Page 59 of A Rogue to Resist
“I’m fine,” Katherine insisted, setting down her teacup with hands that weren’t quite steady. “Perhaps a bit warm. The room is rather crowded.”
Lady Beauford’s shrewd gaze missed nothing. “Perhaps a brief turn about the room would help restore your colour. The French doors to the terrace are open, I believe.”
Katherine seized the suggestion gratefully. “Yes, I think that would be wise. If you’ll excuse me?”
She rose, careful to move unhurriedly despite her urgent desire to escape. As she made her way around the perimeter of the drawing room, she kept her gaze deliberately averted from where Drake still stood in conversation with Lady Westmore and Captain Halston. The last thing she needed was to catch his eye and reveal the turmoil his interaction with the widow was causing her.
The terrace offered blessed relief from the stuffy drawing room. Katherine drew a deep breath of the cool spring air, steadying herself against the stone balustrade as she fought to regain her composure.
What was wrong with her? She had no claim on Drake Halston. No right to feel this twist of jealousy at the thought of him considering another woman’s proposal. Indeed, she should be grateful that Lady Westmore had appeared to offer him a sensible solution to his predicament.
Instead, she felt only a hollow ache at the thought of Drake marrying anyone—even someone as apparently suitable as Lady Westmore.
“Lady Katherine.”
The voice—deep, familiar, and entirely unwelcome at this moment—came from behind her. Katherine closed her eyes briefly, gathering her defences before turning to face Drake.
“Lord Greythorne,” she replied, proud of how steady her voice sounded. “I’m surprised you could tear yourself away from your admirers.”
Drake’s eyebrows rose slightly at her barbed tone. “I observed your hasty retreat and thought you might be unwell.”
“Merely in need of fresh air,” Katherine replied, echoing her excuse from her brother’s dinner party. “The drawing room was rather close.”
“Indeed.” Drake studied her face with unsettling intensity. “Though one might almost suspect you were avoiding certain conversations taking place inside.”
Katherine stiffened. “I have no interest in Society gossip.”
“Not even when it concerns you directly?” Drake asked, moving to stand beside her at the balustrade. “Captain Halston had quite a lot to say about your influence at Greythorne. It seems he’s been making inquiries.”
This was not what Katherine had expected. “About me? Whatever for?”
“Apparently, he considers you an important factor in his calculations,” Drake replied, his tone carefully neutral. “Should he inherit Greythorne, he would want to ensure good relations with the dowager countess who holds such sway with the tenants.”
“How considerate of him,” Katherine said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. “Though his concern is premature at best, is it not? You still have several months to satisfy the entail’s conditions.”
“Seven months, to be precise,” Drake confirmed. “Though the captain seems remarkably confident about my prospects—or lack thereof. He even suggested that should I find the marriage requirement too onerous, he would ensure I received generous compensation for any improvements I’ve made to the estate.”
The audacity was breath-taking. “He’s already planning to buy you out? Before you’ve even had the opportunity to seek a bride properly?”
Drake’s mouth curved in a humourless smile. “It would seem Captain Halston prefers to plan ahead. A quality no doubt valuable in naval strategy, if somewhat presumptuous in this context.”
“And what did you tell him?” Katherine asked, trying to keep the anger from her voice.
The thought of this stranger—this opportunist—taking possession of Greythorne, of undoing all the good Drake had begun, of treating the tenants as mere sources of income rather than people deserving care and consideration, filled her with indignation.
“I informed him that I had no intention of relinquishing Greythorne under any circumstances,” Drake replied. “Andthat should he continue to present himself as my inevitable replacement, he might find his shore leave less pleasant than anticipated.”
Despite her turbulent emotions, Katherine couldn’t suppress a small smile at this. “I imagine he didn’t receive that warning graciously.”
“He maintained his composure,” Drake acknowledged. “Though Lady Westmore seemed quite entertained by the exchange.”
And there it was—the reminder of the widow who had so captured Drake’s attention. Katherine’s brief moment of satisfaction evaporated.
“Lady Westmore appears to have made quite an impression on you,” she observed, striving for casual indifference and failing utterly.
Drake turned to face her directly. “Lady Westmore made an interesting proposition.”
Katherine’s heart seemed to stutter in her chest. So, Lady Beauford had been right—the widow had indeed proposed marriage. And judging by Drake’s manner, he was seriously considering it.
