Seduction in Mind

'I'm not your girl.' She grinned. 'Hedy's your girl.'

He winked. 'Not likely, when I'm crazy for you. But, I warn you, my patience is limited.'

'And I remind you, you don't want another note from my father tonight.'

He grimaced. 'I'll try to behave.'

'And I'll endeavor to ignore Hedy's sniping remarks when I return.'

'I'd be happy to put her in her place.'

'But then that wouldn't be very useful to me.'

He shut his eyes briefly. 'I know. Lord almighty, discretion isn't my style.'

'Then you'll have to learn.'

'For you, I'll try.'

When they reentered the luncheon room, conversation momentarily ceased and Alex was escorted back to her chair in a hush.

'Thank you, Miss Ionides, for your useful information.' Sam bowed politely. Turning to Evelina, he said, 'I'm taking the boys down to the lake if you don't mind.'

Both boys uttered whoops of delight, leaped from their chairs, and raced toward their uncle, restoring a degree of normalcy to the scene.

But once the men and boys had gone, as expected Alex immediately faced Hedy's catechism.

'What did he want to know about Sir Leighton?' she asked sharply, leaning out over her plate to send a piercing glance Alex's way.

She wished to say 'It's none of your affair,' but said instead, with what politeness she could muster, 'Ranelagh is thinking of buying a painting.'

'Why would he ask you?' It was a blatantly rude query, since Alex's artistic talents were well known.

'Ranelagh knew Sir Leighton and I are old friends.'

'He could have asked you his questions here, couldn't he?'

'I'm sure I don't know what motivates the viscount,' Alex said as calmly as possible, considering Hedy was glaring at her.

'In any event, it doesn't matter,' Evelina interjected. 'You know Sam. He's always been brash and impulsive.' She swept the table with a glance. 'We're all finished here, aren't we? Why don't we go out on the terrace for a glass of champagne?'

'Well, that certainly was discreet,' Marcus drawled as the men followed in the wake of the boys racing down to the lake.

'When I'm in this crazed mood, discretion isn't high on my list of priorities,' Sam stated. 'You're lucky I didn't carry her upstairs.'

His brother scrutinized him with a small frown.

'And you needn't say anything about not hurting her, because I won't. In fact, if anyone gets hurt in this damnable relationship, it'll probably be me.'

'You're serious.'

'Hell yes. All I want to do is take her to bed and keep her there.'

'What's so different about that?' his brother queried with a cynical gaze.

'Because it's one woman-the same woman, that's what's different. And I haven't even known her two days yet.' The viscount sighed. 'Lord, I hope this obsession is fleeting.'

Marcus's voice was touched with sympathy. 'This has to be a first for you.'

'It's damned alarming.' Sam's teeth flashed white in a grin. 'When it's not damned sensational.'

'I'm not sure how to put this tactfully, considering your past, but might this-er-sensational feeling be love?'

Ranelagh snorted. 'God, no. You don't fall in love with someone so quickly.'

'It happens.'

'How would you know? You practically grew up with Evelina.'

'But I fell in love with her at Christmas all those years ago-as we were singing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.' '

Sam glared at his brother. 'That's not real helpful.'

'Think of all the women you'd leave pining,' Marcus teased. 'Should you be taken off the market, so to speak.'

The viscount scowled. 'This isn't a joke. I can't stay with one woman.' He shook his head in bewilderment. 'It's impossible.'

'If you love her, it's not impossible.'

'You're different, Marc. You've always been a better person than I, more conscientious, more exemplary in every way. I don't want to settle down.'

'How do you know unless you try?'

'I did once-that was enough. And, Jesus, there are too many women in the world.'

His brother shrugged. 'Maybe it won't be a concern. You said Miss Ionides is as uninterested in permanence as you.'

'Don't remind me,' Sam scoffed.

'Oh, ho!' Marcus grinned. 'A taste of your own medicine.'

'I hope you're amused,' Sam grumbled.

'Entertained, certainly. I didn't think I'd ever see the day.'

'Well, you have, and I hope you're happy, because I'm hellishly cranky and bloody close to whisking Alex away, convention be damned.'

'It shouldn't be long now,' his brother said kindly. 'The ladies generally leave soon after lunch.'

But not everyone did. Hedy refused to depart.

Chapter Seventeen

'I'm not driving Hedy home,' Sam said furiously. 'I'll strangle her instead. Oliver, for one, will thank me. He can't stand her silly prattle.'

'I'll go with you,' his brother offered. 'Together, we'll manage.'

'What the hell's wrong with her?' Sam fumed. 'I'm warning you. Keep her away from me. I can't guarantee I won't do her violence, the damned bitch. How long have we been waiting for her to leave?'

The two men had been standing outside the drawing room for the past hour, glancing from time to time through the partly opened door. And they'd just heard Hedy mention she'd sent her carriage home. 'Poor old William was so tired, I just didn't have the heart to keep him waiting,' she said with poignant drama. 'I thought I might ride home with Sam.'

'Or if Sam isn't leaving just yet, we'll send you home in our carriage.' Evelina forced a smile, her own temper frayed after several hours of Hedy's irritating company. Her pregnancy made her tired, and she'd been hoping to go upstairs for a nap.

Alex had done her best to be courteous, but Hedy was bent on being malicious. Alex and Evelina exchanged long-suffering glances from time to time, neither able to bring about Hedy's departure.

Marcus, hearing the fatigue in his wife's voice, decided to intervene. Signaling his brother to stay behind, he walked into the drawing room. 'Did I hear you say you needed the carriage brought around?'

'If you would, darling.' Evelina's relief was apparent. 'Hedy requires a ride home.'

'Don't bother. I'll go with Sam,' Hedy declared.

'He's still with the boys,' Marcus lied.

Hedy folded her hands neatly in her lap. 'I don't mind waiting.'

Her emotions very near the surface in these early weeks of her pregnancy, tears sprang to Evelina's eyes. Marcus jumped forward to console her, but just then the drawing room door banged open and Sam stalked into the