Page 41 of In the Prince's Bed

“I wasn’t thinking at all, Sydney. It…it just happened.” She wasn’t about to tell him of her bargain with Alec—Sydney would certainly findthatappalling.

“The only man you should kiss isme,”Sydney said with uncommon fierceness.

She gaped at him. So Alec’s scheme was working? “You’re absolutely right,” she said stoutly. “And I would much prefer that you be the one to kiss me.”

Liar,her conscience whispered.

Be quiet,she told it. She meant it—she only wanted Sydney. Really, she did. Even if shehadjust been behaving like a shameless wanton with Alec.

She blushed. “My kissing Al—Lord Iversley was a mistake. I promise it will never happen again.” Or at least she fervently prayed it wouldn’t.

A flush spread over Sydney’s cheeks. “Glad to hear it.” He stepped toward her with clear intent.

“If you can forgive me—”

“I can forgive you. Idoforgive you.” Sydney stared at her uncertainly, then reached up to caress her cheek. “As long as you can forgive me for neglecting you these past few weeks.”

Months, more like, but she wasn’t about to point that out now. She’d been waiting half her life for this moment. “It’s already forgiven.”

He set his jaw, as if preparing for a hard task, then bent his head to press his lips to hers. His kiss was careful, respectful…and totally lacking in passion.

But shouldn’t she expect that of a considerate gentleman like him? His kisses would never be indecently thorough like Alec’s, and he would certainly never touch her so scandalously. That must be why her pulse wasn’t quickening and her heart flipping over in her chest.

So why did she wish they were? When Sydney drew back, she frowned at him.Thiswas Sydney’s idea of a kiss? Couldn’t he even take her in his arms or hold her close?

Apparently not. He was already backing away, as if relieved it was over. Oh no, he would not get away with this.

Grabbing his hands, she pulled him back and placed his arms about her waist. Then she twined her own arms about his neck. “Let’s try that again, Sydney,” she whispered to his shocked face.

And before he could even react, she kissed him. Hard. Thoroughly. She parted her lips against his and mimicked the motions Alec had taught her. But when she tentatively touched her tongue to his mouth, Sydney recoiled, thrusting her away as if she’d bitten him.

Flushing from his cravat to his forelock, he whispered, “That…sort of thing should wait until we’re married, my dear.”

It was her turn to blush. Served her right for taking kissing lessons from a proclaimed scoundrel. She’d blundered again, making Sydney think she was fast and coarse. “I’m sorry, Sydney—”

“No, don’t be sorry,” he said quickly. “You were fine. It was me. I don’t…that is…” He ran his fingers through his hair, clearly discomposed. “I-I think I’m not very good at…these sorts of things.”

That was certainly true.

No, she wouldn’t think that—it was too disloyal. Though she could use abitmore enthusiasm from him. “We only need practice, that’s all,” she said gamely.

“I suppose.” The flush deepened in his cheeks. “The thing is, I’m not sure we should rush into…That is—”

“What my surprisingly inarticulate friend is trying to tell you,” said a voice from the doorway, “is that he and I are planning a trip to Greece this summer. And a wedding doesn’t exactly fit into those plans.”

The change that came over Sydney’s face was frightening. Anger mingled with mortification as he whirled toward the door. “Dash it all, Napier, go away!”

But Katherine was still trying to absorb Lord Napier’s claims. Surely Sydney wouldn’t—He didn’t mean to—“Is that true, Sydney?”

His alarmed gaze shot back to her. “No!”

“Don’t lie to her, for God’s sake,” Napier snapped.

Sydney looked positively frantic. “All right, perhaps Napier and I did talk about it, but nothing has been decided—”

“If you even talked about it,” she said, feeling as if the floor fell from beneath her very feet, “clearly you weren’t considering marriage anytime soon.”

“It’s just that…until the other night, I didn’t realize your mother was pressing you so.” Sydney tugged nervously at his cravat. “If I’d known you were in such haste to marry—”