The Perfect Impostor by Wendy Soliman Page B

which dominated the room. Katrina herself had been doing her best to avoid looking at it. “This however is very much your business. It’s high time that you gave me an heir, madam. You assured me the last time we met that you thought you were with child.”
    “It was a false alarm,” she said, wondering if that was actually true.
    At close quarters she could see that Lord Dupont’s eyes were riddled with red lines, and his voice, although almost completely level, betrayed the occasional slur. He was clearly intoxicated, but would it be enough? Would the laudanum fell such an ox of a man? Celia seemed so sure, but how could she actually know?
    “Well then, let’s see if we can make a better job of it this time. We have one short night so let’s not waste it with idle chatter.”
    “Certainly I shall do my duty. Let’s not quarrel about it but instead share some champagne to seal the bargain.”
    Before he could attend to the matter, she slipped past him, making straight for the bottle. She’d never opened one in her life and he certainly wouldn’t expect her to do so. Perhaps she would be able to slip the drug into his glass once he’d poured it but it would be more difficult. To her relief Celia had planned well, and the cork was resting in the neck of the bottle.
    She poured two glasses, aware of his eyes boring into her back as she did so, and somehow managed to slip the whole phial of laudanum into his without him noticing. She panicked, wondering if it would be too much. Did Celia say to use it all? She had been too distracted to take proper notice but it was too late now. She could hardly call it back and so, with a bright smile on her face, she turned towards him and handed him the drugged glass.
    “To the future heir.” She raised her glass to his and downed it in one, trying not to choke on the bubbles.
    He looked momentarily surprised by her lack of restraint but too pleased with her apparent willingness to remark upon it.
    “To the future heir.” He followed her example and downed his drink in one, his eyes not once leaving her face. He put his glass aside, extracted hers from between her fingers and threw it impatiently over his shoulder. It hit the fireplace and shattered, making her jump.
    “Lady Marshall’s crystal doesn’t deserve such abuse.”
    “Damn Lady Marshall.” He narrowed his eyes, watching her closely. “Why did you not mention that Kincade would be attending this gathering? I don’t like the rogue sniffing round your petticoats like a dog on heat.”
    “What a charming turn of phrase.”
    “Just answer the question.”
    “I didn’t know he would be here, nor did Lady Marshall. His arrival surprised everyone. But you have no reason to be concerned about me.” She smiled up at him, averting her face. “I have more sense than to be taken in by him.”
    “See that you aren’t. I shall know what goes on here, never doubt it.” He pinched her bottom hard enough to make her cry out. “Just remember who owns you now, Julia. Who pays for all those fine gowns and jewels you so enjoy.”
    He pulled her into his arms and ran kisses down her neck, making her shudder. He chuckled, presumably mistaking her reaction for pleasure. Depressingly, the laudanum didn’t seem to have affected him one bit. Katrina panicked as her mind flooded with recollections of her brutal marriage. The air was squeezed out of her lungs by the sheer force Dupont employed to hold her against him.
    “You’re squashing me,” she protested.
    He released his hold very slightly. “Sorry, m’dear, but you only have yourself to blame for my flaming ardour.”
    “Don’t tell me the ladies of the court have been neglecting you,” she teased, desperate enough to speak impulsively.
    “They aren’t unresponsive, it’s true.”
    He swayed, his breath coming in hot, heavy gasps, his eyes not once straying from her face. His voice was more slurred than ever but his befuddled state didn’t prevent him from