Free When I'm with You by Kimberly Nee Page B

became reality?
    â€œIsn’t she just the lucky duck?” Martha turned back to her windows, scrubbing at nonexistent grime. “I think she might use a silver spoon to eat him up.”
    Yes. Lady Sally was the lucky duck. Beautiful. Wealthy. Titled. With silver spoons at her beck and call.
    Lady Sally was acceptable. Katie frowned. Acceptable.
    She didn’t want to dwell. It changed nothing and never would.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    Katie looked up, and this time her heart skipping a beat had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with outright fear.
    Captain Inigo Sebastiano stood in the doorway of the library, a pleasant smile on his face. He was actually rather nice-looking, with silvery hair that was just a little longer than was fashionable and the unusual amber eyes he’d passed on to several of his children, including Rafe.
    Her mouth went painfully dry, and her heart beat so loudly she was certain everyone could hear it. In a panic, she whipped away from him as if he’d thrown something at her and practically dove into the hearth under the pretense of cleaning the marble around it.
    â€œIs everything all right?” Inigo asked.
    â€œFine.” Katie tried to make her voice deeper, which hurt a little and most likely earned her two very puzzled stares. She scrubbed even harder at the marble. Go away , she thought feverishly. Please, please go away.
    â€œI’m looking for—”
    â€œHis Lordship has already gone into the breakfast room,” Martha supplied in a cheerier-than-usual voice. Katie flinched. Martha was trying to cover for her. How was she going to explain her odd behavior to her? Where did she even begin?
    â€œThank you.”
    Katie stared down into the grate, which was already clean despite Lucy’s mishap with the wood, and prayed fervently for the elder Captain Sebastiano to take his leave. She didn’t think there was too great a chance he would recognize her, as he and Rafe’s mother had only gotten the briefest glimpses of her. Neither one had really looked at her. Not only had both been nearly apoplectic with fury, but between her painted face and gaudy, low-cut gown, they’d known what she was and had only wanted her out of their house as quickly as possible.
    Still, she feared it happening just the same. She rubbed at nonexistent soot with her dusty rag, the spot just between her shoulder blades burning from what she was sure was Captain Sebastiano’s intense stare. She could almost hear the thoughts whirring inside his head, although that was quickly drowned out by the rush of her own blood. Her heartbeat sped up to send her pulse pounding through her temples, and the earth swam before her. She tried breathing deeply, tried willing her panic to subside, but it grew steadily worse.
    â€œKatie?”
    She squeezed her eyes shut at Martha’s voice. Now Captain Sebastiano knew her name. Next, he’d squint at her—or so she imagined, since she couldn’t see him—and say, “Katie? Not the same trollop I ordered from my house last winter? Not the whore my son brought under my roof?”
    â€œKatie? Are you all right?” Skirts rustled and a gentle hand came down onto her shoulder. “Katie? What is it? What’s the matter?”
    â€œIs he gone?” The words came out as a bitter croak.
    â€œThe Captain? Yes. He’s going to the breakfast room, I’d assume. Why?”
    Why hadn’t she heard him leave? His boots should’ve echoed through the room, yet she hadn’t heard the retreating footfalls. At least she was safe now. The roar in her ears died down. The dots stopped their mad dancing before her eyes. “No reason.”
    Katie looked up to find Martha staring at her with a look of utter disbelief. Her forehead wrinkled, her eyes narrowed and she said, “Really?” in a way that was almost a snort.
    Katie’s knees finally gave and she sank onto her backside,