Page 74 of In the Prince's Bed
“A nag,” Alec snapped. “Now, will you loan me the money or not?”
Draker gave him a speculative glance. “I tell you what. Let me show youmyestate while I’m thinking it over. You can talk to my tenants about the barley. You can even speak to my steward about husbandry. Then I’ll give you my answer.”
Alec held back his hot retort. This was a test. Draker wanted to determine if Alec had what it took to make a go of an estate, or if he was just playing at it.
Although Alec didn’t blame the man for doubting him, time grew short. He glanced at the clock on Draker’s desk. He had ten hours before he had to pick up Katherine and Mrs. Merivale for the Purefoy party, including an hour to drive back to London and an hour to dress. He couldn’t miss the party—he was hoping Katherine would finally have spoken to Sydney so Alec could make their betrothal official.
But there was still time left. And he had no choice but to play Draker’s game if he wanted his money. “All right,” Alec told his half brother. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Eighteen
The true rake has no heart. A desire for pleasure is the only thing beating inside his chest.
—Anonymous,A Rake’s Rhetorick
It was happening all over again. How many times had Katherine sat with Mama, waiting for Papa to show up to take them to an assembly in town as he’d promised, only to have him stagger in with his cravat askew, reeking of ale?
How many times had she listened to his lies that he’d been delayed by a broken carriage axle or a lamed horse, watching Mama’s temper rise until it erupted into shouts? All the while her own anger simmered deep inside where she always thrust it, becausesomebodyin the family had to keep a clear head.
Tonight, however, she was the one ready to erupt while Mama sat and watched warily, having long ago fallen into an uncharacteristic silence.
Katherine refused to endure this any longer. Gathering up her reticule, she rose and headed for the parlor door.
“Katherine Merivale, where do you think you’re going?” Mama asked.
“Upstairs.” Katherine gestured to the clock. “He’s an hour and a half late. You might as well accept that he’s not coming. And since we have no carriage and we turned down the one Lady Purefoy offered to send for us, we have no way of going by ourselves. Thomas will never find a hackney at this hour, not with all the parties going on.”
She gathered in a steadying breath, fighting not to show her anger. “So I’m going upstairs to change clothes and read. At least it will keep my mind off…everything.”
“Now, Katherine, perhaps he was held up on his estate—”
“You said you didn’t believe he’d gone to his estate.” Her mother’s troubled frown only heightened Katherine’s temper. “Even if he did, and even if he found upon his arrival that he wouldn’t be able to get back for the party, he’s had plenty of time to send us a message from Suffolk. The mails are quick these days.”
“He might have had an accident on the roads, you know. It does happen. And there are highwaymen, too.”
That brought her up short. Oh, God, what if something horriblehadhappened to him? The idea of Alec lying in some ditch—
No, she couldn’t believe it. Alec, of all people, would keep his team and carriage in perfect shape and hire the best coachman. And any highwayman confronting a man who could slice a pear in half at a dead gallop would surely find himself bested.
His evasions concerning the Stephens Hotel told her Alec was deceiving her about something, and his absence was part of it. She just knew it.
“I seriously doubt his lordship has had an accident. He is simply exercising his right to behave like a cad, now that I’ve agreed—” She broke off, hoping Mama hadn’t caught her slip.
But her mother could be very clever when it came to certain matters. “Now that you’ve agreed to what, Katherine?”
Katherine sighed. “To his proposal of marriage. That night at Astley’s, he asked me to marry him, and I agreed.”
Mama’s face lit up. “My dear girl, that’s wonderful!” She pressed her hands to her heart. “My daughter, the countess…oh, I knew it would happen, I knew it! The way his lordship looks at you, and his kind courtesies—”
“Like not showing up to take me to a party when he promised?”
“Pshaw, these things happen.” Mama waved her hand dismissively. “You’ll see what I mean when you’re married.”
Which was precisely what worried Katherine.
Her mother frowned. “But why didn’t you tell me this before? And why didn’t he speak to me about it?”
“He wanted to, but I…um…asked him to wait until I could tell Sydney.”
