“Do you wish to wed my cousin or not?”
“Penton!”she once again scolded.She was about to say more, but clamped her mouth shut.“Is it that obvious?”
“That he wants you to be his wife?”
She gave a start, not expectingthatparticular take on it.“Does he?”
A look of confusion crossed David’s face.“He stares at you all the time.Acts like a lovesick puppy dog, especially when you’re in the company of the baby.”
Helen inhaled softly and swallowed.“I’ve caught him staring, but I hardly know why he would be jealous of Bradley,” she murmured.
“He’s jealous of...”Here he stopped and dipped his head.“Forgive me.It is none of my concern as to who...well, may I just ask if you are a widow, perhaps?”
Confusion had Helen’s brows furrowing.“No.I’ve never been married.I’ve never even been betrothed,” she said in a quiet voice.“Why would you even think so?”
David didn’t answer her question, merely asking another of his own.“And Bradley?”he pressed.
Her brows rose in anticipation of the rest of the query.“What about him?”
“Well, did...forgive, my lady, but how do you account for him?”
“Account for him?”she whispered.Understanding suddenly dawned on Helen, and she lifted a gloved hand to her face as she let out a gasp of surprise and then nervously laughed.“Oh, Penton, you’re a terrible tease,” she accused.“You really had me going there for a moment.”
Now that it was his turn to be confused, David appeared dumbfounded.“I...I don’t follow,” he murmured.
Helen giggled again, this time not bothering to cover her mouth.She leaned in close, lowered her voice to a whisper, and said, “Silly goose, he’s my little brother.”
David’s look of confusion slowly cleared.“As in...?”
“My father’s spare heir, yes,” she affirmed, a brilliant smile lighting her face.She giggled again.
David’s look of startlement was followed by a bark of laughter, which had the others turning to stare at him.“Oh, my lady, you have managed to surprise me as I have not been since...well, since my days at university,” he claimed.
Helen suddenly sobered.“You mean...everyonethinks Bradley is...is my son?”she asked in a hoarse whisper, remembering the conversation she’d had with Diana when they were at the pyramids.
Lifting a shoulder, he said, “Well, I certainly did and so does Thomas.”He glanced over at her.“So...this shall make our day even more fun,” he added, a grin suddenly splitting his face.
“Aren’t you going to tell him?Ishould tell him,” she replied, almost letting go her hold on him.
“No,” David replied, placing a staying hand over hers.“Let him stew.We can wait until later.Father says we’ll be spending the next few nights in a hotel in Luxor.”
Helen glanced back at Tom.“How could he think that of me?”she asked in a quiet voice, her momentary humor dissipating.
Although she wasn’t expecting a response, he said, “You simply have to forgive us.We men aren’t always so...perceptive.”
Knowing he spoke the truth, Helen merely rolled her eyes and was glad they had made it to the front of the temple.
David glanced back at Tom again, noting how his cousin narrowed his eyes when their gazes locked.The machinations I must perform for those in love,he thought ruefully.Turning his attention back to Helen, he said, “Don’t hold it against him, my lady.I think he truly feels affection for you, but he may believe you have a beau back in London.”Entirely too amused by the situation, he struggled to keep a straight face.
