Page 81 of In the Prince's Bed

“While you danced with him. And promenaded on his arm.”

She stepped back, only to come up against an orange tree so hard that it dropped leaves onto her gown and into her hair. Wielding her reticule like a weapon, she glared at him. “Stay back, or I’ll hit you again.”

“Go ahead.” He reached for her. “I dare you.”

When she tried to swat him with her reticule, he easily snatched it out of her hand. He started to toss it aside, but its weight gave him pause. “What do you carry in this thing—cannonballs?”

Alarm spread over her features. “Give it back!”

With a shake of his head, he opened it. When he saw the book inside, curiosity turned to anger. “Poetry from your friend, I suppose.”

He drew the book out, then walked over to the lamp. When he read the title, he couldn’t believe it. Scowling, he waved the book at her. “Lovelace gave youthis?”

She shook her head. “I…um…it…belonged to my father.”

That shocked him even more. “Andhegave it to you?”

“No!” Even in the lamplight, he could see her blush. “I-I found it hidden in his study after he died.”

Eyes narrowing, he flipped through the flimsy thing, noting the chapter headings: “The Best Gifts for Seduction,” “Discretion for the Rake,” “Finding a Woman’s Weakness”…

His anger burst into full flame. He shook it at her.“Thisis why you won’t trust me, why you fight my suit at every turn? Because you’ve been reading some claptrap—”

“It’s not claptrap, unfortunately,” she said bitterly. “Papa seems to have followed every instruction.”

“Then he was an idiot.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “True. But I wanted to understand what made him an idiot. And whysomemen like to seduce women for fun.”

“I suppose you includemein that group. How dare you compare me to your blasted father? I’ve given you no reason to think I’m like him.”

“Haven’t you?”

The light suddenly dawned. “That’s what you thought I was doing at Stephens Hotel—seeing some woman.”

“You did go to a lot of trouble to make sure I didn’t find out.”

“Blast it, Katherine. How could you think I’d do that to you? Do you still trust me that little?”

Her gaze met his, wide and wary. “I don’t know what to make of you. I never have.”

He brandished the book. “So you’ve filled your head with this nonsense and decided I’m a rakehell, based on a few rumors and Lovelace’s resentment.”

She stuck out her chin. “And the way you behave.”

“You mean, by kissing you?” He lowered his voice. “By pleasuring you?”

“By lying—”

“I’ve never lied to you.” But of course he had. Small lies, evasions, minor deceptions…and the one great deception still going on.

All the same, she had no right to attribute to him worse crimes than he deserved. “Your distrust has nothing to do with what I’ve actually done. No matter what I do or say, you’ll still think me the epitome of wickedness and debauchery.”

“You have to admit—”

“I don’t have to admit anything.” He marched toward her. “I’m a rakehell, a liar, and a cheat, a man who deceives women for entertainment. I’m…let’s see…” He flipped open the book and read at random, “A master seducer.”

He narrowed his gaze on her. “Yes, I like that. A master seducer. And all this time, I thought I was merely a man courting a woman he wanted to marry.” He tossed the book aside and stripped off his coat, then began unfastening the buttons of his waistcoat. “Little did I know.”