Lost in a Royal Kiss by Vanessa Kelly Page B

was unable to read her face in the shadows cast by the deep hood of her black cloak.
    “Certainly not you,” he replied dryly. He felt rather than saw her wince.
    Once inside his study, she started to untie her cloak. Her fingers were shaking so badly that she tangled the cords. Anthony gently brushed her hands aside and completed the task. He then led her to a chair, once again hushing her agitated explanations, before fetching a brandy.
    “There’s no time for this,” she exclaimed, waving away the drink.
    “Then make time.”
    Her beautiful face was pale and strained in the lamplight, and she held her body with a tension that vibrated in the air. Anthony crouched before her and took one of her hands.
    “I’ll be happy to listen to everything you want to tell me, love,” he said in a soothing voice. “Just take a sip of the brandy and try to recover your breath.”
    She gave him a wavering smile and complied. It almost broke his heart to see how her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her mouth. Something was very wrong, and it had nothing to do with their emotional impasse. If Linnet had wanted to discuss that, she’d had ample opportunity over the last few weeks to do so, nor would she appear at his door in so rattled a state.
    He took the glass from her. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
    “It’s Chloe. She’s pregnant.”
    He grimaced and rose to his feet. “That’s a troubling development, but I hardly think it warrants you dashing out in the middle of the night, putting both your safety and reputation at risk. Could you not have sent me a note instead?”
    Her eyebrows pulled down in a scowl. “I’m not an idiot, Anthony, which you should know by now.”
    “Yes, I do,” he said, throttling back his frustration. This was not how he imagined being with her again. “Then, what has you so upset?”
    “Chloe told Dominic she was pregnant. They’ve run away together.”
    For a long moment he stared at her, uncomprehending.
    “Now who’s the idiot?” she muttered.
    Anthony shook himself free of his paralysis. “But I saw Dominic this afternoon. We went riding, before I went into the City for dinner.”
    She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And have you seen him since?”
    “No,” he said, with a growing sense of foreboding. “I haven’t.”

Chapter 6
    Linnet fought to keep herself upright, a difficult task after several hours spent in a curricle. Unlike her, Anthony seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of energy, showing no fatigue as he drove them along the night-shrouded highway. She could only pray they would catch up to the children soon before she made a fool of herself by falling asleep and toppling into the road.
    The vehicle picked up speed as Anthony gave the horses their heads. They were in sight of the next village, where they hoped to catch up with the passenger coach carrying Dominic and Chloe. Dawn was breaking, too. Linnet had never traveled in an open carriage at night, and it was an experience she hoped never to repeat. But if they’d waited until first light to pursue the children, they might have lost them forever.
    She glanced at Anthony’s severely handsome profile, traced by the first rays of the sun. His mouth was set in a grim line, evidence of his displeasure with the situation. But even though they’d barely exchanged a word since leaving his town house, he’d still fussed over her, forcing her to eat and drink on their short stops, and tucking a blanket around her to ward off chills.
    There was hardly a chance of catching a chill, but when she’d protested he’d simply narrowed his eyes, sending her a silent but clear message. For once, she’d capitulated.
    Because it was the only thing she had capitulated on, he was furious with her. Linnet had insisted on accompanying him, and Anthony had been just as insistent that she not. When she’d finally vowed to hire a coach and follow him, he’d let out a string of oaths but relented and dragged her down to his