Page 47 of Cherish and the Duke
Well, that would teach him to attend house parties.
If anything could be salvaged from this week, it would be Reggie’s future. The lad seemed to be coming along nicely. In fact, he was showing more sense in these past few days than he ever had in the years since Gawain’s sister had died. Having acquired this newfound maturity, would Reggie appreciate Cherish’s worth and decide to marry her?
This had been Gawain’s plan all along. He had thought it clever at the time. Now…not so much.
What would he do if Reggie proposed to Cherish?
Chapter Ten
Gawain strode tothe stable the following morning intending to take his usual ride and still return in time for Cherish’s next lesson on overcoming her fear of horses. But he was dismayed to find Katie standing in wait for him. “What are you doing?” he grumbled, taking no pains to be polite to her.
Both of their horses had been saddled and were at the ready. Despite the early hour, Katie looked quite bright eyed and elegant in her riding habit. She wore one of those stylish riding hats with it, perched at a perfect slant atop her flawlessly coiffured head to show her off to best advantage. Of course, she knew how to make herself up splendidly, no doubt having sat in front of a mirror for hours, posing this way and that, until she got the look just right.
“We used to ride together in our younger days. I know you remember because we did more than ride our horses. You gavemea ride or two and enjoyed it immensely. Don’t you dare deny it, Bromleigh.”
He wanted to tell her to stop referring to him by his title, for it grated on his nerves. But he did not want her to call him Gawain, either.
Blast.He just wanted her gone. He had begged Fiona to toss her out already, but his stubborn cousin took his pleas as a lark and ignored him. “You are a big boy, Gawain. Can you not manage her yourself?”
No, he could not.
Oh, he was not concerned for himself but for Cherish. Why was Fiona being so dense? Katie had a vindictive side to her that she hid well from others. Had she not hidden this uglier side successfully from him when they were younger?
Well, he would keep close watch on her and hope nothing untoward happened.
He took the reins of his mount from the groom who had led the beast out. “I won’t deny our past, Katie. But you do not seem to be listening to me when I tell you this is all we are to each other now, nothing more than two people who were friends years ago. I am never going to make the same mistake with you again.”
“It was not a mistake, and I shall prove it to you.” She called over one of the grooms to assist her in mounting.
Gawain had to admit she was an excellent rider and fearless in the saddle. In truth, she did many things well, in addition to having perfected the art of being charming.
While they cantered away from the stable and into the countryside, his thoughts strayed to Cherish and how lacking she was in horsemanship ortonelegance. Yet he far preferred her brand of charm, which was simple and honest. Therein lay the difference, for Cherish could tell him the moon was green and he would believe her. In contrast, Katie could tell him the sun rose in the east every morning—which it did—and he would question whether she was telling him the truth.
Trust was the issue, and he simply did not trust Katie. Nor did he like the pettiness he now saw in her behavior. He was used to people approaching him with the intent of getting something out of him, but was sincerely sorry that Katie could be counted among them. He had grown quite cynical over the years, and also quite adept at spotting those who sought to take advantage.
Katie fell into that category for certain. She was here and trying to cozy up to him because she wanted something out of him.
But what? He wished she would simply tell him straight out.
They raced across meadows and over hills, the wind biting as it struck Gawain’s face. The day would warm eventually, but for now the overnight chill remained in the air and a morning mist lingered amid leafy copses and shallow dales.
Gawain did not particularly wish to speak to Katie, but their horses needed to rest after that run, so he drew his up beside a nearby stream. He dismounted and then walked over to assist Katie.
“What is it you really want from me?” he asked when she put her hands on his shoulders while he helped her down. But she held on to him when he tried to release her, lifting up on tiptoes to kiss him.
He pulled back and drew her off him as gently but firmly as he could manage. “Trying to kiss me will not work. Do you think you can find it in yourself to simply tell me the truth?”
“Here is the truth,” she said, now rubbing herself against him. “You know we both want this.”
He stepped back again. “How much clearer must I be? Stop trying to seduce me. It isn’t going to work.”
“Because you think I am too old now,” she said, sounding quite wounded. Well, she was in her mid-thirties and probably worried about her looks fading. She was a woman who had done quite well for herself on looks alone. The possibility she was losing this advantage had to be an upsetting revelation.
“You are still beautiful, and I am sure most men think so. But what you also are is false, conniving, and selfish. Those are quite ugly traits. Stop trying to win me over, because I am long past caring for you. Why are you really here?”
“Because I wantus. Isn’t that enough truth for you?” Her cheeks turned pink as she appeared to struggle with her feelings, or perhaps it was merely irritation that he was being so difficult and thwarting her plans. “I know you don’t believe me when I say that I married Albin for our sake, to give us the chance for a better life that we would not have had while you remained a third son. Had I known you were destined to be the duke, I would have married you and somehow managed to wait it out. But how could I possibly know such a thing would happen? I had no crystal ball.”
“You don’t get it, do you? Do you hear yourself? You only want me because I now have the title. Face it, Katie. You never really wantedme.”
