Samantha (Barrett 2)

"Yes?" Drake's deep voice called out.

"May we come in?" Alex poked her head around the side of the door.

"Of course, princess. We?" Drake asked, suddenly realizing Alex's use of the plural.

"Yes ... we. Lord Gresham and myself."

Drake came to his feet in one slow, fluid motion. "I didn't know Lord Gresham had arrived," he returned icily.

"I informed Humphreys that I would announce the earl... after we had a pleasant chat." Alex opened the door more fully, gesturing for Rem to enter. "Now that we've finished, I've brought him to you. To talk. And to listen." The plea in Alex's voice was as plain as the beseeching look in her eyes.

Her husband was immune to neither.

"Gresham." With enormous effort, Drake strove to be cordial. Briefly, his frosty gaze flickered to Alex. "Leave us, princess."

"But—"

"Alexandria, I want to talk to the earl alone."

Alex sighed resignedly, knowing better than to argue with that particular tone of voice. "I'll be with Samantha in her bedchamber." She gave Drake an engaging smile. "Have a nice chat, gentlemen."

The door closed behind her.

Despite the oppressive silence, Rem couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm captivated by your duchess... a most charming, forthright young woman."

"As is my sister."

Rein's humor vanished. "Yes, she is."

"Sit down, Gresham. You have a great deal of explaining to do."

"More than you could possibly imagine," Rem agreed, lowering himself into the designated chair. "I have a wealth of information to impart. I won't insult you by procrastinating or speaking in riddles. I'll merely begin at the beginning and relay the whole situation to you. But first I must ask for your word that nothing we discuss will leave this room."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Drake demanded. "What has all this got to do with Samantha?''

"Nothing. And everything."

"Sammy swears she's in love with you ... and you with her. She tells me you've proposed marriage. Have you?"

"Yes."

"Before or after you seduced her?" Rem gritted his teeth and fell silent. "You son of a bitch." Drake slammed his fist onto the desk. "You're not only a cad, but a liar as well. You sat in this very room, discussed the building of your bloody ship, and looked me straight in the eye when you told me you'd only run into Samantha at an occasional ball. And all that time you'd already taken her to your bed? What kind of scoundrel are you?"

"I hadn't taken her to my bed, dammit!" It was Rem's turn to bolt to his feet. "And I have no intention of demeaning what Samantha and I share by reviewing the details of our relationship. I wouldn't even be asking for your blessing if it didn't mean so much to her. But it does."

"Don't sound so bloody noble. Wedding Samantha would be impossible without my consent. She's not of age."

"Don't underestimate my capabilities, Allonshire. I'd whisk Samantha off to Gretna Green if I had to. Your dissension wouldn't thwart me for an instant."

Drake inhaled sharply, his hands balling into fists. "Then why the hell come to me at all?"

"Because I love Samantha. And she happens to adore you. She'd be devastated if she couldn't have your approval. So I'm asking for it. The choice of whether or not I receive it is yours. Either way, Samantha will become my wife."

For the first time, a flash of uncertainty flickered in Drake's eyes. "If you love Sammy as much as you profess, why didn't you approach me before things got out of hand?"

An ironic smile touched Rem's lips. "Because things got out of hand the moment I laid eyes on your sister. I didn't realize it, of course. And once I did, I fought like hell. But some battles are destined to be over before they've begun."

"I don't know what to think." Drake dropped wearily into his chair.