Chapter 16

Saturday morning dawned bright, the sun shining without a cloud in the sky. Kate took that as an auspicious omen for her forthcoming ride with Marcus. Standing in the foyer, peering out the window waiting for him, she whispered the name, savoring it like a forbidden sweetmeat. She'd been saying it to herself ever since Thursday night at Vauxhall—in her head throughout the day, and in surreptitious whispers at night when she was in her bed, alone. Perhaps that would not be the case much longer.

Once Celinda had sown the seeds of the possibility, Kate hadn't been able to shake the idea that Marcus might be getting ready to propose to her. Perhaps even today. Their bantering, so vitriolic at the beginning of the Season, had become less barbed and more playful. And Kate could easily admit to enjoying the earl's company now, particularly because of their spirited exchanges, and she assumed he felt the same—why else had he been seeking her out so much? And after that unexpected and thoroughly heart-stopping kiss the other night, she shouldn't delude herself anymore. Marcus was an honorable gentleman. If he kissed her, it meant he was planning to propose to her.

And if he did, she was going to say yes.

Cheeks heating at the thought, Kate fanned her face with her hand and hoped Marcus didn't show up just yet. She'd hate to have to explain her blushes.

The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the curb made her glance out the window. Drat it. There was Marcus, right on schedule. Hurriedly, she pulled on her gloves, and at his knock, rushed to the foyer, hoping her haste to meet him could be given as the reason for her pink cheeks should Marcus remark on it. She actually beat Parker to the door by several steps, drawing a look of reproach from the butler. She pulled it open, beaming at the surprised look on Marcus's face.

"Does Ainsley not employ a butler anymore, Miss Locke?" Marcus asked as she stepped across the threshold. "I distinctly remember Parker opening the door to me until recently. Did he seek employment elsewhere?"

"No, he's still here, just slower than I am." She frowned. "You're supposed to call me Kate now. Don't tell me you've forgotten about…about that ." If he'd forgotten their kiss, she would declare war—and use something other than grapes as ammunition.

"How could I ever forget about that , my dear?" The warmth in his eyes told her he had not. "However, I will not disrespect you by calling you so familiarly in front of the servants. In private, it will be a different matter."

"Oh." Kate's face heated again, but she tossed her head back, trying to affect a nonchalant attitude she absolutely did not feel. "Then that's perfectly fine. Shall we go?"

"I only await your pleasure, Kate ."

Her head snapped toward him, but he merely grinned and offered his arm. "No one is close enough to hear us now."

She took his arm, suddenly thrilling to the touch of his firm muscles beneath the dark brown superfine of his jacket. "You said we are going to the park?"

"That is the normal place for couples to ride, although we are much too early for the Grand Strut." He led her to the curricle and helped her up. "Although I will confess that is by design." His eyes seemed to pin her to the seat. "We will be quite alone, I think."

Hands suddenly shaking, Kate tucked her skirts in as he climbed up beside her. Marcus was going to propose. With that now all but a certainty, Kate's earlier calm deliberations flew right up the chimney. Was she truly ready to hear his proposal? To accept it?

Clearing her throat, Kate tried to make her voice sound normal. "I had a note yesterday that the bookseller has gotten in another volume of the Waverly novels, called Ivanhoe . I was hoping I could persuade you to take me there so I could get it."

"You are an aficionado of the Waverly series?" He started the team. "I am astonished. Never would I have taken you for a woman who reads such thrilling works. Yet another mark against Ainsley's good sense."

"Have you read any of them yourself, Marcus?" She sent him a sidelong look, her nerves a bit steadier.

"I have better things to do with my time. Such as driving you to the bookseller's." His face took on a thoughtful look. "Would you mind if we invited Letitia to come with us? She needs an excuse to wear another bonnet."

Kate chuckled. "I see you've taken quite a lot of my advice."

"I have, because it is working." Marcus sent her a grateful glance. "I would also like her to read more, and I'm afraid my father's library at the townhouse tends more to history, travel, and philosophy than novels a young lady would prefer."

"Then by all means let's include her." Kate would have relished Letitia's company another time, but today she was too much on edge to do so. Not to mention that if Marcus had planned to propose to her, it surely would not happen with his sister by their side. But it could not be helped. She wasn't about to deny Marcus's request, so she would have to make the best of it. A flair of regret in her chest made her shake herself and assume a genuine smile. After all, they had plenty of time.

"Thank you, my dear." He turned the horses at the next corner, heading back into Mayfair. "My sister will be thrilled to join us. After this excursion, we can return her to the house to peruse her purchases," he sent her a knowing glance, "and we can continue to the park, if that's agreeable to you."

"Absolutely." Kate bit her lip but kept smiling, even though her mouth had dried. The day had suddenly taken another turn. She'd wanted a brief respite to gather herself before Marcus's proposal. Now she'd have to endure half the afternoon waiting for them to be alone again. Kate didn't begrudge Letitia the outing, exactly; however, the longer she must dwell on the impending proposal, the more nervous she'd likely become. She squeezed her hands together in her lap to keep them from trembling. Amazing that she could feel this way about a gentleman she'd loathed until just recently.

But she hadn't really known Marcus then, not the way she did now. Hadn't known his generous nature toward his sister, hadn't understood how kind he could be. Or how much fun he was to be around. She truly believed she could anticipate a lifetime filled with love and laughter with Lord Haversham.

They pulled to a stop in front of his townhouse, a white marble, three-story building in the most fashionable part of Mayfair. He gave the reins to his tiger and requested the family landau be brought around. "It will take them a few moments to remove the top so we can enjoy the excellent weather," he explained as they walked up the stairs and entered the townhouse.

Kate's head swiveled to take in the stylish appointments of the entry hall, the marble floor in the foyer, the soft green of the walls framed with molding of white wooden panels. She peeped into the open door of a small pale blue receiving room, decorated in the sleek Neoclassic style. Such an elegantly furnished house. Her home, perhaps, one day soon. A shiver raced down her back as Marcus rang for the butler.

The servant appeared, a surprised look on his face. "I'm sorry, my lord. I thought you'd gone out for the morning."

"I had, but I have returned, Hobbs." Marcus peeled off his gloves and stretched his hands out. "Where is Lady Letitia? I wish to take her on an outing with Miss Locke."

"I'm sorry, my lord, but Lady Letitia and Lady George have gone to call on Mrs. Quimby."

"My aunt's sister." Marcus turned to her in explanation. "She'd not said anything to me about such an outing."

"Lady George had a note from Mrs. Quimby shortly after you left, my lord. She's unwell and wished her sister to call." Hobbs stood straight, eyes forward. "Do you wish to send a note to have them return home, my lord?"

"No, the game's not worth the candle." He turned sheepishly to Kate. "I'm afraid we are destined to go alone today. I hope you don't mind. Thank you, Hobbs."

"Very good, my lord." The man bowed and retreated down the corridor.

"So we are now off to the bookseller's?" Kate spoke distractedly, still avidly looking at the house.

"Yes. Oh, drat." Marcus headed toward the nearest bell pull. "I'll need Hobbs to tell the grooms I won't need the landau after all."

"Wait." Kate stopped him before he could pull the cord. "Before you do, could you show me more of your house? It's very lovely. What I have seen of it, that is."

Marcus gave her a keen look. "You do realize with Aunt Augusta gone there is no chaperone here. Your reputation could be in jeopardy."

"As no one knows I'm here, I think I'll take my chances." Kate grinned at him. "I'd really love to see more of it."

"Well, perhaps a tour of the ground floor rooms would not send you beyond the pale as far as the ton is concerned." He motioned her toward the central corridor. "This way, Miss Locke."

"We are alone, Marcus."

"I'm all too aware of that, my dear."

The words sent a thrill through Kate.

"The first room on the right is the library." He opened the door to a masculine room, furnished with comfortable leather chairs and shelves upon shelves of thick volumes. "As I said earlier, you will find little in here to interest you."

"Such a pity." She shook her head. "You must furnish it with books you and your sisters can enjoy."

"More instruction, I see." Marcus closed that door and stepped across the corridor to open the one opposite. "I begin to understand the ulterior motive for your tour."

"I assure you, that was a suggestion only." Grinning, Kate followed him into the next room.

"This is the dining room." His lips puckered. "Will you also give me instruction about my dinner menus?"

Kate laughed and stepped back into the corridor. "Only if my assistance is requested."

They continued down the corridor, Marcus making droll comments about each room and her possible directions on how to change them. At last, they reached the end of the corridor and the final room, his study. Kate had been wanting to see this room most of all, hoping it would give her additional insight into Marcus's character. She believed she knew him rather well by now, but rooms where one spent a great deal of time tended to reveal things about that person.

On the surface, the study was the typical masculine retreat—Nathan had one very similar both in The Manse and at home in Somerset. The dark paneled walls gave the chamber an aura of privacy, though they'd likely not been Marcus's choice. Nor the heavy mahogany desk or overstuffed leather chairs in front of the fireplace. The objects that did seem to be of Marcus's choosing were the whimsical pendant lamp suspended over the desk, designed to resemble the Earth, and the brilliant red and blue Turkish carpet that looked sorely out of place among the rest of the drab furnishings.

"Have you seen enough now, my dear?" His brow furrowed, and he glanced at the longcase clock in the corner. "We truly should be going. Believe it or not, people might have noted your coming into the house."

"That would only matter if they were also the people who'd seen Lady Letitia and Lady George leaving earlier." She smiled, studying the truly remarkable globe. Perhaps he'd brought it back from his travels on his Grand Tour. "Are your neighbors always so observant?"

"If I didn't know you better, Kate, I'd suspect you wished to compromise me." Suddenly, he stood behind her, his looming presence at once menacing and thrilling.

She turned to face him, a surety in her spirit she'd rarely felt before. "Do you really know me that well, Marcus?"

The look of longing in his eyes gave her the courage to grasp his neck and pull him down for another kiss. A moment of resistance from him—but only a moment—then she was in his arms, his lips pressed to hers as though he'd been in a desert and she was the blessed water of life. He tilted his head until their mouths melded perfectly, sending flames of desire licking through her veins. If she hadn't been sure of it before, she was certain now that more than anything in the world she wanted to be with this man, together like this, forever.

But too soon, he broke the kiss, leaving her aching, wanting so much more.

He sighed and pressed his forehead to hers. "I think we must leave now, Kate. Else I may not continue to behave like a gentleman."

"You could never be anything but a gentleman, Marcus." Kate rested against him, not wanting to be parted from him. "But I want you to show me one more room."

He straightened, a suspicious look coming over his face. "Which one?"

"Your bedroom."