a question. How is it that she’s in my house?”
“Your Grace,” the man said sheepishly. “She doesn’t like to wait. I reckon she had enough of the outside as I was explaining her situation to your butler. She made herself at home.”
Poison Blossom threw her head as if taunting Christian.
“What’s happened, Poison?” Christian’s voice deepened into a silky smoothness that reminded Katherine of a perfect cup of chocolate, one designed to ease a person into a new morning. “Hmm?” he coaxed as he stepped forward and patted her neck.
The horse threw her head and shifted backward. Several footmen scattered out of her way to avoid being kicked.
“Here now.” His deep voice hummed in answer.
She threw her head again.
“Poison, stop. You’re all right,” he soothed while staring at her.
That voice should be outlawed.
The horse stared right back. Eventually, she shifted and then leaned forward in Christian’s direction. All the while, the duke kept stroking her nose and murmuring sweet things into her ear.
“Your Grace, she goes by Blossom,” his head groomsman said quietly.
“Of course, she does,” Christian said in that same sotto voice. “A beautiful girl like you reminds me of a flower.”
The horse pawed the floor in answer.
“Aren’t you exquisite,” Christian soothed. “A proud beauty who just wants some rest, I would imagine. A bag of oats, fresh hay, and cool water are yours.” Christian took a step closer, and immediately, the horse blew out a breath. “Perhaps a carrot after your long journey. Not to mention, a nice, clean stable that will keep you warm.”
His voice ignited little sparks of something … some sensation that made every inch of Katherine’s body come alive. She couldn’t identify exactly what it was, but she knew it was dangerous. There was no denying what she was seeing. The Duke of Randford was having a conversation with a horse and making it feel as if it were the most important thing in his world.
As his voice lowered even more in a gentle rumble, Kat leaned in his direction, much like a flower to the warmth of the sun. “Oh, my,” she whispered.
“‘Oh, my’ is the right of it, lass,” Willa agreed.
“Did you see what he did?” Katherine whispered.
“Aye. A true cock of the walk in every sphere of society he deems to grace his presence with.” Willa sighed. “You’ll have to be on your toes with that one.” Willa pointed at Christian and Blossom. “Will ye look at that?”
Christian passed by them, leading the horse toward the door without a buck, bite, stomp, or kick in protest. Blossom’s clip-clop sounded sure and steady across the marble floors. As soon as the duke had exited with the horse following, murmurs floated through the room as the Randford servants commented on the duke’s success with Blossom. Almost immediately, the stable hands and groomsmen followed him outside.
“Another female who succumbed to a Vareck man and his ability to woo,” Willa whispered. “He reminds me of your husband.”
“No. Meri was nothing like the duke,” Katherine answered, keeping her gaze glued to Christian’s back until he was out of sight. The Duke of Randford was different. Without any effort, he’d bewitched that horse to do his bidding. He made such a feat look easy.
And much too perilous for any woman who crossed his path.
Like the perfect fit of his evening coat and breeches, he wore his self-assurance with ease. It enhanced his aura of power, and his gentleness with the horse bespoke a man with a heart.
According to the gossip rags, when he’d arrived in London on horseback, women lined the streets and threw their handkerchiefs in his direction. The caricature detailing the event resembled the medieval ladies from days gone by favoring a knight errant.
Who could resist him?
No one. That was the answer.
Heaven above, he was coming to her house tomorrow.
Then and there, Katherine decided it would be best to keep out of his way, or she would be following him around like Blossom.
Chapter Five
Christian reclined in the chair with his neck exposed. Normally, he shaved himself, but after a sleepless night, he had asked Morgan to do the honors for him.
Sleep wasn’t the only thing that made him feel uneasy this morning.
Katherine. Just saying her name left him edgy.
When she’d pressed him to help the other two wives, he’d felt that old, familiar dread reach out and pull him under. Would he ever be free of his family’s self-centeredness? The idea that his half brother would ruin these women without thought of the consequences made Christian’s