Page 20 of The Secret of Flirting
His hooded gaze trailed down to her modestly cut gown. “The princess might not be. Butyoumost certainly are. Actresses are known for their lovers.”
A burst of anger swelled in her chest and she tamped it down with difficulty. He was probably waiting for her to lose her temper. “Well, I regret that as the princess, I cannot be your lover. I must be chaste when I marry.”
That arrested him. “Marry? Is that what this masquerade is about? Snagging a husband for Princess Aurore?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Why do you persist in this insanity? Surely you realize I cannot be both an impostorandsnag Aurore a husband. The moment the real princess entered the man’s bedchamber, he would know he’d been deceived.”
“Unless it was an arranged marriage where the parties never meet. That happens often between countries seeking a political alliance.”
She shook her head. “If the parties never meet, then there’s no need for an impostor to masquerade. Your suppositions don’t even make sense.”
“Princess?” a voice sounded from outside the gazebo. “Are you out here?”
Lady Ursula! Oh, thank God.
Monique started to step out of the gazebo, but he caught her by the arm and whispered, “We’ll continue this discussion later, Monique.”
“Aurore,” she hissed under her breath. “Princess Auroreto you. And if you ever call me Monique again, I will tell my uncle about your kissing me, and he will have your head.”
“Then I will expose you for who you are.”
She grabbed his hand where it lay on her arm. “You would notdareto make such a spurious accusation without proof. Especially when there’s no proof to be had, because Iamthe princess.”
“We’ll see about that.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. “One way or the other, I’m getting to the bottom of this.”
“Your Highness?” Lady Ursula cried.
With his lips thinning into a line, Lord Fulkham led Monique out of the gazebo. “We’re over here,” he said, as poised as any politician.
“Are you all right, Princess?” the lady-in-waiting asked Monique, the lamplight falling full on her worried expression.
Hardly. Her heart thundered in her chest, and the flex of his muscle beneath her hand as he waited for her answer perversely catapulted an undeniable thrill through her. Juggling her two personas with a man who knew the true one was more difficult than she would have imagined. Especially when both personas were horribly attracted to the fellow.
She forced a smile for the woman’s benefit. “I’m perfectly fine. Merely discussing politics with his lordship. Though I don’t believe you two have met. Lady Ursula, this is—”
“I know who he is.” Her eyes assessed him coolly. “The Baron Fulkham, correct? One of the Englishmen helping to decide who will become queen of Her Highness’s country?”
“Indeed,” he clipped out. “I take it you arenotfrom Her Highness’s country?”
“I am Lady Ursula Weber of Hanover, the princess’s lady-in-waiting.”
The woman was breaking all the rules of protocol by introducing herself. She must truly be agitated at finding them sequestered in a gazebo.
Casting him a dismissive glance, she turned to Monique. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but I was sent out here to fetch you for dinner. You’re to be taken in by the Duc de Pontalba.”
“Thank you.” Relieved, Monique released Lord Fulkham’s arm. “I enjoyed our discussion, sir.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.
“The enjoyment was all mine.”
Before she could turn away, he captured her hand, angling himself so that her body blocked Lady Ursula’s view. Swiftly, he lifted her hand to his lips, but he didn’t kiss it. Instead, he turned it over and nosed her bracelet up enough so he could suck the tender skin of her inner wrist. Hard. Enough to leave a mark.
Why, the annoying devil had given her a love bite!
As she snatched her hand from him, he winked at her. Ooh, how she wanted to rage at him for it! But she couldn’t, with Lady Ursula watching.
“I look forward to seeing more of you, Your Serene Highness,” he said in a far-too-intimate tone.
Not ifshehad anything to say about it. All she could manage was a tight nod before turning on her heel and joining Ursula.
