Page 80 of A Misguided Devotion
After taking a few minutes to compose herself, Kitty went in search of William. There was no point trying to slow the course of events. The drawing room was empty. So was the breakfast room. Could he be working on the copy of the portrait?
She walked back upstairs to the Long Gallery. The door at the end of the corridor was ajar, and as she moved toward it, she could hear voices coming from inside.
“Your work has surpassed my expectations, Droxford.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Hugh was with him. She would have to tell William to go in search of Laura in front of an audience. But what did it matter now? Laura’s father would not object.
“I am aware that my daughter is beautiful, but this—this is a portrait of a woman in love. Only a man in love could capture that expression.”
Kitty’s heart squeezed. Don’t say anything, William. Do not force me to hear you confess your affection for Laura when I know you feel nothing for her.
“I believe—”
She could stand it no longer. Hurrying through the open doorway, she collided with William, stopping him from saying more. His hands grasped her arms to steady her, and heat soared through her body at the tenderness of his touch. How comforting it was to have him hold her. Comforting, but decidedly unhelpful.
She pulled away and plastered a sweet smile on her face.
“I’m sorry for making such an entrance. I was eager not to miss your praise of Lord Droxford’s masterpiece and missed my footing.” On purpose, but he didn’t need to know that.
“My dear Catherine, I am flattered my opinion means so much to you.”
It had not been her intention to give that impression, but she would stomach the assumption if it saved William from lying.
“I was telling his lordship what a joy it is to see the result of his devotion.”
The die was cast. Hugh had raised the stakes, challenging William to deny he loved Laura. Kitty screamed silently at him to do just that—but deep down, she knew he would not. He could not.
That was a course he would only take if Laura rejected his offer—and she wasn’t going to do that.
It was agony to stand there and say nothing with Kitty looking on. William wanted to shout out that she was the one he loved, but duty held him back. His obsession with taking Laura’s portrait and capturing that breathtaking expression had been his downfall. It had been a misguided devotion, blinding him to the affection growing inside him.
Just as his mother had warned, he had been so busy painting that he had failed to realise Kitty was the love of his life until too late. His reckless flirting had committed him to the wrong woman, and now he had to do the honourable thing and offer for her.
As the silence lengthened, Hugh’s smile widened.
“It will be such a delight to gaze on my daughter’s radiant face after she has married and flown the nest. Droxford is copying the portrait for me to have on display while the original is at the Royal Academy. Is that not so, your lordship?”
The man still thought it was the painting that bent him to his will, but it was not. It was his honour—and from that, there was no escape. “It is.”
“Excellent. Then waste no more time. Make her yours.”
“You’ll find Laura on the cliff path, Lord Droxford,” said Kitty. Her face was pale, her eyes not quite meeting his. “She’s waiting for you at the top of the trackway down to the cove.”
Miss Barrington was waiting for him? Then his fate was sealed. His only chance—and it had been a slim possibility at best—had been if she refused him.
“Please excuse me,” said Kitty. “I am a little tired.”
With a quick curtsey, she glided from the room.
He wanted to follow her. To tell her—but what could he say? His hands were tied.
Mr Barrington gestured toward the door. “Don’t hold back on my account. Go. With my blessing.”
William bowed stiffly and fled the Long Gallery, far less elegantly than Kitty had exited. After retrieving his hat, he headed for the garden. He passed through the gate leading to the cliff path and came to a halt. Kitty was waiting for him.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I tried to free you—”
