His Obsession by Ann B. Keller Page A

dinner upon your
return?” another asked.
    “Well, I – I don’t know if my family will be
able to -”
    “Of course, you’re invited, my dear,”
Winifred quickly offered.
    “Good,” Winslow agreed. “And I shall be happy
to take you in. It’s all settled then.”
    Richard’s eyes narrowed into slits as Lord
Winslow reached for Kate’s hand. The earl looked positively
murderous. Lord Winslow uncomfortably tugged at his cravat and
wisely returned his hand to his side.
    Lady Faversham paused on her way out to say
something to one of the servants, so Kate and Richard preceded her
outside. Richard was a little reluctant to release Kate now that he
held her hand, but he nonetheless led her toward the coach and
handed her inside.
    A sudden gasp of pain behind him alerted
Richard that there was some sort of trouble. Turning quickly, he
saw Lady Faversham sitting at the base of the steps, her skirts
spread out around her and her hair slightly askew. Richard Warwick
reached her side in three strides.
    “My lady? Are you all right?” he asked with
concern as he bent over her.
    Kate climbed down from the coach and hurried
after him.
    Winifred chuckled, poking at her lopsided
coiffure. “Well, that wasn’t very graceful, was it?”
    “Are you injured, my lady?” Kate
inquired.
    “No, thank you, dear,” Lady Faversham
replied, rubbing her derriere. “I’m afraid it’s only my pride.”
    “Let me help you up,” Richard offered.
    Kate stepped back a little as Richard and the
butler eased the woman back onto her feet. Once upright, however,
Winifred winced and quickly shifted her weight to one side.
    “My lady?” Kate worried.
    “Perhaps I hurt a little bit more than just
my pride,” Winifred acknowledged. “Take me back inside, will
you?”
    Richard swept the older woman into his arms
as though she weighed no more than a feather. With ease, he climbed
the steps back into the house and bore the older woman into the
parlor. There, Richard lowered Lady Faversham onto one of the
settees. Kate and two of the other servants positioned pillows
behind her and under her apparently injured ankle.
    “May I ascertain whether anything is broken?”
Richard inquired.
    “Please,” Winifred responded and briskly
hoisted her skirt up to her pale knee.
    Winifred winked at Kate and motioned her
closer.
    “The last time I had a handsome man like that
bending over me was a good thirty years ago,” Winifred whispered to
her.
    “My lady,” Kate gasped in mock horror. “How
scandalous!”
    “Indeed. I married him two weeks later, too,”
Winifred replied. “Ow! That’s a little tender.”
    Frowning, Richard sat back on his haunches.
“Well, there’s nothing broken, but you did twist your ankle.”
    “Oh, dear.”
    “I’ll tell the driver we won’t be needing the
carriage after all,” Richard gravely announced.
    “Nonsense, dear boy,” Winifred chided.
    “Surely, my lady, you cannot proceed like
this?” Richard asked. “The ride would be excruciating.”
    “Of course not, but that shouldn’t stop you
two,” Lady Faversham reasoned.
    Kate’s eyes widened at her suggestion. “My
lady, it wouldn’t be proper if we simply -”
    “It’s a beautiful day. You young people
should go out and enjoy it,” Winifred replied. “Besides, the driver
will be there, won’t he? You really don’t need me at all.”
    “Perhaps my mother then?” Kate suggested.
    The butler cleared his throat and stepped
forward. “Forgive me, my lady, but I believe she just left with
your sisters, Lord Winslow and Viscount Marbury.”
    “Oh.”
    Kate could sense her hopes for a lovely
afternoon in the earl’s company dwindling quickly.
    “Go on, you two!” Lady Faversham urged. “Now,
I’ll not hear of any foolishness. I expect you to be on your best
behavior, Warwick.”
    Kate glanced back and forth between Lady
Faversham and the Earl of Devonshire. Richard grinned in response.
Apparently, everything had already been