When We Meet Again (36 page)

Alexei winced. "Do try not to make it sound so appealing." Roman shrugged. "Would you care to know what else I think, Your Highness?"

"No," Alexei snapped then sighed. "Go on."

"Of all the regrets you have, of all the sacrifices you have made"—Roman's gaze met his—"this may prove to be the greatest."

"That, my friend "—Alexei raised his glass—"I already know."

"Good day, Graham." Pamela walked briskly into the house and pulled off her gloves. The very last thing she had wished to do this morning was ride in the park. All she truly wanted was to spend every waking moment, and every night as well, with Alexei. She was certain he loved her. Oh, he hadn't said it, but it was in his touch and more in his eyes. He was well practiced in the art of love, but there was something between them that went beyond mere passion. She knew it in her heart. Now she simply had to get him to admit it.

But Clarissa had been insistent about this morning's outing, which in itself was exceedingly odd. Clarissa was rarely insistent. "Where is everyone?"

"Lady Smythe-Windom is in the parlor. She requests that you join her as soon as you return," Graham said.

Pamela stopped. Even the glory of last night had not dispelled her qualms about Nikolai. "And His Highness?"

"He is in a meeting in the library, miss."

"Is he indeed?" Pamela turned on her heel and started toward the library.

"Oh, no." Clarissa caught Pamela's arm and steered her toward the parlor. "You are not going to interfere."

"I have no intention of interfering," Pamela lied. "I simply want to know what is being discussed in that room. I know it's important, and as it involves His Highness"—she glanced at Graham—" my fiancé, I think I have every right, indeed, it is my responsibility, to find out."

"You may ask when they are finished," Clarissa said firmly, and fairly pushed her toward the parlor.

"Aunt Millicent wishes to see us, and that is what we shall do."

"Very well." Pamela sighed, and accompanied her cousin into the parlor.

"My dear darling girls, how are you this fine morning?" Aunt Millicent jumped up from the sofa to embrace each of them in turn. "I have the most wonderful news." Pamela and Clarissa exchanged wary glances.

"I am going to marry Winchester." Aunt Millicent beamed.

"Winchester?" Clarissa glanced at Pamela.

"The man she almost married," Pamela said.

"I thought you had an aversion to permanence?" Clarissa raised a brow. "I should think marriage is extremely permanent."

"I have apparently gotten over that aversion." Aunt Millicent waved the comment away. "Indeed, permanence with Winchester sounds very much like heaven."

"You do not intend to leave him at the church again, do you?" Pamela asked in a wry manner.

"I didn't intend to do so the first time, my dear," Aunt Millicent said firmly.

"It was one of those things that simply happened."

Clarissa studied her. "Will it happen again?"

"Winchester will not allow it to happen again." Aunt Millicent heaved a blissful sigh and sank down on the sofa. "We talked a great deal last night. It seems he still loves me and still wants me, and I shall allow him to have me for the rest of his days."

Pamela stared. "Are you sitting on a pillow?"

"Yes, well, during the course of our conversation, he put me over his knee and spanked me." Aunt Millicent giggled. "It was really quite exciting."

"Good Lord." Pamela groaned.

"Oh my." Clarissa's eyes widened. "How exciting?"

"Clarissa!" Shock rang in Pamela's voice.

"I was just curious," Clarissa murmured.

"Surprisingly exciting." Aunt Millicent leaned forward in a confidential manner. "It was all surprisingly exciting. We had never, well, before last night that is." She sighed at the memory. "It was quite, quite wonderful."

"Are you certain about this?" Pamela sat down beside her aunt. Aunt Millicent nodded. "Oh my yes, it was perhaps the most wonderful—"

"Not that," Pamela said quickly. She would much prefer not to know any more details of her aunt's night.

"You have always said you would not marry without love. That marriage without love was not worth the effort."

"Oh, but he does love me, and I love him as well. Did I fail to mention that?" Aunt Millicent shook her head. "I loved him twelve years ago, but I was too foolish to realize it. And he was too proud to follow me, which makes him a fool as well. Nonetheless, we are both older and definitely wiser, and I do not wish to waste another moment without him. Which, frankly, brings me to the two of you." She patted the seat next to her and Clarissa obediently sat down. "Winchester wishes to marry at once, a special license, probably right here in the house. While I have no intention of changing my mind, I can see why he might be a bit apprehensive about wedding in churches."

"He is wiser," Clarissa said under her breath.

"He has a lovely house here in town and a charming estate in the country." Aunt Millicent glanced from Pamela to Clarissa. "We shall be using those as our primary residences."

"Which means you will not live here," Pamela said slowly.

"Eventually." Aunt Millicent took her nieces' hands. "Winchester completely understands why I cannot allow the two of you to live here alone without a chaperone; therefore, he has agreed to join me here for a while."

Pamela glanced at Clarissa and drew a deep breath. "I'm not entirely sure we can allow that." Clarissa nodded. "Marriage is rather difficult to become accustomed to, and I would think it might be best if the poor man didn't have a full household of your relations—"

"Your female relations," Pamela said pointedly.

"—To contend with as well as...well..." Clarissa paused.

"You." Pamela's tone was blunt. "You can be rather overwhelming on occasion." Aunt Millicent's laughter rang in the room. "Of course I can. I daresay that's what he loves best about me."

A discreet knock sounded at the open door. "Miss Effington," Graham stepped into the room. "You have a caller." He paused, a slight note of disapproval in his voice. "A gentleman caller."

"Excellent," Aunt Millicent said, and rose to her feet. Pamela and Clarissa followed suit. "Show him in at once, Graham."

"As you wish, my lady." Graham nodded and retreated.

"I daresay I hadn't expected anything to happen so quickly." Aunt Millicent grinned with satisfaction.

"Why, your engagement was only announced last night, and already you have attracted the interest of an eligible gentleman."

"We have no idea if he is eligible," Pamela said firmly. "Indeed, it could be anyone, one of my brothers perhaps or someone sent by Mr. Corby's office on a matter of business."

"Besides," Clarissa said, "it seems to me a gentleman who would call on a newly engaged woman is not at all the kind of man Pamela would be interested in."

"Yes." Aunt Millicent frowned. "It is rather bad taste, isn't it? And I really hadn't thought this would happen until you called off your engagement. Well, we shall see." Graham cleared his throat, and the women turned toward the door.

Pamela winced. "George."

"Lord Penwick." Aunt Millicent said the name as if it left a nasty taste in her mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"That does explain the question of bad taste," Clarissa said coolly.

"Lady Smythe-Windom, Lady Overton." George's gaze met Pamela's. She did not like the look in his eye. "Miss Effington. Good day to you all."

"It was a good day," Aunt Millicent said sharply. "What do you want?"

"I should like to have a few words with Miss Effington," George said smoothly. Pamela sighed. "We have nothing to say to one another."

"I should think His Highness made that perfectly clear to you last night," Clarissa said. Aunt Millicent leaned toward Clarissa and lowered her voice. "What happened last night?"

"I shall tell you later," Clarissa said under her breath.

"Nonetheless, there is a matter of some importance I wish to discuss with Miss Effington." He paused.

"Alone."

"Absolutely not." Aunt Millicent shook her head. "I would be the worst kind of chaperone if I were to leave you alone with her. No, I will not permit it."

"I am not leaving until I speak to her alone." George's mouth pressed into a stubborn line. Pamela surrendered. Obviously George was not going to leave until he had had his say. It was probably best to get it over with. "It's quite all right, Aunt Millicent. I'm sure that whatever Lord Penwick wishes to discuss, he will be brief"—she leveled him a warning glance—"and to the point. I shall be fine."

"Very well, if you insist." Aunt Millicent nodded at Clarissa and started toward the door. "But we shall be nearby if you need us." Aunt Millicent marched out of the room, Clarissa a step behind. She cast Pamela an encouraging glance and pointedly left the door open behind her. George chuckled. "Your aunt is quite imposing."

"She can be." Pamela studied him. "Why are you here, George? I thought I made my position perfectly clear last night."

"I have come to ask for your hand."

"What?" She stared in disbelief.

"I wish to marry you."

"Why?"

"Because I love you. I always have, and I always will." He stepped toward her. She stepped back and thrust out her hand. "Do not take another step toward me, George, or I swear I shall rip your heart out of your chest with my bare hands."

He smiled. "Come now, Pamela, you would never harm me."

"I would, and I would take great pleasure in it," she snapped. "Did you listen to nothing I said last night?"

"Every word." He shrugged. "However, I did not believe you last night, and I do not believe you now."

"Why on earth not?"

He heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Because we are meant to be together. I have missed you every moment of every day. In truth, I prayed for your return, and my prayers were answered. Nothing whatsoever stands between us now. You are back in London, and I am free to wed. Think of the life we shall have together. Why, aside from the passion that we share, my fortune coupled with the fortune you have inherited—"

"How do you know about my inheritance?" For the first time she wondered if George might be substantially more dangerous than she'd suspected.

"The moment I heard you were back I made it my business to find out."

"You wish to marry me for my money?" Her voice rose. "That's what this newfound passion for me is about?"

"Not at all, and my passion is eternal not newfound." Indignation sounded in his voice. "Your money is simply an unexpected, although exceedingly pleasant, benefit."

She clenched her fists by her sides. "Get out, George."

"I think not."

"George." She closed her eyes for a moment and prayed for control. "Aside from the fact that I do not wish to marry you, I am engaged to wed someone else."

He chuckled. "No, you're not."

Her breath caught. "What did you say?"

"Come now, Pamela, I know your engagement to His Highness is nothing but an act. I am not certain of the purpose of it, but I do know it is not legitimate."

She forced a cool note to her voice. "Whatever would make you think such a thing?"

"I overheard you and Lady Overton last night." He shook his head in a chiding manner. "You really should be more cautious of private conversations when in a public gathering."

"Regardless of what you think you might have heard—"

"This is my proposal, Pamela." He clasped his hands behind his back and studied her thoughtfully almost as if she were a broodmare he was considering purchasing. "I shall keep your secret if you end this farce with the prince immediately and marry me."

"First of all, there is no farce. And secondly, even if there was, there is still no force on earth that would induce me to marry you." She forced a smile to her face and an overly pleasant note to her voice. "Now, then, it's long past time for you to leave my house and my life as well."

"Perhaps you did not fully understand." His voice hardened. "You fled England six years ago because you could not face the scandal surrounding us. That will be as nothing compared to the scandal you'll be embroiled in when it is learned you have deceived all of London."

"Do you know how absurd this sounds? How absurd you sound?" A touch of panic rose within her. She crossed her arms over her chest. Disdain sounded in her voice. "No one will ever believe you."

"Perhaps not at first." He shrugged. "But when your engagement does not end in marriage, there will be talk. Speculation. Gossip. This is quite a juicy story. You will be ruined." He paused. "Again."

"Regardless." She jerked her chin up. "I would rather live with scandal, indeed I would choose to dwell in the fires of hell itself before I would marry you."

"Well said, Miss Effington." Alexei's voice sounded from the doorway. "Well said indeed." Relief washed through her, and it was all she could do to keep from throwing herself in Alexei's arms.