his blue eyes sparkle. “You are a beautiful woman, and I enjoy spending time with you.”
“But looks fade over time,” she commented.
“Not your kind of beauty,” he argued. “I have no doubt that you will continue to grow more beautiful.”
“That is kind of you to say, my lord.”
He leaned forward and chided, “I don’t ever want to hear you say ‘my lord’ again. My name is Edward.”
“Edward,” she repeated slowly, letting his name roll off her tongue.
He chuckled. “You may want to practice saying my name,” he joked. “Your first attempt was awful.”
A genuine smile came to her lips. “I suppose it will take some getting used to.”
“You will have plenty of time,” he insisted. “After we wed, I intend for us to depart for my country estate for the remainder of the Season.”
“You would want me to leave my sisters?”
He gave her a baffled look. “Yes, of course. We will be married, and you will be responsible for running the household.”
“I can’t leave my sisters,” she declared. “They are my responsibility.”
A disappointed look flashed across his features before he said, “Then they shall reside with us in Northampton, if that is so important to you.”
“Regardless, I can’t go to Northampton until the end of the Season,” she said.
“Why?”
She pursed her lips together. “Did you forget that I am a matchmaker?”
“I did not,” he said. “But you won’t be required to work once we are married.”
“As I have explained before, I don’t work because I have to,” she insisted. “I work because I enjoy helping people find their love matches.”
He huffed. “You will be a married woman, a marchioness, and you will have certain expectations that you must conform to.”
“You would ask me to change who I am to suit your needs?”
“I am merely asking you to stop working as a matchmaker,” he pressed. “It is not befitting a woman of your station to work.”
“But I enjoy being a matchmaker.”
He smiled indulgently at her. “Perhaps you can pick up a new pastime, such as gardening or painting at our country home.”
“You think of matchmaking as a pastime?” she asked, her voice taking on an edge. “You think so little of me—”
Lord Berkshire put up his hand, stilling her words. “I think very highly of you, Kate, but you must think of your reputation.”
“My reputation?”
“Even though we are to be wed, we were still spotted at a coaching inn together,” he explained. “Until the scandal dies down, we will both need to be on our best behavior and play by the ton’s rules.”
“Of course,” she replied dryly, “how silly of me.”
Lord Berkshire frowned. “I understand this is hard for you, but you must accept that our destinies are intertwined now.”
The coach came to a stop in front of her townhouse. A moment later, a footman opened the door, and Lord Berkshire exited the coach. He extended his hand towards her and assisted her as she stepped onto the pavement.
Lord Berkshire didn’t release her hand but held fast, moving it to the crook of his arm. “Allow me to escort you to the main door, my dear.”
“That is most thoughtful of you,” she replied.
His eyes scanned the empty streets while saying, “I hope your butler is still awake at this late hour.”
“I hope so, as well.”
Lord Berkshire escorted her to the main door and attempted to turn the handle. “It is locked,” he announced as he pounded on the door.
While they waited, they stole awkward glances at one another, and Katherine attempted to come up with something clever to say. But she was at a loss. What did one say in these peculiar circumstances?
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait too long before the main door was opened, and Cooper greeted them with a candlestick in his hand.
The butler’s eyes widened when he saw her, and he immediately opened the door wide. “Come in, miss,” he urged. “I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long.”
“No apology is necessary,” she replied as she stepped into the entry hall. “You couldn’t have known that I would be returning at such a late hour.”
Cooper shot Lord Berkshire a disapproving look before saying, “Are you hungry, miss?”
She shook her head. “I am not, but I would appreciate a bath.”
“That can be arranged,” the butler said with a tip of his head. “If you will excuse me, I will go see to that now.”
“Thank you, Cooper.”
As she watched the butler’s retreating figure, Lord Berkshire said, “I don’t believe your butler likes me very much.”
She turned to face