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“That will be nice.”

Lord Hightown beamed at her. “I’ll pick you up at ten.”

She nodded and continued the game, keeping up the act for the next few rounds. By the end of the day, she was surrounded by smitten men trying to make conversation with her.

She laughed when necessary and blushed when necessary and found herself enjoying their conversations, as she found out she shared hobbies with a few of the men—not that they didn’t make obnoxious comments sometimes, though.

She laughed at something Lord Kilmore said and turned to find Richard staring at her from across the garden, his brown hair silhouetted by the golden light of the setting sun. His eyes shone with humor and satisfaction.

God, he is handsome.

What?

He winked at her and turned away, and her heart started pounding in her chest.

She hadn’t even realized she had flushed until Lord Hightown called her attention to it.

“Are you well, Miss Burlow?” he asked, putting a hand on her back. “Do you need to sit down?”

“No. No,” she answered, shaking her head. “I am well.”

And oh did she hope so.

Richard looked away from Catherine with a satisfied smile as he saw her surrounded by gentlemen he knew fit her criteria. She had looked odd playing the small-brained lady, but she’d followed his instructions very well, and a dark part of him wondered just how well she’d follow his instructions on other things.

He shook the thought out of his brain as she approached him, looking every bit the smart, cool Catherine he’d seen playing with his sister when they were children.

But then sensual thoughts crossed his mind as he noticed the way her skirts swished around her long, elegant legs.

He’d never noticed how smoothly she walked before. He had never noticed many things about her, and now he noticed one thing—all her features started to stand out to him.

He frowned at that.

What the bloody hell was going on?

He couldn’t be attracted to practical Catherine, could he?

Yes, she was striking when she laughed freely without a care in the world, but that wasn’t enough to warrant attraction, was it?

Perhaps he’d stayed too long without a woman. That was the only explanation he could come up with for the inappropriate thoughts crossing his mind now.

“Is all well, Your Grace?” she asked, pouting with concern.

Had her lips always been that pink?

Damn.

He really needed to focus.

“Yes.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “All is well.”

“Do you need some punch?” she asked, handing him her cup. “God knows I’ve had enough.”

He laughed, and those sensual thoughts faded from his mind as he finally reminded his body that she was good old Catherine, his sister’s best friend. He should not be picturing how her legs looked bare.

He swallowed and then smiled at her. “I have had enough, thank you. I believe you owe me a favor.”

She sighed. “I do, but I must thank you.” She smiled. “I didn’t know flirting was so fun.”