Katie Rose (10 page)

What she saw took her breath away. Gabriel had stripped to the waist and was mixing his shaving cream in a mug, then applying the soft white foam to his face. Fascinated, she watched him lean closer to the looking glass, then slowly, carefully, inch his razor across his cheek. The blade pressed against the angles of his sharply chiseled features, curving around the sensuous mouth that she remembered so well. Every muscle in his back flexed as he proceeded with his task, and his arm lifted again and again until every last inch of cream was gone.

Jennifer swallowed hard, unable to explain her own reaction. Although she’d never watched a man shave before, there was something about spying on him like this, and watching him pursue a strictly male occupation, that was incredibly exciting. Her eyes roamed over his bare back, and she wanted to touch those lean, dangerous muscles, feel their play beneath her fingers. Hot, unbidden thoughts rose within her, and she had to lean back inside the doorway, fanning herself in the still room.

The movement cost her, however. Gabriel paused, instantly alert. He pulled on his shirt, then called out into the house.

“Benton, is that you?”

“Sir?”

Jennifer swallowed her surprise as she heard another male voice respond. Apparently, there was a servant somewhere in the town house. She could hear the man’s heavy steps on the staircase as he approached, then a pause as he stood at the door.

“I thought I heard something. Check downstairs, will you? There’s been a rash of burglaries in town lately.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jennifer heard the servant walk away, then Gabriel strode out into the hall. Jennifer froze in her tracks, not daring to move. She heard him walk into the room across from her, then the one beside it. A moment later, he was at
the door of the room where she was hiding. Stifling a gasp, she stepped backward and found herself entangled in a pair of dusty velvet drapes. Wrapping them quickly around her, she waited in silence.

The door opened, and she heard his footfall. She didn’t dare look this time, knowing that one false move would prove her undoing. A thousand scenarios played through her mind, of Gabriel discovering her and hauling her out to her disgrace. He might even take her to the police, for he’d already complained to them about her. The dust tickled her nostrils, and she had to fight the impulse to sneeze. Holding her breath, she waited in excruciating silence as he glanced around the room, then slowly exhaled as he strode out and checked the room next door.

That was close
, she thought, rubbing her nose. Unfortunately, the sneeze she’d been repressing happened instantly as soon as she relaxed. Horrified, Jennifer put her hand over her mouth a second too late.

Gabriel’s footsteps hurried back into the room she occupied. A moment later, she felt his hand, as strong as steel, grip her upper arm and drag her out of her hiding place.

“It’s you!” His eyes bored into hers, burning with fury. “Good God, woman, what in the hell are you doing here! And why are you dressed like that? This better not be what I think—”

“It’s not what it appears!” Jennifer tried to explain, shaking furiously. She attempted to pull away, but he only tightened his grip, determined to get to the bottom of this before she darted past him.

“No? Then what is it? I ought to have you arrested for breaking and entering!”

He was so coldly furious that for a moment Jennifer couldn’t speak. “I … was with my maid, and I got lost! I had been walking, it was cold, and I had borrowed Auntie’s
cloak. I saw you come in here, and I followed you! I thought you could direct me. I tried to knock, but I guess you didn’t hear me.”

His hand eased its constricting hold on her arm, and he seemed to consider her story. “So you were lost and wanted help. What were you doing, then, hiding in the bedroom? Why didn’t you just ask me?”

His brow lifted archly, while his eyes seemed to penetrate to her very soul. Jennifer gulped, then looked at the floor. When she looked up again, her face was beet red.

“I … you were half dressed, and I didn’t know what to do! I was so embarrassed that I just ducked in here!”

His eyes raked her, and Jennifer lowered her gaze back to the rug, silently praying that he would believe her. She’d told him enough of the truth to make it plausible, and realized she really was deeply affected by his near nakedness. He had donned a shirt, but it hung enticingly open, and his firmly muscled chest was burned into her mind.

When she glanced back up, she saw that his anger had been replaced by something akin to amusement. A twinkle appeared in his harsh gaze, along with something else, an expression she remembered from the day he kissed her in the Barrymores’ garden. For a brief moment, she thought he might try to kiss her again, an idea that filled her with breathless anticipation. When he spoke, his voice was rough, yet tinged with laughter.

“I see. Like most well-bred ladies, you found the sight of a little male flesh overwhelming, I suppose. I’m almost tempted to find out if you really mean that, and if you are as innocent as you appear.”

Jennifer’s eyes widened, and her throat went dry. She suddenly realized her vulnerability, trapped alone with him in his bedroom. Something about the look in his eyes made her afraid of the predatory male impulse she sensed
in him, even as she was excited by it. His hand dropped to her cloak, and before she could protest, he undid the fastening and let it slide from her shoulders. Backing up against the curtains, she swallowed hard as he took a step closer, his arms braced on either side of her.

Thankfully, there was a knock downstairs. Jennifer heard a male voice call out, “Master Gabriel, Miss Howe is here.” Startled, her eyes met Gabriel’s and she saw his own glance quickly at the clock. He cursed silently under his breath and pulled away from her, buttoning his shirt.

“Yes, I’ll be down directly,” he called downstairs. Then he looked at Jennifer as if suddenly aware of her predicament. He grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around her, then gestured to the velvet curtains. He spoke in a hushed voice. “Quickly! Inside the drapes. No one can find you here; it would ruin you. When I’ve gone, you can slip out. Do you understand?”

Jennifer nodded silently, then did as he instructed. Peeping through the curtain, she saw Gabriel snatch up his jacket, then start downstairs. Jennifer caught a glimpse of him fastening the cuffs of his immaculate white shirt, then tucking the tail inside his trousers. As if sensing her stare, he turned to look directly at her. Shutting the drapes firmly, Jennifer heard what she thought was a soft chuckle as he raced down the stairs.

“There you are!” Jennifer heard Allison’s cultured voice. “Charles and I thought we’d pick you up rather than meet at the restaurant. I hope you don’t mind. Are you ready?”

“Yes. Let me just get my coat.”

Thankfully, the door closed and the house was silent. Jennifer stepped out from behind the curtains, then peered carefully out the window. A moment later, she was rewarded with a clear view of Gabriel walking out with Allison.

A strange, unsettling emotion arose within her as
Allison touched Gabriel’s sleeve, then leaned on him as he helped her into the carriage. Jennifer reminded herself of Penelope’s words, that Gabriel wasn’t in love with Allison, but still it bothered her to see him escorting her out to dinner. She leaned against the window, feeling an ache in her body, the soft sting of her lips where she’d bitten them in anticipation of his kiss. Startled, she realized that she envied Allison. She wanted to be the one with him tonight. In the privacy of her own thoughts, she could admit the truth: She craved him the way she craved chocolate, only more so. Had he pulled her into his arms a moment ago and attempted to take liberties with her, she wouldn’t even have tried to stop him.

Jennifer knew she should be appalled at herself, but the feelings were just too powerful to shame them away. Her skin still tingled where he’d touched her. Sighing, she toyed with the idea of following him to the restaurant, but she couldn’t see how it would help her cause. Instead, she waited until she heard the servant go upstairs to his room, then she stepped back into the bedroom, thinking perhaps to find a journal or something that would tell her more about Gabriel’s doings.

As she slid open his desk drawer, she broke into a smile. There, right on top, was his calendar. Flipping through the pages, she eagerly scanned all of his scheduled activities for the next month. Perfect! Grinning at her own cleverness, she slipped the book inside her cloak and crept downstairs. After making sure that the carriage had gone, she turned the door handle.

It was only then she discovered that it was locked from the outside.

“Did you find anything?” Penelope turned to her sister, then gasped at the sight of her. “My God, what happened to you?”

Jennifer wiped the black smudges from her chin, then wryly removed her huge hat. Her hair, pulled from its upswept knot, fell around her face in tangles, and her pretty hands were streaked with embedded dirt. She put the calendar to the side as she tried to neaten her appearance. “Just a little problem getting out of Gabriel’s house. I had to climb through the root cellar. It wasn’t a pretty sight.”

“You poor dear!” Penelope was all sympathy as she poured water into the wash basin. “Here, get cleaned up and tell me what happened. You really went into his house?”

“Yes.” Jennifer allowed a mischievous smile to come to her face.

“I would have been scared to death!”

“I was horrified,” Jennifer admitted, slipping out of her dress and dipping into the wash water. “He caught me. I thought my heart would climb right out of my body.”

“He was there!” Penelope stared at her sister as if she’d gone mad. “You were in the house while he was there? And he found you?”

“I had to,” Jennifer explained as she soaped her skin. “The cabbie wouldn’t wait, and there was no other choice if I wanted to find anything out. He was sort of nice about it, though. I told him I got lost, and thought he could help me.”

“And he believed you?” Penelope asked incredulously.

Jennifer shrugged. “He didn’t have time to question me too closely. You’ll never guess who showed up.”

“Allison?” Penelope hazarded, and when Jennifer nodded, she scoffed. “That little hussy! How dare she?”

Jennifer rolled her eyes in disbelief. While she appreciated her sister’s loyalty, her logic was sometimes a little muddled. “Penny, I was the one breaking in. She was his escort.”

“I know, but to go to his house … that just isn’t
done.” Penelope clucked in the same admonishing tone Aunt Eve used.

“It was all perfectly proper,” Jennifer said, wondering why she felt compelled to defend Allison. “Charles was waiting for her outside. I have to confess, I felt very odd seeing them like that. You know, kind of ill.”

Penelope reached out and put a hand on Jennifer’s forehead. When she noted it was cool, she frowned, as if this was a puzzle too difficult for her. Finally, she raised her gaze to her sister’s and a queer expression graced her features.

“Jenny! You’re not falling in love with Gabriel, are you?”

“Good heavens, no!” Jennifer cried, appalled. “Why would you think that?”

“I just thought that maybe … you were feeling jealous about him and Allison.” Penelope shrugged as if the very idea were insane.

“Not at all,” Jennifer huffed, scrubbing herself fiercely. “It just … surprised me, is all.” Tossing aside the washcloth, Jennifer toweled off with the same vigor she’d used to wash.

“Well, all it proves is that he’s seeing her, which we already know,” Penelope said practically. “Were you able to find out anything else?”

“Yes.” Jennifer pulled on her gown, then eyed her sister gleefully. “I found his calendar.” She indicated the book.

“You did!” Penelope snatched it up, leafing through the elegantly scrawled pages. “That’s wonderful! Oh, Jenny, we’re almost there!”

Jennifer nodded. “He has everything penciled in, from his social engagements to his business appointments. It will be quite a simple matter now to put myself in his path. Let’s only hope that’s all it takes.”

“It will be,” Penelope muttered fiercely. “I just know it will be.”

Gabriel crumbled a fifth piece of paper onto his desk the following morning and tossed it into the wastebasket. He tried to concentrate on the rows of figures before him, but they looked like some strange hieroglyphics, devoid of any meaning. Exasperated, he gave up and snatched up his hat and stick, then nodded to his clerk as he headed toward the door of his offices.

“I’ll be going to lunch, and then for a walk in the park, as usual. You’ll be here when I return?”

“As always, sir.” Edward Pershing looked at him with bewilderment, then ventured a question. “Is it something I did, Mr. Forester?”

“I don’t have any idea what you mean.” Gabriel tugged impatiently on his gloves. When he saw the clerk’s crestfallen face, he softened his tone. “I’m sorry, I’m not angry with you. I just have a lot on my mind. I’ll go over the accounts payable with you when I get back.”

He slammed the door, missing Edward’s frown. In truth, there was no reason for him to question his clerk’s presence, for Edward was always there, seated at his desk, churning out reports. The man was organized, meticulous, and a hard worker, but today it seemed that everything nettled him.

Perhaps the cool air of the park would help. Gabriel grabbed a quick bite at a nearby restaurant, scowling at the waiter and earning a scowl in return. He left a generous tip to make up for his surly mood, but in spite of the well-prepared food, the lunch seemed to sit uncomfortably in his stomach. He left it only half finished and headed for the park.

Central Park had just been completed, and had quickly become his solace in the city. His walks were so important to him that he even penciled them into his schedule, knowing how much he needed the relief. As he wandered
down the intricate paths, he felt as if he could finally breathe. The fresh air was invigorating, and the dense foliage provided a welcome screen from acquaintances. Built by two famous architects, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park had a deceptively simple look of glades, lakes, and woods that was actually fully designed and executed, taking over twenty years to construct. For Gabriel, it was an oasis, a place where he could collect his thoughts and emotions.