Page 26 of In the Prince's Bed

But judging from the admiring gleam in his eye, he found nothing wanting. “You look very pretty this afternoon. That color suits you.”

“Thank you, Lord Iversley. How nice of you to say so.” She shot Sydney a cold glance.“Somemen do not approve of my choice of colors.”

Sydney flushed. “Or perhaps those men are simply too engrossed in more important matters to think up pretty flatteries for you.”

From behind Alec, Mama scowled first at Katherine, then at Sydney. “Important matters? I hope you’re not talking about poetry. Fashion is far more important than any silly old poem.”

Sydney searched Katherine’s face. “You don’t think so, do you, Kit?”

“Of course not. But I’m afraid that doesn’t change anything.” She flashed Alec a brilliant smile. “I was just telling Sir Sydney that I can’t attend his poetry reading at the Freeman Assembly Rooms this afternoon.”

“I shall be quite lost without you there,” Sydney said, ignoring Alec entirely. “And people will think it strange that I’m dedicating a poem to the most important woman in my life, yet she hasn’t bothered to attend.”

“You mean your mother won’t be there, either?” Katherine said sweetly. The stricken look on Sydney’s face made her instantly curse her quick tongue.

“I didn’t tell Mother about it,” he said. “I wanted to be with you instead.”

She sucked in a breath. Sydney had actually chosen her over his mother?

No, more likely he’d thought he could better bring his mother round to his way of thinking if she weren’t exposed to Katherine and her vulgar family too much.

“Miss Merivale,” Alec interrupted from the doorway, “if we don’t leave now, the park will be too crowded for riding.”

Grateful for the earl’s intervention, she said to Sydney, “I must go.”

“Must you?” The mute appeal on his face made pain clench in her gut. Was she being too cruel, too demanding?

Mother didn’t understand why we’re in such a hurry.

She stiffened. Sometimes one had to demand what one deserved. Lord knew she deserved Sydney, after all the years she’d waited for him. “I’m afraid I must.”

“Shall I stop by this evening to let you know how it went?” he asked hopefully.

On impulse, she reached out and squeezed his arm. “If you wish.”

Mama chirped, “I’ll see you out, Sir Sydney.”

Sydney hesitated, but clearly recognized that he was outnumbered. With a bow, he murmured, “Good day, Katherine.” Then, sweeping wordlessly past Alec, Sydney headed off down the hall with Mama.

Alec called after him, “Good day, Lovelace. Enjoy your poetry reading.”

Katherine glared at Alec. “Must you rub it in?” She drew on her other glove. “The poor man is distraught enough as it is.”

“And no wonder,” Alec drawled as he strolled toward her. “He has to stay inside a moldy assembly room on this brilliant spring day while we’re out riding.”

She chewed on her lower lip, unable to shake her guilt at wounding Sydney.

Her mother reappeared in the doorway. “Katherine loves to ride. At home, I’m always having to send somebody out to the heath to find her.”

Alec gazed warmly at Katherine. “Then you won’t mind if we ride at St. James’s Park instead of Rotten Row. I understand it’s prettier and not so busy this time of year.”

“Oh, Katherine loves all sorts of parks.” Mama shot her a stern look. “Tell his lordship how you like parks, my dear.”

After Mama’s lecture this morning about how lucky Katherine was to have the attentions of a man as lofty as the Earl of Iversley, she was in no mood to start a row. “Yes, I do like parks. St. James’s will be fine.”

“You see?” her mother put in, mollified. “She won’t care where you ride, my lord. You take her wherever you please.”

An odd smile played over Alec’s lips as he swept Katherine with a smoldering look. “Certainly, madam. I shall be pleased to take your daughter…anywhere.”