Page 14 of In the Prince's Bed

“How do you know about my riding abilities, anyway?” Alec asked.

“I spoke to the proprietor of Stephens Hotel. He says you saved his life when he was a cavalry trooper. Says he would never have escaped a Frenchman’s saber if you hadn’t taught him how to ride ‘fancy,’ as he put it.”

“He exaggerates.”

“I doubt it, or he wouldn’t have given you free lodging. Besides, I’d already heard of the daring Alexander Black. You’re a legend in horse circles.”

“You’re not in horse circles.”

“Who do you think funds the bets on the Derby?” Byrne quaffed some champagne. “Is it true Wellesley hired you to teach the English cavalry after he saw you train the Portuguese recruits?”

Alec shrugged. “I enjoyed the work, and I had to fend for myself.”

“You could have traded on your status as a lord.”

“You mean, used my title to get credit? Or to gain invitations to the chateaus of people like my father? No, thank you. I much preferred working with horses. And it paid well enough to support me.”

Byrne ran his gaze over Alec. “But not well enough for fine clothes like you’re wearing now, I’ll wager.”

A grim smile crossed his face. “You’d be amazed how easily an earl can gain credit at the best tailors when no one knows he’s broke.”

“I thought you didn’t want to add to your debt.”

“I can’t woo an heiress in rags, can I?”

“True.” Byrne glanced away. “Send your tailor’s bills to me.”

Alec stiffened. “I told you I didn’t want your money.”

“I can wait for repayment until you marry. If you don’t take too long.”

A shiver ran down Alec’s spine. He’d rather be in debt to a tailor than his Machiavellian half brother. On the other hand, he didn’t need more strangers dunning him. “Very well,” he bit out, “I accept your generous offer.”

Byrne laughed. “You really hate this, don’t you?”

“Begging? Taking charity? I loathe it.”

But he also hated that Edenmore’s tenants lived in cottages with leaking roofs and broken windows because his “father” had fallen behind on the upkeep. And that the stables, which once held the finest bloodstock in England, now contained two old jades and a cart horse. And even that the woods on the south end had been so plundered by poachers that a lonely but enterprising boy could no longer catch a rabbit with—

No, he mustn’t get sentimental. That was where Mother had gone wrong, yearning for an affection her husband couldn’t give her, which had made her ripe for the prince’s plucking. Alec wouldn’t be so foolish. He understood the rules as his mother had not, and he would play by them for now. But when he got his estate in order, by God, he would tell society to go to hell.

“This is no more than I deserve for turning my back on my duty for so long,” he added. “Which reminds me, why didn’t you tell me Miss Merivale is ‘nearly engaged’?”

Byrne snorted. “It was hardly worth mentioning. Society has awaited the announcement of their betrothal for years—the man can’t be seriously interested.”

“You might be right.” Alec’s gaze swung to Katherine. She must have patched things up with her poet suitor, because they were now chatting amiably with Mrs. Merivale. “He doesn’t seem to want her badly enough to settle matters, and I gather he doesn’t need her money.”

“Hardly. He’s worth at least twenty thousand a year. Though I doubt any man would object to being handed a hundred thousand pounds outright.”

Alec’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure it’s so much? Miss Merivale doesn’t act like an heiress, and Lady Jenner said the squire left them only a small estate.”

“Not even Eleanor knows that Miss Merivale will inherit a fortune from her grandfather upon her marriage.”

“You’d think Mrs. Merivale would shout that from the rooftops.”

“She’s pinning her hopes on Lovelace. Why solicit fortune hunters when she has a rich prospect already in hand?”

Alec scowled. “So the mother is partial to Lovelace.”