A Magnificent Match (30 page)

“You have bought me?” repeated Megan, stunned. She stared up at him with a dawning comprehension.

Prince Kirov nodded, watching her expression closely. “But I shall withdraw from all of these negotiations if you do not wish the match. I—I do not force you to come to me, Megan.” There was an uncharacteristically vulnerable look in the prince’s eyes.

“You would break your pledged word of honor?” asked Megan slowly.

Prince Kirov’s somber expression deepened. “My honor is everything to me. But my love for you is a stronger bond than even that, Megan. Say the word, and this very instant I shall inform Lord and Lady O’Connell that I withdraw from all that I have promised.”

There was a short silence. Megan drew a design with her finger on the smooth chair back. “Why have you not kissed me, your highness?”

Prince Kirov drew in a deep, haggard breath. He felt his self-control waver for just an instant, but he steeled himself. He shook his head. “I do not sway you with unfair tactics this time, Megan. I am Kirov, a gentleman and a prince. I have my scruples.”

Megan threw a glance up at him from under her lashes. “Your reputation says otherwise,” she said demurely. “And your scruples have not stood in your way before.”

His face paled and his eyes became bleak. “You think to torment me, mademoiselle. Truly I deserve such treatment, for before I have thought only of myself and my own desires.”

Megan stepped very close to him. She reached up and took hold of his lapels. “I would cheerfully shake you if I could, but you are too large,” she said, “Misha, I have loved you since before I ever left St. Petersburg. I denied you because I did not trust my own heart, nor yours. That is why I was so furious when you took advantage of me. And now! Misha, never did I think that I should have to beg you to kiss me!”

With a sound very like a growl, Prince Kirov swept his arms about her. Ruthlessly he kissed her, lifting her feet quite off of the floor. Megan returned his attentions with fervor, winding her arms around his neck.

It was Prince Kirov who first broke the embrace. Breathing heavily, he stared down into his future bride’s radiant face. “We shall be married at once by special license and you will accompany me to Calais,” he declared.

“Then we’ll go to Paris for our honeymoon,” said Megan, nodding.

“Yes, and then we shall go to Paris,” said Prince Kirov, his eyes brightening. He had immediately perceived the benefits of leaving all family and social entanglements behind and having Megan to himself.

Happy with the thought, he kissed her again, and again, until Megan uttered a faint protest. Holding on to his lapel, she said breathlessly, “Misha! If you do not allow me to breathe, I shall quite faint away.”

Prince Kirov laughed. “You are safe in my arms, my dove. I will not let you fall, Megan! I do not wish to be parted from you for even a moment more. You must go with me now, and we will be wed. Then we shall set out at once for Paris.”

Megan saw nothing to object to in this whirlwind plan, but there were threads left untied. “But what about my father’s horse? And the presentation to my mother of the jewels?”

“Your father may take possession of the horse for himself. As for the jewels, we shall hold our first public reception in Paris and present them to Lady O’Connell there,” said Prince Kirov decisively.

“You are Kirov,” said Megan, laughing up at him. “Of course it shall be just as you say.”

“Yes, I am Kirov,” declared Prince Kirov. “I sweep all before me.”

Gayle Buck doesn't ever want to stop writing. "I decided when I was in the fifth grade that I wanted to write stories that would make people laugh and cry. I haven't even scratched the surface yet," she admits with a grin.

A Kansas-bred Texan (and proud of it), Gayle says, "Let's just say that I like independence and survival in my characters and in my life." She has two sons that she is enormously proud of. They are both native-born Texans. "But I'm sure they have a few of those prairie pioneer genes, too."

Gayle has published 26 Regencies, an inspirational and a how-to book. She has some new book ideas; right now, she's not saying much about them. "But I'm going to have a whole lot of fun for the foreseeable future."

Gayle Buck has a degree in journalism and has written for every media known except film. She thinks about it for a minute. "Oh, yeah. That's goin' to change."

Copyright © 1997 by Gayle Buck

Originally published by Signet (ISBN 0451193989)

Electronically published in 2010 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.