Free Sally James by Otherwise Engaged Page B

me, and I wanted you above all else?'
    'I don't believe you!' Prudence retorted angrily, unwilling to admit the hope that he loved her, despite his words. 'Gentlemen do not call off wagers, however stupid and humiliating they are!'
    'You really think I would offer marriage in order to win it?' he asked incredulously. 'Or did you imagine I would collect my winnings and then find some way of escaping from our engagement? Do you think so badly of me?'
    'You need say no more,' Prudence replied, still unwilling to be convinced. 'I neither know nor care what you intended, and there is no need to discuss it any further. Now pray release me and permit me to return to the ballroom.'
    'Don't be such a little idiot!' he retorted, exasperated. 'I thought no more about the wretched wager and my offer, instead of being a desperate bid to win a paltry hundred pounds, was genuine!'
    'Your protestations will do nothing to convince me, my lord!' Prudence said angrily, struggling to free her hands from the firm clasp he had on them.
    'Then perhaps this might!' he snapped, and before she could evade him, she found his arms clasped tightly about her, and his lips clamped hard to hers.
    Unable to breathe, Prudence felt she was about to swoon, for she lost all sense of balance and did not know whether she was standing on firm ground or floating in a misty void. His lips were warm, masterful and searching, enticing her own into weak submission, and then the beginnings of a trembling response. Her limbs, after the first outraged stiffening, lost all power of movement as she was moulded to his muscular frame.
    He heard the approaching footsteps first and Prudence, shattered by her unexpected reaction to his embrace, found herself suddenly released and thrust into a chair partly concealed by the flourishing greenery. Before she could recover her breath sufficiently to tell him just what she thought of his outrageous behaviour Lady Mottesford's voice penetrated her awareness.
    'Dicky? Are you there? Oh, there you are, my dear boy. I thought I saw you coming this way. You have promised the next dance to dear Emma here, have you not?'
    'My dear Aunt,' he said suavely, stepping forward so that they did not come far enough to see Prudence. 'I was admiring the plants. Are they the work of the Frintons, or did you bring them in for the evening?'
    'A jungle, is it not?' Lady Mottesford trilled. 'Well, dear boy, it is far more enjoyable to admire the plants in company, so I will leave you with Emma.'
    'Let us sit this dance out, Dicky, my dress is so heavy?' Prudence heard Emma say, and before Lord Mottesford could answer she subsided in a frantic rustling of heavy damask draperies on to a seat just behind the plants hiding Prudence. 'Are you enjoying the party?'
    'It is unusual,' he replied drily. 'But, Cousin Emma, you look hot. I think we would be sensible to go in search of lemonade.'
    Emma giggled. 'Oh Dicky, you are a naughty man. Are you afraid of what people might say if they found us together here? Do you like my costume?'
    'It is original,' he replied smoothly, and despite her anger Prudence was almost betrayed into a giggle at the tone of his voice.
    'Yes, isn't it?' Emma said complacently, oblivious of his irony. 'There are no more like it. Charlotte was going to wear one just the same, but she would not. The sly little thing made herself a silly Roman toga. Mama was very angry with her, and almost forbade her to attend the masquerade. I think after all I'm glad she refused to wear it, for it makes me more unusual, doesn't it?'
    'Very. But I really do think we need that lemonade. Or would you prefer champagne?'
    'Oh, very well, if you insist,' Emma agreed rather petulantly, 'although it will have to be lemonade, for Mama said the waiters were not to open all the champagne bottles if they could persuade people to drink the fruit cup.'
    'Let us go and see what there is,' Lord Mottesford replied, and Prudence heard Emma, her draperies rustling, struggle