Page 52 of Wicked Queen

“How were the meetings?” Edward asked.

“Can I get one of those?” I pointed to his champagne flute.

“That good?” he said dryly. “Let me find you one.”

“Where’s Norris?” Clara asked, scanning the crowd.

“Want to make certain my nanny is nearby, so I mind my manners?” I snapped.

“I want to ask him to speak with Brex,” she said curtly. Reaching up, she smoothed my tie and sighed. “You can’t lose it every time you see Anders.”

Someday I might not, but not until he’d given up his interest in Clara. It wouldn’t do any good to tell her that. Instead, I focused on her question. “Norris is sweeping the perimeter. I’m afraid he’ll never quite trust anyone else to do it.”

“I always feel safer when he does,” she admitted.

She’d never told me that. Then again, Norris had been protecting her since the moment I’d brought her into my life. Truthfully, I felt better when he did as well, especially since my heart was walking around inside this tent.

“Sarah’s here, and I want someone to keep an eye on her,” Clara explained.

There was a Cambridge who did need a babysitter, and we both knew it. Sarah had been courting the paparazzi since her arrival back in London. She’d actually asked to see the tabloids this morning like she was proud of her behaviour.

“Shouldn’t Brex be watching her?” I asked.

“I think he’s avoiding her,” Clara admitted.

“He’s her bloody bodyguard.”

“And a good one,” Clara said. “He’s probably protecting her from himself. If I had to put up…” Her eyes flashed up to mine as though she’d only just realized she was saying these things out loud.

“Go on.” My mouth twitched at my wife’s horror. “It’s nothing I haven’t thought.”

She shook her head, nearly losing her fascinator in the process. Clutching it, she adjusted it, muttering a few colourful words under her breath. “Sorry. Losing my hat, cursing—not very regal behaviour.”

“Oh, but, Poppet”—I leaned closer so that I could smell the citrus notes of her perfume—“I prefer my queen wicked, remember?” I brushed my lips over her ear so swiftly that no one would spot the movement.

But the effect was unmistakable. Her breath hitched and pink stained her cheeks. Clara’s responsiveness triggered my own and I turned my body towards hers, moving just close enough that she could feel the hardness of my cock.

“You look beautiful,” I told her in a low voice and she closed her eyes as though she could feel the words caressing over her skin.

She did. The richly-coloured green dress she wore was a strange combination of modest and sensual. The cut covered her to the neck but the fabric did nothing to hide the graceful curves of her body. Against her pale skin, it made her gray eyes brighter and brought out the subtle red highlights in her hair.

Clara swallowed, her fingers lingering on my tie, and looked away. “I think we lost Edward.”

“We don’t need him,” I muttered, pressing subtly closer.

“There are dozens of people here,” she whispered.

“I’m not making a move,” I promised with a wicked grin, “I’m giving you a sneak preview of things to come.”

She licked her lips, looking slightly dazed. Then her knees buckled slightly. I caught her elbow in time, but the stumble caught the attention of everyone around us. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I fought to control my annoyance at the crowd forming around us.

Norris materialized at my side and began moving the gawkers back. “The Queen needs a moment. She’s simply overheated.”

“Sorry, Poppet,” I murmured, walking her toward the bar. “I shouldn’t get you so worked up.”

“How do you fit your ego in this tent?” she asked dryly. “It’s getting warm. I dressed for this morning’s temperature.”

The temperature wouldn’t even register as balmy. It was quite cool despite the sun’s appearance, but I didn’t argue with her.