A Gentleman Says "I Do" (27 page)

The man just kept talking and smiling, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Iverson’s frown furrowed deeper.

“I wrote up the first part and sent it to Mr. Frederick, and he told me if the first sold well, he’d publish the rest. Naturally, it was a huge success.”

This man was unbelievable.

Iverson bent his head so his nose almost touched the poet’s. He reached down and took hold of Sir Phillip’s fingers and squeezed with a little pressure. “If you ever write about my family again, I’ll break your fingers one at a time, painfully slow, and you won’t be writing anything for a long, long time. Understand?”

Sir Phillip’s facial expression and demeanor never changed. “The story’s finished. Complete. How could I write more?”

“Good. Because I don’t care if you are the King’s personal poet, my wife’s father, or my children’s grandparent. Mention my family in any way in the future, and you will find it very difficult to ever write again.”

The poet’s eyes widened with surprise. “Ah, excuse me, but did I hear you say
my
wife’s father
?”

“Yes.” Iverson let go of the man’s hand and said, “I intend to ask Catalina to marry me, and I don’t intend for you to have a problem with it.”

A big smile spread across Sir Phillip’s face. “No, no. None at all. Not from me. I’m actually quite pleased. Quite pleased indeed.”

“Good. I’m glad we agree on that.”

“Absolutely, we do. Catalina is a good judge of character. Takes after me that way.” He laughed. “Though she gets her beauty from her mother. You know, you are quite strong, Mr. Iverson.” Sir Phillip chuckled lightly. “It’s a good thing I write with my left hand.”

Iverson grunted a laugh. He couldn’t rile the man or scare him, either. Catalina was clearly her father’s daughter.

In short, I will part with anything for you but you.

—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Iverson was on her mind.

The dreary, late-afternoon rain matched Catalina’s somber mood. The dampness left the house with a cold chill, so she’d had a fire built in the drawing room in hopes of keeping warm, but today she was thinking she would never be warm again. How could she when her heart was broken in two and there was no hope to mend it?

She sat in a comfortable chair near the fire, listening to the rain patter against the windowpane. She lit a lamp and put it on a table beside her chair, hoping the cheerful glow would lift her spirits, but nothing seemed to be working today. She placed her needlework in her lap, and even though she’d sat in the room for over an hour, she hadn’t picked up the embroidery to make a stitch. She was more interested in watching the flames. She kept wondering if there was anything she could have done differently that would have changed the outcome of her relationship with Iverson.

Somehow she had made him desire her, but she didn’t know how to make him love her, and she certainly didn’t know how to make him forgive her.

“May I come in?”

She looked up to see Aunt Elle standing in the doorway.

“Of course.” She smiled at her aunt, whose hair and clothing were in perfect order and her cheeks naturally rosy once again. “What do you mean by asking if you can come in? Have you ever disturbed me?”

“Plenty of times. You’ve just always been too kind to admit it.”

“Not true at all.”

She walked over to Catalina, looked down at her with sad eyes, and said, “I made a fool of myself last night.”

“What?” Catalina laughed lightly. “No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“No, my dearest, your sweet words and kind expression cannot cover up my unforgivable behavior. I know better. I simply wasn’t myself last night and took a spell of missing Mr. Gottfried and, well, I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

If her aunt hadn’t slipped out of the house and had too much to drink, Iverson would not have spent the night in her bed. And she wouldn’t have missed last night for anything in the world.

“Auntie, everything is forgivable,” Catalina said, and as the words left her mouth, she doubted their truth. She didn’t think Iverson would forgive her, and that made her heart ache all over again.

“Perhaps in time.”

“Auntie, we have to believe the way Papa does. He’s always said everything happens for a reason.”

“I suppose that’s true, too. I don’t know what made me decide to go out after you went up to your bedchamber. I don’t remember much of what happened, but I remember that handsome Mr. Brentwood had to bring me home in his carriage. Mr. Gottfried would have done something nice like that, too.”

Catalina laid her embroidery aside, rose, and hugged her aunt. Aunt Elle’s trembling arms slipped around Catalina’s shoulders, and they held each other tightly for a few moments.

“Yes, he would have. And I’ve discovered something else, Auntie.”

“What’s that?”

“All of us do things we shouldn’t from time to time.”

“Not you, dearest. I’ve never known of your saying or doing the wrong thing.”

Catalina smiled. “Oh, please, you know I have. And I’m not going to tell you what you don’t know or remind you about the things you do know. But I do wish you would promise me never to go out on your own again. I can’t protect you if I’m not with you.”

“Never again.” Aunt Elle smiled as she took her forefinger and drew an
X
over her heart. “I’ve learned my lesson. Now, would you like for me to have Nancy make you a cup of tea or perhaps chocolate, since it’s so dreary?”

“Chocolate would be lovely.”

“I’ll speak to her right now.”

Her aunt left the room, and Catalina returned to her chair and watching the fire. This time she didn’t bother to pick up her sewing. There was no use pretending she was going to make a stitch. After a short time, she heard a knock on the front door. She cringed. If that was Mable and Agatha trying to see her again, she would tell Mrs. Wardyworth to say she wasn’t accepting visitors. She simply couldn’t face those two gabby girls or anyone else today.

She leaned her head against the soft cushion of the chair and closed her eyes. Iverson immediately came to mind, and she smiled, even though thinking of him was sweet sadness. She could never have him for her own, but she would be forever grateful he gave her such pleasurable memories to relive time and time again.

“Catalina.”

Yes, she could hear his voice so clearly, and it soothed her. Maybe the warmth of the fire was finally comforting her.

“Catalina.”

When she heard her name again, her eyes popped open. She turned her head and saw Iverson standing in the center of the room. A quiver of longing surged through her. She jumped up. “Mr. Brentwood, you startled me.”

“So I’m Mr. Brentwood now?” he said.

“Yes,” she said, her stomach quaking because she couldn’t tell him how happy she was to see him. “And you are supposed to be announced. I’ll have to speak to Mrs. Wardyworth about that.”

“When you do, be sure to remember a few kind words can lift a person’s spirits.”

Was that a teasing light she saw in his eyes as he reminded her of what she’d said to him the first time they met?

“I need no scolding from you concerning that.”

“You know I wasn’t reprimanding you.” He walked closer to her. “I called your name twice. You must have been deep in thought. What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” she said, moving away from him and closer to the fire. Didn’t he know it broke her heart for him to be so casually in her home? “Not anything that would be of any concern to you, anyway. And it will probably please you to hear this, but I am feeling very defenseless right now, and I’m not up to a verbal confrontation with you.”

“No, it doesn’t please me, Catalina, but perhaps this is my lucky day.”

A bittersweet laugh passed her lips, and she gave him an incredulous look. “Well, I’m glad you are feeling lucky, for I certainly am not.”

“I meant only that you have always been so strong and capable. I thought if you were feeling vulnerable, I might have a chance of besting you.”

She scoffed. “Always strong and capable? If you only knew how… I was anything but strong last night. And as far as besting me, did you not do that last night, Iverson? I asked you to stay, and I surrendered completely to you.”

He moved closer to her again. His eyes softened. “You might have surrendered to me, but you never came close to losing your strength.”

She whirled from him and walked over to the window, keeping her back to him. Didn’t he know if he got too close to her she might rush into his arms and bury her face in his strong chest?

“I wasn’t myself. I was upset for letting Auntie down… No.” She stopped and blew out a breathy sigh. She folded her arms across her chest and rubbed her upper arms to keep from shivering. “There’s no need to go through all that again. Just go, Iverson. You told me you don’t want more apologies from me, and that is all I have to give you.”

“No, there’s something else. I’m not leaving until I get what I came for. I left something here last night.”

She turned and looked back at him. He appeared so much calmer than she felt. “What? The only thing I found was the twine from my reticule. Surely you don’t want that?”

“Oh, but I do.”

That surprised her. It was worthless. “Very well, it’s in my room. I’ll get it.”

“Wait, not now,” he said and moved in front of her so she couldn’t pass. “There’s no hurry for you to get it for me. I left something else.”

She didn’t search the wardrobe, but she hoped nothing was left on the floor for her maid to find. “I found nothing else, but I will look. Did you drop a stocking or your collar?”

“Neither, but there’s no hurry about that, either. I have some news I thought might be of interest to you.”

Her stomach lurched. “Please don’t tell me one of the scandalmongers has written about Auntie.”

He shook his head. “Not that I’ve read or know about. I talked with your father earlier today. Did he mention it?”

Catalina tensed again. “No, I’ve not seen him since he left my room this morning. Mrs. Wardyworth told me he went out, but he didn’t say where he was going. Where did you find him?”

“He found me. He came to my house.”

Catalina stiffened.

“Why?”

“He heard I was looking for him.”

She felt as if a heavy weight pressed against her, affecting her breathing. “You didn’t…?”

“Hurt him? No.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly, though the pounding of her heart didn’t settle down.

“But I did threaten him, just as I told you I would. It was a matter of honor, Catalina.”

“I understand. Did you tell him you know I have finished his work on occasion?” she asked, knowing she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“No.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Do you plan to tell anyone?”

“No.”

She let out a shaky breath of relief. “I’m grateful, though I certainly couldn’t blame you if you had decided you had to.”

“I never considered doing it, Catalina.”

His softly spoken words made her eyes water. She blinked, trying to block off the tears of gratitude. “But it would be the perfect revenge for you.”

“The act of revenge is never as sweet as the anticipation of it. Besides, I never wanted revenge for his writing
A
Tale
of
Three
Gentlemen
. I wanted only to ensure he never wrote about my family again.”

“Did he give his word?”

He nodded. “I want to keep the fact that you helped your father a secret as much as you and your father do.”

Her eyes rounded, and she saw the teasing light had left his eyes. There was a gentle softness to his expression. She moistened her lips and said, “You do?”

“Yes.” He stepped close enough to touch her, and she didn’t move away. “Do you trust me to keep that information secret, Catalina?”

“I… I… Of course,” she said earnestly. “If you tell me you won’t, I believe you. I know you are a man of honor, and you’re bound by your word.”

“Would you trust me with your life?”

“Yes,” she whispered, feeling confused by his questions. “Of course.”

“And what about your heart, Catalina? Will you trust me with your heart?”

An unexpected shiver shuddered through her. She had withheld information from him before, but she wouldn’t this time. She looked deeply into his blue eyes. “I already have, Iverson.”

He smiled and caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers in that tender way she loved so much. His touch burned into her soul, and she had to resist the temptation to grab his hand and hold it to her chest.

“That’s what I thought. And that’s what I came for today, Catalina. You are the other thing I left here this morning. You belong to me, and I came to ask you to marry me.”

A roar filled her ears, and she realized the sound was her heart beating so fast. “Marry you?” she whispered almost silently.

“Yes, Catalina. I not only threatened your father, I told him I intended to make you my wife.”

“Do not play me for a fool, Iverson,” she said desperately.

“I would never do that.”

Suddenly fearful, she turned away from him again. “No, we could never be happy. My father has been a barrier between us since the day we met. I fear he always will be. I cannot keep him from writing about you or anyone else.”

“Catalina, I’m not asking you to control your father or his writing. Your father and I understand each other.”

She whirled to face him, feeling frantic, wanting to believe they could be together but afraid to hope. “But I deceived you, too.”

Iverson gently took hold of her upper arms. “You kept information from me,” he said, rewording her admission.

“Twice.”

He smiled. “I’ve never met a lady so willing to point out her own faults to me.”

“Iverson, don’t make light of this. What I did was serious. How can you forgive me?”

He caught her up in his big, strong arms and gathered her close to his chest. “Look into my eyes, Catalina, and see the soul of the man who loves you deeply. We both are passionate about protecting those we love. I understand that. I accept it, and that’s the way I want it. Just tell me you love me, that you will marry me and put me out of my misery.”

Excitement danced through her senses so quickly she felt light-headed. “Yes, I love you, and yes, yes, a thousand times yes, I’ll marry you.” Her arms slid around his waist and squeezed him tightly, hoping he wouldn’t let her go. She laid her cheek on his chest. “I’ve been so miserable today, thinking I would never be this close to you again.”

He kissed the top of her head as his arms held her close. “I knew from the moment I met you there was something special about you. It just took me a long time to admit it to myself, because I wasn’t looking to fall in love with anyone.”

“I wasn’t looking for love, either, but I am so in love with you and so thrilled to hear you love me, too, that my legs are weak and shaky.”

He laughed softly. She lifted her face to him and whispered, “I need your kiss.”

A shudder of excitement rushed through her when she heard his intake of breath. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

His moist lips covered hers with exquisite softness. Catalina moaned and leaned into the kiss as desire for Iverson exploded inside her. A few hours ago, she thought she’d lost him forever, and now she was once again basking in the pleasure of his touch.

Catalina raised her head a little and said, “What did my father say when you told him you wanted to marry me?”

“He said: ‘She’s been a whole lot of trouble to me. How soon can you take her off my hands?’”

Catalina gasped in surprise. “He did not.”

“Of course he didn’t.” Iverson laughed. “He actually seemed quite pleased. You didn’t tell him we had—?”

“No,” she said quickly. “And I don’t think anyone needs to be privy to that.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” He smiled as he looked into her eyes. “I love you, Catalina.”