His voice was low and graveled when he finally spoke. “I’ve done a lot in my life that would make you shudder in horror.”
“You’ve done what you needed to do.” She lowered her chin and smiled. “And I don’t frighten that easily.”
He chuckled. “I’m starting to believe that.”
She lifted her brows. “What more must I do to prove it?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” he answered in a gruff tone as his expression hardened.
She wouldn’t allow herself to glance away. “I want to.”
“Why?”
Her heart was suddenly beating terribly fast. So fast, her breath became shallow. She’d just claimed to be fearless. Was she going to falter when it was most important? “I’d like to know what it feels like to be valued...by a man like you.”
He didn’t reply right away, and in the silence that followed her confession, his manner changed. Hardened. It wasn’t exactly anger she saw flashing in his eyes, but it held a similar intensity. Then he tilted his head to a cocky angle as a smirk twisted his lips.
“Valued?” he asked in a slightly mocking tone. “Don’t you mean fucked?”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Katherine’s heart dropped. She would never have thought he’d throw her words from last night back at her—words she’d spoken in passion and vulnerability and need. As she stared at him—hurt and shock tightening her chest—she noted the tension in his body and the way he fisted his hands as though preparing to fight. “Is that what you think?” she asked quietly.
“What else is there?”
Stunned by his suddenly surly manner and dismissive tone, she couldn’t form an answer.
Then the carriage rolled to a stop and a footman appeared almost immediately to open the door.
Katherine hesitated. Staring at Hale, she opened her mouth to speak, though she had no idea what she intended to say. But then she didn’t get a chance to say anything as he spoke first.
“Go to your party, duchess. Your fine friends are waiting.”
He was right.
She wasn’t sure what had caused him to become crude and mocking, but she knew him well enough now to see it for the deflection it was. Though she had every intention of finishing this conversation, the things she truly wished to say to him required more time—deserved more time—and a far more intimate setting.
Turning away, she took the footman’s hand and stepped to the pavement in front of Lord Shelbourne’s well-lit and elegant townhouse. Though she thought she might have heard Hale murmur her name, she ignored it. She just had to get through this evening, then she could return to what was important.
God! She hated parties. Or maybe it was just the idea of being surrounded by strangers that made her so ill at ease. Unfortunately, nearly everyone in London was a stranger, but she was determined to start changing that. For Frederick’s sake.
With a straight spine and long strides, she walked toward the house, where another footman waited beside the open door.
She was greeted in the entry by a properly stoic butler. After taking her cloak, he led her to the drawing room, where nearly two dozen people had already gathered. As her arrival was announced, Lord Shelbourne stepped forward with a charming smile to bow elegantly over her hand.
“My dear Lady Katherine, how delightful to have you with us this evening.”
Despite the strain she struggled to contain beneath a poised façade, Katherine smiled back. “Thank you so much for the invitation, my lord. It has been a long time since I’ve had an opportunity to enjoy a little social discourse.”
The gentleman scanned over her shoulder with a look of concern. “Have you no escort, Lady Katherine?”
She lifted a brow. “I hope that isn’t a problem.”
“No worries, my dear. We are all friends here,” Shelbourne replied smoothly as he turned her toward his guests. “I shall introduce you around. Everyone is anxious to make your acquaintance.”
Apparently, her drive through the park with Hale and the subsequent mention in the gossip pages had garnered more attention than she’d expected. After almost an hour, Katherine felt overwhelmed by the names and faces she’d need to remember, and she realized she was starting to run out of small talk.
As though sensing her fatigue, Shelbourne leaned close to whisper gently, “Just a few more introductions, my dear, then you’ll be free to mingle as you wish.” He led her toward an older gentleman who awaited their approach with an open smile. “Lady Katherine, may I present a dear friend, Lord Emsworth. He has been especially anxious to meet you,” Shelbourne added with a smile.
It was all Katherine could do not to tense and flinch at the name. Lord Emsworth proved to be a man of later years with silver hair and heavy brows who wore small round spectacles over eyes so dark they appeared black. As he gave a respectful bow, Katherine gathered her composure enough to offer a polite smile and nod. “A pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
The words nearly stuck in her throat.
“A delight, Lady Katherine,” Emsworth replied smoothly. His voice was measured and soft. Almost oddly soft. “Although I never met your father, we conversed a few times through the post. His death was a tragic loss of a great mind.”
Alarm sparked hot along her nerves, but she forced herself to recall that they had no proof this man had any connection to their father’s death or the kidnappings. Only speculation. If he was behind it, she could not risk giving away their suspicion now.
“Thank you, my lord,” she answered. “Have you great interest in herbalism?”
His pale lips spread into a controlled smile. “My interests are directed more toward exploration, but a few of your father’s studies on rare flora made their way to my attention.”
“Lord Emsworth has been a patron to a great many of our age’s recent discoveries,” Shelbourne offered.
Katherine forced a smile. “How admirable.”
Emsworth gave a shallow bow of his head in a gesture of humility that made Katherine’s stomach turn. When a footman appeared
