Sabrina Jeffries - In The Princes Bed

A woman is like a locked box. If you break

in, you risk destroying her. The wise fellow

finds the key.

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Anonymous, A Rakes Rhetorick

Buoyed by his triumph, Alec watched her march off, her shimmering silk gown highlighting every wiggle of her tight little behind. The sight made his blood pound in his temples. Now he not only wanted to wed her, but to bed her. As soon as possible. He wanted to taste her again, to explore that mass of fiery hair with his hands. To lay her down and strip her bare. Find out if her flesh was as milky and flawless beneath her exotic gown as the creamy skin of her neck and the upper swells of her breasts. Or if the impish freckles scattered over her pert nose showed up on the slender belly or the undoubtedly long legs

Careful, man, remember the rules dont let your urges run away with you. Youll have her soonenough.

Oh, yes, hed have her. Katherine didnt realize it, but shed handed him the secret to capturing her. Beneath her propriety and uncommon good sense lay a wild passion barely held in check by Lovelaces admonitions and her upbringing.

He understood too well how it was to yearn for freedom from a choking tether. Unlike Lovelace, he was willing to release her from it, to run free with her when they were alone, and that would be her undoing. Alec had trained enough horses to know you couldnt keep a wild mare tethered for long. Katherine needed to kick up her heels, and hed be the one to release her into the pasture. But it would be his pasture, only his.

Smiling smugly, he returned to the ballroom. Perhaps he would ask her to dance. That would keep the pressure on.

Feeling someone come up beside him, Alec turned to find Gavin Byrne cradling a glass of champagne and surveying the milling crowd. Alec lifted an eyebrow at his half brother. Checking up on me?

Im making sure Eleanor invited our little heiress as promised.

Lady Jenner has been very helpful. More helpful than he liked, actually. Byrne chuckled. Made advances, did she? When Alec looked surprised, Byrne added, I have no illusions about my present mistress. She has a lusty appetite, and I dont mind if she indulges it. Im certainly not faithful to her.

I suppose that shouldnt surprise me, Alec said tightly.

Byrne laughed. Your life abroad wasnt as wild and reckless as people say, was it?

Alec slanted him a glance. Why do you think that?

I looked into it. Byrne swirled the champagne in his glass. I discovered that my little brother is more Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html interesting than I knew. Why didnt you tellusyou were the Alexander Black who can stand atop a cantering horse and shoot a hole through a plum at a hundred paces?

With a snort, Alec jerked his gaze away. More like a cantaloupe. The thing shrinks with every retelling. Soon theyll have me shooting at a mustard seed.

Its still impressive.

A trick, nothing more.

Yes, but not a usual skill for a lord. Something you learned abroad?

You could say that. After Alecs uncle had seen him perfecting a riding maneuver Alec had learned from local gypsies, hed ordered Alec to perform regularly for all his friends. Alec had readily agreed, preferring the riding to his other chores.

Until the day at nineteen when hed learned what his uncle had told his friendsthat Alec was a gypsys bastard, which accounted for his skill with horses and his banishment toPortugal. Of all the lies his uncle could have told, how ironic he should choose one so painfully close to the truth. Alec had left his uncles house that day, and Alecs father had cut off his allowance to force him back into the cage hed so carefully selected. But by then Alec had grown tired of cages.

How do you know about my riding abilities, anyway? Alec asked.

I spoke to the proprietor ofStephensHotel. He says you saved his life when he was a cavalry trooper. Says he would never have escaped a Frenchmans saber if you hadnt taught him how to ride fancy, as he put it.

He exaggerates.

I doubt it, or he wouldnt have given you free lodging. Besides, Id already heard of the daring Alexander Black. Youre a legend in horse circles.

Youre not in horse circles.

Who do you think funds the bets on theDerby? Byrne quaffed some champagne. Is it trueWellesley hired you to teach theEnglishcavalry after he saw you train thePortugueserecruits?

Alec shrugged. I enjoyed the work, and I had to fend for myself.

You could have traded on your status as a lord.

You mean, used my title to get credit? Or to gain invitations to the chateaus of people like my father? No, thank you. I much preferred working with horses. And it paid well enough to support me.

Byrne ran his gaze over Alec. But not well enough for fine clothes like youre wearing now, Ill wager.

A grim smile crossed his face. Youd be amazed how easily an earl can gain credit at the best tailors when no one knows hes broke.

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I thought you didnt want to add to your debt.

I cant woo an heiress in rags, can I?

True. Byrne glanced away. Send your tailors bills to me.

Alec stiffened. I told you I didnt want your money.

I can wait for repayment until you marry. If you dont take too long.

A shiver ran down Alecs spine. Hed rather be in debt to a tailor than his Machiavellian half brother. On the other hand, he didnt need more strangers dunning him. Very well, he bit out, I accept your generous offer.

Byrne laughed. You really hate this, dont you?

Begging? Taking charity? I loathe it.

But he also hated that Edenmores tenants lived in cottages with leaking roofs and broken windows because his father had fallen behind on the upkeep. And that the stables, which once held the finest bloodstock inEngland, now contained two old jades and a cart horse. And even that the woods on the south end had been so plundered by poachers that a lonely but enterprising boy could no longer catch a rabbit with

No, he mustnt get sentimental. That was where Mother had gone wrong, yearning for an affection her husband couldnt give her, which had made her ripe for the princes plucking. Alec wouldnt be so foolish. He understood the rules as his mother had not, and he would play by them for now. But when he got his estate in order, by God, he would tell society to go to hell.

This is no more than I deserve for turning my back on my duty for so long, he added. Which reminds me, why didnt you tell me Miss Merivale is nearly engaged?

Byrne snorted. It was hardly worth mentioning. Society has awaited the announcement of their betrothal for yearsthe man cant be seriously interested.

You might be right. Alecs gaze swung to Katherine. She must have patched things up with her poet suitor, because they were now chatting amiably with Mrs. Merivale. He doesnt seem to want her badly enough to settle matters, and I gather he doesnt need her money.

Hardly. Hes worth at least twenty thousand a year. Though I doubt any man would object to being handed a hundred thousand pounds outright.

Alecs eyes narrowed. Are you sure its so much? Miss Merivale doesnt act like an heiress, and Lady Jenner said the squire left them only a small estate.

Not even Eleanor knows that Miss Merivale will inherit a fortune from her grandfather upon her marriage.

Youd think Mrs. Merivale would shout that from the rooftops.

Shes pinning her hopes on Lovelace. Why solicit fortune hunters when she has a rich prospect already Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html in hand?

Alec scowled. So the mother is partial to Lovelace.