Page 62 of A Rake's Redemption
“She was not floating,” Alex grumbled. “She just does not weigh much more than a sack of feathers.”
“Ah, yes. That would account for why you had to hold her so close. She might go airborne if you did not.”
“I was not…” Alex stopped, knowing full well hehadheld Inis much closer than was socially acceptable. That her breasts brushed against his chest when they turned proved it. There should never be direct contact other than hand positions. But Inis had felt so good, the hardened nubs of her nipples pressing through his shirt and causing a part of him to grow hard, too. She had fit into his embrace perfectly with her soft, gentle curves. He could still smell the heather scent of the soap she used to wash her hair. “I wanted to make sure she could follow the steps.”
“If you say so.” Caroline put her music into a satchel. “Just remember what kind of impression you want to make at George’s ball.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you want to present Inis as a visiting lady or as someone you are courting?”
Alex frowned. “I am not courting anyone.”
“Well, it certainly looked like it from the way the two of you were waltzing.” Caroline considered him. “Inis might be a good choice for you. She is not aristocracy, but you don’t care about that anyway. Have you even considered marrying?”
“No.” Alex nearly bit the word out and forced a smile. “Sorry. I did not mean to snap. I think you and I have been burned a bit too closely.”
Pain flicked through Caroline’s eyes and then disappeared. “As you said, George and Amelia deserve each other. An ice queen married to a man with a glacier for a heart.”
“Aptly put.” Alex gave her a veiled look. “Have you considered marrying?”
There was that fleeting glimpse of pain again. Alex was about to apologize for asking when Caroline shook her head.
“I have not thought about it since George…” She stopped. “Well, that is water over the dam and under the bridge and all that. To answer your question, no.”
“I am sure your father holds out hope that someone will catch your eye.”
“That is a kind way to put it,” Caroline answered drily. “What my father cares about is making a good match and producing an heir. Preferably a male one, since I am an only child. Even though George hadn’t inherited the title yet, my father was delighted when your brother started paying attention to me.”
“George and his damn title.”
“I don’t think my father has forgiven me for letting that slip.” Caroline gave Alex a wry smile as she reached for the coat she’d slung over the chair. “Imagine a knight’s daughter becoming a duchess.”
“George is an ass,” Alex said. “So are his cronies. If I were a woman and had to marry one of them, I’d probably run for the hills.”
Caroline gave him a rueful look. “Maybe you should book passage on that ship to America for Inis and me.”
Alex frowned and helped her on with her coat. “What do you mean?”
“Lately, my father has been remarking that I am not getting any younger. I was not jesting that he wants a grandchild, one whose father has a title.”
“Well, the Marquis of Kendrick is available,” Alex said with a grin. “I could ask him—”
“No. Don’t dare humiliate me like that.”
Alex blinked, surprised at the angry flush on Caroline’s cheeks. “I was attempting a bit of humor. Your father would be caught between the proverbial rock and hard place…a son-in-law with a lofty title, but not well received by Prinny’s set.”
“I do not give a bloody fig about the Prince Regent and his hangers on,” Caroline said. “They can all go straight to perdition.”
Alex blinked again, wondering at the vehemence in her tone. He knew Caroline had spent time at Court and also the Prince Regent’s summer home in Brighton since her father served in some capacity of the Prince’s entourage, but she rarely mentioned it. If there was a woman of Alex’s acquaintance who was more unimpressed with aristocrats than Caroline, he would be hard put to name her.
Except for Inis. What a strange afterthought. She was not even English.
“I doubt your father expects you to marry the Prince,” Alex said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Only because the Prince already has a wife and a mistress,” Caroline replied and then looked over Alex’s shoulder at the wall. “But there are others.”
“Others?”
