Page 49 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

‘What about the wild parties that made the headlines? The drugs and sex that made your father bring you home?’

Cold shivered through Caro. ‘You know about that? You really are super-efficient, aren’t you?’

Jake’s shoulders lifted. ‘I employ Neil for his efficiency.’

Nausea curdled her insides. She thought she might actually be ill. Bad enough that Jake, who despised her, thought the worst. Somehow the idea of Neil, the quiet, funny man who had treated her with such kindness, believing the press reports made her feel like vomiting.

‘It wasn’t true,’ she said finally, her strangled voice not her own.

‘Sorry?’

Anger rose and she was glad. Anything was better than feeling defeated and miserable. Caro stiffened her spine and met his gaze proudly. ‘The stories weren’t true. My boyfriend, Mike, was the one who partied to excess and took drugs, though I didn’t know about the drugs till later.’

‘How very convenient.’ His mouth curled and suddenly Caro had had enough.

Ignoring the need to cover herself she put both hands to his chest and pushed. He was physically stronger but eventually he stepped back, leaving her free to slide off the high chest onto her feet. Caro gritted her teeth, her clammy hands slippery on the silk as she tried to right her dress. But the bodice refused to rise.

‘Let me.’ A big hand covered her shoulder, turning her. Before she knew it he’d lowered the zip of her dress.

‘Stop that! I don’t want—’

‘Try again now that the dress is loose.’

He was right. She hadn’t been thinking clearly. Of course it was easier without the bodice tight around her middle. This time the material rose easily and she sighed in relief.

A second later the zip rose and with it the touch of Jake’s fingers on her back. Fire sizzled from there, loosening her spine and her resolve. Did she imagine his touch lingered then slid into a caress?

Setting her jaw, Caro stepped away, almost crying out at the loss of his touch. It made no sense. His distaste should have cured her of any attraction yet to her shame she still longed for Jake Maynard.

‘It’s time we talked.’ To her surprise his tone had lost that harsh, hurtful edge.

She glanced at the time, realising in horror that they’d been away from the ball longer than she’d imagined.

‘I should go back.’

Then she caught their reflection in the mirror on the far wall. Jake looked stern but attractive, the only sign of their carnal interlude his sexily rumpled hair and missing bow tie. Already he’d done up his shirt.

She, on the other hand, looked utterly...wanton. Her lips were swollen, her hair a mess and her designer dress suggestively crushed.

‘If you show up looking like that you’ll create a scandal.’ He might have read her mind.

‘If I go back wearing something else it will be just as bad.’ She lifted a hand to the tiara listing to one side. She wanted to take it off but it was secured with scores of pins and her fingers shook.

Caro was damned no matter what she did.

‘Father will be livid.’

To her surprise the thought, instead of making her feel worse, lifted her spirits. She hadn’t set out to cause a scandal at her brother’s party. From Paul’s expression since she’d returned to St Ancilla he had too much on his mind to worry about gossip. His would be an arranged marriage but Caro suspected it wasn’t a happy arrangement. However, the idea of annoying her father, childish as it was, pleased her. She still hadn’t had the opportunity to confront him alone about stealing her baby.

Caro swung around to Jake Maynard. The man who’d once been so warm and kind. The man who’d been so cruel that remembering his words slashed at her soul. The man who was her enemy. And her lover.

The man she wished would sweep her up in his arms and take her back to that rapturous place she’d known for such a short time. At least now he wasn’t sniping at her. He was ready to listen.

‘You’re right.’ She felt the weight slide from her shoulders. ‘It’s time I told you everything.’

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