Charlotte put her hand up to her eyes and started to cry again.
“Dammit, we have to do something!” he went on. “Do you suppose we could get this girl to help us? Bribe her into taking the Prince’s attention away from Charlotte?”
His sister had stopped crying and was gazing at him with widening eyes.
“Are you really suggesting that we might take – Alana with us to – Charl?”
“Not as herself,” the Viscount said. “Supposing we pretended that she was someone smart and noble. That would please the Prince and it might take his mind off you at least for a little while.”
“The only alternative,” Shane said, “would be for us to run away now at once.”
“Papa would come after you.”
“He might not find us and then what could he do about it?”
There was a poignant silence while the Viscount looked a
