In The Prince's Bed (14 page)

“If you can forgive me—”

“I can forgive you. I
do
forgive you.”Sydneystared at her uncertainly, then reached up to caress her cheek. “As long as you can forgive me for neglecting you these past few weeks.”

Months, more like, but she wasn’t about to point that out now. She’d been waiting half her life for this moment. “It’s already forgiven.”

He set his jaw, as if preparing for a hard task, then bent his head to press his lips to hers. His kiss was careful, respectful… and totally lacking in passion.

But shouldn’t she expect that of a considerate gentleman like him? His kisses would never be indecently thorough like Alec’s, and he would certainly never touch her so scandalously. That must be why her pulse wasn’t quickening and her heart flipping over in her chest. So why did she wish they were? WhenSydneydrew back, she frowned at him.
This
wasSydney’s idea of a kiss? Couldn’t he even take her in his arms or hold her close? Apparently not. He was already backing away, as if relieved it was over. Oh no, he would not get away with this.

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Grabbing his hands, she pulled him back and placed his arms about her waist. Then she twined her own arms about his neck. “Let’s try that again,Sydney,” she whispered to his shocked face. And before he could even react, she kissed him. Hard. Thoroughly. She parted her lips against his and mimicked the motions Alec had taught her. But when she tentatively touched her tongue to his mouth, Sydneyrecoiled, thrusting her away as if she’d bitten him.

Flushingfrom his cravat to his forelock, he whispered, “That… sort of thing should wait until we’re married, my dear.”

It was her turn to blush. Served her right for taking kissing lessons from a proclaimed scoundrel. She’d blundered again, makingSydneythink she was fast and coarse. “I’m sorry,Sydney—”

“No, don’t be sorry,” he said quickly. “You were fine. It was me. I don’t… that is…” He ran his fingers through his hair, clearly discomposed. “I-I think I’m not very good at… these sorts of things.”

That was certainly true.

No, she wouldn’t think that—it was too disloyal. Though she could use a
bit
more enthusiasm from him.

“We only need practice, that’s all,” she said gamely.

“I suppose.” The flush deepened in his cheeks. “The thing is, I’m not sure we should rush into… That is—”

“What my surprisingly inarticulate friend is trying to tell you,” said a voice from the doorway, “is that he and I are planning a trip toGreecethis summer. And a wedding doesn’t exactly fit into those plans.”

The change that came overSydney’s face was frightening. Anger mingled with mortification as he whirled toward the door. “Dash it all, Napier, go away!”

But Katherine was still trying to absorb Lord Napier’s claims. SurelySydneywouldn’t— He didn’t mean to— “Is that true,Sydney?”

His alarmed gaze shot back to her. “No!”

“Don’t lie to her, for God’s sake,” Napier snapped.

Sydneylooked positively frantic. “All right, perhaps Napier and I did talk about it, but nothing has been decided—”

“If you even talked about it,” she said, feeling as if the floor fell from beneath her very feet, “clearly you weren’t considering marriage anytime soon.”

“It’s just that… until the other night, I didn’t realize your mother was pressing you so.”Sydneytugged nervously at his cravat. “If I’d known you were in such haste to marry—”

“You would have informed your mother you were marrying me no matter what, right?” She snorted.

“You didn’t even do that after I told you. And your friend there clearly thinks your trip toGreeceis still taking place.”

“Ignore Napier. He just—”

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“Hates me? Like your mother hates me?” She choked down the tears swelling in her throat. “You know what, Sydney? I’m tired of fighting to prove myself to your friend and your mother and… and even to you. It’s your turn to prove yourself to me. If you want to marry me, you’ll have to make an offer. Until you do, I’m assuming there is nothing betweenus, do you understand? Nothing.”

“You don’t mean that,”Sydneysaid hoarsely.

“Oh yes, I do.” She simply couldn’t take this torture anymore. Tears flooded her eyes, but she refused to let him see them. “Good afternoon,Sydney.” She hurried toward the door.

“Wait, Kit—”Sydneycalled out behind her.

“Let her go,” Napier put in irritably. “You can’t give her what she wants.”

He could, if the rest of you would let him, she thought bitterly as she approached the room’s exit. Was she always to have witnesses to her humiliation?

First Alec, thenSydney’s horrible friend? She hurried past Napier, praying she could at least keep from crying in front of him.

“You’re better off without him, you know, Miss Merivale,” Lord Napier said in a low voice. She stopped, then turned, determined to face down his gloating. “Don’t you mean
he’s
better off without
me
, Lord Napier?”

But he wasn’t gloating. He looked oddly sympathetic. “No. You and I might both be better off without Sydney. But you have another choice. I have none.”

That statement was so peculiar, she couldn’t even begin to respond. Gathering the remnants of her dignity, she turned and stalked off down the hall.

What a preposterous man. Of course he had other choices for friends. And whom did he consider her other choice to be?

Alec, of course. But Napier was mad if he thought Alec was any choice.Sydneymight not be right for her, but neither was Alec. Unless she
wanted
to end up ruined and alone. He might sit a horse like a conqueror and make her laugh, but that was no reason to run into his arms. Papa had cut just such a dashing figure in his day—and look what that had done to Mama. Besides, Alec’s interest in her wasn’t the sort to lead to marriage anyway. He wanted to “chase” her, remember?

A hollow pain settled in the pit of her stomach. Alec wanted to chase her, andSydneywanted to run from her. Neither was seriously interested in marrying her, no matter what nonsense Alec blathered about courting her.

A pox on them both. She paused inside the entrance door to brush the tears from her eyes and straighten her bonnet. Bad enough thatSydneyhad apparently planned to put off marrying her indefinitely—she wasn’t about to let Alec know he was right about that. She still had some pride, thank
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goodness.

She marched outside to where Alec stood holding the horses. He looked irritable. Fine. She
felt
irritable. They’d make a wonderful pair on the ride home.

“You were in there a long time,” he snapped as he helped her mount. “That must have been some discussion.”

“It was.” If he thought she’d talk about any of this with him, he was in for a surprise. He scowled up at her. “So what did your preciousSydneydo? Chastise you for your immoral character? Regale you with more tales of my wild and reckless school days?”

Her temper flared. “If you really must know, he kissed me.” When Alec’s eyes darkened, she added,

“Apparently your little plan worked brilliantly. Thank you, my lord. I’m most indebted to you.”

Most women are fickle creatures, easily led.

And those who are not should be avoided,

for they will let you chase them right into

a marriage shackle.

—Anonymous,
A Rake’s Rhetorick

Alec gaped at Katherine. That idiot Lovelace had actually kissed her? And she’d
let
him? After Alec had kissed and caressed her like a lover?

Anger exploded through him. If he had thought for one second that Lovelace had it in him, he would never have left her alone with the man. Just the thought of Lovelace’s mouth on hers drove him insane. Having dropped that surprise in his lap, Katherine nudged her horse into a walk. Alec cursed as he hurried to mount his own horse. Catching up to her moments later, he searched her face for a sign of how she felt. Her grim expression mollified him a bit.

“You don’t seem very happy about Lovelace’s kiss,” he said coolly. She colored. “Of course I’m happy. Why wouldn’t I be?”

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“Because it didn’t live up to your expectations?”

Her back went ramrod straight. “I thought we agreed not to discussSydneywhen we were together.”

Nice try, sweetheart, but you’re not escaping this. “That was
my
rule, not yours. I can break it if I want.”

“You’re very good at breaking rules, aren’t you? After all, you don’t have to face the consequences afterward. Whereas the rest ofus—”

“Blast it, I’ve had enough of this. Tell me what Lovelace said to you.”

Now he could see the tears glittering in her eyes. It made him want to ride right back to the assembly rooms and put his fist throughSydney’s jaw. How dared the man hurt her? How dared he? Katherine shot him a game smile. “I’m not in any mood to talk right now, my lord. I’d much prefer a good hard ride. So if you’ll excuse me…”

She prodded her mount into a gallop, leaving him in the dust. After a second of surprise, he followed her, swearing as he drove Beleza to catch up to her. God rot the woman; she knew they couldn’t talk at this speed. She was lucky this part of town had little traffic, or her headlong ride would be dangerously reckless as well as annoying. At least he could keep her from getting into trouble. He matched her pace, scanning the road ahead to prepare for any obstacles, making sure she maneuvered the intersection without incident. By the time he saw her town house up ahead, both their mounts were blowing hard. When she finally reined in, she didn’t even wait for Alec to help her dismount, but leaped from her horse and handed the reins to the waiting groom, then hurried up the steps. Alec scowled, then did the same. If the blasted female thought to go hide under the protective eye of her mother without answering his questions, she was mad.

Taking the steps two at a time behind her, he caught up to her at the door. He snagged her hand as she reached for the knocker. “For God’s sake, what’s all the hurry?”

“You wanted to chase me, didn’t you?” she said shakily.

“Not like this.”

“What’s wrong, Alec?” Her tone was laced with bitterness. “Is our game not living up to your expectations?”

“It’s not a game to me, sweetheart, no matter what you think. And I don’t like seeing you so upset.”

“I’m not upset,” she said, but her trembling voice belied her. “The man I intend to marry kissed me. How could I be upset?”

Alec tightened his grip on her hand. “Tell me one thing. Did you enjoySydney’s kiss?”

She swallowed and looked away. “You’ve got what you wanted out of this. Why do you care how I feel about his kiss?”

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“Because if you enjoyed it,” he said with deadly quiet, “I might just have to kill him.”

Her gaze swung back to him, wide and disbelieving. Then the doors swung open behind her, and Mrs. Merivale appeared in the entrance, her face wreathed in smiles. “There you are at last. I can’t imagine where you two could have gone to be out riding so long.”

Turning Katherine toward the door, Alec tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. As he led her up the last few steps, he cast her mother a smooth smile. “Your daughter took a notion to hear a poetry reading, so I went along.”

Katherine stiffened at his betrayal, then tried to snatch her hand free, but he grabbed it with his, holding it pressed to his arm.

Her mother scowled. “Indeed? I hope your lordship didn’t find it too dull.”

“Not at all,” Alec answered. “I believe it’s best for a man to learn a woman’s tastes as early in the courtship as possible.”

“C-Courtship?” her mother sputtered.

“Indeed. My intentions toward your daughter are perfectly honorable, Mrs. Merivale.” He smiled broadly at his future mother-in-law. “In fact, I’m asking your permission to court her.”

Katherine dug her fingers into his arm, but he ignored her. No way in hell would he continue watching her moon over Sydney Lovelace. The baronet wasn’t right for her, and she knew it. All Alec had to do was convince her he could be a good husband.

That might take some doing, judging from the killer grip she had on his arm as they followed her happily babbling mother into the house. God only knew how Katherine would react if she ever found out he had no money.

A chill swept over him. She mustn’t find that out until he’d secured her.

“Sit down, sit down, Lord Iversley,” her mother gushed as she welcomed them into the tiny parlor. “This calls for a celebration.”

“Mama!” Katherine said, color suffusing her too-pale cheeks at her mother’s inappropriate response to Alec’s announcement. “He has not… that is…”

“Your mother’s right,” Alec said smoothly. “This is definitely cause to celebrate.”

“You see, Katherine? His lordship knows the way of things. Now, you two lovebirds sit down, and I’ll see to having some tea and cakes brought.” Her mother headed out the door, still talking. “Oh, and I shall have to send round to Pollock’s for champagne…”

As her voice receded down the hall, Katherine snatched her hand free and whirled on him. “What on earth are you doing? Did you decide to make the chase more exciting?”

“Hardly. Falsely asking for permission to court you would brand me a scoundrel in society.”

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“Society already brands you a scoundrel.”

“No, only your friend Sydney does that.”

“He’s not my friend; he’s my… my—”

“Intended? Did he ask you to marry him while I was waiting outside with the horses?” When she paled but said nothing, he added, “I didn’t think so. If he’d proposed, you wouldn’t have ridden like a madwoman all the way home.”

With a scowl, she removed her bonnet and tossed it onto the nearby sofa. “Why are you doing this? You can’t be in earnest.”