Free In The Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jeffries Page B

She read the line on flowers: Costly hothouse blooms never fail to make a woman’s heart beat faster, since women are primarily mercenary creatures . Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html With a snort, she slammed the book shut and shoved it back in the drawer. How like a man to think he must spend money to make a woman’s heart beat faster. But obviously Papa had slavishly followed that bit of advice, or she wouldn’t be in her present fix, having to marry as soon as possible to access her fortune so she could pay the family debts.
    The sound of a carriage stopping outside made her jump. Goodness, Alec had come for her early. Now, where had she put her gloves while she was working?
    Moments later, she was debating whether the purple-spotted riding gloves she’d bought in that unusual shop inBond Streetwere too odd to pair with her violet riding habit, or if she should go fetch sedate ones, when raised voices drifted up to her from the parlor.
    Sydney. Lord have mercy.
    Snatching up the gloves, she hurried down the stairs.
    “What do you mean, Katherine’s going riding with Iversley?”Sydney’s voice sounded from below. “She was supposed to attend my poetry reading.”
    Katherine couldn’t hear Mama’s response, but doubted it would mollify him. Lifting the overlong skirts of her riding habit, Katherine flew down the last few steps. She hastened into the cramped parlor just in time to hear Mama say that poetry was a humbug she wished her daughter would give up entirely. WhileSydneyturned apoplectic at such heresy, Katherine hastily interjected, “Good afternoon,Sydney. What are you doing here?”
    He whirled around. “You know very well. The reading starts in an hour.”
    Katherine took a steadying breath. “You said nothing about it when you broughtushome last night. I wasn’t even sure what time it began.”
    Sydneywinced. “I… er… forgot to… um…”
    “I assumed you’d changed your mind about having me accompany you.”
    With a woeful expression,Sydneyturned to her mother. “Mrs. Merivale, might I speak to Katherine alone?”
    “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you unchaperoned.” A scheming expression crossed Mama’s face.
    “Especially when the two of you aren’t even enceinte.” Sydneyblanched at the very mention of pregnancy. “I should say not!”
    Katherine barely choked back a laugh. “Mama means ‘engaged.’ ” PoorSydneyshould know by now never to listen to her mother’s torturedFrench.
    “That’s what I said,” Mama protested.
    “No, you said we were… oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter.” And Mama wouldn’t remember anyway.
    “But please do giveusa moment.”
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Her mother sniffed. “Very well. But don’t forget that his lordship will be arriving shortly for your ride.”
    “His lordship can go to perdition,”Sydneymuttered under his breath, as Mama flounced from the room. Katherine sighed.Sydney’s jealousy should make him more attentive, not throw him into a sulk. And what right did he have to sulk anyway? He was the one taking her for granted. She’d had enough of it.
    “See here,”Sydneysaid, as soon as her mother was gone, “I don’t want you anywhere near Iversley.”
    The high-handed statement sparked Katherine’s temper. “You should have thought of that last night when you left here without a word.”
    He looked chagrined. “I’ll admit that was rude, but I didn’t expect—”
    “That I would accept another man’s invitation? Or make other plans? Or assume from your behavior at supper that you were washing your hands of me?”
    “What? Did that devil Iversley put such ideas in your head? I’ve always intended to marry you, Kit. You know that.”
    “You have a funny way of showing it.”
    “Dash it all, I know I behaved horridly to you last night, but I was put out by your flirting with Iversley.”
    “I was not