Princess Charming

by Nicole Jordan

  He insisted that she finish most of her meal before letting her speak a word, while he kept making idle observations designed to rile and amuse her. Maura could tell that he was set on teasing her in order to lift her mood, and amazingly enough, she soon felt her spirits doing just that.

  When Ash finally announced that he planned to send notice of their betrothal to tomorrow’s afternoon papers, she wrinkled her nose. “I still doubt anyone will believe that you chose me.”

  “On the contrary, no one at all will be surprised that I fell for you. With your irresistible beauty and valiant spirit, I couldn’t fail to be stricken.”

  How could she resist the laughter in his eyes, that heart-stealing smile? Maura wondered. “There you go again, trying to charm me with your absurd flattery.”

  “There is nothing absurd about my flattery. You should know by now that I hold you in the highest esteem.”

  She laughed. “What a whisker.”

  “I swear, I admire you immensely, vixen. Most ladies wouldn’t be willing to fight to their last breath for a mere horse, no matter how beloved.”

  “I thought you strenuously objected to my attempted rescue.”

  “I only objected to your methods. I thought there was a smarter way to go about it.”

  “Which means your way.”

  “Of course.”

  She shook her head in admiration. “You ended up getting exactly what you wanted, Ash. Is there anyone you cannot bend to your will?”

  “I admit, you have proven more difficult than most.”

  “But I still succumbed in only a few days. You wield charm like a weapon.”

  He regarded her thoughtfully. “We are not so unalike, sweeting. I have a way with people, you have one with horses. I’ve seen you work your special brand of charm on your equine companions. You would be downright dangerous if you chose to use that magic on men—not that I want to put any ideas into your pretty head.”

  She responded to his remark with a serious one. “Just now my pretty head would like to know what you are planning to do about Lord Deering.”

  Ash shook his own head. “There will be plenty of time to plot the details of our campaign in the morning after a good night’s sleep.”

  When Maura’s expression sobered completely, Ash made a tisking sound. “Have a little faith, darling. Everything will work out. You just need to trust me.”

  “After you went behind my back and summoned Bow Street to force my hand, you expect me to trust you? Your subterfuge is exactly why I tend to prefer horses to humans. Horses are far more trustworthy.”

  Her declaration earned a chuckle from Ash. Despite her retort, though, Maura did trust him—implicitly. She felt cloaked in warmth and security just now, sitting here like this, before a comfortable fire with Ash, even when she was a target for his ribbing. His warm eyes were amused and beguiling and oh so tempting.…

  Recognizing the danger, she wasn’t sorry when he announced that it was time to retire since it was nearly midnight. She even yawned as he set down their empty plates.

  Ash escorted Maura upstairs, then stopped at her bedchamber door and lowered his mouth to hers for a tender good-night kiss. Yearning shot through her blood, along with a sweet, aching awareness. She found herself wishing he could stay with her tonight and make love to her, even knowing how foolish her longing was.

  But clearly he had more discipline than she did. After a lingering moment, he raised his head. “Sleep well, princess, for we start our newest adventure in the morning.”

  When he turned away, Maura entered her room and shut the door behind her, smiling softly. For although she would sleep alone tonight, she wasn’t alone at all.

  Maura had barely risen the next morning when Katharine swept into her room carrying a breakfast tray.

  “Good, you are awake,” Katharine said brightly, setting the tray down on the dressing table. “No doubt you were exhausted after all your travels, Maura, so I hope you slept well, for we have a great deal to do today. Why don’t you eat your breakfast while I tell you what has transpired this morning?”

  When Maura obeyed, Katharine recounted the events thus far. “First, Ash dispatched a footman to our Aunt Isabella’s London residence and learned that she is on her way home from Cornwall and is expected here sometime tonight. She has houses in London and Cornwall and on a Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain, courtesy of her three husbands.”

  “Three husbands?” Maura remarked curiously.

  “Yes, three. She has been widowed since my Uncle Henry Wilde passed away five years ago. She is actually half Spanish—her father was a Spanish count and distinguished diplomat. You will love Bella, I am certain, Maura. She is so lively and such fun, even if she is only a Wilde by marriage. I have no doubt she will be happy to come stay with us to act as your chaperone and lend an air of propriety to your visit.”

  Without pausing, Kate continued ticking items off her fingers. “Second, Ash wrote a notice of your engagement for the newspapers. Third, I sent to Suffolk for more of your clothing, and in the meantime, you will share mine. And fourth, I have called a family council for ten o’clock this morning to discuss how to give that blackguard Deering his comeuppance. Skye is eager to help, and we shall bring Jack and Quinn and Uncle Cornelius into the deliberations as well.”

  “You have been busy, I see,” Maura murmured, torn between amusement and chagrin that her problems were being forced on all of Katharine’s relatives. “But Kate, I dislike putting your entire family to all this trouble—”

  “Oh, pah. Ash told me you would resist accepting our assistance, but everyone needs a little support now and then. And you know you cannot defeat Deering alone. You needn’t even try, Maura, since we will all relish helping you. No, don’t you dare argue with me. I’ve always been extremely fortunate to have my family to call upon in times of trouble. You have had no one—but that will change right this instant.”

  Thus it was that during her first day in residence at the Beaufort mansion, Maura found herself swept up in the Wilde family consultations. When she had finished breakfast and dressed, she accompanied Katharine downstairs to the library, where, according to Kate, many of their councils took place.

  “Ash is typically in charge of our meetings,” she confided. “He holds the reins of our family since as the eldest, he had the most responsibility when our parents died. But we usually listen to him and trust him to lead us.”

  Ash was already waiting in the library when Maura entered. As he rose to greet her, the warm light in his eyes reminded her vividly of last night’s sensual kiss.

  His uncle’s greeting was more formal, but still genuinely welcoming, as he had known Maura since her first visit to Beauvoir as a schoolgirl. Lord Cornelius Wilde was a classics scholar of some repute and looked the part, with his silvering hair and heavy eyebrows, although his refined bone structure and tall, lean build lent him an unmistakable aristocratic elegance.

  Lord Cornelius, Maura knew, possessed a powerful intelligence, but was uncomfortable in most social settings, so she wasn’t surprised when he politely asked to be excused from the discussion. Then retreating to a comfortable chair near the hearth, he donned his spectacles and opened a leather-bound tome.

  Ash had just seated Maura and Katharine at a large table near the window overlooking the gardens when his handsome half brother, Lord Jack Wilde, strode in. Lord Jack’s overlong raven hair and unshaven jaw gave him a rakish air, while his amused, irreverent manner was a frequent source of exasperation for Kate, Maura knew.

  Lord Jack clapped Ash on the shoulder before expressing amazement at his engagement. “You shocked the devil out of us, brother, agreeing to be leg-shackled. I never thought you would do it, despite the obvious temptation of so lovely a lady.…” So saying, he turned to Maura and bent to kiss her cheek. “Welcome to the notorious Wilde clan, Miss Collyer. I will be delighted to have you as a sister, but I trust you know what you are letting yourself in for, aligning yourself with
my libertine of a brother.”

  Maura found herself blushing at Lord Jack’s charming flattery even as she shot Ash a questioning look. “You did tell him that our betrothal is only temporary?”

  “Yes, he knows,” Ash answered dryly, just as Skye and her elder brother Quinn, the Earl of Traherne, arrived.

  Skye embraced Maura joyously and Traherne bowed over her hand.

  Like Maura, they were fair-haired, but Skye’s tresses were a lighter shade of gold than her brother’s. They both had deep blue eyes, unlike Ash and Kate’s vivid green color and Lord Jack’s dark brown. Additionally, Lord Traherne shared his uncle’s aristocratic elegance and keen intelligence, but possessed a dry, biting wit and a zest for adventure that the older gentleman completely lacked.

  When they were all settled around the table, Ash explained how he and Maura had been occupied for the past several days, recounting their efforts to spirit the stallion away from London and their subsequent decision to return and confront Deering’s malevolent lies about her late father. Maura was quite glad that Ash gave not even a hint about their physical intimacy, yet they couldn’t escape questions about their betrothal.

  When Lord Jack ribbed her about being his brother’s “Cinderella” though, Skye came to her rescue. “Stop teasing Maura, Jack,” Skye said sweetly, “or I swear I will make your life miserable.”

  He gave a mock look of terror before insisting with an amused drawl, “She will have to endure a great deal of ribbing if she means to spend any time with us. But I own I would go easier on her if she would allow me to purchase one of her famous stallion’s offspring.”

  Maura couldn’t help smiling at his broad hint, but before she could reply, Lord Traherne commended her influence on his sister. “I recall you play a mean game of cricket, Miss Collyer, but more crucially, you managed to correct Skye’s horsemanship when I failed for years.”

  She had learned to play the rough-and-tumble, very male sport of cricket from Katharine and Skye, who had been taught by their brothers when they were short on team members, and in turn, Maura had improved both young ladies’ riding seats.

  Skye laughingly objected to his criticism, however, which resulted in an argument about his teaching abilities versus her equestrian talents, but Maura could clearly see their fondness for one another.

  As if sharing her reflection, Katharine took the opportunity to lean closer and whisper in Maura’s ear. “We may quarrel and bait each other unmercifully, but we would fight to the death if any one of us was threatened. So there are advantages to having a loving family, even if they are forever provoking you and prying into your affairs.”

  Advantages, indeed, Maura thought wistfully. She had always wanted a close-knit, loving family, although Priscilla had made that impossible from the very beginning, insisting that Maura be sent off to boarding school alone, away from her beloved father and friends.

  Watching the Wilde cousins, she felt that undeniable sense of longing again—a feeling that was suspended when Lord Jack returned the conversation to fairy tales and mythological lovers and ended with, “ ’Tis a pity Uncle put such radical literary ideas into Kate’s head.”

  At that, Lord Cornelius looked up from his book with a sheepish expression. “I assure you, I did not encourage Katharine. She devised her hypothesis about legendary lovers all on her own. I merely provided the scholarship.”

  Ash spoke up then. “I would rather not dwell on her theory when we have more pressing matters to consider, namely how to vindicate Miss Collyer’s father.”

  “I presume you have some ideas about how to proceed?” Traherne asked.

  “Yes,” Maura seconded. “Have you any ideas?”

  “A few,” Ash said. “The goal is to make Deering retract his accusations and admit that he lied when he claimed your father played with marked cards.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  Ash nodded. “I believe so, but it will require careful forethought and planning. The first step should be to inform him that the stallion is now in my possession, since nothing will inflame Deering more. And I want to put him on notice that you are under my protection. I have no illusions that he will simply ignore the theft. Given his outsized pride, he may even retaliate for the brazen insult to his dignity.”

  “A personal warning will have more effect,” Traherne advised.

  “Agreed,” Ash said. “I plan to call on him as soon as we conclude our discussions here. It would also help to spread word of my engagement to Miss Collyer, to make Deering’s defeat as public as possible. An announcement will appear in The Star later today, but I expect there is more we can do.”

  For a moment the entire family considered Ash with collective bemusement.

  Then Skye nodded. “Kate and I will write to our acquaintances and ensure the most vocal gossips know about your betrothal. And Jack and Quinn can go about town today to confirm the story.”

  Katharine chimed in. “It would benefit Maura to be seen publicly with you, Ash. We have several invitations to choose from this evening. And perhaps we should plan to attend the theater some time when Deering is expected. His box at Drury Lane has a view of ours, and your appearance there with Maura would rub his nose in your victory.”

  “A good idea. I want him to stew while we determine how to restore Noah Collyer’s good name.”

  “To be truthful,” Maura said quietly, “just now I am more worried about my stepsisters than vindicating my father. Protecting them is the most urgent problem. I fear Deering plans to use them as pawns in his battle against me. My stepmother claims he has threatened to ruin them, and I don’t doubt he could do it. It would take only a word from him to destroy their chances to ever make a suitable match.”

  Katharine and Skye both hastened to reassure her.

  “We will take your stepsisters under our wing and introduce them to eligible suitors from among our circle,” Skye started to say just as the Beaufort butler appeared at the open door of the library and caught Ash’s attention.

  “Begging your pardon, my lord. Two young ladies have called for Miss Collyer on what they say is a matter of grave importance. A Miss Hannah Collyer and Miss Lucy Collyer.”

  “Speak of the devil,” Lord Jack murmured.

  “My stepsisters could be in trouble,” Maura said, filled with unease by their unexpected visit, even though they were prone to exaggeration. She didn’t like the thought of interrupting the family council, but she worried that Deering had already taken some vindictive action against the girls.

  She sent Ash an apologetic look. “I am sorry to leave you, but I should speak to them about their ‘grave matter.’ ”

  “Go ahead,” he urged. “We are nearly finished here.”

  “If you see Deering, will you please tell him my stepsisters are under your protection also?” Maura asked Ash earnestly.

  “Of course. You needn’t doubt it for one second.”

  “Thank you,” she breathed, sending another contrite glance to his whole family.

  The gentlemen all stood as she hurried from the room. Maura followed the butler to a small parlor, where she found Hannah and Lucy pacing the floor in agitation.

  Both girls flung themselves at her, embracing her with a stranglehold while speaking simultaneously. At first she could understand little from their garbled declarations, but they were clearly upset, and eventually she realized they were apologizing profusely for their mother’s cruel actions in evicting her.

  Extricating herself from their hugs, Maura tried to reassure them. “I don’t care about having to leave, truly. Are you all right? Lord Deering hasn’t harmed you, has he?”

  Her younger stepsister, Lucy, dashed a tear from her eye. “Harmed us? No … at least not yet. We are fine, Maura. We just wish to tell you how outraged we are that Mama barred you from your own home!”

  “Yes, it was abominable!” Hannah added just as passionately. “Especially since we are the ones who will suffer from your banishment. We don’t want to lose
you as our sister, Maura.”

  It seemed ironic that she should be the one offering consolation for being expelled from their family home, but Maura smiled comfortingly. “You could never lose me, my dears. But your mother will not be happy that you are here visiting me.”

  Hannah frowned. “Well, there you are mistaken. Mama gave us permission to call on you this morning. Indeed, she encouraged us to come and even let us have the carriage.”

  Maura must have looked skeptical for Lucy hurried to explain. “Mama said she regrets sending you away last night.”

  “Did she now?” Maura replied in surprise.

  “Yes, because of your betrothal to Lord Beaufort, you see.”

  She felt her mouth twist with faint humor. “I suppose I do see.” Priscilla must have recalled that a marquess trumped a viscount and that making an enemy of her stepdaughter’s future husband was extremely unwise. No doubt she would try to endear herself to Ash, just as she had Noah Collyer.

  Hannah took over the explanations then. “Mama believes she acted too hastily and has offered to let you come home. But Lucy and I have discussed it at length, and we think you should make her grovel a bit—but only if you won’t hold it against us, Maura.” Hannah glanced around the elegant parlor adorned with flocked silk wallpapering, velvet draperies, and expensive chintz and rosewood furnishings. “So long as you are staying in this splendid house, it won’t be a hardship for you, will it? In fact, you may be much happier living here. But we don’t want you to forget us.”

  “Surely you know I could never forget you,” Maura said. “And it may be best if I keep away from you at present. Your mother is right: My associating with you could bring Deering’s wrath down upon your innocent heads.”

  “We don’t care!” Lucy declared loyally.

  Hannah was less certain on that score, however. “It is rather worrisome. Mama lives in dread that he will destroy our chances to find husbands. Given our family scandal, even a whiff of censure from Viscount Deering would drive away any potential suitors. But that cannot be allowed to matter—and it is not as if we had any suitors beating down our doors to court us anyway.”