Julien had felt her reaction and now he sat back, a self-satisfied smile on his face. For the remainder of the play he indulged in various pleasurable fancies, having to do most of them with her naked, sprawled on her back, her glorious hair fanned about her head, and him above her, caressing her, coming deeply inside her. Ah, and there was a smile on her face and her arms were about his back.
Had anyone later asked him to discuss the merits of Kemble’s performance, he would have been quite unworthy of the task.
Kate didn’t awake until nearly noon of the next day. She felt surprisingly well rested and alert despite the fact that she’d not fallen into her bed until well after two o’clock in the morning. She rose, eased her feet into slippers, and pulled on a wrapper. She thought of Julien and jerked the bell cord with more violence than was necessary.
Eliza appeared but a few moments later, carrying a tray with crunchy rolls and hot chocolate. “Good morning, Miss Katharine. Cook just baked the rolls for you. Piping hot they are.”
“Thank you, Eliza.”
“Your new green-velvet gown has just arrived, just in time for you to wear to Almack’s this evening. I went around to Madame Giselle’s myself this morning to fetch it, Lady Bellingham being in quite a taking that it wouldn’t be ready in time.”
The crunchy roll seemed to revert to dry dough in Kate’s mouth. She lowered her head so that Eliza wouldn’t see her fear and her anger. Almack’s. She could easily imagine the curious stares and the smug glances, the whispered comments behind gloved hands.
“Then you know that Lady Bellingham is planning to attend Almack’s this evening?”
“Oh, yes. Walpole is in quite a tizzy about how best to arrange her ladyship’s hair.” She picked up a brush to comb out the tangles from Kate’s messed hair. She fancied Walpole was jealous of her attending Miss Katharine.
Damn him, Kate thought furiously, thumping down her cup of chocolate on the tray. He’d told her himself about their attendance at Almack’s this evening so that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to refuse Lady Bellingham, were the good lady the one to suggest it.
Still glorying in Walpole’s supposed jealousy, Eliza brushed her long, thick hair, quite oblivious of her mistress’s anger. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to dress your hair high on top of your head, in curls. You will be the most beautiful lady present, for I am quite good at it, you know.”
15
The day was already half gone, and the remainder passed much too quickly for Kate. She paced restlessly back and forth in her room, alternately shaking her fist in the direction of Grosvenor Square, and cursing herself for her inability to find a solution to her most immediate problem. She felt that she might as well be an actor on the stage saying lines and going through motions provided solely by the earl. If only there were a way she could best him, if only—
Eliza interrupted her mental rantings to announce that a young gentleman was downstairs asking to see her.
“He didn’t give his name, just said that you’d want to see him. He’s a nice-looking young gentleman, if you don’t mind my saying so, quite jolly too.”
Puzzled at this, Kate quickly patted some strands of hair into place, smoothed her gown, and hurried downstairs to the drawing room.
“Harry!” She stood poised an instant in the doorway before running into her brother’s arms. “Oh, my dear, it is so good to see you. Whatever are you doing here? I had no idea, oh, dear, it’s so good to see you.” She buried her head against his shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. At last. An ally who would help her escape.
Harry hugged her briefly, but it was obvious he was embarrassed. “Lord, Kate, of course it’s me.”
He firmly took her shoulders and pushed her back. He looked down into her glowing face and said cheerfully, “What looks you are in, little sister. I see that town life agrees with you. You must be cutting quite a dash. I’m proud of you.” He held her at arm’s length and critically surveyed her modish yellow-muslin gown, an appraising gleam of appreciation in his eyes.
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