Beyond Seduction (48 page)

"Hello, love," she said, the endearment easy. "Come keep me company until the madwomen track me down."

He shot a wary look at the dressing room, from which sounds of debate still issued out, then crossed hastily to the cushion she'd cleared her skirt from to make room. Perching on its edge, he pressed his knees together like a nervous debutante. "I need to ask your advice."

"Ask away," she said, airily waving her hand. "Right about now, I'd like to feel old and wise."

He gave her a boyish, quicksilver grin, but quickly sobered. "It's about Nic. I know you and I get on,

so I was wondering ... I don't want to presume, but I was wondering if you think he'd mind if I spent

my next holiday from school with you two."

Merry put a hand to her tightening throat. Before she could speak, Nic entered from the hall.

"Why don't you ask me yourself?" he said, his eyes so bright and his voice so rough Merry knew at

once what his answer would be.

"You can say no," Cris said quickly. "I know I haven't— well, we haven't lived like family for very

long, and you'd only just be married. I'd understand if you thought it an imposition."

By the time he finished stammering, Nic had crossed the room. He cupped the side of his brother's face, then bent and pressed his lips softly to his temple.

"My home is your home," he said, "as much as if you were my son. You don't need to ask. You only need to show up."

"Yes," Merry seconded, holding out her hand. "Visit as often as you like."

"If I visit as often as I like," Cris said, with a grin to match his brother's, "the marchioness might get lonely."

Nic pulled Cris into a bruising hug. "We'll have her visit, too. We'll make room for everyone."

Merry felt as if she were watching him slay the last of his demons. She was so proud she feared she'd burst her stays. Then her eyes welled over and she remembered where she was.

"Oh, look what you've done!" she cried as her sniffles fought with her laughs. Already, she could feel

her nose turning pink. "I'm going to walk into that church looking like a rabbit!"

"My," Nic teased, "what a vain, vain creature you've become."

But when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, she found her looks didn't worry her in the least.