Page 2 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

Perhaps Kat needed a new best friend who wasn’t tied to her through blood. “Beth, I cannot be caught talking to a strange man in the gardens. I am attempting to court Alexander Sparrow. Even if I wasn’t trying to court him…” She threw her hands in the air. “Nay. I will not undertake something so reckless.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Beth said. “You pass by the gardener’s hut and follow a tree-lined path until you come to a rose trellis. No one will be about. Besides, you do not need to talk to him for very long. If you are caught, which you won’t be, you can say you required fresh air because you felt a fainting spell coming on.” Beth waved a hand as if requesting something asbenign as a cup of tea. “Simply say you accidentally ran into each other. After you relay the message, you can return to the ballroom and pursue Lord Wellspring.”

“I assume you need me to do this because you are meeting another man at midnight,” Kat said.

“Frederick Montague. I believe he means to ask for my hand at some point, and I plan to say yes.”

Then why the Shakespearean farce?

“Who is this other man that I must delay for fifteen minutes?”

“I do not yet know his name, and he did not take off his mask.” Wearing a dreamy expression, Beth stared at the ceiling. “He has the most beautiful green eyes, his smile is lovely, and his arse is oh-so-fine.”

Kat balked. “Oh, Beth. Must you be so uncouth?”

“Must you be so uptight?”

Kat huffed. “No. I will not meet your mystery man with the nice arse.” Huh! Proof she was not uptight. An uptight woman would never mumble the word arse.

“But we always look out for each other,” Beth said. “And I am sharing my chamber with you. I share my chamber with you every summer so that you have a lovely holiday.”

Whenever Kat visited Brighton, she stayed with Beth on the third floor of her family's inn. The Crown Jewel Inn was exceedingly elegant, and Kat adored staying with her aunt and cousin. But still… “I won’t do it,” Kat said again.

“But I saved you from Greyson.” Beth pinched her nostrils. “And he sweats so profusely that he smells like a sack of rotten onions.”

Kat moaned. “This is the very last time, Beth. And I will not dally. I will tell him and be on my way.”

Beth bounced on her toes as she hugged her. “Thank you. I do so adore you.”

“And I adore you. However, I am of the opinion that once you are engaged, you should cease this nonsense.” Probably even before she was engaged.

Beth brought a hand to her heart. “What nonsense?”

“I am quite serious, Beth. I cannot assist you in these devious schemes. How will you ever find true love?”

“True love?” Beth scoffed. “There is no such thing.”

But Kat’s brothers were wildly in love. They had both scandalized society with their choice of brides. Now, thetonadored their unlikely wives as much as the Harrington brothers did.

But did she love Lord Wellspring?

Nay. But she found him most agreeable, and she would learn to love him. After she met Beth’s green-eyed stranger, she’d return to the ball, seek out the earl, and fall truly and deeply in love.

June 27, 1818, Midnight

Why in the heavens had Kat agreed to meet Beth’s mystery lover and relay a message? It had been almost impossible to escape into the gardens by herself. Every female she passed attempted to join her. And at least a half-dozen men had asked her to dance. By the time she exited the house, she’d feignedmultiple headaches, trips to the water closet, and complete exhaustion.

“You are spineless, Katrina Harrington,” she chided herself as she passed by the gardener’s hut. “You’d let Beth talk you into selling your soul to Lucifer for a chocolate biscuit.” And she didn’t even like biscuits. Well maybe she enjoyed their sugary deliciousness, but not enough to spend eternity in Hell.

“Bah.”

Considered one of the diamonds of the season, but instead of feeling like a princess, she was traipsing in the dark like an utter fool—and without the red ribbon. She didn’t begrudge Alexander for taking first place. In fact, it made her fonder of him since she had not known he, too, was a gifted artist. He’d been so gracious when accepting her congratulations. Surely, a good wife found it pleasurable when her husband was more talented than her. Kat might even boast about it.

The gravel path wove behind the building and through a thicket of tall oaks. Her footsteps became lighter as she stomped along in search of the trellis. It was truly refreshing to breathe in the crisp night air.

“Ahh.” She luxuriated in her deep inhale, then parted her lips to exhale.

Seconds later, voices startled her, and her breath caught in her throat. She tucked behind a tree, steadied herself, and eavesdropped.