Page 21

Instead, she smiled uncertainly at Zeke, who studied her in turn, an unreadable expression on his face.

He was ever a mystery. With the earl and his aunt, he displayed ample charm, and a proclivity to see the humor in almost everything. Toward her, however, he was distant, bordering on rude.

Over the last few days, however, his chilly veneer showed an occasional crack, and he treated her as someone he almost liked, or at least didn’t dislike.

She found herself craving his attention, a smile aimed in her direction. Her name on his lips spoken in his rough velvet voice was like a dollop of thick, melted fudge. Better, even.

“Tell me about your family, Kitty.”

“What would you like to know?” She began collecting the chess pieces. She would leave as soon as she put the game away.

He shrugged and leaned over the board, nudging her hand aside with his. “I’ll get these.”

Her skin, where his fingers had brushed, tingled. “Thank you.”

He didn’t acknowledge her thanks. “What were your parents like?” He asked, his eyes still on the board. A golden lock of hair fell over his brow.

Kitty folded her hands in her lap rather than give in to the inane urge to smooth it back. “Adventurous. Both of them. And quite learned. My father was a geologist turned cartographer.”

“A rather unusual practice for a member of the peerage, isn’t it?” He paused in the act of folding the board to study her.

She smiled faintly. “Especially considering father was my grandfather’s only son, and by all standards should’ve begun managing the Maidstone properties when he came of age.

He didn’t. I never heard it discussed. It was just that way.

Father’s choice, I presume. He never showed any interest in anything other than my mother and their explorations.

“Not that grandfather complained. He was extremely vital. In fact, I never remember him taking ill, until the last.”

She stared into the fire, and willed away the rush of emotion. “Anyway, Grandfather had Collin to take up the helm. I think my father—not that I’m criticizing, mind you—but I think he counted on that.”

“I see.”

Something in his tone drew Kitty’s gaze. His head was cocked to one side, his eyes narrowed and focused—on her.

Her heartbeat skittered, leaving her breathless, as if she’d run up a flight of stairs.

“How did your brother feel about taking on his father’s responsibilities?” Zeke asked.

Her lips curved slightly at the memory. “Collin was a natural born lord-of-the-manor. Even as a child he insisted on riding out with Grandfather to tour the properties. By the time he reached adolescence he sat in on grandfather’s meetings with his man-of-affairs.

He always said things like, ‘When I’m baron, I’ll do thus and such.

’ ” She altered her voice to sound like a man’s.

“There’s the voice I remember.” Zeke’s white teeth gleamed. “No wonder young Kit never sounded right.”

“A criticism you never passed an opportunity to make.”

“You make a much better female,” he said, his voice all silk and smoke.

For the life of her, she couldn’t think of one intelligent response.

“How many years separated you and Collin?” He asked, his tone once again neutral.

“Seven. I adored him. If only he hadn’t gone on that wild goose chase, none of this would even be happening,” she blurted, surprising even herself.

She put a fist to her mouth as if to staunch any further emotional outburst. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to subject you to a fit of female hysterics.”

“I asked.”

She blinked. The Zeke she knew never missed an opportunity to mock her. Tonight’s Zeke unnerved her.

“You can’t stop there, Kitty. I’m curious. What sort of goose chase? Where did Collin go?”

She studied her hands in her lap. “He got word a trunk containing our parents’ last works had turned up in New York. He set out to retrieve the thing before it went up for auction.”

“He couldn’t have sent for it?”

“As far as I was concerned, it could rot, and I made my opinion known, but Collin was stubborn as a mule once he set his mind to something.”

She curled her toes further under her skirts, and leaned one elbow on her armrest, dropping her chin in her hand.

“He even convinced Grandfather to support his fool's errand, though I believe he browbeat him into it. For several weeks—before Collin gave me the news—I’d wake up at night hearing them, well, I don’t want to say arguing. That would, be too strong a word.”

“And I suppose you happened to overhear these heated conversations?” he asked, a teasing light in his eyes.

She slanted him a peeved looked. “I did not.” After a brief pause she added, “I couldn’t make out the words.”

Zeke threw his head back and laughed aloud.

Kitty grinned, warmed to her toes. “I don’t know for certain. Maybe Grandfather wanted the trunk as a memento of his son. I do know I wish Collin had never gone.”

“Maybe he had a bit of wanderlust going on?”

“Spoken like someone with first-hand experience,” she said softly.

His mouth twisted in a sardonic half-grin. “Have you no desire to see the world, Kitty? It seems to be in your family’s blood.”

She shook her head.

At one time she had yearned to travel, to go with her parents on their mad adventures. But now she only wanted a home, and a family, and roots.

“I have other priorities.” Priorities she had no intention of sharing and inviting censure on herself. “I admit as a child I dreamed of visiting faraway lands.”

He looked at her with eyes that seemed to see into her soul. “You wanted to join your parents on their travels, didn’t you?”

“What child wouldn’t? But of course they couldn’t take us into the wilds. Not a very nice existence for small children. To their credit, they didn’t begin traveling so constantly until I was past infancy, or so I’ve been told.”

“Very thoughtful of them. Your grandfather raised you for the most part, I take it?”

She smiled fondly. “Yes.”

“As did mine.”

She studied him through her lashes. “Yes, we have that in common. Except…I think you lost your mother at an early age?”

“I was fourteen, Caden ten. She died giving birth to our sister—who passed with her.” He spoke almost without inflection.

“I’m so sorry."

Neither spoke for several minutes. Finally Zeke broke the silence. “I know James is your cousin. I’m shooting in the dark, here, but am I correct guessing your branches of the family weren’t close?”

“That’s putting it mildly. I first laid eyes on him when his parents brought him to my parents’ funeral. My impression was they were a brooding lot.” She reflected a moment. “Grandfather explained who they were to Collin. I”—she cleared her throat—“overheard their conversation.”

Zeke grinned knowingly.

She raised her chin a notch and fought an answering grin. “All right, I eavesdropped. But sometimes one has to be resourceful if one wants to get at the truth. Especially when the truth embodies dark family secrets.”

His smile never faltered. “And just what was this dark truth? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“You fault my methods, but then wish to savor the fruit of my labors.”

His blue eyes glittered with amusement. “Guilty.”

Mollified, she went on. “Apparently, Grandfather had an older half brother, conceived on the wrong side of the blanket.”

“I see.”

“My grandfather knew nothing of his existence until the reading of his father’s will, which contained a paltry provision for his illegitimate first-born son.

Grandfather, the honorable man he was, tried to right the situation by supplying land and an allowance for his half sibling.

From what I…um…overheard, it didn’t earn him any favor with his older brother who, apparently, always felt the title rightfully belonged to him. ”

“An age-old slight. But hardly your grandfather’s fault.”

“Exactly. How he’d have reveled in the knowledge his descendent, Garrick, would one day hold the Maidstone title.”

Zeke steepled his fingers. “Garrick James is the grandson of your grandfather’s half-brother?”

She nodded. “Now Baron of Maidstone, and my legal guardian. For five more months.”

“Yes.” His brows knitted, and he drummed his fingertips on his armrest. “That brings me to another question. How on earth did your nemesis wind up your guardian?”

“Grandfather legitimized him before he knew what a monster Garrick really was.”

Her grandfather had thought securing the title in such a way, and making her the man’s ward, would keep her safe from ne’er-do-wells who might try to marry her to secure her substantial inheritance and the Maidstone title, in one fell swoop.

Too late, he realized he couldn’t trust Garrick with the power he’d granted him.

Seconds ticked by with Zeke apparently lost in thought.

Their conversation had reached its end.

But Kitty didn’t want to say goodnight. Not yet. Not when being with him felt so—Crimey. She didn’t have the words. It was like a hard to reach itch finally being scratched.

“Tell me about you and—Caden, was it?”

Zeke lounged back and grinned. “Yes. Caden and I haven’t seen each other much of late. My fault, I admit. I’d hoped to catch up with him during my time in London. Who knows, perhaps since my stay has been unexpectedly extended…” He left off with a negligent shrug.

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry I’ve caused so much trouble. You’ve had to alter your plans and—”

“Kitty.”

Gooseflesh sprang up over her limbs at the sound of her name, spoken just so, in his rough velvet whisper. “Yes?”

“We’ve been over this ground. There’s no point discussing it further. There is something I’d like to address, however…”

“Yes?” she repeated.

He unfolded himself from his chair and moved to stand directly before her. “I’d like to collect my forfeit.”

Her mind went blank. “Excuse me?” He practically towered over her. She untucked her feet, planted them on the ground, and grasped the arms of her chair.

For a moment he stared down at her, his expression unreadable. Then he bent to take both her hands in his, and tugged her to her feet.

“What are you—”

“I won our game,” he said, his voice a low rumble.

She frowned in confusion.

“The chess game. Now I’m claiming my prize.” He cradled her cheeks in his warm palms.

Her insides melted like wax over a flame. “What do you—”

His mouth covered hers in a searing kiss.