The Alvares Bride

“Yes. At least, I remember some of…Tell me the truth. Did I—was I—” She cleared her throat again. “I made an ass of myself, didn’t I?”

Rafe hesitated. She had, but what was the point in telling her that? “You were—how do you say it—you were a bit high-spirited.”

“In other words,” she said in a small voice, “the answer is ‘yes.’”

“People forget,” he said briskly.

“They’re not likely to forget a woman who has to be carried off like a—a bad joke.”

Rafe decided to take pity on her. “What they will remember,” he said, “is that a man was so taken with your beauty that he could not bear sharing you with others.”

“That’s very generous. If I didn’t know the truth, I might almost believe you.”

“It is the story I will tell tomorrow, if I am asked.”

“That’s more than generous, senhor, it’s gallant. And yes, there’s a back door. It’s just past those shrubs.”

The door opened at a touch. It led into an enormous pantry, which was empty.

“You can put me down,” Carin said.

Rafe thought about it. He could. But, he reminded himself, it was his fault she was wet and cold. How could he abandon her now?

“I will see you to your room, senhora. Just tell me where it is.”

She told him, and he made his way quickly to the service stairs and to the second floor.

“That door,” she said, “the one on the left.”

Carin reached out and opened the door; Rafe elbowed it closed behind them. Her bedroom smelled faintly of her perfume.

“You can put me down now.”

He nodded. “Of course,” he replied…but he didn’t. He didn’t. He stood in the darkness, holding her in his arms, wondering how she could smell like jasmine and roses after being dropped in a pool of water and wondering, too, why his arms were tightening around her even as he told himself to put her on her feet.

“Senhor.” She drew a breath, then let it out. It stroked his skin like silk. “I—I think I owe you an apology.”

“I accept.” He smiled. “But only if you call me Rafe.”

Carin laughed. “You were supposed to say that an apology wasn’t necessary.”

“But it is. You called me many names tonight and, truly, I only deserved some of them.”

She laughed again, leaned back in the curve of his arm and looked into his face.

“All right. I’m sorry. Honestly, I am.”

Deus, she was lovely. And charming, now that she was sober. But she needed to undress, and to get warm and dry. He could help her with all of that, he thought, and felt his body quicken again.

Carefully, he set her on her feet. “You must get out of your wet clothing, Carin, and take a hot shower.”

“I know.” She hesitated. “Rafe? I—I wouldn’t want you to think…I mean, really, it was good of you to come to my rescue, but—” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just want you to know that I don’t usually drink like that.”

He nodded. He’d already come to that conclusion. “I am certain that is the case.”

“In fact, I’ve never done anything like it before. It’s just that—that…” She fell silent. She owed this stranger no explanation yet, somehow, she wanted to offer one, but what could she say that wouldn’t make her look even more pathetic? “Never mind.” She smiled, held out her hand. “Thank you for everything.”

He nodded, took her hand in his. She’d been on the verge of telling him what had happened that had made her want to forget. That was, after all, why people drank. To forget. To heal pain and yes, despite her smile, he could see pain in her eyes. Who had hurt her? A man? If that were true, he deserved to be beaten. This woman was too fragile, too beautiful…

Rafe drew away his hand and stepped back.

“I am glad I was there to be of service,” he said politely. “And now, you must get warm. Shall I ask one of the servants to bring you some hot soup?”

“No. No, I’ll be fine.” She slipped his jacket off her shoulders. “Do you want to take your jacket, or shall I wait and have it pressed…”

Her words dwindled to silence. He knew the reason; his gaze had dropped to her breasts and her nipples had beaded instantly, to thrust against the damp silk.

“Carin.” Her eyes met his. There was something else there now, not pain, not despair. Indeed, what he saw made his blood throb. He reached out; she stepped back but he clasped her wrists and stopped her. “Why did you do it?” His tone was rough, almost urgent. “Why did you do that to yourself tonight?”

“This was—it was a difficult weekend for me.” She licked her lips. “That’s really why I came to the party. I wasn’t going to, but my sister thought it would be a good idea. Obviously, she was wrong.”

Rafe smiled. “An interesting woman, your sister.”

“What do you mean?”

“She urged me to meet you. She said you were beautiful, and charming, and that I would find you fascinating.”

Carin blushed. “She didn’t!”

“No.” He grinned. “Not exactly, but she certainly made it clear that she thought you and I would be a good match.”

“Oh, isn’t that awful?” Carin rolled her eyes. “Actually, she talked you up, too. She said you were this incredibly handsome, incredibly charming, incredibly everything man. I just had to meet you, she said, because you were—”

“Incredible,” Rafe said, and they both laughed.

“Uh-huh. And I figured, if Mandy thought you such a paragon—”

“—you wanted no part of me.” He was still holding her wrists. Now, he lifted them and brushed his lips across the backs of her hands. “Nor I, of you. It was, how do you say, too much of a buildup.”

“I’m sure she never mentioned I’d be doing my best to get pie-eyed.”

“Pie…? Ah.” He grinned. “No. No, she did not.” Slowly, his smile faded. “Are you going to tell me what this thing was, that happened to you? That made you want to drink yourself into oblivion tonight?”

He watched the swift play of emotions in her face, knew she was considering a dozen different easy answers, and saw the instant when she decided to tell him the truth.

“A man who once meant something to me is…” She hesitated. “He’s getting married tonight.”

“Ah.” Another strand of dark hair slipped across her cheek. Rafe stroked it away from her face again but this time, he let his hand linger against her skin. She was so soft to the touch. So beautiful. What sort of man would want another woman, when he could have her?