The Next Best Bride by Kelly McClymer Page B

label me scandalous."
    He pulled back to gaze at her again and after a moment touched her bottom lip with his index finger, tracing it restlessly from corner to corner, his touch as light as a feather. "Would you?"
    Her throat was dry, so she swallowed before she answered, with a rather weak "That is why I married you, is it not?"
    "Then you would not like to be kissed again?"
    "No."
    He laughed softly. "Liar. You like my kisses as much as I like bestowing them."
    He spoke as if he believed his kisses were tiny gifts to her. The arrogant — She would have replied, but at that moment the carriage jolted to a halt at their destination. She contented herself with a sniff and, presented him her back once he had handed her down.
    He swept her pique aside, however, with a warm, familiar hand at her back as they hurried up the broad stairs with the servants wishing them well at each step. Was there no shame in the man at all?
    She stood next to him without touching as they welcomed the guests and received their well wishes for a happy, fruitful marriage. Very shortly, however, she found she was pressing herself against him as if to protect herself from the hearty wishes that she should soon find herself a busy mother.
    The congratulations sent his way were not only hearty, but pointed as well. For a moment she wondered if she had still been innocent, whether she would have understood half of what was said. Would that have been preferable to this constant feeling of fiery embarrassment that everyone knew what would happen between them once they were alone?
    To her horror, in the midst of the litany of well wishes and handshakes, an all-too-familiar hand grasped hers. An all-too-familiar voice said, "Many congratulations upon your most unexpected marriage, my lady." William. He bent low to press a kiss to her hand.
    She said faintly, "I thought you in France, Baron." She wished the words back immediately, when he straightened without releasing her hand.
    "I could not miss seeing you again." He smiled, the brown eyes she had thought so warm only a few months ago now looked predatory to her.
    "Although I had expected you would not be the bride. Yet."
    Helena did not know how to answer. His implication that he had wished to marry her was patently false. Yet she could not call him on it without embarrassing herself, her family — and Rand.
    Although the earl might relish the scandal.
    Her heart dropped to her knees when Rand's arm came around her shoulders and his warm, deep voice said congenially, "Much can happen when one is away, Baron. I hope your trip was pleasant."
    William's warm smile turned brittle as he released Helena's hand. "Disappointing, my lord. But I am certain you will not find your bride the same."
    Helena felt Rand tense. Had he understood the insult? Please let him not realize that William was the one. She could not bear it.
    Rand pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head and gave her a squeeze before releasing her. "After all I went through to get her, Baron, I cannot imagine that I could find her anything but a treasure."
    Though Rand had again twisted the truth until it became a most pleasant lie, Helena allowed herself to smile up at him as adoringly as if he had married her for love. "My lord, not many men would have the courage to admit such sentiment aloud." To her great pleasure, William looked discomfited as he moved away from them.
    Rand bent, his voice low and warm in her ear, "I'll kill him for you, if you like."
    Helena's heart jolted in her chest. For a moment she could not breathe. He suspected. But she would not confirm it. She forced herself to behave as if William were nothing more than an inconsiderate acquaintance. Pretending she did not understand the reason behind his offer, Helena replied in an equally low voice, "Whyever for? He cannot help his lack of manners, poor man."
    Rand had been certain the man was her lover.
    His offer to kill the baron had not been entirely in jest. He had hoped