Page 87 of In the Prince's Bed

She eyed him askance. “Do you think you can stop with a kiss?”

Of course he couldn’t. Neither could she. That was the point. “Why don’t we find out?”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” She darted around behind the short wall separating the orange trees from the sitting area. “I donotintend to be found naked in your arms, no matter how appealing you find the idea at the moment.”

He groaned. “Blast you for your sense of propriety. I thought I’d coaxed it out of you.”

“Not yet.” She slipped into her gown with another teasing smile. “But you’re welcome to keep trying.Afterwe’re married.”

He opened his mouth to tell her that he intended to keep her in bed for a week after they married, but loud noises coming from the garden kept him silent.

“Are you sure you saw her out here?” came the unmistakably loud voice of Mrs. Merivale.

He couldn’t hear the answer, but he didn’t need to. Though it sounded as if the intruders were still far off, they’d soon reach the orangery. And judging from Katherine’s panicked expression, she wasn’t eager to be caught like this.

Very well, he would preserve her proprieties. For now.

They dressed swiftly, their hands moving in a silent frenzy. He laced up her corset and fastened her gown; she helped him tie his cravat. Thank God he’d already looked rumpled when he’d arrived, so his disordered attire wouldn’t rouse more comment.

Her appearance was more likely to do so, but between the two of them, they managed to get her looking presentable. Thankfully, by the time the voices neared them, he was already helping her with her hair.

She’d just put the last pin in place when the orangery door opened and a brace of candles was thrust inside, followed by their hostess and Mrs. Merivale.

As Lady Purefoy swept the candles in an arc over the room, Alec spottedThe Rake’s Rhetoricklying on the floor. He stepped in front of it just before the light hit it. Seconds later, he and Katherine were fully illuminated.

Mrs. Merivale looked disappointed to find them fully clothed and standing respectably apart, but that didn’t halt her purpose. “My lord! How dare you—”

“Good evening, ladies,” Alec put in swiftly. “You’re just in time. Miss Merivale has finally agreed to be my bride.”

The two women blinked. Then everything changed.

Smiling broadly, Mrs. Merivale hurried forward to hug her daughter. “Oh, my angel, I’m so happy for you. How wonderful to have it settled at last!”

Lady Purefoy’s shock turned to smug self-congratulation. “Didn’t I tell you, Totty?” the baroness said to Mrs. Merivale. “I knew his lordship would never enter my house dressed so shamefully without good purpose. And to have the match assured at my party! What a coup!”

As if she’d had a blasted thing to do with it, Alec thought wryly. “Forgive me, Lady Purefoy, for bursting in with such a lack of ceremony, but I couldn’t wait another minute to ask Miss Merivale to marry me.” Taking Katherine’s hand, Alec gazed down into her smiling face.

“No apology needed.” Lady Purefoy winked at Mrs. Merivale. “We matrons aren’t so old as to forget how impetuous young gentlemen in love can be.”

The two women laughed, but Katherine went still and her smile faltered.

Alec bit back a curse. He’d asked her—commandedher to marry him—without once saying the words of love any young woman wanted to hear from her intended.

Then again, hadn’t she said she didn’t believe in love? This was a marriage between two people who desired each other, nothing more. Surely she must realize that, and if she didn’t, it was better to make it clear before she began nurturing such feelings for him.

Before he started towanther nurturing them. No, he wouldn’t spend his life like his mother, yearning for what he couldn’t have. He could desire Katherine, yes. Enjoy her company, certainly. But crave her love?

That way lay disaster.

“I’m afraid we must all return to the ballroom,” Lady Purefoy said, “before people start to talk about what’s going on out here.”

“Of course,” Alec said. “Besides, I want to dance with my betrothed.”

The two women exchanged knowing glances, then headed for the door. As soon as their backs were turned, Katherine bent to retrieve that blasted book. He’d hoped she hadn’t seen it, but no such luck.

When she started to shove it into her reticule, he grabbed it. “I’ll hold on to this,” he murmured as he slid it into his frock coat pocket.

She raised both eyebrows. “Why?”