The Prince Who Loved Me (The Oxenburg Princes) (28 page)

She’d stolen his heart with just one kiss, a kiss as chaste as an angel’s wing, light and filled with innocent promise.

—
The Black Duke
by Miss Mary Edgeworth

From a window in the upper hall, Alexsey watched the carriages stream into Tulloch’s courtyard. All day, his body had hummed and he’d felt light on his feet, like a snow leopard on the hunt, simmering with excitement and a sense of purpose. Today, he would claim Bronwyn for his own.
It’s about damn time.

He didn’t regret the passionate night he’d spent with Roza—come a hundred scandals, he’d never regret that. That night had made him all the more determined to have her in his life. But he did regret the necessity of this proposal. The whole thing—the scandal, the gossip, the fact that other people were now involved in his and Bronwyn’s relationship—that was the untenable part and it had greatly complicated things.

Bronwyn would never accept a marriage offer made for society’s sake. She was far too stubborn and too independent for that, and he relished that about her. But now, because of their situation, she would think that was all he had to offer. Because of his carelessness, things had become complicated.
She will refuse me. I know it.

He tugged at his neckcloth, his palms damp. He would not accept her refusal. He’d need a plan, though. Yes, a plan. He’d have to win over her pragmatic side first. Their circumstances dictated that they marry, and he was more than willing, so that was that. But her romantic side would present a bigger challenge. He’d have to prove that more than necessity had brought him to her, and that there was a very good reason to wed. The best one of all. Because he loved her.

If only I’d admitted it to her earlier.
But his heart had been stubborn in yielding its secrets.
Damn it, I should have wooed her properly from the start, but I was a fool and had planned on just a flirtation.
He cringed to think of that now. But all of that could be overcome, he was certain of it. Because he could not accept the alternative. Not this time.

Fortunately, he was not a novice. He patted his coat pocket, where a bundle rested. There was more than one way to woo a woman who loved a good book.
It must work. Our happiness depends on it.

Below in the courtyard, Sir Henry’s coach pulled up. Alexsey leaned forward as the coach dislodged its guests, but the portico blocked his sight. Cursing, he left the window and headed downstairs to the ballroom.
Finally!

Once inside the ballroom, he bowed to those nearest the doorway and made his way into the crowd, aware of the whispers and looks that followed him. The rumors were thick, but he couldn’t have cared less.

Strath left a small group of men and joined Alexsey. “Ah, the happy groomsman!”

Alexsey looked around, frowning. “I don’t see her. Do you?”

“No.” Strath’s gaze narrowed. “Tell me something: was it worth it?”

“A thousand times yes.”

Strath didn’t look convinced. “She’ll not have you, you know. I’ve heard she’s only coming to refuse you.”

“Then I will change her mind.”

“Good luck. The Murdoch women are a stubborn lot.”

“They are Scottish. I expect no less.”

Strath laughed. “I suppose so. Just . . . don’t do anything rash. You could make this offer, let her refuse you, then go on your merry way, free and unfettered.”

“Free and unfettered do not have the benefits I once thought.”

“Amen,” Strath muttered under his breath. “I must say, you are the most willing of unwilling grooms I’ve ever encountered. You are positively aglow with—”

“Your Highness!”

They turned to find Lady Malvinea. Though always stiff in bearing, she was even more so tonight, her hands clasped tightly before her.

Alexsey looked past her but there was no one there. Pushing his impatience aside, he bowed. “Lady Malvinea, where are your lovely daughters this evening?”

“Sorcha and Mairi were both dancing when I last saw them.”

“And Bronwyn?”

“That’s what I came to tell you. She—” Lady Malvinea looked at Strath, who was pretending not to listen but obviously was. She frowned. “Lord Strathmoor, I would like to speak to His Highness in private.”

Strath flushed. “Since I was standing with him when you addressed him, I could hardly leave without being rude.”

“You may leave now.”

Strath’s mouth grew white, but without a word, he turned on his heel and left.

Alexsey frowned. “Strathmoor is a good man, my lady.”

“If you knew how many times he’s—” She closed her lips. “It doesn’t matter. If we may walk and converse, there will be fewer interruptions.”

He escorted her away. “Well?” he said as soon as they were distant from the crowd. “Where is Miss Bronwyn?”

“She refused to come.”

He’d never considered that a possibility. He’d been certain that she would at least attend the dinner. He’d imagined it all—she’d arrive, they’d talk, even argue, she’d perhaps even leave with things unresolved. But he’d never imagined that she might not even speak to him.
What if she refuses to ever speak to me?
His heart grew cold.

Lady Malvinea watched him closely. “That upsets you, I can see.”

“I must speak to your daughter, Lady Malvinea.”

The older woman sighed. “If only it were that easy. Your Highness, she will not marry you. She’s determined to free you from this situation and move on with her life.”

His chest tightened with each word. “She has told you this?”

She nodded. “Bronwyn does not wish to correspond in any way. She asks only that you respect her wishes and leave as soon as possible, so that she may continue her life as it was before.”

His heart sank and he fought for breath. He realized Lady Malvinea was waiting for him to speak. “I am sorry, but this news . . . I cannot accept it.”

Her expression softened. “Perhaps . . . perhaps we can ask for some assistance. Bronwyn has a fondness for Sir Henry. We could ask him to speak to her on your behalf. She might be willing to see you then.”

Why not?
“Yes. That would be good.”

“Here’s the library. Why don’t you wait there, and I’ll fetch Sir Henry. I just saw him by the stairs, and it would be better if I asked for his attendance. He’s not happy that the incident happened under his roof. He’s a bit irritated with you now, but once he knows you wish to make things right, I’m sure he’ll come around.”

Alexsey didn’t have anything to lose. “I will wait here.” Hopefully there would be some scotch in the library.

As she left he went inside the room, only to find it quite dark, lit by only one candle.

Frowning, he took a step toward a lamp beside the candle.

“Hello?”

He turned at the sound of a woman’s voice. Squinting into the gloom, he saw someone rise from the settee beside the fire, the high back having obscured her from view. He frowned. “I’m sorry. I thought this room unoccupied.”

“Oh! Your Highness, I didn’t realize it was you.” She dropped a curtsy.

“Sorcha?” Alexsey frowned, walking closer. “What are you doing here?”

“Mama has a headache, and she told me to wait here while she fetched some hartshorn.”

He froze in place. “Your
mother
?”

“Yes. She said she’d . . . return . . .” Her words diminished to a whisper, her eyes widening.

“Damn it!”

He turned toward the door, but before he could take more than two strides, Tata Natasha and Lady Malvinea entered, Sir Henry behind them. Sir Henry was in the middle of telling the ladies a story about a fish he’d once caught, but he came to an abrupt standstill when he saw Alexsey and Sorcha.

It looked damning—the empty room, him and Sorcha in the near dark—

“Well!” Tata Natasha said, satisfaction on her face. “What have we here?”

Lady Malvinea’s eyes gleamed, though she shook her head in condemnation.

“Damn you, sir!” Sir Henry stomped forward, his face obviously flushed. “How many Murdochs are you trying to ruin?”

Lord Thomas leaned closer. “Roland, I will tell you an ancient secret. There are two ways to woo a woman. The first is to use all the weapons at your disposal. The second is to never run out of weapons.”

—
The Black Duke
by Miss Mary Edgeworth

Alexsey seethed. Was
nothing
to go right today?

Lady Malvinea turned to Sir Henry. “The prince has ruined Sorcha. I demand an accounting.”

The words sounded as contrived as they were.

Alexsey made his way to the nearest lamp, flooding the room with a brighter glow.

“Mama, no!” Sorcha hurried to her mother’s side. “Nothing happened, and you know it. You were the one who—”

“Quiet, child. Let Sir Henry handle this.”

Sorcha’s chin rose. “No, I won’t let it be!
You
caused this. You—”

Tata
tsk
ed. “Sir Henry, forgive the girl. She’s obviously distraught.”

Alexsey narrowed his gaze on his grandmother. She didn’t seem the least upset. In fact, he detected the faintest glimmer of a smile in her eyes.

“With good reason!” Sir Henry glared at Alexsey. “Your Highness, you have much to answer for!”

“I did not attempt to seduce Miss Sorcha.”

“You were here, so was she, the lamp turned down, and nearly all of the candles were out. Who did that, if not you?” Sir Henry blustered. “How dare you abuse my hospitality in such a way!”

“I did not know Miss Sorcha was in the library when I entered. Lady Malvinea did not mention that she’d left her daughter here.”

“He never touched me,” Sorcha added.

“Ha!” Tata Natasha said.

Alexsey caught the quick, meaningful glance she shared with Lady Malvinea. His gaze narrowed. “Tata, you and Lady Malvinea have been plotting. But what? I wonder.”

Tata sniffed. “Don’t ask for help from me; this matter is in Sir Henry’s hands.” She turned to him. “Sir Henry, you know what you must do.”

Sir Henry’s glower faded a bit. “Aye?”

“Tell my grandson he must make a choice. He has to pick which he will marry.”

Sir Henry blinked. “I do?”

“Of course. What else can you do?”

“I don’t know. I suppose that answer serves as well as any other.” He turned to Lady Malvinea. “Is that what you would have me do? If it were me, I’d rather toss the blackguard into gaol for the rest of his life.”

“You cannot,” Tata Natasha said serenely. “He’s a prince of Oxenburg.”

“I don’t give a damn if he’s a prince of England,” Sir Henry huffed. “As far as I’m concerned, that rakehell lost his immunity when he seduced
two
women under
my
roof.”

“My lord.” Lady Malvinea cleared her throat. “Her Grace’s idea has merit; let’s allow His Highness the choice.”

Tata nodded. “It is an easy choice. Bronwyn is not of a marriageable age. Sorcha is perfect. It is decided.” She inclined her head to Sir Henry. “Marry them as soon as possible.”

“I’ll fetch a vicar now and—”

“
No
.”

Everyone turned to see Lord Strathmoor standing in the open doorway, his face white.

Sir Henry frowned. “This is none of your affair.”

“Like hell.” Strath held out his hand to Sorcha.

With a muffled sob she hurried to his side, slipping into the circle of his arm as if she belonged there. “I’m so glad you came! Mama asked me to wait for her here—I didn’t know she was tricking the prince into joining me here, or—”

Tata stomped her foot. “
Bozhy moj!
Is everyone in this castle hiding their loves?”

Lady Malvinea’s mouth hung open. “Sorcha? What is this?”

Strathmoor pressed a kiss to Sorcha’s cheek, then bowed to Lady Malvinea. “Sorcha and I owe you an apology. I have come to you many times requesting your permission to court your daughter.”

“Too many times,” she said curtly. “You have nothing to offer her.”

“I have love, my lady. And for us, it is enough.” He took Sorcha’s hand and kissed it. “We married two days ago.”

Silence met this.

Alexsey choked on a laugh. “You lucky bastard.”

Strath sent him a pleased look. “I wished to tell you, but you were in the middle of your own storm.”

“I am glad to see we’re to be brothers, once I convince Bronwyn to have me, that is.”

“Pah!” Tata Natasha threw up her hands. “This ruins
everything
.”

Lady Malvinea nodded, tears in her eyes. “Our plan . . . all of our scheming . . .”

“
Da
,” Tata said with a regretful shrug. “It was a beautiful idea, but it did not work so well, eh?”

“I don’t understand.” Sir Henry rubbed his eyes as if he hoped to see through the confusion more clearly. “Strath . . . married to Miss Sorcha? I thought you couldn’t stand one another.”

“Trust me, there were times I positively hated her, and she me.” Strath sent an amused glance at his wife, who blushed. “She said no many,
many
times.”

Sorcha smiled shyly. “But he kept asking, each time in a better way.”

“Sorcha, how could you?” Lady Malvinea’s face folded in tears. “How could you not tell me? I’m your mother!”

“I wanted to, but every time I mentioned Strathmoor, you dismissed him and started talking about the prince.”

“But . . . he’s only a viscount, and has so few prospects. How will you live?”

Sorcha slipped her arm through Strathmoor’s. “I love him, and we will make our own prospects.”

Lady Malvinea turned to Sir Henry. “You must do something about this!”

“I’m afraid I can’t. If they’re married, that’s all there is to be said about it.” Sir Henry sighed. “I suppose I can do one thing, though. I was already thinking about this, so I’ll make it official.” He quirked a brow at Strath. “What do you think of a bride gift in the form of this castle?”

Strath’s eyes widened. “Tulloch? For us?”

“Aye.” Sir Henry looked fondly about the library. “I love the place, but it needs someone who’ll live here and invest the rents back into the lands. I’ve no time for that, but you could do it, lad. You’re young and have the intelligence.”

Strath looked down at Sorcha. “Well? Would you like to be the lady of Tulloch?”

Sorcha beamed. “I’d happily be the lady of a crofting hut, as long as you were there.”

He hugged her and turned to his uncle, gratitude in his voice. “I can’t thank you enough, Uncle. You won’t be sorry. I’ll implement every change you’ve suggested.”

Sir Henry looked pleased. “You’re a good one, Strath. I’ve always thought so. And I’m ashamed I haven’t kept Tulloch up as well as she deserves. Now I can visit every year and you can show me the improvements you’ve made.”

He cocked his brow at Lady Malvinea. “There, my lady. I’ve sweetened the pot with a castle and all of its rents, which are considerable. Your lass will be well cared for. Not hugely wealthy, but she’ll be comfortable and safe, and will have a grand home for herself and her bairns.”

“I’ll live close by, too,” Sorcha added, beaming. “You can visit all of the time.”

Alexsey caught Strath’s wince, but Lady Malvinea glowed.

She turned to Sir Henry. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Och, ’tis nothing. It’s settled, then, and we’re all quite happy for it.” Sir Henry straightened, his gaze turning to Alexsey as his expression turned grim once more. “But that dinna fix our other problem.”

Tata waved a hand. “He’s not a problem. Bronwyn is the problem.” She turned to Lady Malvinea. “Our plan would have worked, if not for this complication.”

Alexsey asked, “What was this plan, Tata?”

“Ha! You would have liked it. It was for your own good.”

“And Bronwyn’s,” Lady Malvinea added.

“So you both knew I would never choose Sorcha.”

“Of course we knew that!” Tata scowled.

“Unlike other people”—Lady Malvinea sent a meaningful glance at Sorcha and Strath—“everyone knew how you felt about Bronwyn, and she about you.”

“Everyone?”

Sir Henry cleared his throat. “Actually, I had no idea.”

“Neither did I,” Strath said.

Sorcha looked up at her husband. “Really? It was so obvious.”

Alexsey threw up his hands. “Tata, just tell me what mischief you’ve been up to! I’ve no patience for this.”

Tata smirked. “It has been obvious to me for some time that you meant to have Miss Bronwyn, will she, nill she. She is a very independent miss. Very strong-willed.”

“Which you did not like. You threatened to withhold the
kaltso.
”

“I didn’t like it at first, perhaps. But Lady Malvinea came to see me. She told me things about Bronwyn that I did not know. About her strength and her caring. I decided the girl would do very well.”

“You said she was too uncomfortable in public to be a princess.”

“Easily overcome with practice.”

“You also said she was too old to marry and have children.”

“Pah. At twenty-four, she is a mere child. I was twenty-seven when I had your mother.”

“So you just
pretended
not to like Bronwyn?”

“I wanted to see how hard you were willing to work to be with her.”

“So that’s why you had me do all of those useless errands.”

“And protested, and demanded you stop seeing her. But no matter what I did, no matter what Lady Malvinea did, you did not let it stop you. You didn’t let anything stop you. But
then
you botched it royally when you let her get caught leaving your room. What a foolish move!”

“I did not mean for that to happen. But it is nothing. I will have Bronwyn for a wife. Tonight I was going to ask her to marry me.”

Tata threw up her hand, a pained expression on her face. “And she would have thought it was only because you were forced to.”

“I would tell her that is not so.”

“She would think you were merely being kind,” Lady Malvinea said softly. “She would have refused you. That’s why, at Her Grace’s suggestion, I made certain Bronwyn would not be here tonight, so that this would happen.”

Alexsley slowly nodded in understanding. “And I would have to make a choice.”

Lady Malvinea smiled. “And you would have chosen Bronwyn.”

“You think that would have softened her to my cause?”

Tata blew out her breath. “Did you not listen to a word we have said? Her pride would not let her accept a forced marriage. If you had a clear way to get out of it and didn’t take it, then her pride would no longer be an obstacle. Of
course
then she would say yes.”

Strath moved impatiently. “I’m surprised you would play with Sorcha’s reputation in such a way.”

Tata waved her hand. “No one would have known what happened here except us.”

Lady Malvinea added, “And if anyone did come upon us, Her Grace would claim she was in the room the entire time. No one would dare challenge her. We thought of everything. Or thought we had.”

Alexsey walked toward the door.

“Wait!” Tata took a step after him. “Where do you go?”

“To see Bronwyn, wherever she is.”

Tata said, “Take her flowers.”

“Or a gift,” Lady Malvinea said. “That would be nice.”

“A ring is always welcome.” Sorcha glanced at Strath, who chuckled.

“Soon, my love,” he murmured as he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “We will go to London this week and you can select one.”

At the door, Alexsey looked back at Lady Malvinea. “She is at Ackinnoull?”

She nodded.

Sorcha added, “She was to come with us but she never came down, and we couldn’t keep Sir Henry’s coach waiting.”

Lady Malvinea winced. “Actually, I locked the door to her room.”

“Mama!” Sorcha’s eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”

“Because if she’d been here, we’d have never gotten the prince away from her long enough to enact our plan.”

At Alexsey’s dark look, Tata said defensively, “We couldn’t just tell her to stay away from you. You can’t tell a strong woman not to do something. That’s the same as—”

But Alexsey was already gone.