Captive Pride

The sound of Matthew’s voice behind her surprised CC, for she had thought she was alone. Sweeping about to face him, she forced a cool expression.

“No, why do you ask?” CC was not about to reveal the truth of her feelings to anyone.

“No reason. I just hadn’t expected to find you alone when you have a house full of guests,” he shrugged.

“You’re absolutely right,” she said hastily, “and I suppose I’d better rejoin them.”

Girding herself, CC started reluctantly toward the door, knowing that she would come face-to-face with Noah in the front foyer as she made her way back to the ballroom. Only Matt’s next words stopped her.

“Please, CC,” he spoke earnestly, “I wasn’t criticizing you for taking a moment to relax. You don’t have to rush back to the ballroom to be with your guests. After all, I’m a guest, too.” The engaging smile he gave her lightened her heart. “Stay. We can talk for a while.”

“I’d like that,” she managed, relief stealing through her at being saved from a confrontation with Noah and Eve. “I’d like that a lot.”

Chapter Ten

A

“Miss CC? Aren’t you feeling well? Shall I help you undress and have a bath sent up?” A

“A bath would be heavenly, A

“I’ll tell the others right away.” A

Exhausted, CC sighed as she slipped off her shoes, and then, eager to get to bed, she stood up and began to undress by herself. It was when she stripped off her chemise that she first noticed the smear of dried blood on the inside of her thigh. A potent rage filled her at the sight of the damning evidence that testified to her own weakness. How could she have been so stupid as to surrender to Kincade? She knew what kind of man he was! His behavior tonight only convinced her all the more firmly that he was an unprincipled opportunist.

Quickly, lest A

CC muttered a vile curse under her breath. Lord Noah Kincade was a filthy, arrogant…Her hatred of him at that moment was so fierce that she couldn’t think of any expletives horrible enough to wreak on his character.

CC frowned as she reflected on all that had happened during the course of the night. Noah had assumed, just as Matt had, that she was engaged to John. He had accused her of attempting to use Matthew, though she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to be using him or to what end. And even though she had fought him almost from the start, he had insisted that he was only taking what she was offering…

Suddenly, in a rush of revolting realization, it all became clear to CC, and she shook her head in stu

The knowledge that he had suspected her of such degrading behavior only served to intensify her already hostile feelings for him. He thought her no better than a common tramp! He had used her as such, and even the discovery of her untouched state had not altered his opinion.

Her anger was so powerful that she felt physically ill, and she was pale and trembling when A

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss CC?” A

“No. I think I’ll just soak a while and then go on to bed.”

“Shall I bring you a sherry? You’re still looking rather peaked,” she noted with concern.

The offer of a sherry did sound soothing, and CC agreed, “A small brandy might just be the thing, A

Quickly and efficiently, A

Carrying the liquor, she returned to the room and knocked only once before admitting herself. It did not surprise A

“Thank you, A

“You’re welcome. So how was the ball, Miss CC?” A

“Fine,” came her answer.

“Did your father seem to enjoy himself?” she asked as she moved quietly about the room picking up CC’s discarded clothing.

“I think so. He was quite pleased that everyone came.”

“Indeed, there was a crowd, and Lord Kincade was here, wasn’t he?”

At the mention of his name, CC couldn’t prevent herself from tensing, and A

“Yes, he came, and so did his younger brother, Matthew.”

“Was the brother wearing dark blue?”

“I believe so; why?” CC cast a glance at her maid.

“I’d caught sight of him one time and thought him quite good-looking, too. Still, there is just something about the older one that’s-”

“I know.” CC cut her off sharply, not wanting to hear her sing Kincade’s praises. A

A

“No. You go on. I’ll be fine.”

“Good night, then, Miss CC.”

CC was glad when A

Sleep should have come easily. She was warm, content, and safe in her own bedroom, but images of Kincade kept disturbing her rest. Whenever she closed her eyes, a vision of Noah as he had been in the summerhouse would loom before her, his silver eyes burning with passion, his hands reaching out for her with sensual intent. CC tossed and turned, growing more and more distraught over the heat that surged through her whenever he entered her thoughts. She hated him and all he stood for, yet he was haunting her. The memory of his touch alone had the power to send her pulses racing.

Getting up, she padded restlessly to the window. Parting the heavy drapes, she stared out across the quiet city as she tried to come to grips with the riotous feelings Noah Kincade stirred within her. From the very begi