Recovering himself a few minutes later, Rudolf opened his eyes and gazed at Samantha. She had surrendered her body to him completely. He wanted her heart and her soul, too.
Falling on the bed to one side, Rudolf refused to let her go but kept her imprisoned against the side of his body. “I think you have killed me,” he said.
Samantha raised herself on one elbow and, with love shining from her eyes, gazed at him. A smile flirted with her lips when she said, “Next time, Your Highness, be careful what you wish for.”
Chapter 9
Morning had aged into a feeble old man by the time Samantha awakened the next day. She yawned and stretched and then looked down at her nudity. The memories of the previous evening came rushing back to her, making her feel warm all over.
Samantha closed her eyes and tried to recapture her night of love with the prince. Again she felt his lips on hers, his hands caressing her in the most intimate places, his hardness filling her, carrying her with him to paradise.
You are not his wife, an inner voice reminded her, making her feel a twinge of guilt.
Samantha banished that troubling thought. Her reputation was ruined whether she bedded him or not. She would have the next fifty years alone to ponder her sins once she returned to London.
Rising from the bed, Samantha washed the sleep from her face and donned her white muslin morning dress. She could hardly wait to see her pretend husband and sons.
Leaving the bedchamber, Samantha walked down the corridor to the stairs. She found Giles tied to the banister in the foyer. The deerhound wagged his tail when he spied her.
“What are you doing here alone?” Samantha said, freeing him. “Come with me.”
She and the dog headed for the dining room. The room was empty except for the majordomo and a footman.
“I wondered when you would be down,” Durwin said, setting a cup of hot coffee in front of her. “His Highness told me not to disturb you. Will you be eating lunch or would you prefer Cook prepare a breakfast food?”
“If luncheon is already made, I’ll have that,” Samantha answered him. She gestured to the dog, saying, “Sit here beside me, Giles.” The deerhound sat at attention beside her and then rested his head on her lap.
Luncheon consisted of a thick and hearty yellow split pea soup. Accompanying the soup was toast as well as a medley of potted mushrooms, chicken, and ham.
“Where are His Highness and the boys?”
“His Highness has taken the boys to Dumfries to purchase them clothing,” Durwin answered.
Samantha wondered why the prince hadn’t awakened her to accompany them. She was pleased that he’d taken a liking to her soon-to-be adopted sons.
“When His Highness returns, tell him I am in the small drawing room.” Samantha rose from her chair. “Come along, Giles.”
Samantha climbed the stairs to the second-floor drawing room and sat on the blue-and-gold upholstered settee that perched in front of the hearth. “Giles, I am going to entertain you.” She lifted her violin out of its case.
Holding the violin steady on her shoulder, Samantha lifted the bow and began to play. Her song held a jaunty air with an irresistible rhythm that flowed into a feeling of elemental forces. Her talented bow conjured celestial winds, sunbeams dancing across water, a chuckling brook.
Giles lifted his head and howled like a wolf. Laughing, Samantha stopped playing and put her violin back in its case. “Up, Giles.” She patted the settee beside her.
The deerhound leaped onto the settee and flopped onto his side. Then he rested his head on her lap.
Samantha stroked his head, the motion as soothing to her as the dog. Without ceasing her patting, she relaxed back against the settee and closed her eyes. The image of the prince appeared in her mind’s eye, and she enjoyed a pleasant hour reliving their intimate activities and whispered words. Like an old friend, insidious insecurity surfaced and wove itself around her heart and mind.
Samantha knew she loved the prince and could never marry Alexander Emerson, even if he still wanted her. She knew the prince felt a fondness for her that could never be validated with marriage. She also knew she would be a social pariah once she returned to London.
“Lady Samantha?”
“I am here.”
Drake and Grant raced across the drawing room toward her. Carrying several packages, Prince Rudolf followed behind them.
“The prince bought us new clothing,” Drake told her, his excitement obvious.
Grant laughed out loud. “He ordered that angry man to put the clothes in our bedchamber.”
“We ate lunch in a real inn,” Drake exclaimed.
“I’m so glad you had an enjoyable day,” Samantha said. She looked at the prince, asking, “Why didn’t you awaken me?”
Rudolf didn’t answer her. Instead, his dark gaze had fixed on the deerhound. “Do not allow the dog to lie on the furniture. Down, Giles.”
In an instant, Giles leaped off the settee. He sat at attention in front of the prince and wagged his tail.
“To answer your question,” Rudolf said to Samantha, “you appeared too comfortable to awaken this morning.”
Drake leaned close and told her, “We bought you presents.”
“You did?” Samantha smiled at him. “I love surprises.”
“AIl girls love surprises,” Grant said.
“So do boys,” Rudolf said.
“Do you love surprises?” Samantha asked the eight-year-old.
Drake nodded. “I love fairy godmothers more.”
Samantha felt her heart melt at the boy’s words. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought them back.
“Holy hell, she’s weeping again,” Grant said. “I’m never having a wife.”
Samantha laughed through her tears. She glanced at the prince, who winked at her.
“Give this to Lady Samantha,” Rudolf told the ten-year-old.
Grant lifted the package out of the prince’s hand. Blushing with nervous embarrassment, the boy told her, “I chose this for you.”
The box contained a lady’s cane. Created from bamboo, the cane sported a top made from hardened rosin and decorated with brass. Making it more appealing, the artisan had painted flowers down the length of the cane.
“What a beautiful cane,” Samantha exclaimed, keeping her expression placid.
The last thing she wanted was a cane. Limping was bad enough; she had no desire to announce her handicap by leaning on a cane.
“You can use it when your hip hurts,” Drake told her.
“I certainly will,” she replied. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
“That isn’t the best part,” Grant told her. “Look here.”
The ten-year-old lifted the cane out of her hand and twisted its top. Then he pulled the handle off the cane to reveal an Italian stiletto.
“I will carry this cane whenever I go walking and will feel secure, even if I am alone.” Samantha flicked a glance at the prince. If she’d had this with her a couple of weeks earlier, she would not be in this untenable position.
“Who wants to give her this one?” Rudolf asked, holding another long, beribboned gift.
“I do,” Grant said. Seeing his brother’s disappointed expression, he told him, “You’ll give her the next one.”
Samantha accepted the gift from the ten-year-old. She unfastened the ribbon and then opened the box, exclaiming, “What a beautiful parasol.” She lifted it out of the box. Adorned with ribbons and lace, the parasol had an ivory handle inlaid with semiprecious stones.
“Parasols can communicate a lady’s thoughts,” Samantha told them. “If His Highness harbors affection for me, he would ask to carry my parasol. If I snap my parasol open decisively”—she demonstrated—“I am telling His Highness I do not like the topic of conversation, and he is being too bold with his attentions.”
“Drake, here is your gift to the lady,” the prince said.
The boy lifted the slim, rectangular box out of the prince’s hand and gave Samantha
a flirtatious smile. “I chose this for you.”
The gift was a fan created from blue silk and feathers. When opened, the fan resembled a spread peacock’s tail, complete with ocellar spots and shimmering iridescent color.
“I love it,” Samantha cried. “Do you know I can communicate with this fan, too?”
Both Grant and Drake shook their heads.
“Would you like me to demonstrate with the prince?”
The boys nodded.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?”
“I am always ready for you.”
Samantha closed the fan and then opened it partially, showing only three sections. “What am I communicating?”
“You want to meet me at three o’clock,” the prince answered.
“That is correct.”
The boys appeared suitably impressed.
Samantha snapped her fan shut and pointed it toward the door.
“You are chastising me for my impudence,” Rudolf told her.
“What’s impudence?” Drake asked.
“Boldness.” Samantha covered her left ear with the fan.
“She wants me to keep her secret,” the prince told the boys.
Samantha held the half-opened fan to her lips. In an instant, Rudolf was beside her. He gathered her into his arms and planted a chaste kiss on her lips.
“What did she tell you?” Drake asked.
“The lady gave me permission to kiss her.” Rudolf handed her two small packages “From me.”
Samantha opened the first and smiled. In the box lay a small, six-inch blade to replace the dagger he had tossed out the coach’s window. The second box contained a gold tiara adorned with crystals and semiprecious gems.
When Samantha only stared at it, Rudolf lifted the tiara out of the box and placed it on her head. “No one will ever make fun of your limp,” he told her, “and you will always be chosen first for games.”
“Here we go again,” Grant said.
Samantha felt the hot tears welling up in her eyes, and her bottom lip quivered with her struggle to hold them back. Her tears brimmed over, and a teardrop rolled down each of her cheeks.
Rudolf wiped each teardrop away. Then he kissed her and said, “Thank you for the magical moments you have given me.”
“You have given me magical moments, too.” Samantha looked at the boys. “This is the best day of my whole life, and I’m very happy.”
“Lady Samantha why do you weep when you’re happy?” Drake asked. “I only weep when I’m sad.”
“The lady weeps because she is sensitive,” Rudolf told them. “Women’s emotions are different from men’s.”
“I see,” Grant said, wearing a skeptical expression.
“I don’t see,” Drake said.
“You do not need to concern yourself with women’s emotions until you are older,” Samantha told them. “Why don’t we go to the ballroom and play?”
“What will we play?” Drake asked.
“We’ll play Society,” she answered.
“I never heard of that game,” Grant said.
“In order to play, simply pretend to be in high society,” Rudolf explained.
“What do we do?” Grant asked.
Rudolf offered Samantha his hand. “Come along with us, and we’ll show you.”
Rudolf and Samantha, wearing her tiara, led the way downstairs. The boys and the deerhound followed behind them.
The ballroom was empty except for the gigantic chandelier and the grand piano. No carpeting covered the hardwood floor.
“Stand over there,” the prince told the boys. “Watch what we do.”
Then Rudolf turned to Samantha, saying, “My lady, may I have this dance?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Samantha curtseyed.
Rudolf took her into his arms. While he hummed a waltz, they swirled around the ballroom as if an orchestra played.
Stopping near the boys, Rudolf said, “I will play the piano, and Lady Samantha will take turns dancing with you.”
“Who will be first?” she asked.
“I will,” Grant spoke up.
“The basic waltz pattern is step, slide, step,” Samantha instructed him. She nodded to the prince, who began to play. Hearing the music, Giles lifted his head and howled, making everyone laugh.
“I do believe Lord Giles will accompany His Highness,” Samantha said. With the dog’s howling in the background, she began moving with the ten-year-old, saying all the while, “Step, slide, step . . . step, slide, step.”
Samantha and Grant circled the ballroom once. When they neared the piano, she stopped and said, “Thank you, sir, for an enjoyable dance.”
“My turn,” Drake said, stepping forward. He winked at her and bowed from the waist.
Samantha curtseyed. Taking his small hands in hers, she nodded at the prince, who began playing a waltz. Beside him, Giles howled.
After circling the ballroom, Samantha stopped when they reached the piano. The prince stopped playing, and the deerhound stopped howling.
Turning to the dog, Samantha said, “Lord Giles, may I have this dance?”
Giles barked. Then he lay down and rested his head on his forelegs.
Everyone laughed.
Samantha crossed the ballroom and gazed out the window. She pointed to the distance, asking, “Do you see that oak?” When the boys nodded, she said, “Tomorrow we’ll walk down there and see the treehouse.”
“A real treehouse?” Grant exclaimed.
Samantha inclined her head. “I love oak trees. Do you?”
Drake nodded.
“Oaks are the mightiest of trees,” Samantha told the boys. “They spend three hundred years growing, three hundred years resting, and three hundred years expiring.”
“I did not know that,” Rudolf said, standing close to her.
“What is expiring?” Drake asked.
“Expiring means dying,” she answered. “The wider the girth, the older the oak tree.”
Grant snorted. “That sounds like people . . .”
Three hours later, Samantha dressed for dinner in her shell pink silk gown with matching cashmere shawl. She settled her tiara on her head and peeked at herself in the cheval mirror. Then she left the chamber, the prince having already escorted the boys downstairs.
Entering the dining room, Samantha smiled at the boys’ new appearance. Both wore dark blue breeches and waistcoats, white shirts, and blue cravats. They stood behind their seats for this evening’s dinner, as did the prince, and awaited her.
“You look beautiful,” Samantha complimented them.
“Boys are handsome, not beautiful,” Grant corrected her.
Drake tugged at his cravat. “I’m choking.”
“Gentlemen always wear neckties to dinner,” Samantha told him. “His Highness has been wearing neckties for years and hasn’t choked to death.”
Rudolf sat at the head of the table. On his right sat Samantha, and the boys sat opposite her.
“Tonight we are going to learn about table manners,” Samantha told the boys. “Your Highness, what is the first thing we do?”
“Lift your napkin off the table,” Rudolf said, demonstrating. “Give it one shake, and place it on your lap.”
“We do this so we will not soil our clothing if we spill something,” Samantha explained. “If there is a lot of silverware, you must work from the outside inward during the course of the meal.”
“Why can’t we use just one of each?” Drake asked.
“The richer the gentleman, the more silverware he uses,” Samantha said. “Isn’t that correct, Your Highness?”
“Most definitely,” the prince agreed.
Beneath the majordomo’s supervision, the footmen began serving them dinner. There were crusty rolls with butter, oyster soup garnished with parsley, roasted beef, and potatoes dressed with spiced cream and lemon juice.
“Do not slurp your soup,” Samantha reminded them.
“Why are there so many damn rules?�
�� Drake asked, obviously tired from the day’s excitement.
“Cursing is not allowed at the table,” Rudolf said.
“I’ll never remember everything,” Grant complained.
“Practice makes perfect,” Samantha said. “Soon enough, you will be following the rules without even thinking about them.” She looked at Drake, asking, “Why aren’t you eating your soup?”
“There’s stuff floating in it.”
“Those are oysters.”
“I don’t like oysters,” Drake said, a wholly disgusted expression on his face.
“I don’t like them either,” Grant agreed.
“Did you ever eat oysters?” Rudolf asked.
Both boys shook their heads.
“If you never ate oysters,” Samantha said, “you cannot know if you dislike them.” Lord, but she sounded exactly like her aunt.
“Oysters look like something that came out of my nose,” Drake said.
Rudolf shouted with laughter, and the boys joined in the prince’s merriment. Samantha covered her mouth with her hands to hold back the giggle and glanced at the majordomo. Even Durwin had turned away, but his shoulders shook with silent laughter.
“Don’t eat the soup, then,” Samantha told them. “We’ll need to work on what to do when you dislike something the cook serves.”
Hours later, Samantha ushered the boys to bed. She glanced at the prince, who stood leaning against the connecting door. The hint of a smile flirted with his lips as he watched her performing motherly duties, and she wondered what he was thinking.
“Don’t climb into bed yet,” Samantha said. “You must thank God for a blessing.”
The boys knelt beside the bed and folded their hands in front of them. Grant spoke first, saying, “Thank You, Lord, for the new clothing and thank You for the prince.”
Then he elbowed his brother.
Drake paused before speaking and cast Samantha a flirtatious smile. “Thank You, lord, for Lady Samantha.” He paused for a minute and then added, “I could do without the oysters, though.”
“Me, too,” Grant said.
Samantha struggled against her laughter. She didn’t want to discourage their speaking to God, even if what they said was inappropriate.
After giving each boy a kiss on the forehead, Samantha turned to leave. Rudolf still lounged against the connecting door with his arms folded against his chest.
To Charm a Prince Page 14
