The Prince's Bride (22 page)

Jocelyn glanced around the large ballroom at the home of Lord Westerfield, the gracious host for the Avalonian ceremony. She wasn’t wearing her spectacles, yet she could sense the curious stares directed toward Rand and her.

Jocelyn hadn’t for a moment considered the possibility of scandal the appearance of Lord and
Lady
Beaumont might trigger. So much had occurred in her life so quickly, the question of public reaction when she and Rand returned to London society hadn’t even crossed her mind. Yet it should have. The last time she was at an occasion like this she was also the object of speculation. But then it had centered on the attention paid to her by a prince.

Even though the season was nearly at an end, she should have realized her absence would be noted and remarked upon. Of course the rest of her family had left town at the same time and they’d all assumed the ton would believe she had accompanied them. Now, however, she was back. And married to someone entirely different than expected.

She and Rand had arrived just in time for the official ceremony with Alexei and the Prince Regent, which was little more than a few enthusiastic, and mercifully short, speeches, and exchange of gifts between England’s heir to the throne and Avalonia’s crown prince. This was accompanied by a round of toasts to continued goodwill between the two countries. After that the music and dancing had begun and the ball was under way in earnest. It was only then she realized she and Rand were as much a target of attention as were the royal figures in attendance.

“Rand,” she said in a low voice. “Am I mistaken, or are we the subject of a great deal of curiosity?”

“Indeed we are.” He chuckled. “Does it bother you?”

“No,” she said slowly. “I simply did not expect it.”

“I suggest we take advantage of it.”

“Oh? And how would we do that?”

“By showing each and every one of the gossips here that ours was not a marriage forced by any set of circumstances but rather a love match.”

A love match?

“And we shall begin right now. Take off your gloves and give me your hand.”

“My hand?” She laughed but removed her gloves. “Why?”

“It strikes me that I have been remarkably remiss as a husband thus far.” He took her left hand with his right and pulled something from his waistcoat with his free hand. “But I intend to rectify that right now.”

She held her breath.

He slipped a ring on her finger, a large, oval sapphire encircled by diamonds. Jocelyn stared in disbelief. She’d never seen anything as lovely, or as blue, in her life. And never had she been given anything that meant so much. “Oh my.”

“This was my errand today. I wanted something to match your eyes but I had to settle for this. The jeweler said sapphires were once believed to have protected the wearer from harm. It seemed somewhat appropriate given how we began.” He paused. “If you don’t like it, I can certainly return—”

“Never!” She sniffed back an unexpected tear. “It’s beautiful.”

“Good,” he said with a sigh of relief and lifted her hand to his lips. “But it pales in comparison to its wearer.”

“I shall never take it off.”

“Not even when you play billiards? Or bathe?” he teased.

“Especially not when I bathe,” she said staunchly, pulling her hand from his and holding the ring up to the light. “Never.” She glanced from the deep blue gem to the darker hue of her husband’s eyes. “You are not even a bit poor, are you?”

“Is that my curious wife asking or her more mercenary nature?”

“Curious,” she said primly.

“I’m probably somewhat more financially sound than you thought,” he admitted. “And I am willing to confess the details of my finances whenever you wish. At the moment, however”—he bowed dramatically— “my dear lady wife, we have never danced before, and I should like nothing better than this dance. A waltz, I believe.” He held out his hand.

She put her hand in his, still somewhat dazed by both the ring and his declaration.
A love match.
Dazed and overwhelmed and amazingly happy. She smiled at him with all the love in her heart, not caring who noticed or what they thought.

They danced one waltz, then another and another still, disregarding any sense of what might or might not be proper. Delighting in the enjoyment of being in each other’s arms, moving to the strains of the music. At last Rand led her off the dance floor, his hand holding hers even when they stopped. Quite improper. Quite wonderful.

“My dear Lady Beaumont.”

Jocelyn and Rand turned. The Duchess of Roxborough, Richard’s mother-in-law as well as Marianne’s new mother-in-law, beamed at them. Jocelyn had met her a few times since her brother’s marriage but was always surprised at the overtly warm reception.

“Your Grace.” Jocelyn bobbed a curtsy.

“Now, now, none of that.” The older woman took her hands and kissed her firmly on both cheeks. “We are family, my dear, what with your brother married to my daughter, my darling granddaughter your niece, and one of your sisters wed to my son. Why, I almost think of you as something of a daughter, and I did always hope for more than one. I am delighted to see you looking so...” The duchess stepped back and studied her for a moment. “Happy. Yes, that’s the word. I am most pleased. And pleased by your choice of husband as well.”

The duchess turned to Rand and extended her hand. He took it and bowed low. “Your Grace.”

“I know your mother quite well, my lord. Lovely woman. I have not seen her for a while, what with her flitting about the continent and my extended trip to America, yet I have always considered her a friend.”

Rand straightened. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“I know as well you are a good friend of Thomas’s.” The duchess’s gaze met Jocelyn’s. “He and Marianne have planned a wedding trip to Italy but will return to London first. Within the next few days, I imagine, and look forward to seeing you. The rest of the family is still in the country but the duke and I...” She cast a glance around the room with a huff of annoyance. “He is here somewhere. He’s always been somewhat difficult to keep track of at an event like this, not his favorite sort of thing at all, you know, although that’s neither here nor there. At any rate, we decided it would be best to make an appearance here tonight.”

She leaned toward them in a confidential manner. “We thought if we publicly acknowledged your union and made it clear to all concerned how delightful we think it is, and how fitting a match and how much we approve, well, there simply wouldn’t be any nasty gossip to deal with. And any question as to the haste of your marriage would be put to rest.” She smiled smugly. “I have already made it a point to mention with relentless frequency how yours is very likely the match of the season.”

“Pardon my impertinence, Your Grace.” Rand chose his words with care. “Am I to surmise that your explanation as to your purpose here is why I was ordered to bring Jocelyn to this event?”

“Of course.” The duchess straightened and nodded at Jocelyn. “He’s clever as well as handsome. I do congratulate you, my girl. You’ve made an excellent choice.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Jocelyn frowned in confusion. “But how did you know we would—”

“Oh, I didn’t.” The duchess shook her head firmly. “But my husband did. He always seems to know everything about everything. How he does I will never know although he has any number of official and unofficial sources of information. Some rather mysterious. Now and then I quite give up trying to figure it all out but then my curiosity rises once again. I do believe my continuing quest to uncover all his secrets keeps our life together interesting.”

She paused thoughtfully. “His mother, the dowager duchess, always seems to know everything about everything as well. I’ve never been able to determine how. The woman rarely leaves the country these days. The Effingtons are an odd lot but I am quite fond of them all.” The duchess laughed affectionately, and Jocelyn and Rand joined her.

The lady was right of course. If the Duchess of Roxborough gave her public approval to a marriage, regardless of the haste or circumstances surrounding the match, no one would so much as utter a single word of condemnation. Jocelyn vowed right then and there to name their first girl Katherine after the duchess.

They chatted for a few more minutes. From what she could see, Jocelyn distinctly noted the earlier stares of scandalized curiosity had changed to something equally curious but far more approving, even envious. The duchess had done her work well.

“Your Grace.” Alexei appeared before them and bowed. “How lovely you look this evening.”

“Your Highness,” the duchess said with a slight curtsy. “How kind of you to say, especially as we have never met.”

“I am always most appreciative of beauty when it favors me with its presence,” Alexei said smoothly. The duchess’s brow quirked upward in a slightly skeptical manner. “Lord Beaumont, Lady Beaumont.” He turned to Jocelyn and Rand. “I am pleased, as well, that you were both able to attend.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rand said dryly.

“No doubt.” Alexei chuckled; his gaze met Jocelyn’s but he addressed his words to Rand. “Would you do me the great honor of allowing me to dance with your wife?”

Rand hesitated.

“I believe I have promised this and every other dance to my husband,” Jocelyn said quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was dance with Alexei. Particularly as it could well undo all the good the duchess had done.

“My dear, you really can’t refuse him.” The duchess was firm. “Besides, the best way to dissuade gossip is to confront it head on. You shall favor the prince with a dance while I shall do the same with your charming husband.” The duchess turned to Rand. “My lord?”

“Of course, Your Grace.” A resigned look flitted through Rand’s eyes but he smiled nonetheless and escorted the duchess onto the dance floor. Jocelyn and Alexei followed a few steps behind.

It was yet another waltz and while Jocelyn adored the dance she’d much prefer something, anything, that would keep her well away from Alexei. His intentions might well be innocent but she saw no reason to trust him.

Alexei smiled down at her but his tone was sober. “I must speak to you alone.”

“Certainly not.” Jocelyn’s own smile belied her adamant tone.

“Meet me in the library in a quarter hour.” Alexei’s pleasant expression remained but his voice was firm.

“I believe we’ve been this route before, Your Highness, and I will not travel it again.”

“You will, my lady.” His smile didn’t waver. “Your husband’s life depends on it.”

Her heart leapt to her throat and her step faltered but she recovered at once, praying no one had noticed. “I don’t believe you. What do you mean?”

“I will explain later. And you would do best to believe me.” There was no mistaking the look in Alexei’s eye. There was no choice. She would meet him.

They continued the remainder of the dance in silence. Jocelyn had no idea how she managed to go on as if nothing had happened but somehow she made it though the steps. The music ended and Alexei escorted her back to join Rand and the duchess. They exchanged a few polite comments and Alexei took his leave.

“Charming man,” the duchess murmured. “However, Thomas said he doesn’t trust him and I daresay he is right. There’s something about him...” She shrugged. “I suspect it’s the natural arrogance that accompanies men of great power. Not that it matters, I suppose. I understand he’s leaving tomorrow.”

“I know I shall miss him,” Rand said under his breath and flagged a passing waiter bearing trays of champagne-filled glasses. He passed one to each of the ladies and took a glass for himself.

“Now then, Lord Beaumont,” the duchess began. “How do you feel about...”

Jocelyn maintained a pleasant smile but her mind was nowhere near the discussion whirling about her.
Your husband’s life depends on it.
She shivered at the memory. Even if this was simply a ploy on Alexei’s part to get her alone, and at this point she doubted that, she couldn’t take the chance. She had to find out the meaning of the prince’s cryptic comment. If there was indeed a threat to Rand’s life.

“... then we will expect you sometime later in the summer.” The duchess’s comment caught Jocelyn’s attention.

“We look forward to it.” Rand nodded and Jocelyn wondered exactly what she had missed.

“I am off then. I see a friend I have not spoken to in a very long time.” The duchess lowered her voice. “A dreadful gossip but she does always have some interesting
bon mot
to share. And she will be quite useful at telling the world how very much the duke and I approve of your match.”

Rand chuckled. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

The duchess waved off the comment. “Not at all. It’s the very least I can do and it’s rather a lot of fun. And I truly am happy for you both.” Once again she took Jocelyn’s hands and leaned forward to touch her cheek to the younger woman’s, her quiet words meant for Jocelyn’s ears alone. “I don’t know what’s afoot, my dear, but do be careful. And try a bit harder to look like you’re enjoying yourself.” The duchess straightened and smiled. “Off to continue my good work.” Her Grace turned and vanished into the crowd.

“I think,” Rand said slowly, “I understand Thomas’s nature a bit better now that I’ve met his mother.”