Page 60 of Noble Scoundrel

Chapter Nineteen

Katherine sat in the breakfast room, distrustfully eyeing the small, but still surprising, stack of invitations she’d received that morning.

Invitations to an upcoming musicale, a luncheon, the theater, and a few small parties. All appropriate for a young lady only recently out of mourning.

“What on earth am I supposed to do with these?” she muttered under her breath.

“I believe you’re supposed to accept or send your regrets.”

Katherine rolled her eyes at her brother’s statement of the obvious. “Easy for you to say when you don’t have to attend any of these events.”

Frederick looked up from his plate of breakfast. “You don’t have to go to any of them if you don’t want to. I know that type of thing doesn’t interest you.”

Though she appreciated her brother’s acknowledgement of her apathy toward the idea of entering London’s social whirl—even on a small scale—she was also aware of the fact that they needed to think beyond their current concerns to their greater future. Once they managed to eliminate the threat against him, her brother would have a whole long life ahead of him. He’d already admitted that he found London fascinating. And she suspected there would be a great deal in town that would fulfill his constant quest for intellectual challenges. Eventually, Frederick might wish to enter society, join the House of Lords, choose a wife.

Their father may have scorned London society, but that did not mean Frederick had to resign himself to such a life. Though he wasn’t nearly old enough for such things at present, Katherine had an opportunity and an obligation to start paving the way.

It also did not escape her consideration that their enemy could be amongst those who’d issued an invitation. Rather than deterring her, that possibility inspired her. The invitations might have provided the perfect means to get to know some of her father’s prior acquaintances.

“Do you even know who half of these people are?” Frederick asked.

“I recognize a few of the names, yes. But I’m not sure how to determine which invitations to accept and which to reject. As I have no chaperone, my options might be limited.”

Frederick grimaced. “You’re hardly a schoolgirl. Is a chaperone really necessary?”

“In most circumstances, yes.” She smirked. “Unless, you’d like your sister to cultivate a reputation for scandalous behavior.”

“I’d like to see that.”

Leave it to Hale to walk in just as she said something a bit outrageous. He strode boldly into the room, looking fresh and handsome, as though he’d just come from his bath.

“Morning, Freddie,” he said jovially before settling his sharp gaze on Katherine. “Morning, dove.” Then he winked.

“It would seem my sister made an impression during your drive through the park yesterday,” Frederick offered with a gesture toward the invitations. “London has taken notice.”

“An understatement,” Hale replied as he tossed a copy of the Times onto the table in front of Katherine. It had been folded open to the gossip pages.

Though wary of what it might read, she picked it up anyway and scanned through the short passage Hale had circled with charcoal.

A curious vision passed through the park yesterday, causing several gentlemen to stir with avid interest. All of London wonders...shall we be graced with another appearance of the lovely Lady K, daughter of a recluse and sister to a young duke?

Katherine tossed the paper back onto the table only to have Frederick eagerly swipe it up. “Dramatic nonsense,” she muttered.

Hale took a seat across from her, leaning back with his legs spread beneath the table and his hands folded over his trim belly. The look he gave her was arrogant and confident.

She gave him a narrow-eyed glare in response, which had him chuckling softly as heat flooded her core.

“Is this a good thing or a bad thing?” Frederick asked with a slight frown.

“I’d say it sends a message to your enemy that the rules have changed,” Hale answered smugly.

“You speak as if this is a game, Mr. Hale.”

Frederick turned to her with a tilt of his head. “But it’s a bit like chess, isn’t it, Kit? Thinking several moves ahead. Employing manipulation and strategy to back your opponent into a corner.”

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