Page 42 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

Caro faltered and would have tripped but for Jake’s iron-hard embrace. He didn’t slow at her misstep, swinging her, if anything, faster into the next turn, so she had to clutch him to keep her balance. Hard muscle and warm fabric teased her palms.

The mention of children hit her like a blow to the solar plexus, the impact shooting through her body and turning her legs nerveless.

For a heartbeat, for two, she could do nothing but hang on and try to keep up.

She shouldn’t be surprised he was such a superb dancer, he had the strength and agility of an athlete. Yet it was his words, not his moves that worried her.

How much did he know? Her double identity, certainly. Anger radiated from him in waves. But not, surely, the rest, about being Ariane’s mother.

‘No plans to settle down with your Prince Charming?’ He didn’t bother keeping his voice down and the glittering challenge in those icy eyes told her he relished the idea of her objecting and trying to quiet him. No doubt he’d say something more outrageous.

Was that why he was here? To embarrass her?

For several seconds her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. A lifetime’s reserve, of doing as she was ordered and being the one to back down, urged her to murmur something placatory. She hated scenes.

The twisting distress in her belly urged her to flee.

Caro did neither. She looked him straight in the eye.

‘No plans to marry, Jake.’ She pronounced his name casually as if they were old friends. As if the taste of it on her tongue didn’t evoke a clandestine thrill of self-destructive pleasure. ‘And you? Are you looking for a wife? I could introduce you to some lovely women here.’

She let her gaze drift over the crowd as if searching for said women. As if she weren’t avoiding his blistering contempt.

For years she’d caved at the first sign of her father’s displeasure. Even now she was nervous about the prospect of facing the King when she finally got time alone with him. But for some reason, standing up to Jake, despite the knowledge he stood between her and Ariane, made her blood sing in her veins.

‘I’ve no intention of marrying.’ The words bit like glacial shards, grazing her skin. ‘I have too much experience of lying, manipulative women to trust one that much.’

It was a direct body blow. Caro felt it smash through skin and bone, felt herself absorb it like soft flesh cushioning a knife thrust.

It didn’t help that he was right. Shehadto lied to him. But how could she have done otherwise? She’d had her reasons, as he’d discover when she had a chance to explain.

‘You need to be careful. You sound like a misogynist. You don’t want to turn into a lonely old grouch.’

A flash of something that might have been astonishment lit his features then disappeared. His lips rucked up at one side in a derisory smile that perversely reminded her of how wonderful his mouth had felt on hers a few nights ago.

‘No danger of that, Caro. There are always women chasing me. Some even smuggle themselves into my life undercover.’ Her breath caught at the steely light in his eyes. ‘But I can tell a woman on the make. They don’t have a hope of getting what they want, no matter what inducements they offer.’

His gaze dropped slowly, insolently, to her mouth, then lower, to her throat, bare of jewels, then across her décolletage. Suddenly the beautiful dress she wore seemed totally inadequate to protect her from that scorching, lazy stare.

Indignation rose, fiery and glorious, eclipsing nerves and her innate dislike of scenes.

Abruptly, after months, no, years, of coping and carrying on despite the hurt, Caro reached breaking point.

She was tired of being wrong-footed. Of being assessed by men and found wanting. By her father, who’d ignored and belittled her because she wasn’t a boy. By Mike, who’d read her gullibility then turned nasty when he discovered she wasn’t the docile meal ticket he’d assumed. He’d taken cruel delight in telling her she was far below the standard of his usual lovers.

Now by Jake Maynard, who made her feel cheap. Because in a moment’s madness she’d dared to act on the attraction shimmering between them.

It hurt. All her life those rejections had hurt.

She’d had enough.

With a strength that surprised her, Caro wrenched free of his hold and stepped back. She saw his eyes widen then she swung away through the swaying couples.

There’d be speculation and shocked looks but she didn’t care. She marched on till she was out on the terrace, lit by flambeaux and still too full of people.

Behind her she heard something that might have been her name but it was drowned by the beat of blood in her ears. Turning, she headed inside again and down a corridor, the sound of her high heels clicking on inlaid marble matching the quick thud of her pulse.

Still she continued, past state rooms, dining rooms, libraries and offices, past startled footmen bringing supplies from the kitchens.

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