“I see,” she said with amusement. “You hope to avoid the hard work required to find the right mate.”
“Without a doubt.”
“But you don’t really want to wed me.”
Tilting his head, he gave her a contemplative glance. “I am not so certain.”
“I am. You are only considering me for convenience.”
“You would hardly be convenient. I could think of few prospects more likely to cause me trouble and grief. You are not the comfortable sort—but that is actually a point in your favor. And in some ways, you would be the easiest choice for my bride. For one thing, you could effortlessly assume the role of my baroness.”
“Any number of ladies could.”
“But none who compare to you. You are the most desirable woman of my acquaintance. And I need a wife to fill my life and warm my bed.”
His gaze locked with hers, making her feel breathless. Kate could barely contain her flush. Trying to ignore the fluttering warmth in the pit of her stomach, she looked out over the gardens. “But I don’t want you for my husband.”
“Why not?”
“You know why not. We are incompatible in the only way that counts: We don’t love each other. And you have said you have no intention of changing.”
“At least you already know my faults. Otherwise, we would make a good match.”
“That would not be enough for me.”
“You could try to mold me as you wish.”
Kate laughed outright. “How gullible do you think I am? You would be impossible to mold to that extent.” She shook her head. “No, we should keep to our original plan. For now…perhaps we should find Ash and Maura and take our leave. You know Maura dislikes leaving her young son for so long.”
A short while later, they did quit the garden party, but Kate found that Deverill’s impromptu proposal lingered in her mind long after they had dropped him off at his hotel.
What if she were actually to accept his offer of marriage? Even though he was clearly not serious, it was a ridiculously intriguing proposition. But no. She intended to hold out for her dream of true love, and she couldn’t trust that Deverill would ever love her. By his own admission, tender emotions and feelings such as love were foreign to him.
But what if she could somehow make Deverill love her?
She quickly shied away from the question as an impossibility. Abandoning her standards was not an option, either. Her parents’ marriage had been based on love and devotion and rock-solid trust, and she would settle for nothing less. Finding the same mutual heart bond was the only reason she would ever marry.
With thoughts laced with regret, Kate gave up contemplating what-ifs and turned her attention to the next evening—making certain that Daphne appeared in the best possible light.
The Perrys’ ball was a grand, glittering affair, with over a hundred guests in attendance. As expected, when Kate presented two more candidates on her list, Deverill did not seem enamored of the sharp-witted Miss Dodd or the soft-spoken Miss Osborne.
However, her favorite choice, Miss Daphne Farnwell, was a different story altogether. For the first time, he seemed genuinely interested in furthering an acquaintance and immediately danced two dances with her.
Daphne, who was slender and elegant, with golden-brown hair and light blue eyes, contrasted appealingly with Deverill’s powerful build and ebony hair.
Later, watching them laughing together, their heads close as he murmured in her ear, Kate unconsciously frowned—and then caught herself.
What was wrong with her, to be suffering pangs of jealousy toward Daphne? She ought to feel ashamed. Likely she would find fault in any lady she’d arranged for him to inspect, because of her fondness for Deverill if nothing else. She harbored real anger toward Lady Dalton, but Daphne had no such glaring deficiencies and might be perfect for him.
In an act of will, Kate directed her concentration to her own dance partner. And yet a niggling dissatisfaction kept nagging at her. Had she perhaps made a mistake pairing him with Daphne?
When it came time for refreshments, she accompanied Maura and Ash to the supper rooms while Deverill escorted Daphne. Kate couldn’t take her eyes off the attractive couple, a fact that Maura commented on once Ash stepped away.
“It seems Lord Valmere is getting on famously with Miss Farnwell.”
“Yes, it does,” Kate replied.
“You don’t sound happy about it.”