Lady Catherine's Secret: A Secrets and Seduction book (20 page)

Urging her mount to move as fast as she dared on a public street, Catherine rushed to make it home before full daylight. As she reached the side alley, she did her best to avoid attracting attention. Another horse and rider hurried past the path leading toward the Kensington stables. Did he just glance at her?

She jumped off Wildfire and, for once, hoped to find Billy waiting.

The boy pushed open the stable door as she arrived. His face showed the strain of waiting up all night.

“I was so worried, miss. I didn’t know what I should do. I was about ta go inside ta tell someone ’cause I was afraid something bad had happened to ya.”

“Billy, I’m so sorry I put you in such a difficult spot.” She pulled the close-fitting white hood from her hair and tossed it on the bench. “I can’t stay to explain. I have to hurry before Mother finds me missing. I promise to come back and talk to you later.” She snatched up the overdress portion of her costume and pulled it on before hurrying through the stable door, rubbing at the tattered bits of her fake scar that still clung to her skin.

As she glanced back, she saw the worried frown on Billy’s face. “I’m sorry,” she said again.

He looked so tired.

The sun was up, and she could hear the household staff moving about. She slipped inside through the same back entrance she’d used the night before when she’d left. She felt horribly exposed as she tried to sneak through the house with the early-morning sunlight shining through the windows.

As she hurried toward the staircase, Catherine passed the open door of the breakfast room. To her mortification, Mrs. Evans entered it from a different door. Catherine froze in alarm, knowing she’d been caught.

At the same moment, the housekeeper’s gaze froze on Catherine, taking in her disheveled state with alarm. Then her face hardened. Mrs. Evans had been aware of Catherine’s nocturnal forays for years, but the housekeeper had kept her secret. Shaking her head and pursing her lips, Mrs. Evans shooed her toward the stairs.

“Your mother’s already up and about. She’ll be down at any moment.
Hurry
.”

Catherine scurried up the staircase, afraid to be caught when she was so close to her goal. At the top of the stairs, she pivoted to the left and rushed down the hallway leading toward the children’s bedrooms. The two wings of the house diverged at the top of the stairway, with clear lines of sight from one end to the other. Her bedroom was at one end of the house, and her mother’s room was at the opposite end.

Down the corridor, her closed bedroom door taunted her with its promise of sanctuary. As she passed Sarah’s room, she heard Mother’s door open behind her.

“Prepare the dark-green silk for this evening,” she heard her mother say.

Of all the blasted luck!

With a swift side step, Catherine ducked into her sister’s room.

She leaned against the closed door for a moment, holding her breath as she listened. She heard two sets of footsteps approaching.

“I’m certain I saw the door close,” Mother said, her voice growing louder as she approached. “Why would Sarah be stirring so early in the morning? She must be anxious to be allowed to leave her room.”

Catherine darted across the room and dove into the bed with her sister, scrambling under the covers.

“What? What’s going on?” her sister asked blearily, just waking up.

“Help me! Mother saw me slip in here, but she thinks it was you. I only just returned from fencing last night, and I look a mess. If she sees me this way, she’ll be furious. Please!”

There was a soft knock at the door.

In an instant, Sarah snapped fully awake. “Lie still,” she commanded in an authoritative whisper. She jumped from the bed, threw the covers over Catherine’s head, and began rearranging the pillows to disguise the lump of her sister’s form. Fortunately, the thick feather bed enveloped and surrounded Catherine, concealing her presence.

Catherine made a small opening in the covers, just large enough to allow her to see Sarah and provide herself with some air.

Sarah darted away from the bed to stand next to her bureau. She was rummaging through a drawer when Mother abruptly opened the door.

Catherine held her breath, hardly daring to move.

“Sarah, you’re up early, dear. Didn’t you hear my knock?” Mother scanned the room, her gaze hovering on the bed.

Catherine froze, afraid to even breathe.

A heartbeat later, Mother continued her inspection of the bedroom.

Catherine’s nose began to tickle. Nothing bad yet, but still... she slid her hand slowly toward her face while keeping an eye on her mother.

The look Sarah shot their mother was priceless. If Catherine hadn’t known better, she’d have believed the girl was surprised. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. Maybe you knocked while I was yawning.” Sarah began brushing her hair. “I want to run down to the stables early this morning before beginning my lessons with Miss Bell. I haven’t been allowed down there for a week. It’s so early, I thought I’d be the first one up, but when I peeked out into the hallway, I saw that you were awake too.”

Mother patted Sarah’s shoulder. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered. I worry about head injuries. You’ll be careful, won’t you?”

Sarah gave her a slight smile and a nod. As she dragged the brush through her hair, Mother walked up behind her and watched Sarah in the mirror.

Catherine pinched her nose, rubbing the itchiness away.

“Allow me, darling.” Mother took the brush from Sarah’s hand. “You have such beautiful hair.” She ran the brush through its length. “It’s such an attractive shade of chestnut and has lovely, warm streaks of auburn. And it’s so marvelously thick.” She sighed. “My hair used to be similar to yours. Your father used to call it my crowning glory. But now, the highlights have faded.” Her hand paused in its task. “You and your sister are so young. I sometimes envy you because your lives are still ahead of you.”

“But you’re not old. And you’re so pretty. Papa thinks so too. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks you don’t notice him. He likes to watch you.”

“Fa! Don’t be a silly goose. Papa hardly even notices me.” She smiled slightly and resumed brushing Sarah’s hair with a faraway look in her eyes. “There was a time, when we were first married, when he looked at me with such –,” she stopped abruptly. “Your father is a busy man. He’s doing important work for the queen. These past few months have been difficult for him with the deaths of your grandparents.”

Catherine felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead. It was hot under the covers, wearing so many layers of clothes. Especially after that mad dash home. But the expression on her mother’s face, reflected in the mirror, held her attention. She looked sad. Lonely, even. She’d always said she liked having Papa travel, but it was obvious that wasn’t true.

“Your father takes very good care of us.” Abruptly, Mother put down the hairbrush and turned away, hiding her face from both Catherine’s and Sarah’s view. But Catherine had the distinct impression that her mother was holding back tears.

Catherine heard a rattling sound near the open door. Had someone arrived carrying a tea tray? As Mother turned her back to the door, Catherine was able to see her face again. Mother pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and delicately touched it just beneath her eye.

“How timely, Simpson,” Mother said, pinning a smile on her face as she turned to greet the maid, whom Catherine presumed must be standing at the door. The heavenly scent of hot chocolate and cinnamon scones wafted to her under the covers, causing a pang of hunger to shoot through her.

“Yes, m’lady. Cook sent me up with a tray for... for Miss Sarah.”

“Thank you, Simpson,” Sarah said. “Please set it by the window.”

Catherine heard footsteps receding, and then there was a long silence. Catherine could only watch Sarah stare in the direction of her bedroom door as she waited to find out when she could come out.

“She’s downstairs. It’s safe,” Simpson said. Then she closed the door with a click.

Catherine peeked out to discover that Simpson was gone. The maid must be angry with her as well. Catherine let out a heavy sigh as she climbed out from under the covers. She could hardly wait to peel herself out of her sweaty garments.

Sarah’s eyes widened. “You’re a sight. If Mother had caught you, she’d have... well, I don’t know what she’d have done, but it would have been bad. Very bad.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “You can’t keep taking these risks. You’re going to get caught.”

Catherine let out a deep sigh. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

22 - A Clear Conscience

Although Daniel planned to leave for his new country house later that morning, he first needed to know if the little hoyden had managed to return home undetected. If not, he’d do whatever was necessary to help her.

Stopping by her house at this hour was completely out of the question. If she’d made it home safely, his early call would leave everyone puzzled at best, and if she’d been caught sneaking back inside but had talked her way out of trouble, he’d only inflame everyone’s suspicions.

After a moment’s consideration, he struck upon the perfect plan. He’d question Catherine’s older brother, Charles. Perhaps the young viscount would be at the Ambridge Club. He’d seen Charles there frequently. In fact, he’d been there yesterday morning. With a little luck, the young man would make a repeat appearance today.

Less than a half hour later, Daniel strolled through the doors of the club and tossed his hat and overcoat to the porter. The secretary at the front desk was sorting through a stack of papers, but he set them aside at Daniel’s approach.

“May I help you, Lord Huntley?”

“Is Lord Spencer expected here this morning?”

“Yes, sir. He has an appointment. He should arrive within the next half hour.”

Daniel smiled.
Perfect
.

He settled into a comfortable wing-backed chair near the entrance. He angled it so he could watch both the front door and out one of the large windows. A light flurry of snow began, and the passersby left dark footsteps along the white pavement. A slow but steady stream of gentlemen trickled through the door, stomping their feet and dropping off damp hats and cloaks. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long for Charles to appear.

While watching the young man’s face from across the room, Daniel tried to gauge his mood. Charles chatted in a relaxed manner with an older friend, so it would appear that nothing was amiss at home. That was a good sign.

Daniel folded the newspaper he’d been pretending to read and headed toward a spot a short distance from the two gentlemen. As he approached, he made eye contact with Charles’s companion, John Cunningham, who recognized him and nodded a greeting.

Mr. Cunningham shifted his weight as a subtle invitation for Daniel to come over. This was exactly what he’d been hoping for, and he moved to join them.

“Huntley," Cunningham said in a hearty tone. "How splendid to see you here this morning. Making an early start to the day, what?” Cunningham’s goatee trembled on his round face as he chuckled. “I suppose if you’re here this early, it means that London’s debutantes were forsaken by you last night.”

Charles looked at Daniel quizzically. Cunningham glanced from one to the other and then asked Daniel, “Have you met the Viscount Spencer?”

“Yes,” said Daniel, giving Charles a smile, “although you may not remember me. We met briefly last week while fencing.”

“Yes, that’s it.” Charles grinned sheepishly. “I was certain I remembered you from somewhere. I suppose I tried to block the events of that evening from my mind since you trounced me so soundly. Are you in London for the season?”

Daniel nodded as he inspected the young man’s face for any subtle clues that would suggest something was amiss, but he saw nothing. Perhaps Lady Catherine had managed to return home safely. That would be a relief.

Cunningham turned to Charles and confided, “Lord Huntley has made quite the impact here this season. My wife has heard his name mentioned frequently by the mothers of marriageable girls. I’m afraid he is going to leave a number of disappointed damsels once he plucks a bride from their midst.” He chuckled at what he apparently considered to be a superb jest.

Daniel’s jaw momentarily tensed. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to endure this type of teasing for much longer. Once he announced his engagement, most of it would disappear.

“I don’t envy you that distinction,” Cunningham said. “Be careful, sir. Some of these chits can be downright dangerous once they decide to set their caps for you.”

Recalling the more obvious attempts some of the ladies had made, he had to agree. “Yes. I’ve noticed.”

With a look of dawning recognition, Charles regarded Daniel keenly. “Wait, weren’t you the gentleman who rescued my sister?”

Daniel froze. Rescued his sister? But it was the other way around... Catherine had rescued
him
. “I—I don’t know—,” he began.

“Yes, of course. Sarah has prattled on and on about riding home with you on your horse... Raj or Rajah or something.”