Free A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

care for him.
“Do you admire him?” Kate asked.
“Yes.”
“He must be intelligent, then. Well-read.”
Kate knew well the kind of man who would capture Becky’s interest.
“And well-traveled,” she said.
“Is he an honorable man, Becky?”
Becky considered this. He’d warned her that he possessed a dishonorable nature. And yet his actions proved otherwise. He was gentle, conscientious, caring. Even now, the memory of the look in his eyes when he touched her made her shudder. When the door had opened and all those people had poured in, his first thought had been to protect her from their curious stares.
“Yes, Kate. I believe he is honorable.”
“There is only one clear answer, then,” Kate said in a low voice. Sighing, she dabbed her handkerchief to Becky’s damp cheek. “You must marry him.”

Chapter Five
E arly the following afternoon, Becky hurried to the nursery to see Kate. After Becky greeted the children, Kate instructed the governess to look after them, and then she drew Becky into the corridor and closed the door behind them.
“I received a letter from Sophie this morning.” Kate looked exhausted—the babe was keeping her awake at night again. Kicking off her slipper, she leaned against the smooth plastered wall and awkwardly reached down to rub the arch of one slightly swollen foot. “It’s still unclear who wrote the note informing Garrett of your whereabouts.”
Becky crossed her arms. “I’m certain it was that awful Lady Borrill. She gave me the cut direct on the stairs and then took her scandalous news straight to Tristan and Sophie.”
“Garrett isn’t certain it was Lady Borrill. He told me they’d left dinner and were on their way to drop Sophie and Tristan off when the carriage was stopped by a man on horseback. He gave the note to the coachman and then rode off before Garrett could get a good look at him.”
“What, exactly, did the note say?”
“It said you were in trouble, and it gave the name of the hotel. Garrett ordered Pip to drive there straightaway, and when they arrived, Garrett flew out of the carriage, heedless of Sophie and Tristan on his heels. He stomped into the hotel, wrestled the room’s location and a key from the proprietor, and then ran upstairs. All the shouting attracted some attention, but you know Garrett. He didn’t pay it any heed.” Kate lowered her foot back to the floor and looked at Becky, her dark eyes full of compassion.
“Garrett has summoned me to his study.” Becky hesitated. “I came to ask if you would come with me.”
Kate straightened, then took Becky’s hand and pressed it to her heart. “You’re my dearest friend, Becky, but he didn’t ask me to come—he asked you. I think you must go to your brother alone.”
For a flash of a moment, Becky considered pleading with her friend. She knew she tended to lean too heavily on Kate at times, and she knew she needed to start fending more for herself. It was part of the reason she’d taken such pains to befriend Cecelia.
Kate understood Becky. They’d experienced much tragedy, sadness, and love together. In the past four years, they’d grown as close as any two women could without the bond of blood.
“I know I should go alone,” Becky finally said. “But I dislike confronting him without you there.”
Kate smiled. “Why do you have such faltering confidence in your own ability to be brave? I have seen such bravery from you, Becky. It’s just Garrett. You can face him, I know you can.”
Garrett had seen her just a few hours ago in a very, very compromising position with a man he didn’t know. Was he still intent upon killing Jack? She’d heard no further word of a duel, so perhaps Kate had nipped that ludicrous idea in the bud when he’d returned last night. He’d come home surprisingly early. Not long after she and Kate had settled into their conversation in the drawing room, they’d heard hoofbeats and run to the window to see the carriage drawing up to the house.