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Her nose twitched, assailed by the stench of alcohol Straightening, she pursed her mouth in disapproval "You stink like a brewery" She pressed the back of her hand to her nose at the offensive s his Hessian boots to the floor with a heavy sigh "Lady, you are one royal pain in the ass" He dropped his head into his hands, ru at her "As to our agree you away to cause furtheryou off to someone Then you become his problem Not mine"

Her hands clenched at her sides "I’d rather be sent away"

"Indeed?"

The complete apathy of his tone indicated he cared little for her desires, and she wondered a bit desperately what had caused hiht

"I would prefer to reive you ain It would be just as final as "

He lifted his head froh bloodshot eyes "Your word does not anored the affront to her honor It was to be expected, even deserved Still, she had to try to persuade hireat deal of inconvenience for you You don’t need that aggravation"

The corners of his mouth lifted in a smirk "How kind of you to look out for my sensibilities

You are a true altruist But to rid myself of you perain dropped his head into his pal to drive soal right to beat you"

She inhaled, groping for patience "I realize I don’t deserve your trust" Meredith sed past the pride sticking in her throat,on to say, "But I have no reason to further trouble you--"

"You never did to begin with" His voice sounded weary, contemptuous "You are the worst kind of liar You justify your actions If you see a need, your arrogance precludes you fro that thereand manipulations"

Heat climbed up her throat to her cheeks Was she as selfish as all that? Had her deceit been so unforgivable? No She refused to believe it He simply did not understand her motives She had been desperate and afraid and concerned for the lives of others, not just her herself

But you did want a baby, a snored that voice to focus on her current battle for freedom Later, she could examine whether she was as selfish as he clai back, snapping your fingers and coin with I feared you would barge in here like so my life to suit yourself with no consideration forupon me" She stamped her foot on the carpet "I don’t want to marry But that is of no consequence to you, is it? It’s about what is easiest for you" Breathless, she waited, watching hi he would reconsider

"You will ed, apparently unid expression, the inflexible set of his jaw, and she knew there would be no changing his mind

"Take co her already frayed nerves "You are only subject to my tyranny until that blessed event So make the best of your choice As you say, it is your life" He rose to his feet, stopping and clutching his head as though dizzy before striding fro her at the prospect of ain Her heart couldn’t take another rejection like Edmund’s Then and there she resolved to use her head and not her heart

There would be no illusions this time around and little in the way of expectations She would pick a sensible, boring man And her heart would be safe

Chapter 13

A brief inconvenience Nick sourly recalled Miss Eleanor’s words as he stood in the pouring rain on the steps of the Derring’s Mayfairto be scraped fro to invite him inside the foyer

"Your card, sir?" the butler intoned for the second tihty accents even more disdainful than when he first asked "I already told you I don’t have a card--" "Then I a he was anything but apologetic "No one gains entrance without a card And if you should acquire a card and Her Grace agrees to see you--"

The butler sniffed disdainfully, the fellow’s eyes raking hireat skepticism at this possibility "Her Grace receives only on Tuesdays and Thursdays froainst the rain’s increasing volume "How about I just tell youit off a card"

"I am sorry, sir--"

Nick’s patience snapped "What’s your na entrance to Her Grace’s lofty residence ever inquired his name before? "Finch, sir"

"Well, Finch, I’m Nick Caulfield Remember it, because I’ else Lady Derring’s grandson has gambled away Now, unless you want rant me an audience with her ladyship, and we’ll see what she can do to salvage the fine randson has made of the family’s fortune… or should I say lack of fortune?"

Finch held silent a long moment, the steady beat of rain the only sound Even with rain sluicing down his face and obscuring his vision, Nick suffered the butler’s intent regard without blinking

At last Finch stood aside "May I take your coat, sir?"

"Thank you" He stepped into the expansive foyer and shrugged out of his coat, wiping ineffectually at his face with his hands in an effort to dry it

"Followroo puddles in his wake on the Italian marble floor

"Her ladyship shall be with you momentarily" Finch closed the doors behind him with a click