“Why?”
“There is a legend about the jewels. Avalonia will stand as long as the Heavens.”
“Rather vague, isn’t it?”
Alexei chuckled. “It’s a legend. However, superstition is a powerful thing. If it’s known the Heavens are missing, particularly at this uncertain moment, it will be used against my father and me and taken as a sign that we should not rule.
“And if you had the jewels, there would be no question as to who is the rightful king.”
“Precisely. The Heavens are a powerful symbol, exactly what my country needs at the moment.” Alexei paused. “Would you give them to me if you had them?”
“Yes,” Rand said without hesitation, then grinned. “But of course, you don’t know me well enough to believe me.”
Alexei laughed, then sobered. “I long ago learned not to underestimate Valentina, but I doubt she knows about the Heavens. Therefore, whatever the underhanded scheme is that you have happened upon probably has nothing to do with the jewels.”
“Probably not.” Rand was reluctant to voice the thought uppermost in his mind.
“Come now, Rand. We are being honest, are we not?” Alexei’s gaze trapped his cousin’s. “I assume you are far more experienced in matters of this sort than I. What are you thinking?”
Rand drew a deep breath. “The men Jocelyn interrupted were willing to kill to keep her from identifying them. One I am familiar with. He’s nothing more than a hireling but dangerous nonetheless. I suspect the other may well be an official in your government. Probably of high rank. Perhaps even someone well known to you. Someone you have no reason to distrust.” He paused to choose his words. “I would guess that, at best, their purpose here is to discredit you. At worst—”
“Assassination?” Alexei’s tone was matter-of-fact. Obviously the threat of murder was nothing new to him. Still, it was always difficult to accept that someone wanted you dead for whatever reason.
Rand nodded. “Possibly.”
“Probably.” Alexei sipped his brandy thoughtfully. “I want you to know I am not a fool. I spoke directly, and privately, to your superior. And I took every precaution in coming here. No one knows precisely where I am. When I left my entourage, I headed alone in one direction, then doubled back. I am confident I was not followed.” He chuckled ruefully. “It was really quite an enjoyable game.”
“With exceedingly high stakes,” Rand said mildly.
“I am well aware of the stakes.” Alexei paused. “I am not a coward but I would prefer not to risk the life of anyone else. Are we safe here?”
“As safe as anywhere, probably safer, I suppose.” Rand nodded slowly. “I have good and loyal men posted. Not enough to hold back an army but enough to ensure we are not caught unawares.”
“If you agree, I should like to remain for the next few days until it’s time to return to London. If I do not appear at the ceremony it will be used against me. Disreputable scoundrel, unfit to rule, that sort of thing.”
“I understand.”
“You know, cousin.” Alexei considered him with a pensive half smile. “I find I rather envy you at the moment.”
“Do you? Why?”
“You are master of your own life. Your freedom is relatively unfettered.” He laughed softly. “And no one wishes you dead.”
Jocelyn’s face flashed in Rand’s mind. She was angry enough to wish him dead although she’d probably be happy just making his life miserable.
“In addition ...” A wicked spark shone in Alexei’s eye. At once a feeling of unease washed through Rand. “You have a remarkably lovely wife.”
Chapter 12
Laughter rang in the dining hall and the evening meal had the festive air of a party.
A party to which Rand did not feel particularly invited.
No one had snubbed him. He simply didn’t find Alexei as entertaining as Nigel did. He saw no reason to fawn over him as did Ivy, Rose, and Flora. And he could not for the life of him understand why Jocelyn was obviously enraptured by his charms.
And he didn’t like for a moment the way Alexei was just as captivated by Jocelyn.
The meal itself was long since over, and it was well past the time when ladies should retire, leaving gentlemen to their after-dinner refreshment and discussions. However, since the only lady present was Jocelyn, and she showed no interest in leaving, the group still lingered around the table. A gathering made tolerable to Rand only by Nigel’s excellent cognac. However reclusive the elderly man may have become he still stocked an outstanding cellar.
“Do tell us, Alexei, about the ...”
Rand kept an overly pleasant smile plastered on his face until he thought his very skin would crack. He forced a mellow and lighthearted tone to his voice. He chuckled in the appropriate places. And he had yet another glass of cognac.
In spite of the liquor, Rand noticed the subtly intimate manner in which Alexei directed a question to Jocelyn. The wicked light in his eyes when he smiled at her. And the way he looked at her as if she were a rare delicacy and he an eager connoisseur.
And not once did Rand reach across the table and grab Alexei by his royal cravat. He prided himself on his restraint.
He did, however, note the way Jocelyn leaned toward Alexei when asking a question, barely a fraction of an inch, of course, but lean nonetheless. The way she tilted her head to look at the prince in an overly beguiling manner. The way her gaze meshed with his cousin’s as if they were the only two in the room. Rand totally disregarded the fact that she behaved much the same toward Nigel.
And not once did Rand jump to his feet, grab her hand, and haul her out of the room, no doubt kicking and screaming every step of the way. That too was a mark of his self-control.
“You should visit Avalonia someday, cousin,” Alexei said. “I daresay you would like it.”
“Would I?” Rand said as pleasantly as possible, vowing to himself never to step so much as a single foot upon the soil of Avalonia.
“I have always wanted to travel. I would quite like to see the capitals of Europe.” An annoyingly enthusiastic note sounded in Jocelyn’s voice, and Rand expanded his private promise to include all foreign lands.
“Your grandmother always spoke highly of the country of her birth,” Nigel said. “I suspect she missed it a great deal.”
“I should think it’s quite difficult to live out your life so far away from home,” Alexei said. “I’ve scarce been gone a full month, yet already I feel the need to return. Still, there are obligations I must attend to here.”
“Official duties?” Jocelyn asked.
“My life consists of very little save official duties.” Alexei chuckled. “But yes, this is in fact the purpose of my visit to England. The Society for the Preservation of Anglo-Avalonian Brotherhood is celebrating a century of peace between our two countries.”
Rand knew about the ceremony and the gala to follow but had never given it a second thought. Now it struck him as rather absurd. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Alexei, but I do not recall there ever having been anything but good relations between England and Avalonia.”
“Hence the celebration,” Alexei said blithely.
Rand studied Alexei carefully. Was it possible that this event was staged simply to give Alexei a legitimate opportunity to come to England and search for the Heavens?
“It is always wise to cement the friendship that binds our two countries.” Alexei smiled in an all too polished manner.
Not just possible but indeed quite probable.
“Besides, we have a great deal in common,” Alexei added. “You have a parliament to advise your king and assist in governing. We have a council of ministers that serves essentially the same purpose.” Alexei thought for a moment. “Although I do think the overall attitudes of our respective peoples are dramatically different.”
“How is that, my boy?” Nigel asked.
“It seems to me the British, at least the nobility, are rather staid, even stuffy, when it co
mes to the enjoyment of life. Your society has any number of silly rules and antiquated regulations.”
“Every society has rules of some sort,” Rand said mildly.
“Of course, as do we. It is, as I said, a simple matter of how people look at life. For example, take our views on marriage.”
“Marriage?” Jocelyn laughed. “I cannot imagine that people everywhere don’t see marriage in essentially the same way.”
“Not at all, my dear. While divorce is as difficult and complex in Avalonia as it is here, we accept, far better than you, I believe, how, well”—Alexei shrugged— “mistakes can occur.”
“Mistakes?” Jocelyn pulled her brows together curiously. “What do you mean?”
“As I understand it, annulment of a marriage in this country is quite complicated and can take a rather long time. Years perhaps. In my country, although admittedly it is not an everyday occurrence, it can be accomplished with discretion and little more than a petition to the king and a royal decree.”
“Really?” Jocelyn murmured. “How interesting.”
Rand scoffed. “Come now, there must be more to it than that.”
“Most certainly.” Alexei nodded. “The dissolution of a union is not to be taken lightly. The king gives a great deal of weight to the circumstances of the match. Were both parties willing participants? Was there excessive familial pressure? Was the marriage performed for matters of, say ... safety or protection?”
“Surely every case is different?” Jocelyn said, clearly fascinated by the topic. Far too fascinated.
“Indeed it is. And individual circumstances are thoroughly considered. However, anyone finding themselves in an unwanted marriage because of a situation pertaining to the security of the royal family would be most favorably looked upon.”
“I have no interest in an annulment,” Rand said under his breath.
Jocelyn ignored him, an intent look on her face. “But you’re talking about Avalonia. Certainly such an annulment would not be accepted in England?”
“Countries do extend other nations the courtesy of acknowledging their laws. It is true that two British subjects could not simply travel to Avalonia and request an annulment; I dare not think of the chaos that would ensue should that be permitted. However, the circumstances would be quite different if one of the parties in question was of Avalonian descent.” He paused. “And of royal blood.”
Jocelyn tossed Rand a pointed glance, then turned back to Alexei. “How very interesting.”
“In theory perhaps. However, I personally have no interest in an annulment,” Rand repeated firmly.
“Even so,” Jocelyn said to Alexei, “you’re saying it is possible.”
“Quite possible. I only mention it at all because I am well aware of the factors that led to your, how to tactfully say it, hasty nuptials.” Alexei’s gaze shifted from Jocelyn to Rand. “I feel somewhat responsible for the situation you find yourselves in.”
“You needn’t.” Rand said sharply. “Jocelyn and I suit well together.”
“Still, it’s always good to know options exist.” Jocelyn’s gaze met Rand’s. Her honey-colored eyes glowed in the candlelight, and he hadn’t the least idea exactly what she was thinking. Unease washed through him. “Don’t you agree?”
“No,” he said sharply.
She raised a brow.
“In my day, a marriage was a marriage forever,” Nigel said. “Two people shackled together were bound for the rest of their days.” He sipped his drink. “Longer even.”
Rand drew a deep breath. He was being ungracious but he didn’t feel particularly kind toward anyone who gave Jocelyn so much as a slim hope of dissolving their marriage. “I do appreciate the information, Alexei, but Jocelyn and I are quite content with our union regardless of the manner in which it began.”
Jocelyn emitted something that might have been a snort or a cough and covered her mouth with her hand. Rand cast her a scathing glare and she smiled sweetly in return.
She turned toward Alexei. “Nigel is right, Your Highness, regardless of the manner in which it came about, marriage is quite permanent in this country. For the most part. Even so”—she extended her hand to Alexei—“I am so grateful for the considerate nature of your suggestion.”
Alexei raised her hand to his lips and gazed deeply into her eyes. “It is the least I can do for you.”
Rand clenched his jaw and once again congratulated himself on not giving in to his immediate urge to bash Alexei’s smiling face.
“Now then.” Jocelyn slowly pulled her hand free. “Do tell us more about your family. I have seen the portraits of Rand’s grandparents but I know nothing else about the heritage the two of you share.”
Alexei launched into an entertaining recitation of the long and noble history of the royal family of Avalonia.
Rand paid cursory attention and participated with an occasional nod or vague murmur. His attention was fixed firmly on his wife. Jocelyn was wearing another of those damnable old-fashioned gowns that compressed her waist to a size a man’s hands could easily fit around and barely constrained her delectable bosom. She flirted and flattered and teased in the manner in which she’d admitted she had practiced all her life. Lessons obviously well learned. She was nothing short of glorious and looked and sounded and behaved, well, like the princess of some magical realm. Or a man’s deepest desires. He could scarcely fault Alexei for the gleam in his eye.
It was to be expected, he supposed. She was a captivating woman, and no doubt many men would look, or had looked, at Jocelyn in much the same way. And no doubt it would annoy him just as much in the future. Still, other men were not Alexei. Not the man she had once set her cap for.
But, damn it all, Jocelyn was his wife. And he had no intention of giving her up.
Her laughter rang in the room, accompanying his realization that the emotion gripping his gut was nothing less than jealousy. It was an entirely new sensation and he didn’t like it one bit. Still, it was probably inevitable when one cared for one’s wife.
And he did care for her. More than he would have thought possible. Perhaps, just perhaps, it was love.
The thought struck him that this was a very good way to begin their lives together.
Alexei said something and Jocelyn responded with a flirtatious smile and a seductive flutter of her lashes. Rand’s jaw clenched.
Of course, before he could explore his own feelings, he had to pacify hers. Had to clear up that mess he’d caused this afternoon and make sure she understood he hadn’t the slightest regret about marrying her.
And make sure she understood as well he would never let her go.
———
“Before you say anything, I believe I owe you yet another apology.” Rand’s voice sounded behind her.
Jocelyn sat in the window seat gazing out at the starry night through her spectacles. It was really quite amazing. She couldn’t help but regret the vanity that had kept her from appreciating such a remarkable sight until now.
“Jocelyn?”
She heard him close the door firmly and turned toward him. “One apology, Rand? I would have thought you owed me a dozen.”
“Only a dozen?” He stepped toward her with a tentative smile, one hand behind his back. “That’s much better than I anticipated.”
She’d already decided to forgive him for nearly everything. Certainly there was the possibility she was simply fooling herself but she doubted it. After all, in spite of anything he might have said aloud, his behavior at dinner spoke volumes. The nasty looks he’d cast Alexei, the grim set of his lips, his obvious jealousy, and his adamant refusal to so much as consider the annulment Alexei offered all strengthened her belief that he did indeed care for her.
She simply had to make him realize it.
“And this time ...” He drew his arm from behind his back to reveal a large bouquet of white roses from the garden. He held them out to her. “I have come prepared.”
She studied him for a minute.
“Did you mean what you said?”
“I realize that jewelry would be appropriate as well but at the moment all I could—”
“No.” She huffed. “Not about being prepared. About what you said this afternoon.”
His brows drew together. Obviously the man had no idea exactly to which of his assumptions, half truths, or misstatements she referred.
“No.” He drew out the word carefully. It was as much a question as an answer. He appeared so perplexed she was hard pressed not to laugh aloud.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”
“Of course I do.” But clearly he didn’t.
“I can certainly understand it. There were so many ill-thought things you said this afternoon.” She got up from the seat and walked toward him. “When you said this was a marriage neither of us wants. Did you mean it?”
“Well...” His brow furrowed and he looked as if he were debating the merits of any number of answers.
Perhaps she should take pity on him. “You said a marriage neither of us wants. Not wanted. Did you mean to say that? Did you mean that at this particular time, right now, today, this very moment, you do not want this marriage?”
His expression cleared and he shook his head firmly. “No. Absolutely not. What I do mean is that I do want this marriage. I misspoke today. I should have said wanted. I didn’t mean to say wants. It was a slip of the tongue. I was quite disconcerted and—”
She grabbed his jacket with both hands and pulled his lips toward hers. “Then do shut up and kiss me.”
He dropped the roses and wrapped his arms around her. His lips crushed hers and an impossible sense of joy flooded through her. Surely no man could kiss like this without affection. Surely he cared for her. He might well be annoying but he was an annoyance she would treasure for the rest of her days.
At last he pulled back and stared down at her. His gaze searched hers. “You are no longer angry then? I am forgiven?”
“For the moment.” She grinned. “But I cannot promise how long that will last. You have the most irritating tendency to say exactly the wrong thing. However, I have already begun to realize, for the most part, they are unwitting mistakes. Fortunately for you, I am intelligent enough to understand that.”
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