The Bride Goes Rogue (The Fifth Avenue Rebels #3)(37)

Pressing his lips together, he stared at the wall and forced himself to do the right thing. “I promise I’ll leave her alone.”

“Thank fuck. Now, let’s go. I’ve got employees arriving in a few minutes.”



Alice kept sliding Katherine curious looks. Moments ago, Kit dragged Preston off into the depths of the club, and Katherine, while embarrassed, was enjoying watching Alice prepare for the evening’s dinner service. Her friend was the head chef of the supper club and extremely talented in the kitchen.

Finally, Katherine couldn’t take it any longer. “You may ask me, you know.”

“It’s really none of my business.” Alice continued chopping onions. Her cuts were perfect and quick, like she’d done it a thousand times before. “Whatever is happening between you and Mr. Clarke is your concern.”

“Alice, it’s clear you have something to say. Just say it.”

“I don’t want to meddle.”

“We’re friends. Meddling is allowed. I meddled with you, trying to warn you away from Kit. I’m sorry about that, by the way. I was clearly wrong.”

“You told me to be cautious, and I was glad you did, actually. It’s nice to have friends who care.”

“Well, you don’t need to warn me away from Preston. I already know he’s a terrible choice. I have no serious designs on him, but there is something about him that temporarily makes me lose my head.”

Alice put down her knife and wiped her hands on a towel. “I like Mr. Clarke. He would do anything for those he cares about. He’s intense and intelligent, and I’m a little afraid of him, to be quite honest.”

“But?”

“But nothing. If you like him, then don’t waste another moment.”

“I don’t like him, not like that. I don’t want to marry him. That ship has sailed.”

“What does that mean?”

Katherine filled Alice in on the betrothal agreement and meeting Preston at the French Ball. Alice’s eyes grew wider with each word. By the time Katherine finished, Alice’s jaw was nearly on the floor. “This is the most remarkable tale I’ve ever heard,” Alice said. “And here I thought the way Kit and I fell in love was unusual. You have me beat.”

“Preston and I are not falling in love,” Katherine rushed to say. “I just want to have fun. I feel as if my life has been on hold for an entire year.”

“So, you’re with Preston because he’s convenient?”

“I’m not with him. We saw each other today and he invited me here to have a drink. That’s all.”

“You’re not attracted to him?”

Katherine could feel her skin growing hot again. “Oh, I’m definitely attracted to him—but nothing will come of it. We had fun at the ball, and I like teasing him. Which you probably noticed when you came in.”

“Why do you say nothing will come of it? If you want to have fun and you’re attracted to him, then he’s a good choice for something temporary.”

That was an excellent point. Preston wasn’t the type of husband she wanted, but she wouldn’t mind more of what happened at the French Ball. “You wouldn’t judge me if I had an affair with him?”

Alice reached for another onion. “I once asked Kit to teach me how to seduce a man, then ended up seducing him. I could hardly judge you, Katherine.”

“Do you think I’ll regret it?”

“Only you can answer that. I regret so much about my life up until now, all the things I should have done but never had the courage. So, just ask yourself, will you regret it if you don’t?”

Katherine thought it over. Would she regret an affair with Preston? Was Preston even interested?

You’re allowed to tease, but be prepared. If you bite me, sweetheart, I’ll bite back.

Something told her Preston wouldn’t need much cajoling.

She smiled at her friend. “Here I thought you’d be the one to talk me out of an affair, and Nellie would be the one to encourage it.”

Alice kept chopping, her hand flying to produce neat squares of onion. “Nellie would probably tell you one man is as good as another. She’d encourage an affair, but not with Preston. I’m pretty sure Kit is the only one of those three men she actually likes.”

Yes, that sounded about right, based on Nellie’s reaction to the betrothal. Katherine picked at one of her fingernails and confessed, “I’ve been avoiding her because I don’t want to tell her any of it.”

Which made Katherine feel guilty because Nellie was her best friend. Their last interaction was days ago, when Nellie wrote the morning after Katherine was to meet her French Ball lover. Katherine quickly sent back a note saying the evening didn’t happen and there was nothing to worry about. At the time, it had been true.

Now things had changed and it seemed like a betrayal not to tell her friend.

“She’s the most understanding person I know,” Alice said. “I was terrified to tell her about Lockwood courting me, because she seems to hate him. She said he would be lucky to have me.”

“Any man would’ve been lucky to have you.”

“You’re being very kind, but enough about me. I want to talk about why you were dancing for Preston Clarke in the dining room.”