Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The Next Day

" T his is the first time I've not been with my mother during a London Season ," Paula said. " Too bad Lucy couldn't stay. It would have been like we were back at Lady Brinkley's Finishing School ."

" Yes , but you know how Lucy is with her animals," Katie said. When Lucy's grandmother had written to say two of her dogs were about to give birth, Lucy had been beside herself with both excitement and distress. She and her mother had left immediately for the family's country estate.

Katie couldn't blame her, after Lucy's horrible debut two years ago, the poor dear had been the subject of much gossip and ridicule among the ton . Katie admired her friend's buoyant spirit but also understood Lucy's reticence about Society . Lucy was a lovely and giving young lady with so much love to give that it would be a shame if she did not marry and have children. Yes , she had her animals, but Katie suspected that deep down, Lucy also wanted to fall in love.

Wasn't that what they all wanted—to love and be loved in return?

Perhaps reclaiming my life also means making room in my heart for love.

Sebastian's handsome face flashed through her mind…

" We will have a wonderful time together, ladies," the dowager said, tugging Katie away from her thoughts. " What say you to a shopping excursion tomorrow? That new shop on Bond Street carries the most exquisite gloves."

Katie looked at Paula and back at the dowager. " We'd love to go!" she said enthusiastically. A shiny black carriage pulled in front of the townhouse, drawing Katie's attention. Paula squealed and rushed to the parlor window. " He's here!" she announced over her shoulder.

" He's here? Katie squeaked, placing a quelling hand on her stomach, hoping to calm the fluttering butterflies.

" That's what I just said," Paula said with a giggle.

" Calm yourself, my dear," the duchess said, gently touching her hand. " You don't want to appear too eager. Would you mind if I stayed for a moment and asked a question of the young man?" the duchess said with a wink.

" What do you plan to ask him?" Paula asked.

Katie winced. Her cousin often blurted what was on her mind without thinking first.

" You have nothing to worry about. My question will be in good taste. I merely wish to ask him to pay me a visit tomorrow."

The dowager pulled on the dark blue cord by the door. The butler appeared a moment later.

" Franklin , have Millie come down," the dowager said.

" Very good, Your Grace ."

A few moments later Franklin returned to the parlor.

" You have a caller, Miss Latham . Lord Sebastian Soren is here to see you."

" Please , show him in Franklin ," Katie said, glancing between the dowager and Paula .

Lord Soren stepped into the room, although he barely cleared the doorway in the parlor. Katie bit her lip to keep herself from giggling, although it would not have been funny had he hit his head. It was just that he was so tall. She'd always thought herself taller than most ladies, but when close to him, she noticed she barely reached his shoulders. Although that wasn't a bad thing, she thought, remembering their waltz and how she enjoyed gazing up into his deep brown eyes.

Lord Soren greeted the dowager and then Katie and Paula with a smile and a slight bow. They exchanged a few pleasantries and then he pulled a small bouquet of violets from behind his back and handed them to Katie . " I saw these flowers this morning and thought you might enjoy them."

" Oh ! Thank you, my lord." Katie held them to her nose and drew a deep breath. " They have such a delicate scent." She drew another breath. " Violets are a favorite of mine."

" I'm glad to hear I made the right selection, Miss Latham ."

" I can take them, milady," Millie said, entering the room. " I have the perfect vase for them. Would you like them in your room?"

" Yes , please, but I'd like them in here for a little while so everyone can enjoy them," Katie suggested.

Millie returned with the vase and set the flowers on the Chippendale table next to the window.

The parlor was decorated in the duchess' favorite colors, yellow and white, which always made the room appear larger than it was, at least to Katie's thinking. A tall Chippendale secretary was to the immediate left upon entering. To the right, a white damask sofa hugged the wall, across from which was a large picture window framed by soft yellow drapes. A cherry wood tea cart sat to the right of the sofa. Next to it sat a wingback chair—which was notably the dowager duchess' favorite. It was covered in matching yellow and white striped fabric and sat next to the small Chippendale table. Even though it was decorated with colors that enhanced its size, the room seemed to have shrunk in size from Sebastian's commanding presence.

" I wondered if you might enjoy a ride through Hyde Park , Miss Latham ," Lord Soren said. " The day is crisp but not cold. I have warming bricks in the coach and lap blankets, for your comfort."

" Yes , that would be lovely." Katie turned to the dowager, who smiled.

" I will wait in the carriage, milady," Millie said, stepping out of the room.

The dowager stood and tapped her cane. Katie smiled as she recalled the foil that was hidden inside.

The older woman gave a wry laugh. " I wonder, Lord Soren , if you might have time to pay me a brief call tomorrow. I have an important favor to ask of you."

Sebastian gave a brief nod. " Certainly , Your Grace . It will be my pleasure.

" Shall we say ten of the clock?" the dowager asked.

" I will be here, Your Grace ."

" Very good," the elderly woman said with a mysterious smile. " Enjoy your outing, my dear," she said to Katie , then turned to Paula . " Come , my dear, I promised to show you my hat collection, and so I shall." The dowager walked out of the room, tapping her cane as she went.

Paula excused herself and gave Katie a quick wink as she followed the dowager down the hall.

Minutes later, Lord Soren helped Katie into his carriage and climbed in after her. Millie set a warm blanket across Katie's lap and sat back as the conveyance smoothly merged into the thoroughfare.

" I thought we might stop at Gunter's for chocolate after we ride through Hyde Park ," Lord Soren suggested.

" I would like that very much. She noticed even though they both occupied the same bench, it was wide enough that they didn't touch. " Your coach seems larger than most. Or am I imagining it?"

He laughed. " I'm a big man, so I ordered mine a few inches wider. It makes it more comfortable—for me and my guests."

" I didn't realize that was an option."

The conversation turned to the Clarence ball. " I had hoped to dance again with you," Lord Soren said.

" I would have liked that as well. But surely that would have set the tongues wagging," Katie said, enjoying the light, happy feeling she was experiencing. A feeling she hadn't felt for a long time. And yet, she also felt conflicted because she was experiencing it with another man—something she hadn't even considered would be possible after Wendel . They had fit together like a glove—best friends and confidants. A small part of her heart twisted at the thought of him. Wendel would always have a place in her heart, but for her peace of mind, she could no longer live in the past. Her family was right. She had to work harder to move forward with her life. Perhaps by doing so, she could conquer the bad dreams and dizzy spells and finally let go of the guilt that had weighed on her shoulders for the past year.

" A penny for your thoughts."

She turned and realized Lord Soren had been watching her, his eyes like brown velvet.

" I was just woolgathering," she said with a nervous smile. " I wanted to thank you again for your gallantry at the ball. I was frozen. Terrified . I could barely walk. But you came to my rescue. Calm . Focused . Just hearing your voice and looking into your eyes helped me get through my distress."

" You are very welcome. I'm glad I was there to render assistance." He smiled. " And perhaps we can dispense with titles? Please call me Sebastian . May I call you Katie ?"

Katie's smile widened. His voice sounded like velvet too if that were even possible. " Yes . I would like that."

He inclined his head. " Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

" No , I don't mind Lor — Sebastian ."

" Do you believe they are still out there? They , being the thieves."

She took a deep breath. " I do," she admitted. " Do you?"

He shrugged. " I truly don't know. But I think you do. And that's what matters."

She closed her eyes, and a tear escaped. " Yes . I wish I could remember their faces. It was all such a blur. Everyone is determined I move past it. I want to as well, but it is not a simple thing to do. I can certainly distract myself during the day, but at night, I have dreams. It feels like I know something, but I don't know what that is."

Sebastian was silent for a moment. " But what if your dreams are trying to tell you something? Have you tried to draw the images that you dream—the faces, place, and whatever you are seeing—when you awaken?"

" I've written things down in a diary, but unfortunately drawing is not a talent of mine." She nibbled her lip. " But Paula has a true gift for sketching, and I am certain she would help me if I asked."

Sebastian touched her gloved hand. " Good . If she can draw what you see in your dreams, maybe we can get a clearer picture of who these people are."

" Do you mean you'll help me?"

" Of course, I will help. In any way I can."

For the first time in a year, Katie felt a glimmer of hope. She knew there were no assurances. But she owed it to Wendel's memory to try. Just thinking about it made something shift inside her heart and she realized she felt a little lighter of spirit. " I want to do this."

" Excellent ," Sebastian said. " I see Gunter's ahead. I hope you and Millie are ready for some refreshment."

Katie wanted to ask about fencing lessons but decided she needed to let the dowager speak with him first in case that was her intention. But she felt lighter inside for the first time in a long time. " We would enjoy that, wouldn't we, Millie ?"

" Yes , ma'am. Very much so." Millie smiled, and her brown eyes danced.

Possibly because of the chilly weather, they could not find a place where Millie could sit apart from them so they could talk in private. She felt compelled to tell him about her dream. " I had mentioned discussing something with you earlier," she started, hoping he would attach these comments to the note she had sent him. " Perhaps we could speak another time?"

" I agree. That sounds like a good idea." He smiled. " There are some things one cannot discuss in public."

Two hours later, they returned to the townhouse, and Katie felt replete. The hot chocolate had warmed her, and she could still taste its rich flavor. Sebastian assisted Katie and Millie from the carriage.

" I trust you had a pleasant time?"

" Yes , truly, it was a delightful outing."

He regarded her for a moment in silence, his eyes as dark as the chocolate she'd enjoyed at Gunter's . A part of her wanted to lose herself in that dark, intense gaze, and a part of her didn't know what to think or do, so befuddled she was.

" Take me to En Garde ," Sebastian told the driver when he returned to his carriage.

As his carriage lurched forward and pulled away from the dowager's townhouse, Sebastian loosened his cravat, hoping that would ease some of the twisted emotions he felt inside.

God's teeth! He had done it again. There was something about Katie . She was certainly different from other young ladies. Could it be because he hadn't been with a woman in six months? No , he'd gone longer than that when he was at sea or in battle.

No , it was Katie herself. She was everything good and kind, guileless as she was. She was also intelligent and charming. But there was another quality to her that called out to him. A fractured soul that wanted and needed to heal. He'd felt much the same way many times when he was a young soldier on the battlefield.

Although Katie had been engaged, she was still an ingenue—and even more vulnerable, given her virtual self-isolation over the past year because of what she'd gone through. That , of course, brought out his protective instincts… Even so, he could already see the glimmer in her eyes when she looked at him.

He wasn't arrogant; he was just experienced. He'd gone through it before on assignment. There had been a diplomat, a widower with a seventeen-year-old daughter. She'd had extreme romantic notions and developed an almost instant affection for Sebastian . One evening, she sneaked into his private quarters, removed her gown, and slipped into his bed, naked.

He walked into his bedchamber that night after having spent the better part of an hour with her father discussing security measures for an upcoming summit. Luckily , the light of the moon showed her sleeping form in his bed. He spun on his heel and went straight to her father —told him what had happened. Fortunately , he'd built a tremendous trust with the diplomat. The girl's father immediately went with a trusted maid to remove his daughter from Sebastian's room.

The poor girl had lost her mother two years before—and her father had indulged her—perhaps too much. But after the incident, the man packed his daughter off to the finest finishing school where she would be safe from her whims.

This is not the same situation . Yes , Katie was in a vulnerable state because of the brutal murder of her fiancé, but it was her inner spirit that he found admirable. She was determined to find her late fiancé's killers.

And she was beautiful—a unique beauty, different from his mistresses. She was taller than the average woman and carried herself like a young queen. Her lush dark hair, ivory complexion, and rose-tinted cheeks only enhanced her beauty. But it was those sparkling blue eyes that made her breathtaking. So much so that he was finding it more and more difficult to keep his mind from conjuring her up in his thoughts.

When he found himself in her company, it was effortless. He thoroughly enjoyed himself with her. He realized he wanted to call on her.

What would Latham think? This wasn't what his friend had in mind when he asked him to watch his sister. And it wasn't what Sebastian had intended. He made it a practice to not get involved with his clients. Katie was a client, only she didn't realize it, but she felt like more. So much more.

If Miss Gowans agreed to help with the sketches, he felt certain they would have a chance of finding the men responsible for Colborne's death. It pleased him that Katie was open to his suggestion of sketching what she saw in her dreams. Now , he needed to determine how to make the idea operational. He hoped Nelson might help.

As the carriage turned the corner past a large oak tree, a sudden pricking of his senses made Sebastian look out the window. He scanned the area for anything out of the ordinary, but seeing nothing, he sat back in his seat.

The odd feeling stayed with him all the way to the club, making him all the more determined to catch those killers.

He huddled in his black coat, wishing he'd worn his long underwear beneath his clothes. The big toff had turned to look, but he'd ducked behind the massive oak tree just in time. No one had seen him, but just to make sure, he'd looked left and right before hurrying on his way. He pulled a toothpick from his mouth and tossed it to the ground. Pulling down on his black hat, he hailed a passing hackney.