shadows.
It was where people such as he and Frannie belonged, while Catherine Mabry walked in the light.
Chapter 15
Luke sat at the desk in his study, the taste of whiskey still bitter on his tongue, his gaze focused on the invitation resting in front of him.
It had been more than a week since his visit to the Great Exhibition, a week during which Catherine had seemed to distance herself from him. They rarely spoke in the coach anymore. Their meetings didn’t reflect awkwardness or unfriendliness, but he did sense a strain in their relationship. He suspected it had more to do with the kiss in the library then their tour of the Crystal Palace. She’d been pleasant enough there, probably because she’d felt safe with the crowds and the lack of shadows.
He knew no lessons would take place this evening. Frannie had seemed quite relieved at the prospect of a night without learning the intricacies of his aristocratic life. By now, shouldn’t she be more at ease with the notion of becoming his wife? He’d always envisioned his life with her, living in this house, sharing the small and mundane details of his day. He saw them with children. He saw himself, at long last, being happy.
He was so damned tired of being alone, of snatching moments with his friends around a gaming table, of knowing they were no more comfortable in his world than he was.
None of them were like Catherine, comfortable with dinners, balls, and morning calls. They didn’t carry themselves with the cool confidence that she did. They didn’t challenge him at every turn. They’d stopped considering him their equal when he’d stepped onto the pedestal of the nobility. It was subtle, the discomfort they each exhibited around him.