Page 121 of To Pleasure a Prince

Oh Lord, they’d be thrown out before Louisa even got her chance to speak.

George did no more than frown. “Ah, my son’s high moral character rears its ugly head. I had forgotten how very often it emerges to chastise me.”

Silence fell on the room. Did the prince realize he had just referred to Marcus as his son in front of three other people?

Simon certainly did. He’d already looked ill at ease when he came in, but now he looked decidedly queasy. She had to wonder why.

The prince gestured to Louisa. “Come, child. Your brother’s message said you had a few questions for me. Now’s your chance to ask them.”

Louisa swallowed, but approached the prince. “Regina has already told me that you would like me to join the court and why, but—”

“You told Lady Draker of our intentions, Foxmoor?” the prince interrupted with a glance at Simon.

“I had no choice,” Simon replied. “Regina figured some of it out herself, and she threatened to tell Draker. So I told her all of it and asked her to do her duty.”

“Asked?”Marcus snapped. “You lying ass—you blackmailed her. You threatened to tell me lies about her that would damage our marriage.”

“Is this true?” the prince asked Regina.

She nodded.

“I did what I thought was my duty,” Simon ground out.

“Was kissing me your duty, too?” Louisa burst out. “And saying you loved me? And telling me we were going to Gretna Green when you really only planned to take me to meet the prince?”

Simon looked positively deathly.

“Answer her.” The prince’s face had paled more and more during Louisa’s protest, until now it was quite bloodless. “Tell the truth, Foxmoor. Did you do those things? Did you toy with her affections?”

Simon’s eyes glittered. “They tied my hands. I had no choice.” He gestured to Marcus. “He made Louisa promise not to see me again, and she insisted upon holding to her promise. I had to catch her alone at a ball and persuade her—” He broke off, realizing he was digging himself even deeper. Facing the prince with a stony glare, he said fiercely,“Youtold me you wanted her at court. That I was to arrange it so you could meet with her in private. I was only doing what you—”

“I did not tell you to kiss her.”

Simon clenched his hands into fists at his sides. “That is true. I did that on my own.”

“I also told you not to make her any promises, and you did.”

“I had no choice, damn it!”

“It seems to me you had at least one choice. You could have discussed the situation further with me.”

“You wanted this, and you know it,” Simon growled.

The prince stiffened, then turned his gaze from his friend. “Thank you, Foxmoor. I shall decide how to act, and inform you forthwith. And now, I should like to speak to my guests alone. That will be all.”

The look of betrayal on Simon’s face was unmistakable. “This is not right.”

“That will be all, sir,” the prince said coldly. “If you will not leave, I shall have to call—”

“I’m going,” Simon snapped, but his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes overly bright.

Regina would feel sorry for him, if not for what she, too, had suffered from his machinations.

As he headed for the door, Louisa called out, “Simon?”

He halted, but did not turn around. “Yes?”

“Did you mean any of it? Or was it all part of your scheme for His Highness?”