His Obsession (15 page)

With strong, powerful steps, Richard led Kate
toward the fireplace and eased her into the nearest chair at the
table. Once she was seated, some of the dizziness abated.

“You must be feeling better to try to get out
of bed, Lady Overton,” Richard wryly noted.

“I am. Thank you, my lord,” Kate gasped.

“Richard,” the earl corrected with a
smile.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I doubt many married couples call each other
by their full names. So, if you wish, you may call me Richard.”

Without another word, the earl sat down on
the opposite side of the table from Kate and began to carve the
meat. The man dominated Kate’s line of vision and she couldn’t help
noticing that the earl really was a fine figure of a man. Tonight,
Richard was dressed in a dark blue cutaway coat with an embroidered
vest peaking from beneath. The starched white linen of his shirt
was a stark contrast to the tanned skin at his throat and on the
backs of his capable hands.

There was an aura of haste about the earl
tonight. Kate supposed that would be true since he’d just returned
home. Again and again, Kate’s gaze was drawn to the sparkle in his
eyes as he bent over the ham. Twin reflections of the fire beside
them danced in those dark orbs, mirroring Kate’s own rising
temperature in the earl’s presence.

Over the earl’s forehead, one stray lock of
dark brown hair had fallen. The strands steadfastly refused to lie
in line with the rest of the hairs upon his head, giving him a
boyish, somewhat carefree appearance. Kate had to stop herself from
reaching out to smooth her fingers over those tempting strands
which softened the hard, chiseled lines of his jaw and prominent
cheekbones.

Richard, too, was not unaffected by the small
woman seated opposite him. By all that was holy, Kate was beautiful
tonight! Her charming face caught the firelight’s golden hue,
although her features still appeared a little drawn and thin from
her illness. The flames shimmered in her dark green eyes and
highlighted her moist, open mouth. Richard glanced up once at those
sweet lips and it was almost his undoing.

Kate’s full, pink mouth was curved into an
open bow, as though she was about to say something important. For a
moment, Richard caught a brief flash of her tiny white teeth before
Kate’s pink tongue slowly swept over her full lips to moisten them.
Richard felt himself swell with anticipation of what, under
different circumstances, that perfect little mouth and talented
tongue might do.

Resolutely turning his attention back toward
the meat before him, Richard sawed away at the half ham, attempting
to ignore his guest. It seemed to be an impossible task.

Even with his head down a little, Richard
could still see the firelight dancing over the shining glory of
Kate’s burnished red curls. The thick, swirling mass of red hair
glistened like a living waterfall. The strands rolled and curled in
dozens of directions, making Richard want to reach out and plunge
his fingers into their warm softness. Instead, Richard cleared his
throat and shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“I – I’m glad you’ve returned, my lord,” Kate
began, anxious to fill the silence between them. “The servants told
me you were away on urgent business.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Kate blinked at his clipped answer. “I trust
everything is well?”

Richard’s eyes flicked up in silent inquiry,
then he went back to his carving.

“Rest assured, my lady, I have matters well
in hand,” Richard confidently told her.

Kate smiled. “I have no doubt of that.”

Kate’s absolute confidence in his abilities
startled and pleased Richard. Despite his resolve, he found himself
wanting to soften toward her and frowned in annoyance.

“I must say, I was surprised when the
servants told me you’d come for a visit,” Richard continued,
serving Kate a small piece of meat. “I expected a letter from your
family, perhaps, but not --”

Kate began to chuckle and the earl cocked an
eyebrow at her in silent inquiry.

“Something amuses you?” Richard inquired.

“Oh, yes,” Kate answered with a grin. “I
would hardly call my arrival on your doorstep a mere “visit,” my
lord. I probably looked half drowned. Then I promptly fainted on
your floor.”

The ghost of a smile flickered across his
lips, then Richard sobered. “It was foolish of you to venture out
in such weather.”

“Yes, I know that now,” Kate admitted. “But
at the time, there seemed to be little choice.”

Angrily, Richard filled Kate’s plate, then
his own. Unfortunately, he had no one else to blame but his own
foolish pride. He had put her family in that untenable position by
refusing Penelope Overton’s offer. Richard had wanted to punish
Edgar Overton and his family for making such ridiculous demands
upon him. Well, he’d certainly succeeded, hadn’t he? Unfortunately,
the one to pay the price was Kate, sweet Kate, who seemed to be the
kindest and most logical of the Overtons. Richard viciously speared
a piece of ham and abruptly shoved it into his mouth.

“Excuse me, my lord, but when do we say
grace?” Kate softly questioned.

Richard guiltily glanced up, his mouth filled
with food.

“Haven’t we forgotten to thank the Lord?”
Kate persisted.

Slowly, Richard lowered his utensils and
chewed like a madman.

Richard hadn’t prayed since he was a lad. He
had no time for religion. Up until now, God had apparently made no
time for him, either. For years, Richard had lived by his wits and
the strength of his own body. Never once did he ask for assistance
from anyone, much less the Supreme Being Himself. Still, in the
space of a few moments, this small young woman had put him in his
place. Awkwardly, Richard folded his hands in his lap and bowed his
head.

Kate said her prayer softly, reverently. She
spoke to the Almighty the way that a human being should speak to
his or her God. Her words made Richard feel a little uncomfortable
and he was doubly glad when the prayer was over.

“This ham smells wonderful,” Kate told him
with a smile as she lifted her napkin onto her lap. I haven’t seen
anything so grand since - since – well, for quite a while.”

“I’m glad that you approve,” Richard
agreed.

“I do. Thank you,” Kate admitted.

Richard nodded his head in brief
acknowledgement.

“Thank you for taking care of me these past
few days. Ellen tells me I was quite out of my head with fever,”
Kate apologized.

“Ellen? Who is Ellen?” Richard inquired.

Kate stared at the earl in disbelief. Mrs.
Collins had said Ellen was new to the household, but Ellen herself
had told Kate that she’d lived on the earl’s estate all of her
life.

“Ellen, one of the maids. Your housekeeper,
Mrs. Collins, said that Ellen could assist me until a suitable
lady’s maid could be found,” Kate explained.

“Mrs. Collins is quite right,” Richard
agreed. “I shall make the appropriate inquiries tomorrow. I believe
that a French maid is
de rigeur
these days. All of the
finest ladies of the ton have them.”

“Yes, I – I suppose.”

“And my wife shall have no less,” Richard
proudly declared.

Kate’s eyes flicked up to meet his over the
table. The earl had declared that she would become his wife. That
was why Kate had ventured here, wasn’t it? Still, to have the earl
say it so openly, as though the matter was already settled between
them, was a little disturbing. Was she not to be courted and
cajoled? Was there to be no romance at all between them?

“Yes, but Ellen will do fine for me,” Kate
softly objected.

“Nonsense. For the time being, she may assist
you, of course. If that is what you wish?”

“It is,” Kate confirmed.

“Very well. However, Ellen will be replaced
with someone more suitable as soon as the appropriate arrangements
can be made,” Richard explained.

Kate stopped eating completely, wishing she
could somehow rise and quit the room. Seemingly oblivious to the
tension he was causing, Richard leaned back in his chair, swirling
a glass of red wine in his hand before he spoke.

“Let us understand each other, Lady Overton,”
Richard began. “When we marry, your life will undergo some dramatic
changes. Your social standing will be considerably altered, of
course, and there will be duties and social obligations you could
not possibly have foreseen. I will make allowances for your
inexperience and guide you in any way that I can.”

“Thank you,” Kate whispered, her eyes
flashing in annoyance.

“But let me be clear on several points. The
terms of the marriage contract will be fulfilled to the letter. You
will abide by each and every provision.”

“And what provisions are those, my lord?”

The earl frowned.

“You’ve seen the document, of course?”
Richard inquired.

“Unfortunately, no,” Kate admitted, proudly
raising her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, my
lord.”

“Richard,” he reminded her.

Kate blushed and returned her attention to
her food. Richard’s mouth curled up in amusement. Kate did blush
delightfully. The slightest little thing set her off and Richard
admitted that he could enjoy making her rise to the occasion as
frequently as possible.

“Please understand, my lo – Richard --”

Kate’s eyes flicked up at him and Richard
nodded in acknowledgement.

“Please understand that the day I came here,
I did so on behalf of my entire family,” Kate explained. “I knew a
little about the negotiations with my parents, but I had hoped that
in exchange for my hand, you might see your way clear to – to
settle my family’s debts?”

Richard stared at her from across the table,
his brown eyes dark and penetrating.

“And nothing else?” he questioned.

“No. Is there more?”

Richard shifted in his chair, uncomfortable
with Kate’s apparent innocence. Was she really just a sacrificial
lamb, a pawn thrust his way like a bargaining chip? Deep in
thought, Richard rose and strode toward the fireplace. Cocking one
leg out before him, he leaned against the edge of the mantel.

“We find ourselves in a bit of a predicament,
my lady,” Richard admitted. “I thought you were already aware of
the changes to the agreement and were in agreement with them. Now,
it seems that is not the case.”

“So it seems.”

Richard chuckled to himself. “Your mother
would make a very shrewd businesswoman. Excuse me for a
moment.”

The earl walked to the door and spoke to a
servant who had apparently been waiting just outside. Kate had been
quite unaware that they were so closely observed. It was a little
unnerving. Presently, the earl reclosed the portal and returned to
stand at the hearth.

“My horse, the one that I was riding here –
is she --? Did you by any chance find her?” Kate asked.

Richard smiled. “Thankfully, the mare is
recovering. One of the grooms found her near the bridge and brought
her here. My stable master thought it would be kinder to put her
down.”

“No! You didn’t!” Kate gasped in alarm.

Richard shook his dark head and Kate heaved a
sigh of relief.

“One of the grooms took pity on her and
tended her ceaselessly for two days. I hear that she is recovering
nicely from her ordeal,” Richard assured her.

Kate’s face lit up when she smiled. The
effect was dazzling, especially when the woman stared at him as
though he’d just given her the moon and the stars.

Richard forced himself to turn away. He
stared into the flames, dreading the confrontation to come. No
doubt, Kate wouldn’t be so generous with her affections if she knew
the real terms of the marriage contract.

Oblivious of the undercurrents in the room,
Kate gratefully returned her attention to her plate. Although the
ham unsettled her stomach a little, she devoured the potatoes and
beans with relish. She was picking at the grapes in a bowl on the
table when the servant returned. The earl took a rolled document
from him, then the man departed.

Turning toward her, the earl held the
document out to Kate. “The marriage contract, signed by all parties
the day after your arrival here.”

The paper looked very official and bore a
large blue and gold seal. As Kate unrolled it and quickly scanned
the page, she saw her parents’ signatures at the base of the
document. They were genuine. On the opposite side and signed in
letters twice as large and in a very bold, determined hand was the
signature of Richard Warwick, the Fifth Earl of Devonshire.

Kate glanced up at the earl, but he hadn’t
moved from the fireplace. He appeared to be waiting for her to
continue. Diligently, Kate lowered the scroll and returned to the
task at hand. She read each provision slowly and carefully, sensing
that this might be her only chance to see the document. Kate wanted
to be certain she knew every clause of the contract and was in
agreement with it.

The beginning of the agreement read much like
a set of wedding vows. Although it seemed clear enough to promise
to love, honor and obey her husband, in truth it was rather
sobering to see those words in print before her.

Richard stood tall and still at the hearth
while Kate continued to read. The only indication of his impatience
were his fingers, which set up a staccato drumming between the two
candlesticks on the top of the mantel.

Reading further, Kate saw that the real gist
of the document lay at the bottom and she wasn’t pleased with what
she saw. The earl had indeed agreed to pay off her family’s
numerous debts, but only for a short time. The balance would become
due and payable in three short years.

The earl was charging her father interest,
too. It was not at an excessive rate, but was a fee nonetheless.
If, after the three years, her parents could not pay the principal
and interest owed, not only did the earl get to keep all payments
and interest paid to that date, but the Overton estate, in its
entirety, reverted to him.