Page 66 of A Rogue to Resist
“Perhaps you’re wondering why I arranged this visit through your brother,” he suggested, his tone careful. “It’s somewhat unorthodox, I realize.”
“A bit,” Katherine agreed, relieved to address the matter directly. “Though James assures me you and I met during my debut Season, I confess I have no recollection of the occasion.”
Lord Clifton smiled slightly. “That doesn’t surprise me. You were surrounded by admirers at every event—the duke’s sister, beautiful and accomplished, with every eligible bachelor in London vying for your attention. I was merely one among many, and considerably older than most of your suitors.”
“Yet you remembered me,” Katherine observed, curious despite herself.
“You made quite an impression,” he replied. “Not merely for your beauty, though that was undeniable, but for your intelligence. I recall a conversation at Lady Jersey’s ball where you thoroughly demolished Lord Harrington’s arguments about his latest ventures in Parliament with such precision and wit that half the room was struck speechless.”
Katherine felt a flicker of pleased surprise. “You remember that?”
“Indeed.” His smile warmed slightly. “It was most refreshing to encounter a young lady whose interests extended beyond fashion and gossip. Unfortunately, before I could seek a properintroduction, you were betrothed to the Earl of Greythorne, and the opportunity was lost.”
“I see,” Katherine said, unsure how to respond to this revelation.
“When I heard of your widowhood, I considered approaching you directly,” Lord Clifton continued, “but propriety demanded I respect your mourning period. More recently, when your brother mentioned you might be ready to consider Society again, I took the liberty of expressing my long-standing admiration.”
It was a flattering explanation, and Lord Clifton’s manner as he delivered it was perfectly respectful. Yet Katherine found herself unmoved by this confession of years-long interest. Instead, she felt a growing certainty that no matter how much she might come to respect Lord Clifton, she would never feel for him even a fraction of the complex emotions Drake Halston stirred in her.
“You honour me with your regard, my lord,” she said carefully.
“But you don’t return it,” he finished for her, his perception surprising her.
Katherine hesitated, unwilling to be unkind yet unable to offer false encouragement. “We are barely acquainted, Lord Clifton. I would not presume to make such a determination after a single afternoon’s conversation.”
“Yet you have,” he observed without rancour. “I can see it in your expression. Your brother suggested you might be reluctant to consider remarriage, given your experience with the late earl.”
“James shouldn’t have discussed such personal matters,” Katherine replied, discomfited by her brother’s presumption.
“He spoke only out of concern for your happiness,” Lord Clifton assured her. “And if I may be equally direct, LadyKatherine—it was not only your beauty and intelligence that drew my notice all those years ago, but a certain liveliness of spirit, a fire that has noticeably dimmed since then. I had hoped perhaps to see it rekindled.”
Katherine was startled by this assessment.
Had she changed so much? Had Edmund’s subtle cruelty extinguished something essential in her that others could perceive?
“Marriage can either nurture or diminish one’s spirit,” Lord Clifton continued quietly. “I was fortunate in my first union. It seems you were less so. I would not press unwelcome attentions upon you, but I would ask you to consider whether retreating permanently from the possibility of marriage serves your happiness.”
The gentle wisdom in his words caught Katherine by surprise. For the first time, she felt a genuine connection to Lord Clifton—not romantic attraction, but a sense that he saw her more clearly than she had given him credit for.
“That’s a fair question,” she acknowledged. “Though I’m not convinced marriage is necessary for happiness.”
“Certainly not,” he agreed readily. “But closing oneself off from possibility rarely leads to contentment, in my experience.”
They continued walking through the garden, their conversation shifting to less personal topics—the management of their respective estates, agricultural innovations they had implemented, the challenges of dealing with tenant concerns during difficult seasons. To Katherine’s surprise, Lord Clifton proved knowledgeable and forward-thinking on matters she had assumed would hold little interest for him.
“I’ve been experimenting with crop rotation using methods similar to those you mentioned,” he remarked as they discussed sustainable farming practices. “Though I’d be interested inyour results with nitrogen-fixing plants. The western fields at Willow Park have shown remarkable improvements under your management, I understand.”
Katherine glanced at him sharply. “You’re familiar with my work at Willow Park?”
“I make it my business to understand neighbouring properties,” he replied. “And your brother has spoken of your agricultural experiments with considerable pride. I believe he mentioned you’ve implemented similar innovations at Greythorne in consultation with the new earl?”
There was a question in his tone—not accusatory, but curious. Katherine found herself reluctant to discuss Drake with Lord Clifton, as if the mere mention of his name in this context would somehow tarnish the unexpected accord that had developed between them.
“Lord Greythorne has been receptive to modern methods,” she said carefully. “The estate had fallen into some neglect under Edmund’s management.”
Lord Clifton nodded thoughtfully. “The new earl seems a man of different character altogether. I’ve not had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, but his reputation for fair dealing preceded his inheritance.”
“He’s been most concerned for the tenants’ welfare,” Katherine agreed, unable to prevent a certain warmth from entering her voice when speaking of Drake.
