Page 5 of To Steal a Kiss

Well, there was no point in prevaricating.

“Yes, a favour. You remember I told you about my friends and the dares they’d accepted?”

Nate snorted and shook his head. Matilda scowled at him.

“Well, you remember I told you about Alice? She’s a sweet girl, pretty as a little doll, but terribly shy. Her time is running out, Nate and…. Oh, I just want her to accomplish the dare. I know it’s silly, but I think it would give her some much needed confidence, put a bit of fire in her blood.”

Her brother’s gaze darkened, and Matilda could see then the figure that others spoke of, the one she rarely saw. Nathaniel Hunt was a ruthless businessman, cutting off credit to dukes and earls alike if he had the slightest inkling they couldn’t pay. He didn’t suffer fools and was not one to be taken advantage of… by none but his sister, at least.

“What in blue blazes has that got to do with me?” he demanded.

“You’re going to help her,” Matilda said, putting up her chin and holding his gaze. His blue eyes were crystalline, glittering with indignation.

“The devil I will!” he exclaimed, surging to his feet. “A fine way to get myself trapped into marriage.”

Matilda sighed, well aware of Nate’s thoughts on that particular subject. They were akin to his thoughts about rising before midday, hangovers, and tripe. At least that was the impression he put about, like any self-respecting libertine. As his sister, however, she felt certain she knew better. She hoped she did.

“She has no ideas of marrying you. I can assure you of that. She’s all but engaged to Mr Bindley, much against her wishes, but he’s a repulsive creature and… oh, damn it, Nate. I won’t condemn her to the likes of Bindley without, at the very least, completing her dare. And what’s it to you? It’s just a little kiss.”

Nate snorted and returned a dark look. “It’s never just a little kiss.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Matilda retorted, hating the acerbic tone that escaped before she could check it.

Her brother flinched and a stilted silence followed.

“Bindley?” he said, frowning a little.

“You know him?” Matilda asked, brightening. Nate had become a very powerful man, not simply because of the debts he held over many of the most illustrious names of the ton, but because of the gossip and information that filtered through the club. If he had something on Bindley, something that would make him less of an inviting proposition to Alice’s parents….

Nate shook his head. “No. Name rings a bell, that’s all.”

“He’s the youngest son of the Earl of Ulceby.”

“Ulceby?” he repeated, wrinkling his nose. “By God, if he’s anything like his father, I pity the girl.”

“So do I!” Matilda exclaimed, frustrated. “Which is why you will escort me to the Ransoms’ ball tomorrow night. You’ll meet Alice on a moonlit terrace, say a few pretty words, and kiss her.”

“Damned if I will!” Nate exploded, heading to pour himself another drink. “You’ve got rocks in your head if you think I’d ever agree to that.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Matilda shouted back, exasperated. “I’m not asking you to stick pins in your eyes. It’s not as if she’s unattractive. In fact, she’s quite lovely. You should thoroughly enjoy it, or have you completely given up on the fairer sex? Your reputation would suggest otherwise.”

Nate glowered at her.

“I don’t go around kissing little innocents on balconies, Tilda. I don’t know what kind of man you think I am—”

“Oh, yes,” Matilda said, interrupting him and sneering a little. “What little affection remains is reserved for opera singers, or was it a dancer this week? I forget.”

“Matilda,” Nate said, with a warning in the way he spoke that she could not ignore.

“No, Nathaniel. I rarely ask you for anything, as you well know, but I am asking you for this.” A thread of anger laced the words, pulling them tight. “I appreciate you think it silly, but nonetheless, it is important to me. I want Alice to be happy, or at least to… to have as few regrets as possible.”

Nate stilled, and she knew she had him.

Unlike me, she didn’t say. She didn’t need to.

Matilda sighed. “Please, Nate,” she said softly, moving closer to him and laying her hand on his arm. “It’s only for a few moments. Just be your charming self, make her feel beautiful, desired, make it romantic. One little kiss, that’s all. I shall stand guard and make sure no one interrupts you, so there’s no danger.”

She felt the muscles in his arm grow rigid with tension. He hated this, was furious that he felt he couldn’t refuse her. Perhaps she ought to feel guilt at manipulating him so, but she’d changed too over the years. Her heart was harder too.