My Fair Lover (Legendary Lovers 5)

Kate could tell she had struck a nerve when Lady Dalton winced and drew herself up to her full height. “I do not require lectures from you, Lady Katharine. Now, pray, excuse me….”

It was the widow’s turn to stalk off, leaving Kate marginally satisfied. She disliked lowering herself to Julia Dalton’s level, but it fe

lt good to act instead of calmly accepting the insults that witch dished out.

Their little scene had attracted an avid audience, Kate realized, glancing around to see a dozen curious stares. The gossipmongers, too, would view their spat with glee—a Wilde causing yet another public spectacle. Yet she refused to tolerate Julia Dalton’s scheming. On the contrary, she intended to shut down the beautiful widow’s pursuit of Deverill before it bore any fruit whatsoever.

—

To that end, Kate used her powerful connections to arrange an invitation to the garden party in Richmond for Edmund Lisle—and hoped he would be intrigued enough to attend an exclusive social event at an elegant country estate on the River Thames. It was not underhanded to use Lady Dalton’s protector to keep her in check, Kate believed. Merely a necessary step to save Deverill.

The next afternoon at the party, there were no more new bridal candidates for him to meet, but the grasping Miss Armitage was there and was clearly intent on pursuing him, a circumstance Deverill did not appear to relish.

Lady Dalton was present as well—and very quickly attempted to sink her claws into him.

Regrettably, Kate was waylaid indoors by an acquaintance while the scheming widow followed Deverill out onto the rear terrace, which overlooked the beautiful gardens and river. By the time Kate broke free, Julia was hanging on his arm, fluttering her eyelashes, flashing him beguiling looks interspersed with little trills of laughter.

Much to Kate’s relief, however, Lisle stepped through the terrace doors just then.

Edmund Lisle boasted a rather stocky figure but had handsome features, despite his thinning brown hair. Additionally, he was fairly wealthy, a prosperity he’d successfully augmented as an amateur gamester. To Kate’s mind, he didn’t deserve the various humiliations his mistress had dealt him, even if he and Quinn had once been enemies.

Lisle came to a dead stop upon spying Lady X. Clearly he was experienced enough to comprehend her aim in a single glance. But when she suddenly caught sight of him, Julia abruptly abandoned Deverill, as if scalded, and hurried over to Lisle. After an inaudible exchange of words, some clearly harsh and angry, Lisle turned away, making for the terrace doors.

Julia glared daggers at Kate and muttered what sounded like a curse, then picked up her skirts and ran after Lisle. “Wait, darling, please….”

Making her way through the crowd on the terrace, Kate joined Deverill, whose gaze was following the disappearing widow.

“Did you have a hand in taking her off my scent?” he queried.

She chose to answer with the truth. “I am not ashamed to say that I did. I hoped to keep her too occupied to chase after you.”

Deverill gave Kate a knowing glance that was part amusement, part respect. “I am all admiration—and I thank you.”

Kate returned a smile that was less triumph than gratitude.

“Now that you have rid me of Lady Dalton,” Deverill added, “you could save me from the Armitage chit.”

“Apparently Miss Armitage has a tendre for you.”

“Not for me. For my fortune and title.”

“I warned you, Lord Valmere.”

When he shot her a sour look, this time Kate replied with a genuine smile before turning away.

Deverill, however, reached out to grasp her arm, staying her. “Not so fast.” When she turned back, his tone took on a mock pleading quality. “You wouldn’t abandon me to the she-wolves, would you?”

“What? You need me beside you to protect you? Such a big, strong fellow?”

He flashed her a very male grin. “Perhaps I do need your protection.” Taking her elbow, he pulled Kate toward the stone banister overlooking the gardens, away from the crowd. “I had not expected my bride search to be so disappointing,” he continued in a low voice. “In fact, I am considering calling off the whole thing.”

Kate searched his face in surprise. “But we have barely begun. Take heart, Deverill. I have someone in mind who could be ideal for you. The Honorable Miss Daphne Farnwell. You will like her, I promise. I will introduce you tomorrow night at the Perrys’ ball.”

He was silent for a span before saying lightly, “I think I should wed you instead.”

Kate’s jaw dropped momentarily—until she realized he must be joking. Giving a soft laugh, she replied in the same vein. “Because it would shield you from fortune hunters.”

“It would also save me the bother of a courtship.”