Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Three Days Later

" M y dear," the dowager said as Millie fastened the fencing jacket over Katie's day dress. " When Sebastian arrives for your lesson, Paula and I will leave for a brisk walk to take in some air. I find it good for my constitution. Millie will remain outside the door, as she's been doing."

" Your Grace , Miss Latham , Lord Soren has arrived," Franklin announced at the entrance to the ballroom.

Katie's breath caught as the tall, handsome man stepped from behind the butler. They had practiced for a week now. She felt more confident handling both weapons—the epee and her parasol. And she really liked it when the dowager and Paula left her here. Katie had noticed that since her duties were lighter at the dowager's, Millie tended to take advantage and nap when no one was looking. But since the advantage had been hers in the form of time with Sebastian , she would not complain. Or say anything to Millie .

" Good morning, Sebastian . We are so glad to see you," the dowager said with a thump of her cane as she walked to the door to greet him.

Sebastian smiled. " Good morning, Duchess , Katie , Paula . I trust you are all well this morning?"

" Good morning, Sebastian ," Katie said, her voice sounding breathless to her ears.

" Good morning," Paula echoed with a smile.

I can see you are ready to begin," Sebastian said to Katie .

" Katie has been practicing her moves this morning," the dowager said. " I helped as much as I could. But I'm afraid my advice was not as meaningful as yours has been. Although I'm very pleased with her progress."

" Indeed , I agree," Sebastian said with a smile. " Katie has a strong will and is a most determined pupil."

Katie beamed at the compliments, the heat of a blush warmed her cheeks.

" I asked Franklin to set a refreshment table in the corner." The dowager nodded towards the window. "

" Thank you, Duchess ."

" Come along, Paula ," the dowager said with a thud of her cane. " It is time for our morning walk. Millie will be right outside the door in case you need anything." The dowager turned and walked out the door. Paula gave them a quick wave, then hurried after the old woman.

" Please take your time, Sebastian . I need to take a moment and have a glass of lemonade." Katie had been practicing for the past hour under the duchess' tutelage. She had proven to be quite a taskmaster. The dowager would call out instructions and Katie would follow them. It wasn't as effective as actual fencing, but it helped build her reflexes.

" It's good to see you smiling," Sebastian said. " Fencing seems to agree with you."

" It's good to be smiling," Katie said. " And it feels wonderful to learn something that gives me control over my life again," she said, setting down the epee and pouring herself a glass of lemonade. " Would you like a glass?"

" Yes , thank you," he said. " How was your practice this morning?"

" It all feels more comfortable to me. And I also practiced with the foil in my parasol to make sure I'm comfortable with that, as well."

" Excellent idea," Sebastian said. He took a few sips of his drink, then set down the glass. " Did you have any trouble sleeping last night? Any more bad dreams?"

Katie shook her head. " I slept like a baby, to be honest." She had been surprised that she hadn't had any nightmares, considering everything she'd recalled while Paula sketched the men's faces.

" That is good to hear. And it might be because you were able to clear your mind of some of that darkness that was buried inside. Perhaps you are beginning to heal, Katie ," he said softly.

She heaved a deep sigh and blinked back sudden tears. " T -thank you for everything you've done for me."

He reached into his pocket and pulling out a handkerchief, handed it to her.

" And thank you for your endless supply of these," she said with a chuckle as she dabbed at her eyes.

" I have plenty more." He grinned, patting his pocket.

" But I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to teach me, Sebastian . I cannot tell you what this means to me," Katie said. " For so long, I've been a prisoner of my fear. Knowing how to defend myself is—well, it's a liberating feeling. I don't know how I will ever be able to thank you enough."

" Just knowing that you are feeling stronger every day is all the reward I need," he said, his deep voice taking on a timber that made a delicious shiver tickle her spine.

" That is most kind of you," she said, raising the glass of lemonade to her lips in the hopes that the sudden flush of heat infusing her cheeks would dissipate.

Oh , Lord . How can I feel a shiver one moment and a rush of heat the next simply by being in his presence?

Katie drained her glass as Sebastian strode to the other end of the table and began to unbutton his jacket. As she poured herself another glass of lemonade, she peeked at him from the corner of her eye, watching him unbutton his waistcoat. She took a few more sips as she watched him roll up the sleeves of his shirt, his muscles bunching and shifting as he moved.

How different Sebastian was from Wendel . Throughout her engagement to Wendel , Katie had never seen him without his waistcoat, let alone his shirtsleeves. Wendel had always been impeccably dressed in the latest fashion for men, with nary a speck of lint on his coat. Sebastian on the other looked as though he was more comfortable in shirtsleeves, and yet he cut an impressive figure in his dark evening clothes and moved like a graceful panther the night of the Clarence ball, as they danced to the waltz…

" Now then, shall we begin," Sebastian said, pulling her from her thoughts.

Katie felt a heat permeate her cheeks and she quickly turned away, busying herself by pouring yet another glass of lemonade and taking a few more sips. " My , I seem to be so very thirsty this morning," she said in a raspy voice.

" Fencing is one of many rigorous sports," he said, his lips curving up in a roguish smile.

I will not think about other rigorous sports he has engaged in. I will not. I will not…

" Ready ?" he asked in that velvety voice again.

" Ready !" she said more loudly than she'd intended.

" Allez !" he said.

" En garde !" she replied, advancing and then lunging.

They sparred for a good half hour and then stopped to rest for a few moments.

" Katie , I know you have carried a great burden on your shoulders, but you could not have done anything to stop those men from killing your fiancé.

" You're suggesting that had I given him my pearls, he would have still killed Wendel ?" She could feel the tears welling in her eyes.

" If what I suspect is true, this man is a killer," Sebastian interjected.

" Why do you say that?"

" Last night, Nelson and I took the sketches to the dock area, where The Rooster is. We found the man you called Doogan based on his picture. It was a perfect likeness, by the way. Based on what he told us, we believe the man who killed Lord Colborne was deliberate."

" Th —the man in my dreams terrifies me. For so long, the faces and the scene looked foggy. I couldn't even describe him. But since that night at the Clarence ball, the dreams have returned. Even though they are more intense, I've been able to see the faces." She swiped at a tear and looked up at him.

" It's helped tremendously that you can recall the faces. I think we are making progress. While I have no reason to suspect he would come after you, I need you to promise me you will be vigilant and have a footman with you when you leave the house." He nodded at the parasol. " While I think you are developing your talent nicely, nothing replaces having someone there to watch out for you."

" Is …is he still a danger to me?" Sir Nelson had called this tall, formidable man standing by her side unkillable .

" Why did Sir Nelson call you unkillable?"

Sebastian's face was suffused with a deep shade of red and she couldn't remember the last time she had seen a man blush, especially such a big man. It was most endearing.

" We have been friends since boyhood. And have always been competitive. But when we joined the war and fought against Napoleon , we sparred in our spare time—to hone our fighting ability. The battlefield was fierce and meaner than I had ever imagined. You not only fight to survive, but you fight to kill. Over time, I earned a reputation for defeating the enemy, especially in hand-to-hand combat. I don't know who began calling me unkillable, only a fool believes he cannot be defeated. I never did."

At that moment, Katie realized she couldn't bear it if anything happened to him. Beyond her attraction to him, she felt a deeper pull. She'd felt it from the first moment her eyes had met his across the ballroom. And it had only grown deeper since then. She wondered if she'd somehow transmitted her thoughts to him, as he took a step closer to her and reached out to cup her face.

Sebastian glanced at the door before stepping closer.

" I believe the duchess and Paula are most likely still on their walk," she murmured.

He pulled her near and gently cupped her face. " Katie …" he began, his voice sounding husky and ragged. " Would you mind if I kissed you? You see, I just can't seem to help myself— I've imagined myself kissing you so many times."

No , I don't mind at all. In fact, I desperately want you to kiss me, Sebastian .

For the first time, she noticed specks of green in his sable brown eyes. She marveled at the masculine beauty of his face. Marveled at everything about him. Most of all, she marveled at how he made her feel. Cherished . Protected . Since there had been no movement or sound outside the door, Katie assumed Millie might have dozed off.

Even if Millie is awake, I don't care …

So strong was her yearning to be in his arms, it felt like a craving. She craved the heat of his touch—the touch she remembered from their waltz. But more than that she craved his lips on hers.

" Yes ," she whispered. " I would like?—"

Before she could finish speaking, Sebastian lowered his lips to hers.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and her knees felt so wobbly she feared they would buckle on her. But this was no dizzy spell from anxiety. She did not fear her reaction, she welcomed it. The heat of his hands on her back sent butterflies swirling in her stomach. Her eyes fluttered open and she noticed the beautiful, long dark eyelashes that fanned out beneath his eyes.

I want to know more about this wonderful man—this man who cares enough to give me fencing lessons because it is important to me. This man has made me feel safe and strong at the same time. I want to remember these moments with him forever. I want to see him like this in my dreams.

His tongue gave a gentle nudge to her lips, and she opened up to him as a flower does to the heat of the sun, savoring the feel of his tongue in her mouth and the heat of his breath on her face. She loved the taste of him. A woodsy taste mixed with lemonade. She sighed and pressed herself closer to him. His responding groan made her feel heady with a blossoming passion she'd never felt before.

She vaguely heard the sound of footsteps outside the ballroom. Sebastian pulled away, his breathing deep and heavy. His forehead touched hers. " Thank you for a most unforgettable kiss," he whispered.

Katie blinked, feeling quite dazed. " You're welcome."

He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. Stepping away he picked up their foils just as Millie stepped into the ballroom.

" Miss Latham ," Millie said from the doorway. " Luncheon is ready in the dining room. The dowager duchess and Miss Gowans are awaiting you and Lord Soren ."

" We'll be there right away," Katie said, doing her best to slow her racing heartbeat.

" Do you need my help, Miss Latham ?" Millie asked.

" I'll assist Miss Latham with her vest," Sebastian volunteered. He had already slipped on his waistcoat and buttoned it.

" We will be directly behind you, Millie ," Katie said.

" Very good, milady," Millie said with a bob and then turned to leave.

" I believe I have worked up quite an appetite," Katie said as Sebastian helped her remove the vest.

Eyes sparkling, Sebastian smiled down at her. " As have I , Katie ."