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Chapter Fifteen

Z eke wasn’t precisely sure how to answer Kitty’s question. How he'd ended up at the hidden garden at precisely the moment she needed him was simple, but also complicated.

He couldn’t tell her how, for two days, he’d set out to avoid her. Ever since he’d made the grievous mistake of kissing her again, in fact.

Today, he’d been at his desk in an upstairs study reviewing a property prospectus. Repeatedly. He hadn’t been able to focus. Truth be told, his mind kept straying—to Kitty. He couldn’t tell her that, either.

Then, something outside caught his eye. A splash of robin’s egg blue on the lawn. Without even looking, something inside him told him it was Kitty.

He damn sure couldn’t tell her that.

He'd set aside the ledger, looked out the large bay window, and spotted Kitty traipsing along the famous Chissington Hall walking path in a frothy, powder blue gown—an unlikely walking dress if he ever saw one.

He followed her progress longer than he should, something he’d never dare admit, imagining what she thought when she spied the gardens, brooks, bridges, and fountains he’d seen a million times, and wishing he were there with her to experience her first time, first-hand.

When she disappeared from sight, he started to turn back to his work.

Then he saw James, heading in the same direction.

He didn’t exactly remember what happened after that. One minute he was at his desk, the next he bounded down the stairs, through the manse, and across the portico, practically deafened by the sound of blood rushing in his ears.

He’d known exactly where he’d find them. No way would Kitty be able to resist visiting the secret garden, and her bastard guardian would take full advantage.

The muted sounds of a scuffle coming from within the private courtyard infused him with bloodlust unlike anything he'd ever known. He still suffered the aftershocks.

He had no recollection of passing through the concealed entrance.

Unfortunately the image of Kitty, trapped beneath the animal she called cousin, would likely haunt him forever.

“Zeke?”

“Mmm?” he murmured, buying time to calm his tempestuous emotions.

“I asked how you happened to be on the same path as Garrick and I?”

Yes, she had, and he wasn’t about to tell her the truth. “I often stroll the path.”

“I…see.” She didn’t press, which was decidedly unlike her.

Zeke slanted her a curious glance.

She gazed straight ahead, her arms clasped behind her back. Her usually porcelain complexion glowed a becoming shade of pink either from exertion, or her recent altercation, or both.

Her ebony hair, caught in a ribbon at her nape, gleamed blue-black in the shafts of sunlight stealing through the thick foliage surrounding them. The length of it reached nearly to her waist, and swung side to side with every step she took.

He liked the look of her lustrous, dark mane. Liked that she usually wore it down. Liked the feel of it sifting through his fingers. An image the glossy mass fanned over pristine white sheets appeared in his mind.

The simmering lust he’d done his best to tamp down this past week exploded into a full boil—and he couldn’t do a damned thing to assuage the hunger.

He swallowed a groan and cursed himself, but fool that he was, didn’t look away.

She thought he didn’t like her? He liked her too much. It was damned inconvenient.

Beside him, her pace slowed to a crawl. She started examining her clothing. “You’re staring. Am I covered with dirt?”

He felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Just wondering what’s going through your head.” It was a true statement, as far as it went.

“Oh.” She blew air out of her cheeks. “If you must know, I was thinking about what Garrick said, before he…” She shook her head. “He insists he and I should marry, supposedly for my benefit.”

“By God, he’s got nerve.” Damn the man.

She flashed him a grin. “I don’t buy the supposed magnanimity, especially as he hasn’t made any secret he holds me in contempt. I asked him why he’d wish to marry me.”

“Did he give you a straight answer?”

“If I understood him correctly, and I’m not at all certain I did, he sees marriage to me as his due.”

“Come again?”

“Apparently he bears a bone-deep grudge against my grandfather whom he believes usurped his grandfather's title. It’s all so absurd. After everything grandfather did for Garrick, too.”

She beetled her brows. “Grandfather welcomed Garrick into our lives. He thought having him around would be good for me after…Collin.”

“You’d lost your parents and your brother in a relatively short span of time. He probably hoped providing you with another family member might ease your pain.”

She smiled sadly. “I could have told him—should have told him how I felt around Garrick, before he contacted the solicitors.”

“Garrick made you uneasy from the start?”

She wrinkled her nose. “It was nothing I could name. Just a feeling something was off.”

“In that case, why didn’t you tell your grandfather?”

She raised her eyes to his. They were like green mist in the muted afternoon light, and he couldn’t look away if he tried.

“I didn’t want to worry him and I hoped Garrick might bring him some comfort.” She sighed. “I’d lost my parents, but he’d lost his only son. No parent should outlive his child.”

Zeke nodded, thinking of his own grandfather’s loss in a new, less selfish light.

“Grandfather was getting older and I hoped having Garrick at hand might allow him to begin the process of handing over the reins—again.

“By the time grandfather realized Garrick wasn’t the man he thought, he’d relinquished much of his control over the estate.

Then his health took an unexpectedly sharp decline.

Otherwise, he'd at least have tried rescinding what he had done with the help of a solicitor. In the end, there simply wasn’t time. ”

That filled in a few blanks for Zeke—like why the baron hadn’t tossed James out on his ear.

“It must’ve galled the baron to no end.”

She nodded. “The worse things got, the more he pressed me to leave Hastings House.” She smiled fondly. “Silly man. As if I would ever leave him to fend for himself, especially while ill.”

No. Zeke couldn’t see her doing that, even though it would’ve made things far simpler for her. “So you came to my grandfather for help after your grandfather’s passing.”

“Yes,” she said softly.

“We…” He broke off, suddenly needing to clear his throat. “The earl has told me how glad he is you came to him.”

“Lord Claybourne has been so kind,” she said, in that same soft tone.

For pity’s sake, why didn’t he just say it?

“I’m also glad you came to us.” He meant what he said. He wanted to help her, and not simply to please his grandfather.

“Thank you for saying so, Zeke.” She linked her arms behind her and lowered her head. “I wish I didn’t have to trouble either of you.”

Zeke had to wrestle an almost irresistible urge to haul her into his arms again. His grandfather was right. She did have a way of getting under a person’s skin.

***

They cleared the arbor on the backside of the sprawling stone mansion, and Zeke uttered a muffled curse. “Damn if I didn’t order James to make himself scarce.”

Kitty followed his gaze to the upper terrace, where she saw not one, but two men. Both were of a height similar with Zeke’s, with one having short cropped golden hair, and the other sporting a thick head of chestnut locks.

“I’m not sure either of those men is Garrick. Neither their height nor coloring seems right.”

“I see what you mean. We can rule out the earl, as well.”

“Are you expecting guests?” She worried her lower lip between her teeth. She hadn’t anticipated having to act out this farce in front of perfect strangers.

Without a word, he took her hand, and tucked it in the crook of his elbow.

The simple gesture warmed her to her toes.

He continued to scrutinize the men as they moved closer. Suddenly he hooted with laughter. “The devil I say, but who’s his partner in crime, I wonder?”

“Do you know one of them?”

A broad smile lit his face. “Indeed. It would appear my brother has come to meet my fiancé.”

“Your brother? Here at Chissington Hall?” This was terrible. An absolute disaster.

Zeke eyed her wide-eyed terror with amusement. “You appear somewhat vexed. I assure you, Caden is an amiable sort.”

“Hmm.” If he was anything like Zeke, she’d have her work cut out for her.

The dark haired man shouted down at them as they neared the manse. “About time you showed up, Thurgood.”

Zeke lifted his free arm in a brief wave. “Mystery solved as to the identity of my brother’s second,” he muttered. “Shall we come up, or are you coming down?”

“Let’s meet in the private parlor, second floor,” said the golden haired man Kitty assumed must be Caden.

A moment later, both men disappeared from view.

Kitty lowered her chin to inspect her gown. The tussle with Garrick had left her favorite blue walking dress much worse for wear. Lord only knew how her hair looked. She couldn’t meet Zeke’s brother in this wretched state.

She slipped her hand from his arm as they reached the portico. “Thank you for accompanying me. I’ll just leave you to—”

A grinning Zeke, as lighthearted as she’d ever seen him, cut her off mid-sentence. “Oh no, you don’t. Caden will run me through if you escape to your room without an introduction.”

She came him a dubious look.

“Come now. What if he concludes you’ve something to hide?”

“I do,” she exclaimed.

His white teeth flashed in a glamorous smile. “Just say hello.”

“Zeke, I look like I’ve been rolling in the gardens rather than touring them. What will your brother and his friend think?”

“Caden and Randall?” Zeke’s smile faded and his brows knitted in a considering manner. “Perhaps you’re right.”

“I am?”

“Wait here.” He disappeared into the shadows of the portico, leaving her to brood.