Page 25 of In the Prince's Bed

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving you unchaperoned.” A scheming expression crossed Mama’s face. “Especially when the two of you aren’t evenenceinte.”

Sydney blanched at the very mention of pregnancy. “I should say not!”

Katherine barely choked back a laugh. “Mama means ‘engaged.’ ” Poor Sydney should know by now never to listen to her mother’s tortured French.

“That’s what I said,” Mama protested.

“No, you said we were…oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter.” And Mama wouldn’t remember anyway. “But please do give us a moment.”

Her mother sniffed. “Very well. But don’t forget that his lordship will be arriving shortly for your ride.”

“His lordship can go to perdition,” Sydney muttered under his breath, as Mama flounced from the room.

Katherine sighed. Sydney’s jealousy should make him more attentive, not throw him into a sulk. And what right did he have to sulk anyway? He was the one taking her for granted. She’d had enough of it.

“See here,” Sydney said, as soon as her mother was gone, “I don’t want you anywhere near Iversley.”

The high-handed statement sparked Katherine’s temper. “You should have thought of that last night when you left here without a word.”

He looked chagrined. “I’ll admit that was rude, but I didn’t expect—”

“That I would accept another man’s invitation? Or make other plans? Or assume from your behavior at supper that you were washing your hands of me?”

“What? Did that devil Iversley put such ideas in your head? I’ve always intended to marry you, Kit. You know that.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.”

“Dash it all, I know I behaved horridly to you last night, but I was put out by your flirting with Iversley.”

“I wasnotflirting—”

“I know you were upset with me, and rightly so.” He tugged nervously at his cravat. “I don’t even blame you for dancing with the man—I see now that you were striking back at me for not…well…showing you what you mean to me.” His sullen gaze met hers. “But I figured you’d be over your fit of temper by now.”

How dare he dismiss her legitimate concerns as mere feminine pique! “I was not having a fit of temper last night, but I certainly am now. And if you think I’ll go anywhere with you—”

A hard rap sounded on the front door. She lifted her head proudly. “That’s probably Lord Iversley, come to take me riding. So if you’ll excuse me…”

She started to brush past him, but Sydney stepped into her path. “Please, Kit, don’t be cross with me. I can’t bear it.”

When she met his gaze, the hurt confusion on his face dissolved all her anger. The door opened in the hall, and her mother loudly welcomed the earl, but Katherine couldn’t leave her dear friend. “I’m not cross at you. I’m merely frustrated. And you know why.”

“I spoke to Mother about us this morning.”

“What did she say?” Her hope was tempered by a healthy dose of cynicism.

A stubborn look crossed his face. “Mother didn’t understand why we’re in such a hurry to settle things. Why we can’t wait until she’s not ill.”

Katherine ignored her roiling stomach.Stay the course,Alec had said. Clearly he’d been right—Sydney would never defy his mother without serious prodding. “Then you must explain it to her better. Because in two weeks—”

“All right, all right,” he grumbled. “But why can’t you…well…spend time with me while you’re waiting? Instead of with that devil Iversley?”

“I don’t know why you call him a devil.” She drew on a glove with studied nonchalance. “He seems perfectly nice to me.”

He grabbed her arm as if to shake her. “The man’s a blackguard if ever there was one. And if you think for one moment that he’s interested in marriage—”

“Good afternoon, Miss Merivale,” said a steely voice from the doorway.

Glancing up to find Alec watching them, she quickly withdrew her arm from Sydney’s grip. Alec scowled at Sydney before his brooding gaze settled on her, hot and intense, drying the breath in her throat. As he swept it down her, she swallowed, suddenly conscious of how worn and out-of-fashion her favorite riding habit must seem to a man of his worldly sophistication.