Heart's Demand

by Cheryl Holt

  “And I barely know you, but we’re both very alone, and we share a potent physical attraction.”

  She blushed. “I can’t deny it.”

  “Most couples start with much less.” He clasped her hands in his own. “Marry me! Say yes.”

  “This is so unexpected,” she killed him by replying.

  “I realize it is, but I’ve been ruminating over what I want in my life, and it occurred to me that I want you. I can’t imagine departing for England and leaving you behind.”

  “You’re leaving? I thought you had decided to stay in Egypt with me.”

  “Not forever. I’d like to head home, and I’d like you to come with me.”

  “What would we do in England? How would we live? Where would we reside?”

  “We could live wherever and however you choose. We’d be so happy.”

  “Is that why I should consent? Because we’d be happy?”

  “There are worse reasons to wed.”

  “Who would base a marriage on whether the parties will be happy or not? It seems a flimsy way to begin.”

  “In my book, it seems a marvelous way.”

  “People should marry for stability, for children.”

  “We’ll get there eventually. London is a very boring, very stable place. We’ll be the most boring, stable couple on earth. We’ll try our best to have a dozen children.”

  Her blush deepened. “I always secretly yearned to wed for love.”

  “Ah, so you’re a romantic at heart.”

  “I guess I am.”

  “I won’t lie and say I’m in love with you.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  “But don’t you suppose it could grow between us? I’m so fond of you, and we’re so compatible.”

  “Are we compatible? With our acquaintance being so new, I’m not sure.”

  “How would you define compatible then?”

  She shook her head. “I’m being ridiculous. It’s pointless to talk about love and fondness. When I wed, sentiment will have naught to do with it.”

  “Why must it be that way? Your parents are deceased, and you’re an adult. You can pick whoever you want for a spouse. Who is there to tell you that you can’t?”

  “No one, but…”

  “But…what?” he pressed when she couldn’t finish her sentence.

  “You’re making this so hard. I wish you hadn’t raised the issue.”

  “Why shouldn’t I have? It would solve so many of your problems. You’d have a husband, which is always better for a woman. You’d have a father for Nicholas and Isabelle.” Why couldn’t she understand how fantastic it would be? “Take a chance on me, Kat. Take a chance.”

  She groaned with dismay. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “You’re confusing me.”

  “How am I confusing you?”

  “This seems too…convenient.”

  “Convenient?”

  “You’re aware that I’m very rich.”

  “So?”

  “We joked about it, and now here you are proposing marriage when neither of us had ever previously considered it.”

  “Are you accusing me of being a fortune hunter?”

  “No, but it’s not unheard of for a poor man like you to chase after a wealthy woman like me. You can’t blame me for being wary.”

  “Yes, I can. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? Haven’t you been paying attention?”

  “I hope I know, but our association has been so brief. How can I be positive I’ve witnessed your true character?”

  “I killed to protect your brother,” he tersely stated. “I risked life and limb for him—and for you. Didn’t you notice? While I was dispatching those miscreants, didn’t it occur to you that I might have been exhibiting a few of my genuine traits?”

  “You’re a fine man, Bryce. I realize that you are.” She pulled away. “There are other issues too that make it impossible.”

  “Name one.” She didn’t reply, and he said, “Are you already married?”

  “No, it’s not that.”

  “What then?”

  She scooted off the bed, going over to the window to stare outside. For a long while, she gazed out at the stars. He watched her, feeling glum and morose, and he refused to break the awkward interval.

  He was incredibly wounded by her rejection, and it surprised him. Apparently he was much fonder of her than he’d recognized himself to be.

  What was he to do now? With her opinion revealed, how would they carry on? He’d assumed he would loiter in Egypt, would tarry by her side as a confidante, lover, or defender as needed, but clearly in her view none of those roles was imperative.

  She had Miss Clementi to give her advice, and she could hire more guards. His position as lover was the only one for which he was currently irreplaceable, but with her being so beautiful, she could lure another fool into her bed. So…there was actually no part for him to play at all.

  He was an idiot, a dunce. What had possessed him?

  Temporary insanity…

  She spun around, her green eyes tormented and sad. “Don’t be angry with me.”

  “I’m not angry. I’m disappointed.”

  “Don’t be disappointed either. You’ve been so kind to me, and I’ve hurt you.”

  “You haven’t hurt me. I’m a grown man. I took a gamble. I tossed the dice, but I held a losing hand. I’ll get over it.”

  “Oh, Bryce…”

  “Is it because I’m too far beneath you?”

  Just the slightest instant, she hesitated, and it told him what he’d been anxious to know. She lied and claimed, “No. You could never be beneath me by any measure.”

  He snorted at that, even as he wondered if he should declare his true station and rank. For the first time ever, he yearned to crow the news to the world, yearned to throw it in her face so she’d realize who she’d snubbed. But since he’d declined to acknowledge his title to his sister and friends, why would he suddenly announce it to the likes of Katarina Webster?

  He picked up his father’s knife and stuck it under his arm.

  “What is that?” she inquired. “I didn’t have an opportunity to ask you.”

  “It was a gift from Valois.”

  He could have apprised her of its significance, that Valois had been keeping it all these years, that it was the sole item Bryce had that had belonged to his father.

  Yet he said none of that.

  “It’s quite stunning,” she said.

  “It is.”

  “Are we quarreling?”

  She took a step toward him, but he took a step back, bluntly signaling she should stay where she was.

  “Chase Hubbard and I are heading to England.”

  “When?”

  “As soon as we can. We’d like to consider our employment terminated and collect our wages tomorrow, if that’s all right with you. We need the money so we can book passage.”

  Her jaw dropped, but she collected herself. “Well, yes of course that would be all right. But…but…I was expecting you to remain in Cairo with me.”

  “I’ve been in Cairo for months, and I’m ready to depart. You’ve only just arrived, so you haven’t yet reached that conclusion.”

  “I understand.”

  “You can speak to Valois about replacing me. In light of how rich you are, he’ll be able to retain as many guards as you require.”

  It was rude to mention her money, but he was irked that she’d accused him of being a fortune hunter.

  “I don’t want you to quit,” she said. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  “I have to, and I think it’s time.”

  He walked to the door, and she chased after him but kept her distance.

  “I hate that we’re fighting,” she said.

  “We’re not fighting, Kat.”

  “Yes, we are. You proposed and I refused you, and now you’re eager to flee both me and Cairo. Let’s not make a hasty decision.”

/>   “It’s not hasty for me. I’ve been searching for months for the funds to go home. I originally hired on with you for the money.”

  “I wasn’t talking about your decision to depart. I meant your staying here with me, helping and protecting me.”

  “I’m not inclined to do that anymore.”

  “I need you with me.”

  He’d like to shake her, to snap at her. “Answer one question for me.”

  “If I can.”

  “If I agreed to remain, would you ever change your mind about being my wife? Or would you always assume you were too far above me?”

  “I have never assumed that,” she fumed.

  “I don’t believe you, and just so you know, I haven’t learned a single thing about you except that you’re wealthy. While you’re fussing and fretting and deeming yourself too good for me, I have no information about your past or your family or your secrets or the source of your difficulties.”

  “It’s hard to discuss it, and it would cause so much trouble.”

  “That might be true, but I was willing to have you anyway—despite what I don’t know. I hope you’ll reflect on that after I’m gone. Who was your one real friend, Kat? Who was your only friend in the entire world?”

  He felt petty and snide, but rejected and ill-used too. He’d claimed they weren’t fighting, but they absolutely were and he couldn’t bear it.

  “I’ll have Valois calculate my wages,” he said. “I’d appreciate it if I could be paid immediately so I can begin making plans.”

  He marched out, closing the door with a determined click. He thought she called to him, but he ignored her and continued on.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “What’s wrong with you these days?”

  Pippa glared at Kat, aggravated as she usually was by her friend. Kat was rich and beautiful. So what if she’d lost her crown and no one could refer to her as Your Royal Highness anymore? It was just some silly words. She was still rich and beautiful.

  As far as Pippa was concerned, things were going swimmingly. They’d left Cedric Webster’s filthy desert camp. They were in Cairo and had been welcomed by Monsieur Valois. He was French, charming, and elegantly stylish. If he hadn’t been so old, she’d have commenced a flirtation.

  Matters were intensifying with Kristof. He wanted Nicholas back in Parthenia and was willing to take drastic action to ensure it happened. Pippa was ready to do her part, then rush home to wallow in the boons Kristof had promised.

  She was fairly certain Kristof had sent Kat a letter, and she’d been biting her tongue, waiting for Kat to mention it, but she’d been mum as a corpse.

  They were out on Valois’s dock, sitting on a shaded bench and watching ships sail by on the river.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Pippa repeated. “Your mood is so dour you could turn the sky gray.”

  “I’m unhappy, Pippa. Why must you nag about it?”

  “What have you to be unhappy about? I can’t understand it. Yes, you’ve had a few bumps in your road, but you’re very wealthy. With money to provide a cushion, you can never truly have any difficulty.”

  “Yes, yes, money makes my life perfect, doesn’t it?” Kat pulled her troubled gaze from the water and scowled at Pippa. “Should I give it to you? Would that make you happy?”

  “What do you mean? I’m a happy person, but I won’t deny if I was affluent like you, I’d be a lot happier.”

  “Ever since we fled Parthenia, you constantly whine and complain. It’s annoying.”

  “Well, excuse me, Your Majesty.”

  “Don’t be flippant. Just be silent. I have a headache.”

  “I’m not your servant, Kat. There’s no need for you to speak to me so abominably.”

  Pippa rose to march off in a huff, but Kat grabbed her wrist and drew her down.

  “I’m sorry,” Kat said. “I’m being a shrew.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “I have so much on my mind.”

  “Perhaps if you’d confide in me once in awhile, I could ease your woe.”

  Kat smiled a tight smile. “I doubt it.”

  “Try me. Let’s see how I fare at offering advice. You used to share your problems with me.”

  “Yes, I did, didn’t I?” Kat pondered for an eternity, then ultimately admitted, “I received a letter from Kristof.”

  Pippa was very good at feigning surprise. “When?”

  “When we were still at Cedric’s camp.”

  “How could he have known you were there? He must have had people following you.”

  “Yes.” Kat laughed wearily. “All this time, we believed we were so furtive, but he’s been aware of our location from the very beginning.”

  Of course he has.

  Pippa bit down the remark. She regularly met with Kristof’s spies to deliver her reports. Riders raced away to convey the dispatches to Parthenia. Parthenian men were skilled equestrians, so the link between Kristof and Pippa was a short, fast one.

  “What did he say?” Pippa asked.

  “He ordered me to return to Parthenia, to bring Nicholas and Isabelle with me.”

  “Why would he want that?”

  “Kristof is insane, Pippa. I couldn’t guess why.”

  “His command makes no sense. You’d think he’d be glad to have all of you gone.”

  “I agree. It’s madness, but then he’s deranged.”

  “So…will you return?”

  “No,” Kat scoffed. “He has no authority over me or my siblings. He insulted our parents, robbed us, and deposed Nicholas. We owe him no fealty.”

  “But he’s our king, Kat. You can’t disobey.”

  “Yes, he is currently King of Parthenia,” Kat countered, “but we were stripped of our titles. He claimed our parents had never been married, and he can’t have it both ways. He can’t declare us no longer citizens but then assume he has control over us. Especially when we’re not even in the country.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  “I’m trying to figure out his ploy. There has to be a reason.”

  “With Kristof, there always is,” Pippa said.

  “What do you imagine it is?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I don’t either, but it can’t be to my benefit.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.”

  Kat stared out at the water again, and she was lost in thought, miserable in her contemplation, and Pippa yearned to shake her. Kat sulked and moped relentlessly, and Pippa was exhausted with attempting to cheer her.

  “I need to tell you something,” Kat eventually said, “but you have to swear you’ll keep it a secret.”

  “My lips are sealed. You know that. I’ve always stood as your friend.”

  “Yes, you have, Pippa.”

  She reached over and patted Pippa’s hand.

  “What is it?” Pippa inquired. “What is your secret?”

  “Mr. Blair asked me to marry him.”

  “Mr.…Blair?” Pippa nearly shrieked the name.

  “Yes.”

  “He’s quite set on himself, isn’t he? I didn’t realize you two were cordial.”

  “He’s been a great help to me these past few weeks.”

  “Yes, but honestly. Marriage! Isn’t he an actor?” She pronounced the word actor like the epithet it was.

  “Yes, acting is one of his many talents.”

  “How dare he propose to you,” Pippa huffed. “What gall.”

  “He doesn’t know who I am, Pippa.”

  “Maybe not your true station, but he has to recognize you’re a woman of consequence.”

  “I’m certain he does.” Kat smiled a wistful smile. “He was willing to have me anyway.”

  Pippa frowned. “You’re not considering it. If you are, admit it so I can box your ears.”

  “I’m not considering it precisely,” Kat claimed. “I was curious as to your opinion.”

  “The man is a brazen libertine who’s trying to up-jump to a level of soc
iety he should never attain in a thousand years.”

  Kat couldn’t let it go. “If I wed him though, we could move to England. We could reside in London. I’d have a husband and a father for Nicholas and Isabelle. We might stumble on some Parthenians who were loyal to my father, who might ultimately be loyal to Nicholas.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it. They’re all cowards. The entire lot of them. Haven’t they proved their spinelessness to you over and over again?”

  “Yes, but I can’t stop hoping.”

  She and Pippa glared as if they were fighting, and finally Pippa said, “You can’t be serious about Mr. Blair.”

  Kat shrugged. “It’s sweet of him to want to protect me.”

  “But you told him no?”

  “I told him no, but I’m not sure I should have. What are my options, Pippa? I came to Uncle Cedric for assistance, but he was worthless. What should I do instead?”

  “I’m not the best person to advise you, but you need to be wary of a cad like Bryce Blair.”

  “He’s not a cad. Cease your denigration.”

  “You’re off on your own for the very first time, and you haven’t had much experience with men. The handsome ones can be smooth-talking devils.”

  “Mr. Blair isn’t like that.”

  “Isn’t he? He and Mr. Hubbard are both wishing they could snag an heiress. Mr. Hubbard bluntly brags about it. What makes you think Mr. Blair is any different? He’s after your money. That’s all it is, but he’s pretending affection so you won’t guess his motives.”

  “I wondered about that, but he’s not a fortune hunter. I believe he’s genuinely fond of me.”

  “Are you fond of him?”

  “I might be very fond. If he left me and went back to England, I’d be crushed.”

  Pippa took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

  Kat had to return to Parthenia as Kristof was demanding. She couldn’t become involved with an English nobody. She had to go home. If she didn’t, Pippa would never get the reward Kristof had dangled in order to persuade her to betray Kat. The whole idiotic journey to Egypt would have been a complete waste.

  Pippa had worked so hard on Kristof’s behalf, and at this late date she wasn’t about to forfeit the gifts she’d been offered.

  Pippa needed to file a report immediately, and she faked a yawn. “This heat is making me sleepy. I’m off to my room for a nap.”