known for sure that she would, but now to see her gratitude because he’d waited, he didn’t know why he’d ever doubted. “We’re not on a schedule.”
“Still, it occurred to me that I never actually responded to your invitation, didn’t reassure you that I was indeed interested in learning about whatever it was you so mysteriously alluded to in the garden. Are you going to tell me?”
“I’m going to do better than that. I’m going to show you.”
Kathryn had never done anything as bold—or scandalous—as climb into a carriage with a gentleman during the late hours of the evening, with no chaperone and no one knowing. But Griff was her dearest friend’s brother. He would do nothing untoward. He was safe.
Or so she’d once thought. But at present her mind was a conglomeration of strange thoughts, her body a hodgepodge of strange sensations as the carriage rumbled through the faintly lit streets. Although he sat opposite her, a respectful distance, she was acutely aware of his presence looming. Not at all in a frightening sort of way, but more in a not-to-be-ignored sort of way. When had he become so . . . substantial? He smelled of bay rum and spice, of mystery and decadence. This boy grown into a man whom she’d never truly noticed suddenly occupied a good portion of her musings, unwilling to be disregarded.
A change in the tenor of their relationship had happened as well, and she wasn’t quite certain what to make of it, how to adjust to it. As the glow from passing streetlamps washed quickly over his face, she found herself waiting in anticipation of seeing him more clearly for the span of a few hoofbeats hitting the street, was nearly envious of the light that could touch him so freely and not be reprimanded for it. A lady couldn’t caress with such abandon. On the rare occasions that a touch was permitted, such as during a dance, gloves had to be worn.
If she did find herself to be the duke’s choice, if he did propose marriage, it was unlikely she would graze her skin over his in any manner before they married, before he visited her bedchamber on their wedding night. What if his touch made her recoil?
“You’re looking quite serious over there,” Griff remarked, his voice a rasp in the darkness that made it seem so much more intimate.
Perhaps it was because of the shadows, or the late hour, or the fact they were alone, but she found herself confessing, “I was thinking of courting rituals. How staid they are. How they don’t lend themselves well to people getting to know each other.”
She saw the flash of his grin, had never noticed that he had a remarkable smile. It made her feel included, treasured, special.
“Why, Lady Kathryn, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you could read my mind.”
“Were you thinking the same?”
“I’ve thought the same for years now. It’s part of the impetus for what I’m going to show you.”
“Does Althea know about it?”
“Absolutely not. I’ve told no one.” He gazed out the window. “I don’t know why I decided to share it with you. Especially as I was sober at the time.”
His disgruntlement made her want to laugh. Getting the better of him always made her light and giddy. In truth, she’d never minded his teasing. She had to stay on her toes with him. Would conversation with the duke be as invigorating?
“Is some woman not waiting for you somewhere tonight?”
His gaze landed back on her, exactly where she wanted it. What was wrong with her, to desire his attention?
“Here I was under the distinct impression you were of the feminine persuasion.”
“I’m not waiting on you.”
“Trying to determine if I have a paramour?”
Was she? Yes, she rather thought she was. “I would not want to be responsible for her being cross with you.”
“You think I would tell her of you?”
“Only if you took after your father and didn’t keep your trysts secret.”
“First, I am nothing at all like my father.” The harshly ground out words implied he spoke through clenched teeth. “Second, I believe we would be hard-pressed to call this a tryst, as we are hardly lovers, nor do my plans for this outing involve anything remotely romantic. Third, I wouldn’t be here with you if I had a paramour. I would be with her. Why are you smiling?”
“It’s reassuring to know you wouldn’t be unfaithful to a lover.” And that he didn’t have one.
“Are you looking to