Blackmailing His Bride (Court of Paravel)

His eyes narrow. If he wants to imagine I’ll sleep with him in exchange for keeping my secrets, fine. But dinner’s all he’s getting.

I turn away and head up the stairs. I feel his eyes on me all the way to my bedroom. As soon as I have the ensuite shower blasting hot water, I sit down on the toilet, get out my phone and dial a number. I can hear my heart pounding over the rushing water as I listen to phone ring.

Pick up. Come on, pick up.

“Hello?”

I gasp in relief at the sound of Tieman’s voice. “Hi. It’s me.”

There’s a pause while he tries to place my voice, because I dare not say my name in case someone’s listening in. “Hey, lady.”

The “lady” must be the safest way of signaling he knows who it is. I speak in a rush. “The one who interrupted our date the other night is taking me to dinner at Hotel Ivera. We crossed paths today and he started asking questions. I called to ask if you could break things up.”

I hope he catches on to what I’m talking about.

There’s a pause, and then Tieman asks, “What time?”

“In an hour. He’s downstairs right now. I have to go.”

“Sure. Wear something sexy, baby. See you soon.”

The line goes dead and I stare at the black screen. That was weird. Was he taking his cue from me and my date talk, or was he flirting? I sit for too long, thinking about it, before I remember that I’m supposed to be getting ready. I head through to my walk-in wardrobe, wondering what outfit is best when you have a date with two men for two very different reasons.

6

Jakob

I wait in the sitting room for Sachelle to come back downstairs. Duke Balzac doesn’t seem to know what to make of me, and shuffles out of the room rather than make conversation with the man who’s taking his daughter to dinner. He doesn’t seem very strong. I wonder how much longer he would have lasted under the People’s Republic. I doubt they gave the Duke much medical attention.

Tamsen is reading on the sofa. “I don’t think she likes you,” she says, not looking up from her book.

“I’m aware.”

“Then why are you here?”

I lean against the marble fireplace and gaze at the closed door. “Because your sister is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Lady Tamsen shrugs. “Good luck, I guess. She’ll go on a few dates with you and then make your life miserable. Sachelle has to have everything her own way.”

I smile at her. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

Tamsen finally lifts her head from the page and studies me. “You’re the man who’s going to chase my sister all over Paravel until he’s a shadow of his former self.”

“I’ll be fine, thank you.”

“That’s what they all say.”

I laugh. So Sachelle likes to keep out of everyone’s reach. Good. I enjoy a challenge. “I’m not like the silly boys who used to chase your sister.”

She turns back to her book. “You chased her here.”

Every few minutes I check my watch, wondering what’s taking Sachelle so long. I head back into the hall, in time to hear someone descending the stairs. Her feet appear first. She’s wearing gold strappy stilettos. Her long, slender legs are bare and lightly tanned. The dress she’s wearing is red and gold, with a high neck and long, tight sleeves, and a skirt so short it’s scandalous. Her long, dark hair cascades in curls over one of her shoulders. There are soft highlights at the corners of her eyes, her lashes are long and dark and her lips a vivid red.

“What?” she asks, standing in front of me.

My mouth is dry. Any man would stare at his date if she appeared looking like this.

Sachelle checks her reflection in the hall mirror. “I thought I’d better wear red as your men aren’t very good at what they do. I’d hate for whoever’s following us to lose sight of me.”

I admire us both in the mirror. We look good together, her dazzling appearance against my dark suit. I slip an arm around her waist. “There’s only me tonight, and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She pulls away from me. “Look with your eyes.”

I take a firm grip on her hand and lead her toward the front door. I intend to.

I drive us into the heart of the city and pull up in front of the hotel, handing the keys to a valet. I’ve never walked in the front doors of Hotel Ivera before.

“Neither of us would have been welcomed here just a few months ago. It’s funny how things change.” I take her hand and lead her inside.

“People are going to gossip if they see us like this. You’ll upset my family.”