Page 50 of In the Prince's Bed
It drove him insane. He’d give anything for one stolen kiss from her sweet, artless mouth. And he would have it, too, if tonight went according to plan. He had to secure her soon. Matters at Edenmore were desperate—he couldn’t afford to remain in London much longer.
At least Sir Sydney was keeping away. But that could be bad, too—if Katherine decided the courtship ploy wasn’t working, she would refuse Alec and he’d have wasted days of effort.
Perhaps he should have chosen one of those simpering misses who would have welcomed his attention, accepted his guidance…and bored him to tears, in bed and out.
Blast it, that shouldn’t matter. Saving Edenmore should be his prime concern. But he craved Katherine like he craved wild rides across Edenmore’s clay hills. Being with her pleased him, talking to her stimulated him…touching her aroused him.
That mustn’t matter. His tenants and servants depended on him to set Edenmore to rights. So if his plan failed, if Katherine didn’t soften toward him tonight at Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, he would make himself give her up and tell Byrne it hadn’t worked.
His planhadto work. She was only suspicious because of his evasions about why he’d remained abroad. As long as she believed it was a wastrel’s lack of interest in his estate, she’d never give him a chance. So he had to tell her some of the truth, even if it were threaded with a bit of…fabrication.
When he arrived at the Merivale’s rented town house, their manservant, Thomas, let him in. “Good evening, my lord. Mrs. Merivale is indisposed, and Miss Merivale is in the parlor with another gentleman. Would you prefer to wait here, or shall I announce you?”
A gentleman, eh? Only one gentleman would come here so late in the day—that blasted Lovelace. “I’ll announce myself, thank you. I know the way.”
Alec paused only long enough to relinquish his coat and hat before stalking off to the parlor, his temper rising with every step. Competing with that damned poet for her affections had really begun to pall. He couldn’t wait to make his real intentions clear tonight and put an end to Lovelace’s hold on her once and for all.
But the gentleman in the room wasn’t Lovelace. It was Gavin Byrne.
Katherine broke off midsentence. “Alec! I-I mean, Lord Iversley. You’re here.”
His gaze bored into Byrne. “Sorry to disturb you and your guest,” he said without contrition.
“No need to be concerned.” Byrne rose and bowed. “Miss Merivale and I have finished our business, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Business?” Alec said.
“This is Mr. Byrne,” Katherine said quickly. “He wasa…er…associate of my father’s. He came to speak to Mama, but she was feeling unwell, so—”
“Miss Merivale was kind enough to meet with me,” Byrne finished.
“I see.” His eyes narrowed. What was his devious half brother up to? “I’m Iversley, a close friend of the family. And one who hopes to be closer still, if I can talk Miss Merivale into accepting my suit.”
Byrne smiled broadly. “Well then, I see my visit was unnecessary. Good luck to you, my lord.” He bowed to Katherine. “Thank you for the tea, madam.”
As Byrne passed him, Alec told Katherine, “I’ll just make sure Mr. Byrne can find his way out.” Then he followed his half brother into the hall.
As soon as they were out of earshot of the parlor, Alec drew Byrne aside. “What in God’s name are you doing?”
Byrne shrugged. “Helping you. Before I go off to Bath for a week, I figured I’d visit Mrs. Merivale to remind her how urgent the situation is.”
“I don’t need your help,” Alec snapped, his pride pricked. “I can win Katherine on my own.”
“I have yet to see any announcement of an engagement in the paper, even though Sydney Lovelace seems to be relinquishing the field.”
Alec’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I hear he’s been a visitor at Napier’s estate in Kent all this week.”
A heady triumph swamped Alec. So Lovelace had retreated, had he? That settled everything. Alec would make Katherine marry him, no matter what it took. Though surely she wouldn’t fight him anymore when she realized he was her only chance for marriage.
“It’s up to you to marry the chit and get me my money.” Byrne rubbed his chin. “A pity she and her mother are so set on a respectable marriage, or I could marry her myself. I must admit that Miss Merivale is much lovelier than I’d realized.”
“Stay away from her,” Alec warned. “I’mthe only man she’s marrying.”
Byrne’s laugh showed that he’d only wanted to annoy Alec. “I don’t know, Iversley—she didn’t talk like a woman on the verge of marriage.”
“She will after tonight.”
