made his shoulders look bigger than she'd remembered them to be.
Christina suddenly realized he was frowning at her. Why, he was actually angry with her. The observation didn't sit well. Christina was at first so astonished she could barely speak. How dare he be angry? He was the one causing all the mischief.
'I understand you accepted Baron Thorp's request to accompany you to Westley's affair, Christina. Is that true?'
'How did you hear that?' Christina asked.
'Is it true?'
He hadn't raised his voice, but the harshness was there in his tone.
'Yes, Lyon, I did agree to the baron's request. He asked me last week. We're going to this Westley's lawn party, whatever in heaven's name that is, and I don't particularly care if you're angry or not. It would be rude of me to cancel his escort now. I did give my word.'
'You aren't going anywhere unless you're by my side, Christina,' Lyon said. He took a deep breath before continuing. 'One does not accompany other men when one is about to be married. It's becoming obvious to me that you don't grasp the situation, love. We are getting married Saturday, and I'll be damned if you'll have another escort the day before.'
Lyon had tried to hold his temper, but by the time he ended his comments he was shouting.
'I shall not marry you,' Christina shouted, matching his tone. 'No, we shouldn't get married. Can't you see I'm trying to protect you? You don't know anything about me. You want a princess, for God's sake.'
'Christina, if you don't start making sense…'
Lyon suddenly moved and had her in his arms before she could take a step back. Christina didn't try to struggle. 'If you weren't so stubborn, Lyon, you'd realize I was right. I should find someone else. If Thorp doesn't agree to my proposal, I could ask someone else, even Splickler.'
He had to force himself to take another deep breath. 'Listen carefully, Christina. No one's going to touch you but me. Splickler's not going to be able to walk for a month, and I forsee a long voyage coming Thorp's way. Believe me when I tell you that every man you settle on will meet with a few unpleasant surprises.'
'You wouldn't dare. You're a Marquess. You can't just go around frightening people. Why can't Splickler walk?' she suddenly asked. 'I remember quite specifically that Rhone shut the door on his nose. You're exaggerating. You wouldn't-'
'Oh, but I would.'
'Dare you smile at me while you make such obscene remarks?'
'I dare to do whatever I want to do, Christina.' He rubbed his thumb across her mouth. Christina felt like biting him.
Then her shoulders sagged in defeat. All the man had to do was touch her, and her rational thoughts went flying out the window. God help her, she could feel the shivers gathering in her stomach now.
She let him kiss her, even opened her mouth for his tongue, then let him coach all the anger out of her.
Lyon didn't let up on his tender assault until Christina was responding to him with equal ardor. He ended the intimacy only after she'd put her arms around his shoulders and was clinging to him.
'The only time you're honest with me is when you kiss me, Christina. For now, that's quite enough.'
Christina rested her head against his chest. 'I will not give my heart to you, Lyon. I will not love you.'
He rubbed his chin against the top of her head. 'Yes, you will, my sweet.'
'You're very sure of yourself,' she muttered.
'You gave yourself to me, Christina. Of course I'm sure.'
A loud knock on the door interrupted them. ' Lyon, unhand that maiden immediately. Do you hear me?'
The question was unnecessary. Aunt Harriett had shouted loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
'How did she know you were holding me, Lyon? Does she have the sight?' Christina asked, her voice filled with awe.
'The what?' Lyon asked.
'Open this door. Now.'
'The sight,' Christina whispered between Aunt Harriett's bellows. 'She can see through the door, Lyon.'
Lyon laughed. The booming sound made her ears tingle. 'No, my love. My Aunt Harriett just knows me very well. She assumed I'd be holding you.'
She looked disappointed. When Aunt Harriett shouted again, Christina turned to go to the door. 'If you give me one or two promises, I'll wed you Saturday,' she said.
Lyon shook his head. The little innocent still didn't understand. Promises or not, he was going to marry her.
'Well?' she asked.
'What promises?'
Christina turned and found Lyon standing with his arms folded across his chest, waiting. His manner seemed condescending to her. 'One, you must promise to let me go home when my task is done here. Two, you must promise not to fall in love with me.'
'One, Christina, you aren't going anywhere. Marriage is forever. Get that little fact in your head. Two, I don't have the faintest idea why you wouldn't want me to love you, but I'll try to accommodate you.'
'I knew you'd be difficult. I just knew it,' Christina muttered.
The door suddenly opened behind her. 'Well, why didn't you tell me it wasn't latched?' Aunt Harriett demanded. 'Did you get this misunderstanding straightened out, Christina?' she asked.
'I have decided to marry Lyon for a little while.'
'A long while,' Lyon muttered.
The woman was as dense as fog. Lyon felt like shaking her.
'Good. Now come along with me, Christina, and I'll show you your room. It's next to my bedroom,' she added, with a long, meaningful look in Lyon 's direction. 'There will be no private meetings during the night while I'm about.'
'She'll be there in just a minute,' Lyon said. 'Christina, answer me one question before you leave.'
'I shall wait right outside this door,' Aunt Harriett announced before pulling the door closed.
'What is your question?' Christina asked.
'Are you going to change your mind before Saturday? Do I have to keep you guarded inside the townhouse until then?'
'You're smiling as though you'd like to do just that,' Christina announced. 'No, I won't change my mind. You're going to be very sorry, Lyon,' she added in a sympathetic voice. 'I'm not at all what you think I am.'
'I know exactly what I'm getting,' Lyon said, trying not to laugh. She was giving him a forlorn look, telling him without words that she felt sorry for him.
'You're marrying me because you realize how good it was when we slept together,' he announced.
It was an arrogant statement, and he really didn't think she'd bother to answer him.
'No.'
Christina opened the door, smiled at Aunt Harriett, then turned to give Lyon her full answer. 'The full truth, Lyon?'
'That would be nice for a change,' Lyon answered with a drawl.
'In front of your dear Aunt Harriett?' she qualified, giving the perplexed woman a quick smile.
Aunt Harriett let out a sigh, then pulled the door closed again. Christina could hear her muttering something about not needing her fan what with the door flapping back and forth in her face, but she didn't understand what the older lady meant.
'Answer me, Christina, with your full truth.'
His sudden impatience irritated her. 'Very well. I'm marrying you because of the way you fought the mischief makers.'
'What does that have to do with marriage?' he asked.
'Oh, everything.'
'Christina, will you make sense for once in your life?' Lyon demanded.
She realized then she should simply have lied to him again. The truth was often more upsetting, more complex than a simple fabrication. Still, it was a little too late to fashion another lie now. Lyon looked as if he
