Blame It on Bath Page 0,28

composure. She was able to return the look he gave her with one of cool civility, not faltering even when he made no effort to hide his grin. It didn’t matter if she amused him. It didn’t matter if he kissed her. Theirs was a marriage of convenience, whether he ended up coming to her bed or not. She knew before asking him to marry her that he was brash and a bit quick-tempered, bold and daring. Of course his manly pride would have to exert itself after the blunt way she usurped the typically male role. She mustn’t be surprised if he insisted on claiming his husbandly rights, just to establish who was the master in their marriage, no matter whose money supported them.

But he was saving her from Lucien. Katherine realized how thoroughly as the innkeeper showed her and Birdie to a large, clean room. The captain might have asked her to stay here tonight for his own purposes as well—he wouldn’t want his wealthy bride to change her mind overnight and refuse to wed him after all—but at least he had the courtesy to present it in a light beneficial to her. Now there was no way Lucien could thwart her plans since they would be accomplished before he even knew what they were.

The men left them at the door, the captain with a polite kiss on her hand and a gleaming look that almost made her blush again. “Good night, sir,” she told him primly, closing the door in his face, listening to his muted laugh as he walked away. Convenience, she reminded herself.

“Oh, madam,” said Birdie on a sigh. “I do hope you know what you’ve gotten into.”

Not anymore, whispered a nervous voice in her head. “Don’t worry, Birdie,” she replied. “Everything will be fine.”

Chapter 7

The next morning, Katherine rose early. She dressed again in her fawn dress, the silk sadly crumpled despite Birdie’s efforts to lay it flat on the table. The innkeeper sent up a tray with breakfast, and on it were a brush and comb along with some orange water. Birdie dampened her hair and combed out all the curls Katherine’s mother insisted she wear, but then there was nothing they could do except pin it up in a plain chignon. Her hair, though shiny and thick, was absolutely, hopelessly, plain and straight. Katherine dabbed the orange water behind her ears, grateful she would smell nice if nothing else, and went down to meet her bridegroom.

He looked fresh and handsome, dazzlingly masculine in his scarlet coat and tall, polished boots. He was signing the register as she came downstairs and glanced up at her from beneath a rumpled wave of dark hair falling over his brow. His blue eyes gleamed as he flashed her a quick smile. It was all Katherine could do to nod in reply. Good gracious; she was taken off guard by how very attractive he was in the full light of day, freshly shaved and washed, wearing his spotless uniform. It was almost impossible to credit that this man, this dashing, virile son of one of the oldest and noblest families in England, was going to marry her. He must be absolutely desperate for the money, she told herself, waiting as he paid the innkeeper and crossed the room to where she stood with Birdie.

“Good morning, my dear,” he said, bowing.

“Good morning, sir.” She bobbed a curtsey. “I trust you haven’t lost your nerve.”

“It would take a bit more than you to make me lose my nerve,” he said. “Have you eaten?”

She nodded. A cup of tea had been more than enough.

He tugged on his gloves and set his hat on his head, tilted rakishly, then offered his arm without another word. Telling herself not to be a goose, Katherine placed her hand on his wrist and followed him out. In the courtyard, a driver jumped down from the box of his carriage as they approached. “Good day, ma’am,” he said, sweeping off his cap as he held the door open for her. The captain handed her inside, then Birdie, and climbed in himself.

Birdie wedged herself next to Katherine in the seat and sat watching the captain opposite them with thin-lipped suspicion. Katherine would have to remind her later to be more respectful, but today she was so on edge herself, she let it go. For his part, the captain merely smiled at them. “I hope you slept well.”

“Yes,” said Katherine.

“Tolerably,” sniffed Birdie.

“If I’d had any way to