Free Desire by Blood by Melissa Schroeder Page B

is
if they know we are investigating.”
    He nodded. “I understand. I assure you that is not the case.
I have a feeling she has no idea she is a Carrier. Which will cause other
problems, but I will worry about those later.”
    “Later? When?”
    “At the moment, I am trying my best to get the wedding set
up. It is good that you are here. We do not need to wait for your arrival now,
so we can marry soon to save Cordelia any more embarrassment.”
    “If you wanted to do that, you shouldn’t have gone into a
darkened library with her,” Malik commented.
    “I didn’t go into the library with her. I was there, and she
came in trying to avoid Hurst.”
    “And tied you down to the couch?” Malik asked.
    “Shut up.”
    His mother was studying them as they bantered back and
forth, her expression blank. “So, when will I meet her?”
    “Tonight is too late. I am assuming that she is not going
out.”
    “Why would you assume that?”
    “She is now engaged.”
    His mother rolled her eyes. “Of course. Because once a woman
nabs a man, it is her duty to sit at home and wait.”
    He opened his mouth to respond, but his father saved him.
“Take my advice, son, do not argue with a woman—especially a Carrier.”
    His mother gave his father a warning glance and then faced
Nico. “’Tis not too late for us to go out. Send a boy around to find out where
your intended is going to be tonight. If she is not going out, then we shall
set up a meeting tomorrow.”
    That sounded ominous. Cordelia did have a spine, but he was
not too sure she could handle his mother. Not many people could—including
himself at times. From the determined expression on her face, this was one of
those times.
    “Of course.”
    “And the announcement has been sent of the marriage.”
    It was not a question. His mother and father hated society
slightly less than he did, but they understood how the game was played.
    “It will be in the morning editions.”
    “Good. Get that message done. I am going to get settled in
my room.”
    She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then turned to walk out
the door. “Oh, and Malik, I expect you to be there.”
    The beat of silence that followed her departure was almost
deafening.
    “Your mother was a bit worried on the trip down.”
    He glanced at his father.
    “I understand.”
    “Do you?” he asked as he rose from the couch. “I don’t think
you do, not yet. Maybe your Cordelia will teach you all about it.”
    As the door shut behind them, Malik sighed. “You had to
expect that they knew something was going on. Your mother’s intuition has been
the bane of our existence for years.”
    Nico sighed and walked to the cabinet where he kept his
whiskey. After pouring himself a good bit, he tossed it down. He poured another
glass and faced Malik.
    “Yes, she has been. But it does not matter. Having her here
will actually make it easier. If Adelaide Blackburn accepts her new
daughter-in-law, our society will follow suit.”
    Malik nodded. “Let’s just hope your mother does not scare
her off.”
    “I have a feeling Cordelia will be able to deal with her
after a fashion.”
    “And if not? Would you be willing to walk away?”
    He wanted to say yes. Nico had done his best not to become
too attached to any of his paramours, favoring women who knew the score. But
when he opened his mouth to say so, every fiber of his being revolted at the
idea of letting her go. He snapped his mouth shut.
    Malik smirked at him. “I thought not. Well, old man, let’s
just hope once you get her in your bed, you will be able to think straight
again.”
    Nico hoped so because he did not relish being so smitten
with Cordelia that he couldn’t think straight.
    Once he had her in his house, in his bed, under his control,
all would be right in his world again.

 
 
 

Chapter
Six

 
 
    The swell of music filled the ballroom as Cordelia tried to
keep her eyes open. She wasn’t one who liked late nights. When she had been
hired