Free Queen For A Night by Jennifer Blake Page B

queen except indirectly,” Ross said, stepping between them. “And it isn't you. I'm the problem.”
    Caroline frowned. “Because you didn't want her on your boat?”
    “Because I declined a little more than her company.”
    “Why, you—” Murielle began.
    “I know, so low-down of me to say so, but you're the one who brought it up.” His hard gaze raked her cousin. “You suggested I take Tony's place to get back at me, because you knew I would hate being king but agree for his sake. You sent Caroline to ask because you thought she might as well take the heat since she was going to get the crown.”
    “Ridiculous,” Murielle said. “It was Daddy's idea, and I had my hands too full seeing after him to worry about a fake crown.”
    “But not quite so full you couldn’t come here tonight to crow,” Ross answered.
    “Crow?” Caroline said. “About what?”
    “My fall.” he said in tight tones as he turned back to her. “She thought it would be suitable if I had a little damage done to my ego in exchange for her injured pride.”
    “You mean she decided she could get to you because I let her guess that I—that we—”
    “I think “made love” are the words you are looking for. And she was exactly right.”
    His blue gaze was silvered at the edges with some repressed emotion that might have been rage or pain. Caroline, caught in its snare, felt the blood drain slowly from her face.
    “Oh, dear,” Murielle murmured. “I didn't know things were quite like that.”
    Caroline, turning her gaze to her cousin, said, “Would it have made any difference?”
    Murielle shrugged. “Maybe, I don't know. We'll discuss it further when you're in my shoes.”
    “Caroline will never be in your shoes,” Ross answered the other woman. “She has more class, if not more heart.”
    “I'll tell Daddy you said so,” Murielle said. “He'll be so pleased.”
    Ross's gaze was level. “Don't bother. I'll tell him myself.”
    Murielle's smile took on a strained look. Turning on the heel of her black Italian pump, she walked away.
    “The question now,” Ross said, his voice implacable as he met Caroline’s gaze, “is just exactly what did happen out there on the boat. I don't really mind being used—in fact you had my fullest cooperation. But I do like to keep the reasons straight.”
    It seemed what had taken place last night had meant something special to him. If so, it obviously did no longer. The ache inside brought on by that knowledge might be bearable, Caroline thought, if she breathed with extra care.
    She tested the theory and found a problem or two with it, but refused to let Ross see her pain. She had learned that much from her marriage.
    “You got what you wanted from me,” she said tightly. “I got what I wanted from you. What does the rest of it matter?”
    “It doesn't, if you put it that way.” His lips curved without humor. “Never mind. It seems what we have here is a simple business transaction, one more friendly than most, but tit for tat after all. I never shirk on a deal, so let's play at being king and queen. Tomorrow night will be here and gone in no time. And I expect I can stand it if you can.”



CHAPTER FIVE
    L’escapade was docked at the lake marina when Caroline arrived at the civic center on the following afternoon. Even without seeing the name spelled out on the stern and its shiny new double windscreen, she would have known it. No other boat had the same sleek lines and appearance of polished care, but most of all, none had the size and seaworthiness. Compared to the other small crafts tied up at the civic center dock, Ross’s yacht looked like a clipper ship among rowboats.
    So he would be at the ball. There had been some doubt in her mind, in spite of his terse comment the night before.
    She was so relieved she felt giddy with it. Her greatest fear, among the many plaguing her about this evening, had been that she would be left standing forlorn and ridiculous at the ball