Page 49 of A Royal Kiss & Tell
Beck shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked around, as if seeking a footman, even though his glass was full. “Naturally, Highness, at any other time I would bedelighted—”
“Ah. I’m a Highness again,” Leo said with a bit of a sardonic laugh.
Beck groaned. He rubbed his face, then looked Leo in the eye. “It’s his wife. Augusta is...reluctant.”
“Reluctant,” Leo repeated.
Beck leaned forward. “You’ve gained a bit of a reputation,” he said with an apologetic wince.
“No. Listen, Beck,” Leo said quickly. “The things that are said about me are not true. Well, notentirelytrue. That is, they aretrue, but not in the way you or Henry might understand. I know the supper party was postponed on my account, and I should like to set the matter to rest, with my old friend, if nothing else but for the sake of our friendship.”
Beck winced again. “She’s at the end of a pregnancy and, as I understand it, rather uncomfortable. I’d not want to give her any cause for more discomfort.”
“I won’t see her,” Leo promised. “Arundel is as big as a palace—it is entirely possible our paths need not cross at all. I will do my best to stay out of her way.”
Beck leaned back, bracing both hands against the table. He filled his cheeks with air, then slowly released it. “Yes, all right,” he said after a moment. “Idon’t believe what is said of you. God knows worse has been said of me.” He paused. “Well. Notworse, for what is said of you is wretched. Pardon, but you understand. Yes, of course you must come, Leo. We men must stick together.” He smiled.
Leo didn’t think men needed to stick together. It seemed to him they had the upper hand in almost everything as it was.
“I ought to send a messenger,” Beck said. “I should let him know you’re coming.”
“No, no,” Leo said hastily. “He would tell his wife, and the anticipation might cause her undue anxiety. When I call, people tend to be concerned with propriety and having everything just so, as it were.”
“Ah,” Beck said, nodding sagely. “Of course.” He laughed. “I’ve quite forgotten you are a prince.”
Leo laughed, too. “I think so have I.”
CAROLINECOULDN’TKEEPthe secret of that kiss another moment. She lasted an entire four days before she went to see Hollis and thought her restraint was rather remarkable given the extraordinary situation.
She wanted to kiss him again, but perhaps this time with his arms around her. She was confused by this desire—how could she feel such strong feelings for the worst sort of scoundrel? He was blithely seducing maids and walking out with women of the night! And then charming women like herself into bad behavior.
She arrived at Hollis’s house after a brisk walk, feeling as strong as she ever had and rather invigorated by the vexation with herself and that wayward prince. Hollis’s home was close by—her late husband, Sir Percival, felled by a muddy road and a carriage accident, had left his widow in very good circumstances. She lived quite comfortably near Hyde Park, in a very large house with minimal staff. It was true that a rich, attractive young widow was quite a lure, and gentlemen of all stripes had sniffed around Hollis in the almost three years she’d been widowed. But Hollis was never interested.
She knocked on Hollis’s door with her usual flair, a series of rapid-fire knocks. A few moments later Donovan opened the door. He stood casually in the doorway, his legs braced apart, his shirtsleeves rolled up to reveal thick forearms. He was holding a silver teapot and worked to polish it as he looked Caroline up and down. “Good afternoon, Lady Caroline,” he said. “What a pleasure to see you in good health. I had heard you were all but dead.”
“Ha. It will take more than an ague to killme, sir.”
He smiled. The man was simply stunning in his masculinity and good looks. “That’s the very reason I didn’t believe it. Do come in.” He stepped aside so that she could enter the foyer.
Caroline removed her bonnet and dangled it from one finger in his direction. “Donovan, on my word, you are an Adonis in the flesh.”
“Pardon?” He took her bonnet and tossed it onto a console.
“A Greek god.”
One of his dark brows arched. “You are mistaken, milady—I’m but a regular Englishman.”
She laughed. “You can’t be a regular Englishman, because you are impervious to flattery.”
“Not entirely.” He smiled again.
Something delightful fluttered in her veins. “Where is your mistress?” she asked with a coy smile.
“In her study, naturally, where she spends most of her day.” He gestured for her to follow and led her to Hollis while whistling a cheery tune. He stepped into the room and said, “Lady Caroline is calling.”
“Caro!” Hollis called happily from somewhere inside.
Caroline slid past Donovan with a wanton smile. He returned that smile with a smile of amusement, then closed the door behind her as she entered Hollis’s cluttered study.
