Blame It on Bath Page 0,22
she said promptly. “Number ten.”
He didn’t even want to know how she knew that. The catalog of information about other people contained inside her head must be simply astounding. Gerard got to his feet and bowed. “Ladies, it has been an absolute pleasure. I beg you will excuse me, though.”
“Of course, dear.” Aunt Margaret rose and lifted her cheek for his kiss. “Do be sure to write now and then, Gerard, if you have no more patience for visiting. I shall be desperate to know how you decide.”
He smiled. “So shall I, Aunt.” He bowed crisply to Lady Eccleston. “Thank you, ma’am, for all of your assistance.”
“Of course! Anything for a handsome man in a scarlet coat!” she tittered.
After he left the ladies, Gerard paused on the pavement outside Dowling House. That had been helpful, he supposed, even if it hadn’t taught him much about the woman herself. He would have preferred to know something about her, but if Lady Eccleston must be his source, perhaps he was better off not hearing anything. For a moment he considered returning home to Durham House in Berkeley Square, but discarded the idea. He’d already said farewell to his brothers. It was highly unlikely Edward would know anything about Lady Howe or her family since he was in London society even less than Gerard himself was. Charlie might know something about the Howes, but he wouldn’t give up the information without learning why Gerard wanted to know. And he had no intention of telling his brothers about Katherine Howe until—or if—he must.
He turned his horse toward Portman Square. Riding past her house wouldn’t tell him anything, but he had to do something while he considered his next move. She said she couldn’t return to hear his answer for three days, and she didn’t want him to call on her, which would have been far easier. Of course it wasn’t generally acceptable for a lady to call on a man unrelated to her late at night, and although it was rare for a woman to approach a man about marriage, Gerard was sure stranger things had happened. But for her to have chosen him, whom she didn’t know at all . . . He sensed there was more to her decision than simple admiration for his father. He completely dismissed her mention of his military career; he was only a captain, hardly ever offered the chance to perform acts of daring and bravery. Perhaps she saw a chance to connect herself to one of the finest families in England by taking advantage of the scandal over his father’s first marriage. Gerard found that hard to believe as well. There were plenty of men from the finest families who would be glad to entertain her offer and her fortune. Besides, in his case, it might turn out to be a spectacularly bad gamble if things went badly for them in the courts, and he was declared illegitimate.
So what had brought Lady Howe to his door? She must have been quite desperate to do it and probably had a great fear of the consequences if she were discovered. She preferred death to marrying her late husband’s nephew, she’d said, and somehow Gerard believed her. She was a widow, though, with no father or brothers. That was as free and independent as a woman could be. Moreover, she wasn’t poor, which certainly gave her liberty many other widows wouldn’t have. Why couldn’t she simply refuse to marry again and use her fortune to buy herself a house? She wasn’t spineless, as evidenced by her bold proposition to him.
He thought back over Lady Eccleston’s remarks. A beautiful, vain mother, disappointed in her plain daughter who nonetheless managed to make a brilliant marriage, at least in status. If Lucien Howe persuaded the mother, perhaps Katherine Howe had no ally inside her own home except the servant who accompanied her. A zealot, Lady Eccleston called Lucien Howe. Zealots weren’t known for their tolerant, forgiving natures, even when financial ruin wasn’t nipping at their heels. If Lord Howe were truly set on marrying Katherine to save his estate, he would surely be furious at her for arranging a different marriage on her own. Gerard had a feeling he’d have to deal with Lord Howe more than once if he ended up marrying Katherine Howe.
That really wasn’t what he wanted. His hope had been to marry an heiress to make his life easier, not harder. On the other hand, Lady Howe had