Blame It on Bath Page 0,27

prevent her from leaving again. Perhaps it was best to grasp this chance to put herself out of his reach entirely. After all, Lucien had probably gotten a special license as well since he expected to marry her in a few days’ time himself. And what purpose would waiting serve? She certainly didn’t expect the captain to go through some charade of courting her.

“The inn’s not full. I can secure a room for you and your maid.” Gerard de Lacey gave her a sinful glance from under his eyelashes. “Unless you’d rather have your wedding night early.”

Katherine felt the heat pool in her cheeks, and in her belly, at that glance, and for a moment the word yes almost leaped off her tongue. It was even more than she’d hoped for, or dreamed of . . . But she mustn’t give in to that. It shocked her he might want her that way, but of course it wouldn’t last. He was making a good show, out of gratitude most likely. She would be a fool to think it was real. “You may take another room,” she said. “Birdie will stay with me.” He nodded, and she held up one hand. “I meant for the foreseeable future, Captain. I will go with you, but my maid is coming with me.”

“Of course,” he said, unperturbed. “I never expected less.” He raised his glass in salute and drained it with a twist of his wrist.

She nodded. “Then we understand each other.”

“Not yet,” he said with a chuckle. “But we will.” He strode to the door and opened it. “You may go to her,” she heard him tell Birdie, and the sound of his boots echoed in the corridor as he walked away.

Birdie rushed into the room, closing the door behind her. “What did he do to you?” she demanded. “I vow, my heart was going so fast, I thought sure we’d be caught!”

“He said yes,” Katherine murmured.

“And now—oh dear, it’s quite late, we’ll have to hurry, hurry back to town!” Still shaking her head, Birdie snatched up Katherine’s cloak and held it up. “Come, m’lady, we really must make haste!”

“No.” Katherine took a sip of the wine the captain had given her. Gerard. Her soon-to-be-husband. She took another sip to hide the shiver that rippled through her at the thought. “We’re to stay here tonight. The captain and I will be married in the morning.”

Birdie stared at her, mouth gaping, the cloak dragging on the floor. “Tomorrow?”

Katherine nodded, drinking more wine. It would go to her head, but she felt half-drunk already, off-balance and unable to keep her thoughts in order. The wine tasted like him—of course, because he had been drinking it before he kissed her. The memory made her lift the glass again. “It makes perfect sense, really. The only way things can go awry is if Lucien somehow discovers what I’ve done before I’m married to the captain. Returning home now only affords him a chance to interfere.” Birdie’s expression remained fearful. Katherine reached for her hand. “Don’t worry, Birdie. It may seem sudden and rash, but this is what I wanted. Why would I back out now?”

The maid’s lip quivered before she bit it. “I know, madam. I cannot help but worry.”

“Well, some worries must be put aside and not indulged,” said Katherine quietly. “I made my choice.” Birdie closed her eyes and nodded. “We’re leaving tomorrow on the captain’s business. I hope you will come with me.”

Birdie’s eyes popped open, snapping with outrage. “Of course I’m coming with you,” she said in indignation. “Where else would I go?”

Katherine just shook her head, mutely relieved Birdie was still supporting her. Birdie had been hired years ago as her nurse, slowly becoming her governess, then her abigail. She’d been a poor widow, grieving after the deaths of her husband and only child, when she first came to care for Katherine, a plain, serious girl born to vex a vivacious, pretty mother. Birdie understood Katherine’s quiet stubbornness and subtle humor far more than Mrs. Hollenbrook ever did.

Katherine’s father grasped how vital Birdie was to Katherine, and at her marriage to Lord Howe, he quietly settled a good sum of money on Birdie so she would be independent of Howe’s whims. It hadn’t mattered—Howe turned out not to mind too much what his wife did or what servant she preferred—but it sealed Birdie’s loyalty to Katherine and her father.

By the time the captain came back with the innkeeper, Katherine had regained her