had been with men she’d respected but hadn’t been in love with or even infatuated with. Yet even though she had been the one to call things off between them, it had taken time for her to disengage her feelings. How much more difficult would it be when the man was Eversham, whom she felt pulled toward like metal to a magnet?
Just the fact that she was so hurt by his ignoring her to go chase a murderer now was proof enough she wasn’t in control of her emotions where he was concerned. And she would do well to remember that the next time she saw him. It would be better for both of them if they forgot about what had happened in the folly altogether.
When she reached her bedchamber, however, she knew there would be no forgetting it, at least for now.
“Kate, your hair!” Caro gasped from where she was tucked up in the window seat next to Katherine’s bed, Ludwig purring audibly from her lap. “I hoped my little ruse of a sneezing fit would lead to some kissing, but goodness, you look as if he positively ravished you!”
Shutting the door behind her, Kate hissed, “Lower your voice, you madwoman! Do you want the entire house to hear you?”
Not one bit chastened, Caro laughed. “My dear, no one is up here. They’re all in the drawing room driving Valentine to distraction with questions about poor Mr. Green’s murder. I remained for all of five minutes before I knew there was nowhere on earth I’d rather be less than in the same room with Lady Eggleston practicing a swoon until somebody noticed. Really, if she wants to do a credible one, she should take lessons from an actress. She’s much too stiff. You have to let yourself go limp. Otherwise you give yourself away.”
Though she was exasperated at Caro’s unexpected presence in her bedchamber, Kate was glad for her stream of chatter while she pulled the bell for hot water and began searching through her wardrobe for a clean, and possibly warmer, gown.
“So, tell me everything,” Caro continued. “Was it lovely? He looks as if he’d be very good at kissing. It’s always the quiet ones, you know?”
“Of course, I won’t tell you anything.” Kate laughed. Stepping behind a screen, she sat down on a stool and began removing her boots. “That’s private. And besides, nothing’s going to come of it.”
“Why not?” Caro sounded more than a little disappointed. “He’s attractive, if a bit dour for my taste.”
Standing to unbutton her gown, which fastened down the front, Kate peeked around the edge of the screen. “Did you forget that we nearly ruined his career? At the first sign of trouble, he’ll bring it up to use against me. Mark my words.”
“You don’t know that.”
Kate heard Ludwig give a yowl of annoyance as Caro no doubt pushed him out of her lap.
They paused their conversation at the sound of Kate’s maid, Bess, who entered the room to fill the bowl with hot water and take away Kate’s soiled clothes.
Wrapping herself in a dressing gown, Kate emerged and sat down before her vanity mirror and began to unpin her hair. “Thank you, Bess,” she told the maid with a smile. The girl had been with her for a few years now and they’d grown to be friends. “Will you please ready the blue wool so that I can change in, say, half an hour or so?”
“Of course, my lady.” The girl nodded. “I’ll get it now.”
Before she could go, Kate turned to face her. “Oh, and I have a task for you that will require your acting skills.”
The maid’s eyes brightened. “What is it?”
“I need you to have one of Lord Valentine’s carriages brought round, but whatever you do, make sure he’s not informed of it.”
“Is that all, my lady?” Bess asked with a grin. “I’ve already made friends with one of the grooms. He’ll do that for me without even blinking.”
“Where are you going?” Caro asked once the maid had departed. “And in one of Valentine’s coaches without his knowledge?”
“Valentine knows everything that goes on in this house.” Kate waved her hand. “I just don’t want to make a circus of it.”
“Of what?”
“We’re going into the village.” Pinning her hair into a simple but well-secured chignon, Kate turned around to look at Caro, who was, for once, speechless. “You’d better go change if you intend to go with me.”
Caro looked down at the dressing gown she’d changed into after her