Chapter 11

Chapter 11

It was always William who seemed to be there whenever Kate needed to be rescued. She could not help thinking that there had to be a reason for that. She struggled to believe that it was merely a coincidence that she would always find herself looking into his warm coffee-colored eyes when terrible things happened to her. When it seemed that her world was falling apart.

She let out a deep sigh as thoughts of this man consumed her. She also felt a smile creep onto her lips. There was something utterly intoxicating about the way he stared at her as though she was really someone. A person worthwhile and maybe even special. It had been such a long time since Kate had allowed herself to think anything positive about herself.

William did not judge her, or seem concerned about the condition of her leg. He almost made her forget...

"You are daydreaming," Jonathan commented in the slightly bitter tone he had adopted ever since they stepped back into the carriage. "I do hope you are thinking about the beautiful Egyptian art and not that scoundrel."

"Scoundrel?" Kate repeated, looking at her brother with wide, shocked eyes. "Are you talking about...?"

"The Earl of Embleton? Yes, I am." It was safe to say he did not look impressed. "He is not the sort of person we want to be seen with. I have heard nothing but terrible things about his behavior. Even being seen talking to him is not good for us. I should have not engaged him in conversation at all. What shall people think of me?"

Kate could not understand her brother's concern. She felt compelled to address this right away. "But, Jonathan, the earl was there to assist us at the time of the carriage accident. If it were not for his help, I do not know what would have happened."

"You would have been fine without his help," her brother lectured. "Someone else would have saved you. I do not want a man like that to assume he has the right to ‘save you' whenever he thinks you should need it. That is not right. Whether he appeared to be a knight in shining armor or not on that particular night, he is absolutely not to be trusted."

Kate could hardly catch her breath. Her brother's words did not suit the man she believed William to be. The William she had spoken to seemed kind-hearted and generous. "Are you sure you are thinking of the right person?"

"I have absolutely no doubt in my mind," Jonathan said firmly. "You should heed my warning. If you have some silly romantic notion in your head about him, then I suggest you get rid of it. He is not any kind of hero."

Kate was put out by her brother's derogatory way of saying ‘romantic notion'. He did not need to treat her like a little girl. After what had occurred in her past, she would never get giddy over a man again. But that did not make William bad...

"Our parents entertained him and the doctor over dinner," Kate continued, undeterred. "They did not seem to mind him."

"I shall have to inform them of his reputation." Jonathan appeared horrified. "We cannot have him at our home. People might start to think he is courting you. That will leave your reputation in tatters. I cannot imagine...he is a rogue. Any further association with him at all will ruin you." He tutted and shook his head. "You shall never find a husband. What are Mother and Father even thinking? Do they not keep up with the information in the scandal sheets? I think they should if they want to get serious about your future. Honestly, Kate, it seems like no one is concerned about that but me."

Kate did not know what to say to this. She did not feel like she had a reputation at all anymore. Not after what happened with the Marquess of Fairbridge. But that was not a happy memory nor one she wished to discuss with her brother. Especially now that he had sunken into such an agitated mood. She did not wish to make him even more concerned. They had enjoyed a pleasant time together before Gunter's. It would be better for both of them for the day to end with that memory as most prominent.

"I was thinking about the Egyptian art," she finally declared quietly, more to silence her brother than anything else. She did not wish for them to argue. "I was trying to forget about my little stumble because it is very embarrassing."

"It would be better for you to bring your walking cane next time. To help us avoid any accidents."

He said that so straight-faced, as if her walking cane would not put off any potential suitors. If any man dared to consider her at all, they would immediately be horrified. But Kate had a feeling that Jonathan would not hear her logic, as he was not in the mood, so she simply nodded in agreement with him.

She turned away from Jonathan and allowed herself to drift off into her mind once more instead. At least in her imagination, she did not need to worry about how the rest of the world perceived her. She did not have to think about finding herself a husband, which was a dream she had long given up on, even if her brother had not.

The siblings rode in silence the rest of the way back to Ridgewood Manor, but that did not mean there was nothing to say. The tension lay so thick between them it could have been sliced with a butter knife. The added stress only left Kate more exhausted by the time the carriage pulled to a final halt, letting them know that they were home at last. Her eyes barely wanted to stay open, and her body did not seem willing to follow her commands. She had done too much and had all but given up. The short walk to the manor now felt like a terribly long journey.

"I shall help you head inside," Jonathan offered. His tone remained a little frosty, but the gesture was lovely, and much needed. Kate had pushed her leg further than it could possibly go today. Those few steps to the front door threatened to make it worse. "Lean on me. Use me as your walking cane. You do not need to worry here. No one can see you. I can keep you safe."

Kate nodded and did as he commanded. She put all her weight on her brother and allowed him to assist her inside. She was tired and needed time alone to process what had happened today.

"I should like to rest up in my bedchamber," she informed him. "It has been a lovely day, but now I must sleep."

"You do not wish for me to arrange anything for you to eat?" Kate shook her head no. "Will you let me know if you do?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you for such a nice time today. It was surprisingly enjoyable to get outside. I truly did enjoy the art."

"I am glad to hear that. It was gratifying to take you out for the day. I hope we get another chance."

"Me too," Kate replied softly. "It is always wonderful to have you home."

A strange expression crossed Jonathan's face, and for a moment, Kate wondered if he was going to bring up William again. It was a shock to her for her brother to have so many opinions on that man. He was not usually that way about anyone. This was especially true since he spent less time in London these days, so his views on members of society had diminished. But something about the Earl of Embleton had irritated him. Kate supposed she should perhaps heed his warning because there might be something in it.

But what sort of scoundrel could William be? No one in their house read the scandal sheets. Even before her accident, it was not something to interest the house hold because it was all nasty and unpleasant gossip. Kate was amazed to know that her brother seemed to have an investment in them, especially now. Was it time for her to consider taking a look at them?

But the idea made her shudder. She knew exactly what it was like to be at the center of salacious and untrue gossip. She certainly did not like the idea of subjecting someone else to that and judging him because of it.

She did not even think she could believe what was written in the scandal sheets. How could the writers of such nonsense know the truth of what was going on in people's real lives? Plus, if Kate accidentally read something about herself, about Douglas, or even about the fall today, it would absolutely finish her off.

She had barely survived this; she would not survive more.

Yet, she was more than a little intrigued about William and what could possibly be written about him. He did not seem like the sort of man who inspired gossip, but then Kate had been naive before. She would not put it past herself to fall into yet another trap. Even if William's coffee-colored eyes assured her that she would be safe with him no matter what.

"Kate..." Jonathan finally seemed to reach whatever he wanted to say before he shook his head and shut himself down. "Never mind, you get some rest now. It has been a terribly busy day for you. If you feel better soon, then perhaps we could spend another day exploring the city a little more. If that is something you should like?"

Kate nodded without hesitation, although she knew that if she were to venture out again without her cane, then she should have to insist on an activity that did not involve quite so much walking. She could not count on William to always be her savior. Even if he had been in the right place at the right time so far...almost as if fate wanted to bring them together.

Not that she was getting silly romantic notions, of course. It was merely curious to think of. If fate was bringing them together all the time, why was that? What did it all mean? Kate could not stop herself from wondering.

That intrigued her even more than what could possibly be written about him in the scandal sheets. She wanted to know him, not the version of him that had been written down.

"Thank you again, Jonathan. I shall see you later on, when I am more rested. I will call you if I need to."

She waited and watched her brother walk away before heading inside her safe space. She smiled to herself once she was alone and clasped her hands together joyfully. What had happened with William had been so unexpected, but so delightful at the same time. A flutter of butterflies entered Kate's stomach as she remembered the feel of William touching her. When he caught her in his arms in Gunter's, a tingling connection had flowed between them. She knew that William had felt it, too, because of the way he stared at her. It showed in his eyes as he fixed them on her so intensely, looking at her like she had transformed his day into something glorious, just as he had done to hers.

Kate fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling with gushing excitable sensations flooding her body. She truly could not believe what her brother had told her about William. She was convinced that he must have mixed him up with another earl. There was no way that the man who had cared for her and made her feel so accepted could be so bad.

Or if her brother was not wrong, the scandal sheets were.

She hoped that Jonathan was not downstairs now, changing their parents' opinions about William without proof, because she did not want to be forbidden from seeing him again. Already, Kate was thinking about what could occur when their paths crossed another time. She hoped it would be in a situation where they could talk a little more. The chance was not there today. Not with Jonathan behaving like her protector, saving her from the predator. He truly did not need to do that.

After a while, her train of thought was interrupted by the agony in her leg increasing. She truly did need to rest to recover from the busy day. It was time for Kate to change into her nightwear so she could sleep easily. With a little bit of luck, she would wake up in much less pain and be able to face another day.

William's face remained with her, though, even as she drifted off to sleep. As she sunk into her dreams, he did not just catch her, but leaned down to kiss her as well. It was such a realistic dream that Kate could practically feel him, and she loved it.

The connection she felt as he held her was a hundred times more intense as he kissed her. The sensation that she was in the right place in his arms overwhelmed her.

There was no way that this could be a bad man. No way that anyone could have anything terrible to say about him. His coffee-colored eyes let her know with absolute certainty that he had a kind soul, a big heart, and knew how to love wholly.

If only she was worth that love. Perhaps she would even seek it out. If this had all occurred months before, even earlier than the Marquess of Fairbridge deciding that she was the woman he needed to court, then the romantic in her would desperately try to find out how deep this connection could run.

But that was not her reality any longer, and her leg was a stark reminder of that. This kiss could only ever happen within her dreams. She was going to have to be satisfied with that alone. While it did not make her happy, it was much better than nothing. She preferred living in these dreams about William than in misery over Douglas. At least these ideas put a smile on her face, which had not happened for far too long.