Chapter 15

The myriad twinkling lights and paper lanterns that lit Vauxhall Gardens with a dreamy, romantic air gave Kate gooseflesh every time she looked at them. Something magical was going to happen tonight, she just knew it. Vauxhall was a place where magic occurred, and just because it had never happened here for her before, didn't mean it couldn't tonight.

Ever since Lord Haversham's letter inviting her and Nathan to join his welcome home party, Kate had been atwitter. She'd missed Haversham's company more than she'd ever believed possible during his time in the north, so she was very much looking forward to seeing him again. And what better place than Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. One of London's most popular entertainments, it was also the most scandalous. Of course, there were the normal delights to see, such as the Turkish Tent, the Grotto, and the Waterworks. But there were also dimly lighted paths down which adventuresome young ladies sometimes strayed with a gentleman—and returned much wiser than when they'd gone down them.

Somehow the thought of those shadow-filled alleys had her on edge more so than any other time she'd visited Vauxhall.

As soon as she and Nathan had arrived, Lord Haversham had greeted them, looking scrumptious in a suit of navy blue, excellently cut to show off his marvelous physique, and immediately offered her his arm. Kate had taken it, thrilling to the touch of her hand on his sleeve.

Now they strolled along, taking in the sights and excited throng milling around, waiting for the fireworks exhibition to begin. Nathan had elected to walk behind them, so they must certainly be circumspect in their behavior.

Celinda and Lord Finley were part of the party as well, walking just in front of them, with Lady Letitia, Bertie Symmons, and Lady George Pye in the lead before them. The party was small by ton standards, but Kate was glad Lord Haversham hadn't made it any larger. Lady Letitia seemed to be having a good time so far, talking to Bertie and laughing every so often. That was such a good sign, given the lady's previous wallflower tendencies. If one could get over the idea that Bertie was someone's preferred companion.

"You seem to have done well with Letitia, Miss Locke." Lord Haversham might've been reading her mind. "I have returned to find my sister no longer a wallflower."

"Well, it's just Bertie. He's harmless, but I think your sister could make a better match." She looked up to find his dark gaze fixed on her and swallowed. "Still, I'm glad the plan's working well for her."

"I am certainly in your debt, Miss Locke." He tucked her arm closer into his elbow. "However am I to repay you?"

Gazing into his hungry eyes, Kate's heart took off, beating wildly. Her earlier trepidation about the dark alleyways of Vauxhall suddenly seemed less fanciful.

"What the devil is he doing?" Haversham's gaze left her, his attention now focused on Bertie, who'd darted toward a set of vendor stalls. "Excuse me, Miss Locke. Ainsley, will you look after your sister a moment? I must attend to mine."

"Of course, Haversham. Nothing new in that." Nathan's sardonic tone irritated Kate more than usual tonight.

"Brother, as you scarcely chaperone me in any case, why don't you converse with Lord Finley and let me have a word with Celinda?" She'd been hoping for a chance to speak to her cousin all evening.

"Excellent plan, Kate." He motioned her to go ahead of him. "You two put your heads together, and we'll keep an eye on you. Finley," he all but pushed Kate toward Celinda and buttonholed the viscount, "I hear you're a good hand at cards."

God help Lord Finley once Nathan got his hooks into him. Her brother was as masterful at the card table as he was at horses, fencing, boxing, billiards, and a plethora of other gentlemanly pursuits.

Kate turned to Celinda and drew her cousin a little ahead of the men. "Thank goodness Lord Finley is distracting Nathan. I would much rather talk to you than have to deal with my brother right now."

Celinda's eyes narrowed, and she leaned toward Kate. "I've been wanting to speak with you too, cousin."

"Oh, really? What about?"

"Lord Haversham—I want to know if he's proposed to you yet."

Appalled, Kate shook her head wildly, pulling her cousin even farther ahead. "Of course not." She blushed. "Why would you say such a thing?"

"After the spectacle you made of yourselves in the park, I'm surprised the banns weren't read before Haversham left London." The arch tone in Celinda's voice wasn't lost on Kate.

"Are people still talking about that?" Kate tried to be nonchalant, but she cut her eyes toward her brother. Thank goodness no one knew about her correspondence with Haversham. That would be the on-dit of the Season.

"Some are. I only know because Miss Hunt happened to be passing in a carriage and saw you throwing…" She wrinkled her brow. "What were you were throwing at Lord Haversham? And why?"

"Grapes…and an iced cake. But he started it." Kate still couldn't believe she'd done that in public.

"Oh." Celinda still looked confused. "Well, anyway, Miss Hunt saw it, and she and her mother came to call last week and mentioned it to me." Celinda giggled. "I told her it must be some new parlor game you were playing."

"Lord, Celinda." Leave it to her cousin to come up with an explanation for the oddest of behaviors. "But thank you." Kate glanced surreptitiously at her. "Haversham's been gone for ages, though. Why would you still believe he's going to propose?"

"Because of the way he looks at you, Kate." Celinda's tone said she was stating the obvious.

Kate dropped her gaze to the ground. Could there be something to what Celinda said? Ever since that afternoon in the park, her own attitude had changed drastically toward Lord Haversham. Their letters had only strengthened her regard for him. And asking her to help look after his sister had shown her the depth of his trust in her. As Nathan had said, it was the type of responsibility he would have relegated to his countess.

"I think he's in love with you."

Kate sent her cousin a stricken look. "You do?" Had that been the meaning of the look she'd seen before?

Celinda's eyes widened, her voice rising. "He might even propose here tonight!"

"Shhh." Kate dragged her cousin even farther ahead of Nathan and the viscount. "Don't let Nathan hear you. He's been pressing me all Season to marry Haversham. I don't want him to get any ideas."

Or did she? The insistent beating of her heart now that she'd raised that question intimated that she might no longer object quite so strenuously to Nathan's suggestion. It was all just a big muddle in her head. She'd need time to consider what she really wanted—

"Are you going to let him take you down the Dark Path?"

"Celinda!" Gooseflesh rose over her arms as Kate's attention was jerked back to the present. The Dark Path had the worst reputation of all the poorly lit pathways at Vauxhall.

Celinda pursed her mouth. "Well, the man's not dim- witted. It would be the perfect place to propose."

"My pardon, Miss Locke." Lord Haversham suddenly appeared by her side, making Kate jump. "Mr. Symmons had run off to fetch Letitia an ice she said she fancied, not understanding, apparently, that a gentleman does not leave the lady he's escorting alone to do so."

"You shouldn't fault poor Bertie for his enthusiasm, my lord." Celinda chuckled. "There are worse things he could do to show his desire to please Lady Letitia."

"I suppose not. However, I will keep a sharp eye on him to make sure he doesn't repeat the offense tonight." Haversham's determined face made Kate's heart tremble. If they had to stay close to Letitia, he'd have no opportunity to drag her off to one of those dark pathways. Was she actually disappointed?

"Why not let Lord Finley and me chaperone her, along with Lord Ainsley and your aunt?" Celinda turned her best wheedling tone on Haversham. "This is your welcome home party, my lord. You should be allowed to enjoy yourself as well."

Kate wasn't sure whether to thank her cousin or strangle her.

Lord Haversham looked down at Kate, seeming to consider the offer. "Thank you, Lady Celinda. I do appreciate that. Ainsley," he turned to his friend, "would you mind shepherding my sister and the rest of the party over to the Bandstand? I believe the fireworks are going to begin in a few minutes."

Nathan nodded. "Of course, Haversham." Then he raised an eyebrow. "What will you and my sister be doing while I'm playing shepherd?"

"Miss Locke has expressed an interest in seeing some of the vendor stalls. We will visit those on our way to join you." The smooth answer sent a shiver down Kate's spine. He did wish to get her alone.

"Very well, but do not tarry." Nathan's voice had an edge to it.

"I will attempt to hurry your sister along, but you do know how she is." Haversham gave her brother a long-suffering look.

"Yes, I do." Nathan's brows rose briefly then he moved toward Lady Letitia.

"What vendors would you like to visit, Miss Locke?" Haversham took her arm and looped it through his. "The candied fruit might be to your liking. I believe they would make excellent projectiles the next time you wish to declare war on me."

"Don't tempt me, Haversham." Kate calmed herself, trying to affect her normal bantering attitude toward him. "But you are the one who insisted it was my desire to shop. Which stalls do you think I'd be most interested in?"

"What about the one down this row?" He gestured to a line of vendors that stretched all the way to the woods. "I believe they sell all manner of lady's paraphernalia." His mouth twitched. "Surely even you can find something to your liking at such a shop." With that disarming statement, he led them down the path to the next-to-last stall.

Haversham was correct about one thing—the seller's wares ranged from painted fans to paste jewelry, from China cups to various small trinkets. The variety alone charmed Kate, and she wanted to look at each item. "I will say, Haversham, you have an eye for hodgepodge." She picked up a tin whistle. "I could use this to summon you to my beck and call." She blew a shrill blast that had the earl covering his ears.

"If you were three counties away." He plucked the instrument from her hands and set it down. "Perhaps a quieter item would be a better choice." Rummaging around the stall, Haversham finally grabbed a cup and ball toy, which he demonstrated successfully. "There, something to keep you occupied and out of mischief."

"I could say the same thing for you, my lord." Kate grinned as he attempted the toy again, managing instead to hit himself in the eye with the tethered ball. "At least you cannot blame that mishap on me."

"Oh, but I can, Miss Locke." He set the toy aside and took her arm. "I wounded myself attempting to satisfy you."

"It would behoove you to find a less destructive way of doing that, Haversham. Although I did find it quite amusing." Kate chuckled as they strolled onward to the final stall. "Shouldn't we be getting back to the others? We don't want to miss the fireworks, do we?"

A peculiar look came over Haversham's face and instead of heading back the way they'd come, the earl grabbed her hand and pulled her past the final stall, onto the unlit path that led into the woods. Kate's heart raced as she ran to keep pace with him, all the while wondering where Lord Haversham was taking her—and what would happen when they got there.

He stopped finally beside a tall, dark tree, the roots knobby with age, then pulled her off the path and around behind the huge trunk.

Panting, Kate stared up at him, his handsome face scarcely discernible in the poor light. "You don't like fireworks, my lord?"

His sensual mouth curled into a slight smile. "I thought we might rather make some of our own." Then his lips were on hers, and the world exploded for Kate in a wave of heat that seared her to the bone and made her heart pound so hard it hurt her chest. Then her nose bumped into his, distracting her from the warmth racing through her. She couldn't figure out which way to turn.

With a chuckle, he guided her head until their mouths came together like two pieces of a puzzle, fitting exactly right.

Surprised by the unaccountable warmth of his lips, Kate melted against him. Shivers shook her body, and she clutched at him, wanting it to go on forever.

At last, he carefully broke the kiss, easing her away from him. "Were those fireworks enough for you, Miss Locke?"

"No." She gazed up at him, breathless and utterly confused. Then she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him back toward her. If this was going to be her first kiss, then by God, she'd be the one to say when it stopped. He came willingly toward her, and she backed up until she hit the hard tree trunk. "I want more."

"Why does that not surprise me?" he murmured, kissing her lips in little bursts, each venture longer and longer until he pressed them against hers in earnest, his body following until he covered her completely, sending her senses spinning out of control.

All too soon, he lifted his lips. "I missed you while I was gone, Miss Locke."

"I missed you too, my lord." She was surprised by how much.

Haversham sighed and looked away. "I think we'd best join the others." He stepped back, adjusting his clothing.

Lord, what must she look like after that interlude? Her hands flew upward, but her hat was still on her head. Carefully, she stepped away from the tree, brushing at the back of her gown. "Is there any bark clinging to me?" She turned to Haversham.

He eyed her from a distance. "Nothing seems out of place, thank goodness. Your brother would have my head on a plate, Miss Locke, if he knew we'd been indulging in this kind of fireworks."

"Kate."

"I beg your pardon?"

"After kissing me like that," she ducked her head, "I suppose you really should call me Kate."

He laughed. "I shall be honored to do so…Kate."

She liked the way he said that in his rich, deep voice.

"Will you call me Marcus? My family always has. I prefer it."

Was she really standing here, breathless from the Earl of Haversham's kiss, being encouraged to call him Marcus? The world had turned upside down. "Yes, Marcus." His name sounded good in her mouth. He felt good on her mouth. Oh, Lord. Her cheeks would burst into flame.

"We really must get back, Kate. I'm serious about what Ainsley will do should he suspect." He grasped her hand and helped her back to the pathway. "This way." He led them back a different way, so they emerged not far from the spot where everyone was standing, looking up at the streamers exploding overhead.

"How do you know so much about the dark paths of Vauxhall, Marcus?" She sent him a saucy glance as they took up places just behind their party.

"There are some things, Kate, you are better off not knowing." He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. "Are you attending Mrs. Doyle's card party tomorrow night?"

"Unfortunately not. Nathan and I are promised to Lady Grayson for dinner and a political evening." Kate made a face. She hated such meetings, but Nathan would accept invitations from political hostesses from time to time and drag her with him. Now that Marcus had returned, she'd much rather spend time with him, but her brother wouldn't likely let her cry off.

"Better you than me." He grinned down at her. "Then will you drive with me on Saturday? To Hyde Park?"

"Are we to renew our battle lines with another skirmish or will it be all-out war this time?" She grinned back at him.

"Oh, I believe it will be winner take all."

Something in his voice made Kate catch her breath.

Between Celinda's prediction and the searing kiss she couldn't quite convince herself had just happened, Kate found it difficult to deny the likelihood that Lord Haversham might be taking her to the park to propose to her.

And if he did that, what on earth would her answer be?