Free Wedding Night With the Earl by Amelia Grey Page B

accidental touch. Finally, he slipped the plate out of her grasp, letting his fingers slide lazily down hers as he did.
    When she looked up, she saw that Mrs. Henshawe stared openmouthed and wide-eyed at her. A quick glance at her uncle told the same story. And she had no doubt that if she looked at the Dowager Countess of Littlehaven, she would see the same horror-stricken expression at such unacceptable social behavior.
    Trying to hide the flush creeping into her cheeks, Katherine picked up her napkin and gently coughed into it while Lord Greyhawke did the sensible thing and settled for a drink of his wine. But their condemnation from the onlookers was not the reason Katherine’s cheeks were burning. It was the realization of what had just happened between her and the earl. What she’d seen in Lord Greyhawke’s eyes was his desire for her, and what she’d felt from his touch was her desire for him.
    What in heaven’s name was she going to do? She was attracted to the earl they called the beast.

 
    Chapter 8
    And weighest thy words before thou givest them breath.
    —Othello, act 3, scene 3
     
    “Good night,” Katherine called, and waved to Penny as she climbed into the carriage.
    “Was that the last of our guests?” Aunt Leola asked as she and Katherine stood at the bottom of the front steps.
    “Ours, yes,” Katherine said, looking across the street. “Uncle Quillsbury’s, no. I count three carriages waiting and probably one or two more that we can’t see from here because of the hedge.”
    “No doubt the duke will be ready for bed and shoo them all out within an hour, but we won’t worry about him. Let’s go inside and you can tell me all about your evening sitting beside the infamous Earl of Greyhawke. You know, I only heard this morning that he was back in London. I have no idea how long he’s been here, but I rushed an invitation over to his house, never expecting him to respond to such a late request. To my surprise, he immediately sent back a note accepting.”
    Probably because he was starving for a hearty meal.
    “Luckily, I was able to squeeze in one more chair,” her aunt said, and then paused before adding, “Right beside you.”
    “Why did you seat him beside me?”
    “It was the easiest way to avoid upsetting my entire seating arrangements, of course. It would have been a nightmare of shuffling back and forth at the last minute if I’d tried to move anyone else.” She purposefully paused. “I’m thinking now perhaps I should have.”
    “Why is that?” Katherine asked casually, though she was sure she knew the reason. She’d seen Lady Littlehaven bending her aunt’s ear with a prolonged conversation.
    Her aunt looked at her with piercing green eyes. “Did you really exchange dinner plates with the earl?”
    Katherine would bet her pin money that the Dowager Countess of Littlehaven was the one who’d spilled the tattle. Still, she asked, “Which one told you? Lady Littlehaven or Mrs. Henshawe?”
    “Both.”
    Oh dear!
    There was nothing to do but admit to the breach in manners. “I’m sorry, Auntie. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but all I can say is that I offered the food to Lord Greyhawke before I thought about the consequences.”
    “That is obvious, my dear. I did my best to smooth over your peccadillo by assuring them you saw a chip in the china and you simply couldn’t let an earl eat off a dinner plate that had been damaged. Why, the broken piece could have been in his food. Imagine what would have happened if he’d bitten down on it!”
    Katherine laughed. “Auntie, how did you get so clever?”
    “With age, my dear. There are not many things that haven’t passed by me at least once or twice. But I’m baffled as to why you would do such a thing. He had his own food.”
    Her aunt was not only clever, she was curious. Katherine shifted her weight from her good leg to her cane. She didn’t want to be asked more questions about Lord Greyhawke. She had