“No.” He said it simply and watched the hurt come into her eyes. But he wouldn’t lie. “To have my name linked with yours wouldn’t be suitable to certain members of the council, certain high officials. It’s more agreeable when I socialize with a woman of title or with an ancestry.”

“I see.” She brought her hand up and removed his from her neck. “So it would be more … tactful if I agreed to a clandestine affair.”

Anger transformed his face into hard, unyielding lines. No one seeing him now would believe he could smile so sweetly. “I don’t believe I asked you to be tactful.”

“No, you hadn’t gotten to it yet.” She was going to cry. The knowledge stunned her, humiliated her. Humiliation snapped her back straight and kept her eyes dry—so dry they hurt. “Well, thanks for the offer, Your Highness, but I’m not interested. When I sleep with a man, I do so with no shame. When I have a relationship with a man, it’s in the open.”

“I’m aware of that.”

She’d started to storm away, but his words brought her up short. “Just what do you mean?”

“You’ve been very open about your relationship with my brother.” There was no smile now, or any sign of temper. His eyes were flat and dark. “Apparently you’ve had no shame there, either.”

Confusion came first, then a glimmer, then a flash of insight. Because it was safer than being hurt, Eve let her fury take her. “So that’s what this is all about. Some sibling rivalry, some curiosity about your brother’s taste. What did you think, Alex, he’d had his turn, now you wanted to see what all the fuss was about?”

He stood where he was, knowing he didn’t dare step toward her. “Be careful.”

She was beyond care, but not yet beyond words. “The hell with you. You may be an aristocrat, a prince, a ruler, but underneath you’re as much a fool as any other man and I won’t stand here and explain or justify my relationship with Bennett to a fool. You could take lessons from him, Alex. He has a heart and a genuine affection for women. He doesn’t consider them trophies to be passed around.”

“Are you finished?”

“Oh, more than. I suggest you speak to Bennett, Your Highness, if you want to find out my … pros and cons. I’m sure you’d be fascinated.”

“What I was feeling for you had nothing to do with Bennett—and everything to do with him. I’ll drive you back.”

He started toward the car. The two guards who’d kept at a discreet distance climbed into theirs.

Chapter 6

“Ethel, I want another white slip for Cat.” Clipboard in hand, Eve was going through the costumes, one item at a time, with her wardrobe mistress.

“White slip. Size thirty-four.”