Free An Artful Deception by Karen Cogan Page A

attending? Lady Charlesworth had already said that she had another engagement, so Katharine need not fear that they would meet. All she need do was to intercept the invitation.
     
    The more she considered the idea, the better she liked it. It would be wonderful to cast aside her role as a maid for an evening, dress in one of her ball gowns, and be a butterfly set free from her cocoon. She imagined the attention she might capture, the young men who might vie for her card. Perhaps she would meet someone tall and handsome, a marquess or perhaps a duke. She tried to envision her fine gentleman and found, to her dismay, that all she could imagine was looking up into Philip’s face as he partnered her across the dance floor.
     
    She frowned and tried to free herself from the picture stuck fast in her mind. She must stop the taunting images that tantalized her senses. She could not hope for a future with Philip. She had not been honest and, if he should learn the truth, he would surely despise her. Had he not said as much to her when they met in the library?
     
    Lady Charlesworth spoke to her sharply and she realized that her daydream had enveloped her so completely that she had been unaware that the matrons had concluded their visit. She glanced up into two pair of disapproving eyes as she arose. She felt sure that her mistress was thinking that her dear married Bertha would never have been so inattentive.
     
    Lady Charlesworth heaved a long-suffering sigh and repeated, “I am ready to leave. Go and tell the maid that I would like my wrap.”
     
    Katharine hurried to comply.
     
    She returned with the maid and the wraps while the footman brought Tom Coachman round with the coach. As they were escorted into the misty afternoon, Lady Charlesworth exhibited her usual flighty inability to stay irritated by saying, “It is nice to have more social engagements than one can attend. How I love the gaiety of London, even though it is so gray and dismal outdoors. In fact, I hardly notice. The year Philip was born I was obliged to remain in the country all winter, and it was the most intolerable time of my life. The days were simply interminable. I should never like to do that again.”
     
    “ I have been much in the country all of my life. I find London more stimulating than I ever imagined,” Katharine admitted.
     
    Katharine thought back to the simple balls she had attended in Brentwood when she had come of age. She had been encouraged to practice her social skill on all of the young men present. Yet, she had been strictly instructed by Papá that he would allow no attachments until she considered young Lord Charlesworth for her hand. Her governess had kept a watchful eye, and truthfully, Katharine had not met anyone who tempted her fancy.
     
    They clattered along the rainy street. Street lamps had already been lit against the evening fog. The streets were noisy with costermongers selling their wares.
     
    Her conscience pricked her a bit at her plans for stealing the invitation to the ball. She eased it by reminding herself that she would have been extended one had the ton known she was alive. She was really only taking what was rightfully hers.
     
    They arrived home in time for Lady Charlesworth to take her rest before Lord Charlesworth arrived home for his dinner break from the twice weekly meetings of Parliament. She did not see Philip and wondered what engagement he would be attending with his parents the following week.
     
    She sought out Lizzy and gave her an account of the afternoon before settling down in the parlor with some mending for Lady Charlesworth. After awhile she heard the door open. Philip greeted the butler, and then resumed a conversation with a man whose voice Katharine did not recognize.
     
    They turned into the parlor, and then stopped short at the sight of Katharine sitting on the settee with her mending. Her eyes moved from Philip to the fair haired young man who was short and squarely built. Then