"This is only Lord Borin's second visit," she pointed out to Templeman. "And he is here to see Sir Richard."
"Oh, yes, of course," Lord Templeman replied with a sly wink at Alex. "And my lovely cousin has nothing to do with it."
Alex raised his quizzing glass and impaled the overly bold Templeman through it. The mushroom merely frowned slightly, heavy brown brows gathering over his short nose. Alex let the glass fall in dismissal and turned to Miss Templeman.
"I believe I have overstayed my welcome, Miss Templeman."
"Got an appointment, have you?" Templeman all but sneered as his cousin sighed in obvious disappointment that Alex would leave. "One more willing, eh?"
Alex stared at him. Again the creature refused to quail. Had the fellow no idea how insulting his conversation was to the ladies? Both were tinged pink. By the way Miss Templeman lowered her gaze to the floral carpet, she was acutely embarrassed. By the way Miss Collins glared at Templeman, she was furious. The man was either a complete blockhead or an entire rudesby or both.
"Miss Collins," Alex said, "I regret I must take my leave. Do give my regards to your uncle."
Her shoulders sagged as if in defeat. "Of course, my lord. Let me see you out."
Templeman bowed with such a self-satisfied smirk that Alex had to clamp his mouth shut to keep from giving the fellow a well-deserved set down. He pitied Miss Templeman to the core. He also thought he understood why the poor girl was unwed. Who'd want that in the family? He followed Miss Collins from the room.
They had not reached the stairs before she stopped him. "Please do not let Lord Templeman deter you, my lord. I know Constance would be delighted to have you call again."
"Your welcome is too kind," Alex replied firmly, "but, as I said, I am calling on your uncle. Will he be available tomorrow, do you know?"
"Perhaps," she said slowly, and Alex was certain she was hedging. "If you could give me a time for your visit, I might contrive to make him available."
Now what did that mean? His imagination easily conjured up Collins hiding in some dark underworld lair, surrounded by knife-toting, rum-swilling henchmen, while his niece pleaded for a moment of his time. The vision popped as quickly as it had formed. Very likely the fellow did nothing more heinous with his time than disappear to his club to reminisce with his cronies. Alex was chasing a phantom.
"Do not trouble yourself," he told her. "I will try another avenue to answer my questions. I would not want anyone to read more into these visits than I intended. Lord Templeman appears to think an offer is imminent."
She grimaced. "Lord Templeman always thinks an offer is imminent. He is simply insistent on doing his duty toward his family."
"If that is the case," Alex replied thoughtfully, "why doesn't Miss Templeman live with him?"
"He is a bachelor. It would be unseemly."
The excuse was plausible, but the way she said it made him wonder whether it was the only reason. Was it Sir Richard or Lord Templeman who had something to hide?
She laid a hand on his arm, the touch gentle. Glancing down, he met her gaze. The grey of her eyes was as cool and soft as mist rising on a lake.
"Please, my lord?" she murmured. "Please call again soon. I am certain my uncle will be up to receiving you in a day or two."
Why not, something inside him urged. He might yet learn a thing or two. There were worse ways to spend his time. Alex nodded. "Very well, Miss Collins. I shall call again in a few days."
He could not resist bringing her dainty hand to his lips and pressing a kiss against the back. He could feel the tremor up her arm.
What surprised him was the answering quiver inside him.
Chapter Five
Katherine closed the door with a heartfelt sigh. Things were not going as she'd planned. Lord Borin had obviously noticed their intentions and made inquiries. How else could he come by her name? How nice that he'd taken the trouble to learn it. He was brighter than she'd expected based on the information they had gathered. Most of the gentlemen she had met who preferred to spend their time gaming and racing were not intellectual giants. Of course, she probably should have expected more intelligence after his nurse had boasted of the marks he'd received at Eton.
She also hadn't counted on interference from Lord Templeman quite so quickly. How had he known Lord Borin had called previously? Was the old codger spying on them? She hadn't thought him that cunning. Indeed, every gambit her stepsister's cousin tried was pathetically obvious.
Like his attempt to scare away Lord Borin.
Katherine sighed again as she climbed the stairs for the withdrawing room. As she had expected, she found Constance nearly in tears. She hurried to take a seat beside her stepsister.