To Pleasure a Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

she wouldn’t even think of going against my wishes. She can be headstrong, but she isn’t a fool.”
    She arched one delicate brow. “Clearly you’ve never been in love, or you would understand that two people in love aren’t liable to behave rationally.”
    “In love, hah. After a couple of dances at her come-out?” A sudden chill seized him. Circling around her, he headed for the fireplace. “They can’t have seen each other beyond that.”
    “Girls do wander onto balconies at parties, you know.” She watched as he reached for the poker. “And gentlemen enamored of them do follow them into gardens. Attraction can blossom into love after only a few encounters.”
    He stabbed the poker into the fire. “My sister might fancy herself in love, but that brother of yours has no such noble motives.”
    “If you think my brother would attempt to steal your sister’s virtue—”
    “No, that would certainly not be to his advantage.” Not if this courtship had anything to do with Prinny, as Marcus suspected.
    She blinked. “You can’t possibly think he wants her fortune. He has one of his own.”
    “Good.” Thrusting the poker aside, he faced her. “Because if she does marry him, I’ll cut her off. He won’t get a penny from me.”
    When Lady Regina eyed him as if he were a slug, he considered taking back the blatant lie. He’d only said it so she would think twice about helping the couple.
    “Such a threat is unlikely to keep my brother from courting your sister,” she said quietly. “It will merely encourage them to sneak around behind your back. And make me more than happy to help them.”
    “What? And risk a scandal?” He sneered at her. “You would never do that.”
    She assessed him coldly. “If they’re willing to risk scandal to be happy, then I’m certainly willing to help.”
    He bit back an oath. Perhaps it was time Lady Regina learned Foxmoor’s true character. Because if she actually believed all that rot about love, she might not approve of his machinations.
    And if she already knew Foxmoor’s true plans? Then it was better to lay their cards on the table. “Haven’t you asked yourself why your brother, who could marry any woman he pleases, would pursue a girl whose family and friends are so opposed to him?”
    She lifted her chin. “He’s in love.”
    He snorted. “He’s in love, all right. With the idea of being prime minister.” He chose his words carefully, not wanting her to know Prinny’s claims about Louisa’s parentage. “You see, Prinny—your brother’s friend—grew fond of my sister in the years he was playing ‘Uncle George.’ He’s annoyed that I refuse to let him near her now—”
    “You won’t let His Highness see Louisa? And he allows that?”
    “Why shouldn’t he? He knows he can’t press it—he has no connection to her. She’s merely the daughter of his former mistress. But that doesn’t stop him from trying to stick his nose in where it doesn’t belong. Look at what he and Mrs. Fitzherbert did with that poor girl Minney after the death of her mother, his mistress. Everyone knew the girl wasn’t his, yet he fought her family for custody and won, solely by abusing his power.”
    He glared at her. “Fortunately, I know enough of the prince’s secrets that he would never dare such a thing with me. Which is why he’s trying to get at Louisa through your brother, a man who will do anything to further his political career—including scheme to bring Louisa into Prinny’s sphere against my wishes.”
    Blanching, she reeled away from him. “You think that my brother…that the prince is using my brother—”
    “I think your brother is using my sister. At Prinny’s behest. Your brother is more than eager to give Prinny what he wants, in exchange for his support once Prinny becomes king in truth.”
    When she faced him again, her eyes were glittering. “Why has Louisa never mentioned your suspicions?”
    “Because she doesn’t know about