Page 42 of In the Prince's Bed
“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 to Greece is still taking place.”
“Ignore Napier. He just—”
“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 between us, do you understand? Nothing.”
“You don’t mean that,” Sydney said 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—” Sydney called 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, then Sydney’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 meanhe’sbetter off withoutme,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. Sydney might not be right for her, but neither was Alec. Unless shewantedto 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, and Sydney wanted 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 that Sydney had 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 goodness.
She marched outside to where Alec stood holding the horses. He looked irritable. Fine. Shefeltirritable. 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 precious Sydney do? 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.”
Chapter Eleven
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’dlethim? 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.
