To Catch a Husband…(20)

       
           



       

Daniel found himself locked in a fierce, passionate embrace. Being alone  in the candlelight with a beguiling young woman was certainly a  temptation, and he had given in to it, but he had intended nothing more  than a light kiss. However, when he had pulled her into his arms all  conscious thought disappeared and a violent, uncontrollable desire  ripped through him. That had surprised him, but what had completely  thrown him off balance was that when he had tried to apologise for  frightening her, Kitty had pulled him back and shown herself eager for  his kisses. He found her inexpert but ardent response more arousing than  the practised arts of any courtesan. She was so damned alluring.  Dangerously so. He summoned every ounce of his will-power to break away.  Gripping her arms, he pushed her gently but firmly back into the chair.

'Did, did I do something wrong?' She looked up at him, her eyes troubled.

'No, sweetheart.' He dropped to his knees in front of her and gave her  what he hoped was a reassuring smile. 'I am at fault for taking  advantage of you.' His hands slid down and he caught her fingers. 'I  should never have allowed you to sup alone with me.' Shouts and the  clatter of hooves in the yard made him look up at the unshuttered  window. 'I only hope the stable lads were too busy with their work to  notice what was going on in here. Thankfully it is brighter in the yard  than in this parlour.' He glanced back at Kitty, his heart turning over  when he saw the anxious look on her face. He said bluntly, 'I am afraid I  may have damaged your reputation, Miss Wythenshawe.'

'Because you kissed me?'

He squeezed her fingers.

'Just being alone here with me is enough to compromise you.'

She considered this for a moment. He was pleased to see the bemused look had gone and she was more in control of herself.

'I am sure Lord Leaconham and my godmother will not wish to talk about this evening.'

'But there is the landlord, and the servants.'

She shrugged.

'I am not known here, sir, neither are you. Who are they likely to tell?'

'A few judicious coins in the right hands might secure their silence.  Are you willing to trust that no one will find out about our being here  together?'

She gave him a little smile.

'What is the alternative, Mr Blackwood?'

He shrugged.

'That we marry, I suppose.'

Daniel cursed silently even as the words left his lips. Devil take it,  what was he saying? He had surely imbibed more than he had intended  tonight! He saw her eyes widen, felt the little hands tremble and a  moment later she gently withdrew them from his grasp.

'Out of the question, sir,' she said crisply, leaving her chair and  walking away from him. 'Why, we hardly know each other. And I am sure  your family has no idea of your marrying a penniless bride.'

Daniel rose to his feet, not knowing if he was more relieved or  disappointed at her response. Did she think so little of him that he was  not even to be considered as a husband?

'No, of course not, but neither would they have me compromise a young lady.'

She was standing with her back to him but at this she turned. The  lighted candles behind her framed her dark head with a golden halo, but  the shadows concealed her expression.

'Then we must hope word does not get abroad,' she said quietly. 'Perhaps  you would be good enough to-what is the term?-grease a few palms to  ensure it does not. I shall retire now, and in the morning we may behave  as if this evening never occurred.'

'If that is what you want.'

'It is.' She added lightly, 'Have I not told you that I intend to marry a lord?'

She gave him a little curtsy and went out, leaving Daniel staring at the empty space.





Chapter Six

Kitty entered the bedchamber quietly to find Lady Leaconham still  sleeping soundly. She undressed quietly and slipped between the sheets,  careful not to disturb her godmother.

The noise from the street had died away almost completely but despite  this and the lateness of the hour, it was some time before Kitty fell  asleep. Her body was still tingling with the excitement of being crushed  in Daniel's arms, her lips still bruised from his kiss. It had been  shocking, yes, but she had not been frightened. She had found it  fiercely exhilarating. Even now she felt more alive than ever before.  She did not want to sleep, she wanted to stay awake and relive that  startling, earth-shaking embrace over and over again. The mere thought  of it sent an aching excitement shooting through her. She turned on her  side and curled up, hugging the feeling to her. She wanted to remember  for ever those few short hours spent with Daniel, because they could  never be repeated. It was not allowed for respectable young ladies to  kiss gentlemen they were not going to marry, and Daniel had no intention  of marrying her. He had suggested it, but only because he thought he  had compromised her-had he not agreed that his family would not want him  to take a penniless bride? And her own family, her mother, Aunt Jane,  Godmama-they all expected her to make a very good match. She had been  sent to London with the express intention of finding a husband, and she  knew that in her mother's eyes at least, a mill-owner's son was not an  eligible suitor. Kitty sighed and closed her eyes. Images of Daniel  Blackwood filled her mind and another delicious tingle ran through her.                       
       
           



       

Stop this, she told herself fiercely. His actions were not those of a  gentleman. No man of honour would have pounced on her in such a savage  way. A man of honour, she decided, would have treated her with respect  and even if he had been violently in love with her-which Daniel most  definitely was not-he would have suppressed his feelings and done  nothing more than plant a fervent kiss upon her fingers.

Kitty put her hand to her lips. There had been nothing suppressed about  Daniel's embrace. He was clearly not an honourable gentleman. She had  the daunting feeling that no honourable gentleman would ever be so  exciting.



Despite the clatter of traffic from the street below their window, Lady  Leaconham enjoyed a good night's sleep, waking refreshed and eager for  news of her son. In contrast, Kitty's spirits were heavy and lethargic  but she tried to conceal this as she helped her godmother to dress and  then followed her down to the private parlour, where they had been  informed that Lord Leaconham was waiting for them.

They found Garston and Daniel seated at the table, which had been laid  for breakfast. Although Garston replied breezily to his mother's anxious  enquiries, Kitty thought he looked decidedly pale and drawn. By  comparison, Daniel appeared full of vigour and vitality and it was with  some trepidation that Kitty took her seat beside him. In the bright  light of a summer's morning the parlour seemed a different world from  the cosy, candlelit room she and Daniel has shared, but she was  painfully aware of him beside her, his long fingers wrapped around a  coffee cup where last night they had been warm on her shoulders. His  very presence was like a magnet, tugging at her body. She wanted to lean  towards him, to be touching him …

'Kitty, my love, you are shivering,' observed Lady Leaconham. 'Perhaps you should run upstairs and fetch your shawl.'

'I am quite warm enough, ma'am,' said Kitty hastily, aware of Daniel's  keen eyes turned towards her. 'I am a little tired, that is all.'

'That is no wonder,' remarked Lady Leaconham, helping herself to a slice  of bread and butter. 'I woke some time before midnight and you were not  in your bed.'

Beneath the table Daniel's knee touched hers and Kitty jumped. Her whole  body was a tingling, jangling mass of nerves. She stole a glance at  Daniel. He had not looked up but his studied indifference made her  wonder if the contact had been accidental. She struggled to concentrate  upon her reply to Lady Leaconham.

'I came downstairs for a little supper, ma'am.'

'Oh? And what did you eat? After Garston's experience yesterday I am  reluctant to break my fast here, but I cannot think there is any danger  in taking a little bread and butter.' She cast a doubtful glance at her  son's plate, piled with thick slices of ham and cold beef. 'You  certainly seem to have regained your appetite, my love.'

Garston's mouth was too full to reply but Daniel said coolly, 'I believe a good breakfast will aid Lord Leaconham's recovery.'

Garston gave him a rather sheepish look and swallowed hard.

'Aye, it will indeed,' he agreed. 'Just what I need. I shall be well  enough to travel back to Town with you today, Mama, never fear.'

'And I shall ride with you,' said Daniel. He turned to Kitty. 'May I  pour you a little more coffee, Miss Wythenshawe? And perhaps you would  like another bread roll?'

'Coffee, thank you, but no more to eat.'

'I hope your … supper did not prevent you from sleeping,' he remarked as he filled her cup.

Kitty felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.

'N-no.' His countenance was impassive but she observed the glint in his  dark eyes and added firmly, 'I slept very well. I know of no reason why I  should not do so.'