thin veneer of respectability.
Every head in the room was turned toward him in undisguised admiration. Philadelphia held out her hands to him. “It’s as if the legendary Earl of Bothwell himself were standing before us.”
Cat watched in amazement as the dark devil took Philadelphia’s hands and gallantly kissed them. “My father could never deny my paternity, I’m afraid. You must be Lady Scrope. Though I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting you before, I’ve had dealings with your husband on many occasions.”
“My condolences, Lord Stewart!”
“Your droll wit is exceeded only by your beauty, my lady. I would be honored if you would address me as Patrick.”
“This is my sister Kate Howard, Countess of Nottingham, though we don’t hold that against her.”
Kate placed her hands in his. “Welcome to London, Patrick. I must confess that when we were girls, my sister and I were both madly in love with your father. When he visited the English Court as Admiral of Scotland we sighed over him, and then we dreamed of him for months after he left.”
“He’s an earl’s son?” Cat asked Liz in disbelief.
Robert introduced his brother’s wife. “Allow me to present Lady Carey, who is more like a sister than a sister-in-law.”
Cat’s plump aunt turned kittenish when Patrick kissed her fingers. “Please call me Beth, your lordship.”
“You met Liz Widdrington this morning, Patrick,” Robert continued, “so let me introduce—”
“The gamekeeper’s child. We met in the woods.” Patrick’s black eyes flicked over Catherine with scant interest, but he gave Robert a broad wink to show that he was jesting.
Cat was stunned. With his first three words he had managed to insult her twice. To add injury to his insults, he had made everyone laugh at her. She suddenly realized that he was paying her back for the insults she had heaped upon him this morning.
Robert took her hand and drew her forward. “The most exquisite gamekeeper’s child in Richmond, Catherine Seton Spencer.”
Patrick nodded politely but deliberately placed his hands behind his back, refusing to touch her. Though he immediately turned away from her and gave his attention to the other ladies, Cat consumed his thoughts. Catherine Seton Spencer! No wonder my first vision of her came while I was at Seton. She’s the Earl of Winton’s granddaughter, and heiress to his lands. Splendor of God, Destiny has taken you by the hand today, Hepburn! And didn’t Robert mention a niece who’d inherited Spencer lands in Hertford? ’Tis a match made in heaven. Patrick grinned as he felt the beauty’s eyes furiously boring a hole in his back. Or perhaps a match made in hell. Either way, I have no complaints!
Catherine linked her arm through Robert’s and drew him aside. “His father may have been an earl and an admiral, but your friend is unrefined, uncouth and uncivilized.”
“As a matter of fact, he is better educated than most gentlemen of the English Court. He attended the universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Rome.”
“Ah, is that what makes him so damned arrogant?”
“No, I believe that comes from confidence in his own ability, coupled with his royal blood. And I’d far rather have him as my friend than my enemy, Catherine.”
Cat shuddered. “Well, I’d rather have him in Scotland.”
Robert grinned at her vehemence. “Most ladies find him irresistible.”
“Thank God I’m not a lady!”
“Speaking of ladies, what do you think of Liz?”
“I think she’s extremely attractive.”
“Well, she certainly attracts me.”
“Then go and put your brand on her before the irresistible Lord Stewart stakes his claim.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were obsessed with him.”
Once he left her side, Cat felt a little forlorn. She watched from afar as the attractive widow welcomed Robert’s solicitude, while the other three ladies in the room basked in the attention of the dark, devilish Scot. She was
Every head in the room was turned toward him in undisguised admiration. Philadelphia held out her hands to him. “It’s as if the legendary Earl of Bothwell himself were standing before us.”
Cat watched in amazement as the dark devil took Philadelphia’s hands and gallantly kissed them. “My father could never deny my paternity, I’m afraid. You must be Lady Scrope. Though I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting you before, I’ve had dealings with your husband on many occasions.”
“My condolences, Lord Stewart!”
“Your droll wit is exceeded only by your beauty, my lady. I would be honored if you would address me as Patrick.”
“This is my sister Kate Howard, Countess of Nottingham, though we don’t hold that against her.”
Kate placed her hands in his. “Welcome to London, Patrick. I must confess that when we were girls, my sister and I were both madly in love with your father. When he visited the English Court as Admiral of Scotland we sighed over him, and then we dreamed of him for months after he left.”
“He’s an earl’s son?” Cat asked Liz in disbelief.
Robert introduced his brother’s wife. “Allow me to present Lady Carey, who is more like a sister than a sister-in-law.”
Cat’s plump aunt turned kittenish when Patrick kissed her fingers. “Please call me Beth, your lordship.”
“You met Liz Widdrington this morning, Patrick,” Robert continued, “so let me introduce—”
“The gamekeeper’s child. We met in the woods.” Patrick’s black eyes flicked over Catherine with scant interest, but he gave Robert a broad wink to show that he was jesting.
Cat was stunned. With his first three words he had managed to insult her twice. To add injury to his insults, he had made everyone laugh at her. She suddenly realized that he was paying her back for the insults she had heaped upon him this morning.
Robert took her hand and drew her forward. “The most exquisite gamekeeper’s child in Richmond, Catherine Seton Spencer.”
Patrick nodded politely but deliberately placed his hands behind his back, refusing to touch her. Though he immediately turned away from her and gave his attention to the other ladies, Cat consumed his thoughts. Catherine Seton Spencer! No wonder my first vision of her came while I was at Seton. She’s the Earl of Winton’s granddaughter, and heiress to his lands. Splendor of God, Destiny has taken you by the hand today, Hepburn! And didn’t Robert mention a niece who’d inherited Spencer lands in Hertford? ’Tis a match made in heaven. Patrick grinned as he felt the beauty’s eyes furiously boring a hole in his back. Or perhaps a match made in hell. Either way, I have no complaints!
Catherine linked her arm through Robert’s and drew him aside. “His father may have been an earl and an admiral, but your friend is unrefined, uncouth and uncivilized.”
“As a matter of fact, he is better educated than most gentlemen of the English Court. He attended the universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Rome.”
“Ah, is that what makes him so damned arrogant?”
“No, I believe that comes from confidence in his own ability, coupled with his royal blood. And I’d far rather have him as my friend than my enemy, Catherine.”
Cat shuddered. “Well, I’d rather have him in Scotland.”
Robert grinned at her vehemence. “Most ladies find him irresistible.”
“Thank God I’m not a lady!”
“Speaking of ladies, what do you think of Liz?”
“I think she’s extremely attractive.”
“Well, she certainly attracts me.”
“Then go and put your brand on her before the irresistible Lord Stewart stakes his claim.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were obsessed with him.”
Once he left her side, Cat felt a little forlorn. She watched from afar as the attractive widow welcomed Robert’s solicitude, while the other three ladies in the room basked in the attention of the dark, devilish Scot. She was
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