After spreading the coals in the grate and blowing out all the candles in her study but one, she took the last with her as she made her way along quiet, darkened hallways to the kitchens at the back of the house.
It was a testament to her mental exhaustion that she didn’t even the notice the faint light ahead as she approached the kitchen doorway, nor did she register the sound of movement until she crossed the threshold to see Hale’s great form sitting at the kitchen’s tall worktable. He was dressed minimally in breeches and a pale cotton shirt. His hair wasn’t secured in a queue as it usually was but fell to his shoulders in careless waves that appeared burnished by the light of his single candle.
Casual strength. Earthy masculinity.
Katherine was so distracted—and honestly, enthralled—by the sight of Hale, it took her a moment to notice he wasn’t alone. Seated atop the table itself, in a white cotton nightgown that floated about her little legs as she swung them over the edge, was a sleepy little Claire.
Chapter Seventeen
Hale looked up and his intense eyes found hers easily in the wavering darkness. His mouth lifted briefly at the corners before he muttered a simple, “Evenin’.”
Sparkling heat rushed through her at the deep rumble of his voice. She forced a full breath to steady the riot of nerves his proximity caused before replying with a stilted, “Good evening.”
The trick never worked as well as she hoped it would. Every time they had to speak over some issue or another regarding Frederick’s security or his requirements of her staff, she experienced the same intense rush of self-awareness, the same leap in mental stimulation and physical sensitivity. The same tingling delight throughout her body. If anything, her reactions grew more intense with each encounter, and tonight, her resources were far too strained and thin for her to properly manage her response.
Standing in the doorway, like a deer poised for flight at the scent of danger in the wood, she couldn’t stop the way his flashing gaze made her belly tremble or how his twisting half smirk sent an odd jolt through her chest.
Quickly shifting her attention to the girl beside him, she smiled and added a gentle, “Hello, Miss Claire.”
She’d visited with the girl several times since her arrival. Often with Frederick and sometimes on her own. It started mainly because she wanted to be sure the child and her nurse had everything they needed since it had been so long since the house had had any children—young or old—within its walls. But Katherine quickly found herself drawn in by the cherubic girl’s shy smile and tentative nature. It was easy to understand how Claire had so easily inspired her brother’s devotion and protective nature. Even after all she’d been through in her very young life, Hale’s daughter was simply too pure for this world. It was undeniably important to Katherine that Claire feel safe and happy in her temporary home, and she personally took on the task of ensuring just that. With each visit, the girl had gotten more generous with her smiles and recently had started showing real excitement whenever Katherine walked into the schoolroom.
Now, after smiling sweetly in response to Katherine’s greeting, Claire lifted her fists to rub at her eyes. And no wonder...she should have been abed hours ago.
Katherine glanced to Hale with a questioning look.
Catching her glance, he looked to his daughter and smoothed a large hand over the girl’s silken curls before looking back to Katherine to mouth the word nightmare.
She nodded. Of course.
“Claire and I decided to sneak down to the kitchen for a little midnight treat,” he explained out loud, “didn’t we, sweet pea?”
The little girl looked up with a smile and nodded enthusiastically, her sleepiness momentarily swept away, “Sweets. Pwease, papa. Sweets.”
“Only a bit because I promised you. But not too much or you won’t be able to go back to sleep.”
Claire whimpered softly and reached her hands up to her father. “No sweepy.”
Hale immediately lifted her up for a strong cuddle as he tucked his face beside hers and murmured low words of comfort. “Don’t be scared, sweet pea. No more bad men, I swear it.”
Deep and reverent, the tone of his vow went straight to Katherine’s heart.
After a moment, the girl pulled back enough to take her father’s face in her tiny hands. “Sweets. Pwease.”
He chuckled warmly and set her back on the table. “A little nibble, then it’s back to bed.”
Her smile was instant as her feet began to swing excitedly once again.
Entranced by the gentle interaction between father and daughter, Katherine was caught off guard when the man swung his attention back to her. “Care to join us?”
The savory scent of roasted meat made her mouth water and her belly rumbled in acceptance. “No, thank you. I don’t wish to intrude.”
“No intrusion,” he argued as he used his foot to push the stool across from him out from under the rough wooden table. “Have a seat, duchess.”
The irreverence in his tone and action should have been insulting, especially considering he hadn’t even risen to his feet when she’d entered. But Katherine was growing accustomed to such behavior from him, and she suspected it was mostly employed to get a rise out of her. For some reason, the man seemed to enjoy triggering her ire.
Unfortunately for him, she’d already decided not to be offended by his occasionally loutish behavior. To be honest, a great deal of society’s expected formalities had always seemed pointless to her. Though well-versed in the required deportment of their station, she and Frederick had conducted themselves far more casually while in Lincolnshire. After realizing her initial objections were triggered more by the way he set her off-balance with his boldness than any true aversion
