Chapter Five
Morning would soon be here, yet Malcolm hadn’t slept. He moved to the window and parted the curtain. He couldn’t understand his wife and her actions of late, which had his mind whirling with speculation.
A sheath of dark brown cloaked the land, and lightning flashed in the distance, followed by a low rumble of thunder. Storms had always soothed him, and he was content to sit and watch.
Yesterday, Malcolm had anticipated a visit by the little group at his office, but instead Kat took his children home. When he returned to the house after work, his eager little boy described in great detail their morning, and both James and Lizzy presented him with gifts—a silver clothing brush and brown slippers.
The joyous moments with his children felt like Christmas all over again. It softened Malcolm’s heart to know Kat had indeed treated them well, yet that worried him even more. He couldn’t trust her, no matter what.
Malcolm dressed for the day. Both Kennedy and Crowley would be back in the office, and Malcolm awaited the news of their new contract with the Royal Navy. He especially hoped to hear more about Colonel Burwell’s activities, since he still sought an invitation to the colonel’s weekend party.
Malcolm suspected there was something secretive going on between the colonel and Kennedy, especially regarding Malcolm’s partnership. Brandon had never really wanted Malcolm to become a partner, but Kat convinced Brandon to bring him on.
He left the bedroom and walked down the stairs to the dining room. The scent of scones and strong coffee filtered through the air, making his stomach grumble. He sat at the table, where his morning newspaper awaited him.
“Good morning, Horace,” he greeted the cook.
“It sure is a happy morning, Mr. Worthington.”
He flipped open the paper. “Did my children tell you about their eventful morning yesterday?”
“Aye, they did.” She laughed, and the extra flesh on her chin and neck shook in rhythm. “James is still talking about it this morning.”
Malcolm lowered the paper and stared at her. “This morning? James is already awake?”
“Why, yes. Him and Mrs. Worthington went outside to watch Levi and Hiram exercise the horses.”
“What?” Malcolm jumped out of his chair, hurried to the window, and looked toward the stables just down the hill.
His son stood beside Kat, his eyes wide as his head swung back and forth between her and the horse. Then his son laughed for the second time since his mother had died. Kat reached down and stroked James’s cheek, her face lit with merriment.
A throb in the base of Malcolm’s skull began, pounding harder the more his anger climbed. He fisted his hands before slamming them on the windowpane. What was her intent this time?
Putting aside his morning meal, he marched outside toward the stables, ready to verbally shred his wife. He neared, and the joyous peals of laughter from his son filled the quiet morning air, decreasing his anger. Crisp morning wind whipped around his son’s head and teased the baby curls dampened against his moist forehead. James glanced Malcolm’s way, broke away from the fence, and ran toward him.
“Papa, do you know what? We’re watching the horses get exercised, and in a few minutes Milla will let me ride with her.”
Malcolm knelt in front of James and brushed his hand across his son’s red cheeks. Kat met his gaze over James’s head. She smiled, and tightness gripped his chest.
“Good morning, Malcolm,” she acknowledged him, her voice filled with sweetness.
He wished she wouldn’t say his name in such a soft tone. The sound compared to heavenly harps as they played in his lonely ears, making him long for a relationship that would never happen. More importantly, it made him wish for the wife she would never be.
“Good morning, Kat. What is this I hear about your going for a morning ride with my son?” He stood and stepped toward her.
“Yesterday James mentioned he had not been riding, and I thought—”
“You should not think without consulting with me first.” His voice boomed through the air.
Kat’s smile faded and the light in her green eyes dimmed. The urge to apologize hung strong on Malcolm’s tongue. He shouldn’t have spoken so roughly. But he remained stern in his decision. That woman could not be trusted.
“As you wish. I will do so now.” She lifted her chin. “Will you allow James to go on a short ride with me this morning?”
Before he could answer, his son yanked on Malcolm’s sleeve. “Please, Papa? I really wanna go with Milla.”
Malcolm arched his brow at his wife. “Milla? When did he start addressing you by that name?”
“When I gave him permission to use my nickname.”
“I thought your nickname was Kat.”
“No. You are the only person who has ever called me that name, which I still don’t understand, since it’s not my name.”
“I call you Kat because of the wild streak in you. You are a wild cat.”
“I believe you call me that to irritate me.”
“Aye. The name fits the reputation of the woman I married quite well.”
“Papa?” James tugged on his sleeve again. “Please don’t be mad.”
Malcolm glanced down into the pleading eyes of his son and smiled, knowing he couldn’t deny him anything. “I’m not angry, James, but I would like to talk to Camilla for a few minutes. Will you go to the house and help Horace in the kitchen?”
James frowned. “No. You’re gonna yell at Milla again, and I wanna go riding.”
“James,” Malcolm said in a sharp tone. “Do as I say.”
“James, honey?” The mysterious woman crouched to the boy’s level. She smiled, her eyes softening. “If your father doesn’t wish you to go riding with me, we must obey. Perhaps he thinks you are still too young. I should have asked before inviting you.”
Malcolm’s heart softened. Frowning, he gritted his teeth and wished he wouldn’t react in such a way when she displayed such kindness. Obviously, it was just an act.
“But…” James mumbled, and then looked back at him. “Papa? It’s all right, you know. I’m a big boy now. I think I can ride a horse as long as Milla helps me.” He moved away from her and over to Malcolm’s leg. “’Sides, I like her now. She isn’t mean anymore.” His grin widened. “Even Lizzy is starting to like her.”
Anger welled inside Malcolm, threatening to suffocate him. He swallowed and forced a smile. “Fine. You can go riding, but not today. You and Kat can go another time. Right now, I need to speak with her.”
His son pouted and hung his head. “Oh, all right.” James turned to Kat. “We shall have to go riding another time.”
She stood. “That is fine.”
With wilted shoulders, James moved back toward the house, dragging his feet with every step and kicking the damp soil.
Once the boy was out of sight, Malcolm turned his attention back on Kat and glared. “What is going on?”
He stepped closer, and the fragrance of her rose-scented soap eased his anger slightly. He closed his eyes and breathed deeper. Realizing what he was doing, he jerked them open and clamped his teeth.
Not knowing what was happening to him, he vowed he wouldn’t let the deceiving woman get to him. Yet when he gazed over every inch of her face, his heart leapt to his throat, ignoring the anger he wanted to hold on to. Her beautiful forest-green eyes had a hint of liquid as if she struggled with her emotions. Her heart-shaped lips parted, and a scent of mint blew across his face.
Without being able to control his actions, he touched his finger to her chin, stroking it across her delicate, smooth skin and down her neck until it rested on the high collar of her jacket. Her beauty and the softness of her creamy skin turned his mind to mush. He was helpless to stop the burning sensations ripping through him. He waited for her to swat his hand like she’d done before whenever he touched her in a personal way. She didn’t, and his heart picked up rhythm.
He arched his brow. “Kat, why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Why are you trying to act like somebody you are not? Your words are very confusing.”
The corners of her lips lifted. “I assure you, I’m not trying to be.”
He slid his finger from her chin upward to touch her delicate earlobe. “Stop playing this game with me.”
“But Malcolm, I have changed.”
“Nobody can make such a drastic change.”
“I have.” She touched the lapel of his coat. “I’m not the same woman you first met.” Her shy smile widened. “And I have come to care for the children.”
A powerful jolt shot through him as if he’d been scorched. Between the heat from her hand touching him and her unbelievable words, his confusion grew by leaps and bounds.
He dropped his hand and stepped back. “I don’t want you to care for them, Kat.”
“Malcolm, will you not give me another chance?”
Aha, her game was out now. She wanted to charm him like she did other men. Well, he wasn’t like other men, and he wouldn’t let her succeed.
She stretched her hand out to touch him again, but he grasped on to it.
“Stop, Kat. I’m warning you, your charm will not work with me.”
“Malcolm, please—”
“And stop calling me Malcolm.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t like the way it sounds when it comes from your deceiving mouth.” He dropped his focus to her enticing, delicate raspberry lips, imagining what her kiss would taste like. Honeysuckle? Whatever the taste, he was quite certain it would be heavenly. But he couldn’t think this way. Ever!
“What do you want me to call you then?” she said hesitantly. “Mr. Worthington is too formal. I’m your wife and should address you with some kind of endearment.”
“You are my wife in name only, and I plan on keeping it that way.”
She swallowed, and his gaze dropped further to the slender column of her throat. The urge to press his lips to that location overwhelmed him. His grip loosened, but she didn’t pull her hand away. In fact, she moved closer.
“Malcolm.” Her voice softened. “I will not give up. I deserve a second chance.”
Between her intoxicating scent and her alluring mouth, he was a drowning man. How could he resist? But he had to. He tried to remember how she had deceived him since they were first married, hoping it would cool his ardor, but her sweet charm made him weaker.
Confused by mixed emotions, he growled in anger, and then stepped away. “You are wrong, Kat. Women like you deserve no second chances.”
He turned and stalked back to the house, resisting the urge to look at her. He couldn’t risk a glance. He didn’t want to think that he could have taken her in his arms and kissed her. Being attracted to her was dangerous—especially when he had never been before.
*
Camilla rode thehorse hard, disappointed in how the morning had gone so far. The cool breeze from last night’s storm stung her cheeks, dried her lips, and unraveled the ringlets in her hair. She didn’t care, because riding this way usually healed her. Yet today, it hadn’t. She still couldn’t believe she had allowed Malcolm’s nearness to affect her. And his touch nearly had her melting to the ground.
Today’s outing was to ride to the neighboring towns and sell the dagger she had bought, but sadly, none of the shops would offer the price needed to pay Kat’s medical bills. If only Camilla could trust Malcolm enough to ask him.
When she pictured his wounded face from this morning, guilt gnawed at her conscience. It seemed he had been the person truly wronged by her sister’s actions. But he wasn’t the one who had gone mad and died, either. She must remember her sister above all else.
Was Malcolm the real reason for her sister’s melancholy? Camilla had begun to think differently. Now that she knew him a little better, she didn’t think he was at fault. From what she had observed and heard about her twin, Kat had done some despicable things to his children. Because of this, Camilla was drawn to his family. She wanted to show James and Lizzy a caring side, and to do anything she could to gain Malcolm’s trust.
Although she really shouldn’t feel attracted to Malcolm. Eventually she would discover those illegal things her sister had hinted about, and at that time, she would have him arrested. As soon as she accomplished this, she would take his adorable children and raise them as her own.
But the more Camilla thought of this plan, the more her heart crumbled. For some odd reason, she didn’t want to discover he was doing something unlawful. The fluttering emotions in her belly and the tingling in her bosom—caused by Malcolm—were new and powerful. Against her own principles, she had enjoyed the way he looked at her with his smoldering gaze.
She glanced behind her to see Timothy crouched over his horse, eager to catch up. She slowed her horse until her servant rode beside her. She had already informed him about why she played her twin sister’s role. Eager to help, Timothy had told her she could count on his assistance.
“Mistress?” he asked, out of breath. “Where are we going now?”
“There is one last town we can try, but I fear, because we have had no luck thus far, that our trip has been for naught. We will travel home after I visit a few more shops.”
“I promise to do all I can to help you, but I fear being on the horse this long has bruised my backside.”
Guilt tightened her chest. She should have thought of poor Timothy’s frail body and perhaps taken the carriage. But horses were faster than a carriage, and she didn’t want to be gone all day.
“Forgive me for torturing you this way, but when we return home, I’ll let you rest the remainder of the day.”
“Bless you, mistress.”
As they came into town, she ran her hand over the package inside the saddlebag. After she had purchased the jewel-encrusted dagger, she changed her mind about selling it, and instead wanted to give it to Malcolm, hoping she would gain his trust quicker. But after the jolt of pleasure she had received from his soft touch and heated gaze this morning, she’d quickly changed her mind again.
The last thing Camilla needed right now was for the doctor to inform Malcolm his wife had died and debts needed to be paid. At least giving the doctor some money would keep him quiet for a little while longer.
Another hour later, and after being turned away from yet another store, tears stung her eyes. Panic edged its way into her mind. Would she ever get the money to pay Kat’s bills? Needless to say, she would have to collect money in a different way. Now she must pick up the small amount of pride she still had and return to Malcolm’s house.
As she moved toward her horse and servant, a man’s red uniform captured her attention. She gaped at the tall soldier coming toward her. He was the same man she’d run into upon her arrival that first day. By his sly grin and arched brow, it appeared he wished to further their acquaintance.
He stopped in front of her and bowed. She curtsied, even if she didn’t want to.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Worthington.” He tipped his hat.
She quickly studied his uniform to determine his status. “Good afternoon, captain.”
“Soon to be colonel, remember?” He took her hand and placed a small kiss on her knuckle.
“Of course I remember.” She wanted to withdraw, but his kiss wasn’t completely improper… yet.
He glanced up and down the street, and when his eyes met hers again, a mischievous grin touched his mouth. His grip tightened as his fingers softly caressed the skin.
“Have you any more information for me, my dear Mrs. Worthington?”
She moaned inwardly. Oh, no, not him, too. What had Kat done this time? Camilla shook her head. “None whatsoever.”
“And why not?” His brow creased. “Have your husband and his associates suddenly fallen off the face of the earth? I’m certain you have stumbled across some little tidbit about your husband’s dealings.”
Silently, she studied him. Could he be after what she was after—information that would prove Malcolm a criminal? Although he was a royal soldier, she hesitated to trust him.
She pulled her hand away. “If you have not heard by now, captain, I have recently returned from Preston. What sort of information could I have gathered being gone?”
The corner of his mouth twitched into a half smirk. Again, he took her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a soft kiss across her knuckles. She shuddered and yanked her hand away.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Are you toying with me again, Kat? Or are you waiting for a kiss before you give me what I want?”
Her stomach lurched. Instinct told her she had to act like Kat, but she couldn’t bring herself to play this part. “No, captain. I am not waiting for any sort of kiss. As I told you before, I have no information. Now, if you will let me by?”
When she attempted to pass, he gripped her elbow, stopping her. Pain shot up her arm and she whimpered. Fear tried to make her succumb, but after everything that had happened today, anger took over.
“Madame Worthington, I warn you—”
“You warn me? I think not, sir. In fact, I’m warning you.” She yanked her arm out of his grasp, hopefully for the last time. “I would appreciate it if you would cease jostling me in public. Moreover, you had better display your patience more accurately, my dear captain, or you will receive nothing further from me. Information or… other gifts.” She marched back to her horse and quickly mounted. Timothy glared at the inane soldier as any protector would.
Before riding away, she witnessed the captain’s shocked expression. She said a silent prayer of thanks for being able to control the conversation. From what she had gathered being in Kat’s role, her sister had easily fallen for men’s charms. But these men would soon learn this particular Mrs. Worthington comported herself with restraint.
Confusion clouded Camilla’s mind, and she wanted the pounding in her head to disappear. She must discover what secrets Malcolm hid, and soon. If Malcolm were a criminal, she would turn him in. If he wasn’t, she prayed she would have the strength not to give him her heart.