the first qualms. Jealousy was a new experience, and not
one I enjoyed. I felt a little better after I had met the
gentleman.” His derisive tone irritated her.
“Peter is very nice,” she said. “I just didn’t love him.”
“I’ve no axe to grind about Hardy,” he shrugged. “I
found him boring, personally,” he grinned. “I enjoyed
listening to you giving him his marching orders. I knew
then that I was right—you didn’t love him.”
Kate pinched the hand which was fondling her neck.
“Vanity, again—you’re too sure of yourself!”
Marc looked down at her, his face darkened with a look
which turned her bones to water. “I wanted you so much
that I just dared not believe you wouldn’t feel the same,”
he said thickly, kissing her throat.
“Oh, Marc,” she murmured joyfully, stroking the black
hair.
“My mother gave me hope when I came back from the
States,” he went on. “She was sure you loved me. I came
to England after you, but you were away, and your
mother seemed so vague about who you were with ... I
wasn’t certain you weren’t seeing Hardy again. I meant to
come back again soon. Then I saw you with Jean-Paul.”
“Jean-Paul was using me to make Pallas jealous,” she
explained.
Marc grimaced. “Stupid ass! But why did he break off
his engagement if he still loves her?”
She explained and he groaned. “You again! I might
have known! But Pallas adores Jean-Paul, you little fool.
She has been miserable since we left Kianthos.”
“I was sure she was reluctant to marry him, though,”