Twice the Temptation Read Free

reciprocated. And as she would not marry for anything less than love, she’d almost resigned herself to the fact she’d never marry. That she may never hold her own babe in her arms.
    But almost was the operative word. She wasn’t quite ready to relinquish that hope just yet.
    Pulling her mind back to the conversation at hand, Catherine asked, “And from that you took to mean that if anyone could tempt him enough to disregard his affections for you, it would be me? A man who has never once shown me any interest?”
    “But I’m sure that is because you’ve never paid him any mind. Have you?” The latter seemed to come as an afterthought.
    Truthfully, Catherine had seen him only a handful of times over the years and now that she thought more on it, she couldn’t recall if they’d even been formally introduced. Her memory of him was that of a quiet, studious, dark-haired, young gentleman of average height and build. Pleasantly unassuming.
    “No, but—”
    “I’m sure that is precisely why. Lord Jacobsen is the kind of gentleman who would require encouragement of some sort. Quite unlike Lord Ashmore, he’s not at all the brash and boastful type.” Her pink lips tightened in seeming displeasure at the mention of her former betrothed.
    Catherine sighed in sincere regret. While she sympathized with the girl’s plight, she simply couldn’t bring herself to agree to such a plan. She wasn’t the sort of woman who could play the coquette—at least not convincingly—even if she were inclined to help.
    Goodness, the last time she’d come even close to flirtation had been with Lucas, and look how that had turned out. He’d gone back to America and promptly forgotten about her as evinced by the lone letter she’d received from him when he’d first arrived. The letter had held all the familiarity and affection one would bestow upon a distant relation. She’d rather he had not written at all.
    “Please, Miss Rutherford, I beg you. I thought you of all people would understand my circumstances. If I may speak frankly.” She scooted to the edge of the sofa, her hands having abandoned her pleats to clench tightly together in her lap. “I would be lying by omission if I didn’t admit to having heard about what happened between Lord Braddock and your sister’s maid.”
    Catherine’s next breath felt pulled roughly from her, the ragged sound emerging before she could stop it. Although the fact that Miss Claremont had heard shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Servants were bound to talk and some had witnessed the aftermath of the event.
    James had all but escorted Lord Braddock from Rutherford Manor.
    Miss Claremont’s expression instantly became contrite. “Oh, I meant you no discourtesy or to cause you any distress. It is just that I thought given the similarity of our circumstances, you of all people would understand how I feel. And for that reason, I prayed you’d see your way to assisting me.”
    The girl had certainly done her homework and presented a compelling argument. Lord Braddock had begun to court her one month after Lucas’s departure, but some would say it may not have been Catherine he’d truly wanted, or the only woman he wanted.
    The memory alone was enough to spark her fury, but Catherine forced a level of calm to her voice when she spoke. “As far as my family and I are concerned, Lord Braddock was a guest like any other at Lady Windmere’s house party. Had he been a duke instead of a viscount, his actions toward my sister’s maid would have been deemed just as reprehensible. Now whether his intention toward me was marriage, I can never say as no formal offer was ever extended.” Thank God.
    What had occurred between she and viscount could be laid squarely at the door of Lucas Beaumont. A broken heart and bruised ego plays havoc on a person’s judgment. Had she not been smarting over Lucas’s abrupt return to America, she would have quickly seen that Lord Braddock’s charm, handsome