“It’s a miracle.” Kate turned to the older woman and, bending low, kissed her on the cheek. “Your kindness is worth more to me than any jewelry, Aunt Marmoset. I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly for helping me feel at home in this family, but—”
“Bosh.” Aunt Marmoset waved off the remark. “You are at home in the Gramercy family. When will you accept that?”
I don’t know, Kate thought. I don’t know.
In her heart, she did believe that she was Katherine Adele Gramercy. She also knew herself to be the daughter of an unfortunate Southwark prostitute, as well as an impoverished orphan who’d been raised as the ward of a school. Perhaps all these things could eventually be reconciled into one existence, but . . .
But mostly, she was just a girl named Kate, in love for the first time in her life.
She loved Samuel. She missed him, terribly.
From the corridor, a call went up. “The carriages, ladies! They’re here.”
As they emerged into the corridor, Kate was startled by the sight of a ravishing woman in red emerging from a side room. She was quite sure she’d never seen this lady before. Her dark hair was piled high in a profusion of sensual curls. A thick rope of gold and rubies encircled her elegant neck.
The woman turned.
Kate gasped with recognition. “Harry? Harry, is that truly you?”
Her cousin smiled. “Of course, dear. Did you think I’d wear trousers to your grand introduction ball?”
“I wouldn’t ask you to be anyone but yourself,” Kate said, hoping her cousin would feel the same toward her.
Harry shrugged. Her ruby-red lips curved in a seductive smile. “I do enjoy a lavish gown on occasion. Sometimes I like to remind them all just what it is they’re missing.”
Lark appeared at her sister’s side, looking fresh and pretty in diaphanous white.
“Oh, Lark. I didn’t know if you’d be joining us, since you’re not yet out.”
The young lady smiled and blushed. “Evan’s making an exception tonight. So long as I don’t dance.”
Their loyalty was so touching. Look at all they’d done for her, Kate thought, tonight alone. Harry had put on a gown, and Lark was willing to undercut the excitement of her own debut. All this, at the end of a summer holiday they’d completely rearranged for the sake of spending time with her.
Little did they suspect that she was planning to bid them farewell in a matter of days. Forever. Would the Gramercys be able to understand her reasons for leaving, or would they feel betrayed?
She’d miss them, no question. But she had to be with Samuel, and he couldn’t stay here in England. He needed open land and the sort of opportunities England couldn’t—or wouldn’t—afford a man of low birth and criminal background. After the way he’d suffered, it was her turn to make the sacrifices, and she would do so gladly.
She owed that man everything. Everything. If not for him . . .
She couldn’t bear to contemplate her life if not for him.
Samuel, where are you?
Instead, it was Evan who stood in the Queen’s Ruby entryway, watching them come down the stairs. He pressed a hand to his chest and pretended to stumble. “What a stunning collection of ladies.”
Evan was rather stunning himself. Dressed in a black tailcoat and a waistcoat of embroidered gold silk, he looked every inch the marquess. And his black gloves . . . My, but the man always had the most elegant, exquisitely fitted gloves. They made his hands look ready for all manner of deeds—charitable, sensual, ruthless.
As Kate reached the bottom of the stairs, he offered her an arm. “All the other ladies have gone ahead in Sir Lewis’s carriages. There’s just the two family coaches left.”
They walked out into the front garden. Indeed, the two coaches emblazoned with the Drewe crest stood waiting at attention, drawn by perfectly matched teams of warmbloods.
Evan handed Aunt Marmoset, Harry, and Lark into the first of the coaches, then signaled the driver to be on his way.
“Will it be just the two of us, then?” she asked, surprised.
“Do you mind?” He handed her into the second coach, then followed and sat opposite on the rear-facing bench, out of deference to her skirts. “I was hoping we could talk alone. Before the ball.”
“Oh,” Kate said as the carriage rolled into motion. “Oh, good. I was hoping the same.”
He smiled. “I’m glad we’re in accord.”
“I’ve been thinking—”
They both uttered the words at once, speaking over each other. And then they both laughed.
He motioned with his gloved hand. “Please. You first.”
“Evan, I’m not sure you should announce me as your cousin tonight.”
He was silent for several moments, and Kate was sure she’d ruined everything.
“I agree,” he finally said.
“You do?”
“I’d prefer to introduce you as my future wife.”
Pure astonishment stole Kate’s breath. “What?”
“That’s the reason I wanted this time alone. I meant to ask you to marry me.”