“Are you afraid of me?” he asked softly. His blue eyes were exquisitely expressive. Full of doubt, anxiety… and something else she couldn’t identify.
“N-no.” The answer surprised even herself, yet at the same time, she knew it was true. Even when he could have torn her to shreds, he had let her go. And at the moment, it was hard to remember the fact that he was a beast at all.
“Excellent.” He smiled, perhaps to cover the uncertainty that was evident in that single word, and the beauty of that expression took her breath away all over again. Luke dropped to one knee, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Lady Ella, will you marry me?”
Chapter Three
For the first time since making the decision to go through with the marriage proposal, Luke had to face the very real possibility that she would reject him. So far, she had not given any indication of what she had seen the night before and it certainly seemed that the others had no knowledge of that incident either.
That alone was nearly enough to justify what he had just said. The other reasoning?
Before, when he had thought of Ella, she had been just a vague memory and an enticing sent. But now he knew she was much more.
Those eyes… He could almost drown in their green depths. Even with the grime on her face and dressed in rags, there was no doubting that she was one of the most exquisite women that he had ever seen in his life.
He wanted her.
“You don’t even know me,” she said.
It wasn’t a ‘yes’ but at least it wasn’t an immediate ‘no’ either. “I know enough.” Maybe, maybe not. But his gut was telling him that this was right. And not just because this was an opportunity to play the hero for a damsel who was obviously in distress. A moment to forget the monster inside him. “Adrian remembers you. He told me everything.”
Her eyes widened. “I haven’t seen him since…”
Her voice faded away and her eyes looked suspiciously shiny. He knew exactly when she had last seen his brother: before her father had died. After he’d seen her earlier, he had gone back to tell Carter and Adrian what he had discovered and his brother had recognized the address. He had told him everything about Ella’s family situation, as best as he knew it.
And even if Adrian hadn’t said anything, it would have been obvious that she was in a bad place. The scents of her stepmother and one of her stepsisters made Luke want to wrinkle his nose in disgust. He couldn’t exactly put his finger on what it was about it that bothered him so much, for it seemed to be the result of yet another instinct of the wolf.
But even if he didn’t know how they were treating Ella, if he hadn’t seen the proof of their cruelty in the whip marks on her back, he still would have thought them very bad.
Regardless of his feelings, however, the Lady Isabelle was still technically Ella’s closest relative and might have the right to try to object to her marriage.
Of course, there was still a good chance that Ella would reject him before it came to that.
Luke looked at the others. “Could we have a few minutes alone, please?”
Even though he phrased as a question, he made sure that they understood it was more of an order.
One of the stepsisters, the one who was holding onto Ella’s other hand, stepped forward. “Ella, why don’t you take him into the library? You two can talk there.”
Without a word, she nodded and gestured for him to follow her. There were no objections. Perhaps her stepmother and everyone else was still too stunned by what had happened.
It didn’t matter of they tried to protest or not, because he wasn’t leaving here until he had a chance to talk to Ella.
Alone.
They reached the room in question and Luke sneezed. In addition to the usual smells of musty old paper that were normal of a library, this one also had a great deal of dust. Which seemed to indicate that it was hardly used.
Not at all what he would have expected, knowing what he did of Ella’s father.
“Catherine likes to study here, but no one else does.”
Her quiet explanation made it clear that she had been able to somehow read his expressions, to know what he was thinking. That was either a very good thing or a very bad one. He wasn’t quite sure which, just yet. “You don’t read? I got the impression from Adrian that you—”
Ella’s beautiful face took on a pained expression and she shook her head. “Not anymore. Not since my father died.”
Judging from the way she was dressed, it was clear that her stepmother didn’t allow her the time for such things. He was still appalled that anyone would dare treat a nobleman’s daughter like this, to turn her into a servant within her own home. “Then why do you stay?”
“Where would I go?”
True. He had not thought of that. “You could have a new home now, if you say yes.”
She turned her back at him, he could see where she had stitched up the back of her bodice, where it had been torn by the whip. “Why would you want to marry me, anyway? None of this makes any sense.”
Instead of answering her directly, he said, “I should have brought your shoes with me. You know, the ones you lost in the garden.”
“Is that how you found me?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath, and despite his agitation, he couldn’t help savoring her delicious scent. “How much did you see last night?”
“Too much, apparently.”
“So you know what my brother and I have become, yet you say you’re not afraid of me.”
She ran her finger along one row of books, and examined the dust that had accumulated on the tip instead of looking back at him. “I should be.”
“But you’re not.” Even though she’d been trembling earlier, and was still shaking now, her scent made it clear that there was no fear in her. Instead, there was a hint of something more intriguing. Something he understood at a basic level, rather than rationally.
She wanted him.
He didn’t think she was fully aware of, or understood, the way she was reacting to him. But he knew and he intended to take full advantage of it.
“Your Highness, you’ve made me a very generous offer. But I’m afraid I cannot accept the marriage proposal simply for the sake of finding a new home.”
“I wouldn’t call what I offered generous.” Luke stepped closer. Ella swallowed hard but did not give ground. “I think I’m actually being rather selfish.”
“I don’t understand.”
“First of all, you must know the expectations of me. What my father wants. And it would be very difficult for me to find a woman to marry, only to have her discover what I am after we are wed.”
“Yes, but—”
“I also happen to think that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Ella grew flustered, running a hand over her cheek and her hair as if suddenly aware of her disheveled appearance. “Looks alone are not enough to base a marriage on.”
“It’s a start.” He drew ever closer and now he could feel the heat from her body. He placed one hand under her chin, forcing her to keep her beautiful green eyes locked on his face, as he used his other hand to caress her cheek. Despite the dirt, her skin was as soft as silk. “Something to build on.”
“I’m not sure that—”
Luke didn’t give her a chance to finish, unable to resist temptation any longer. He swooped in, covering her mouth with his.
A low groan rumbled deep in his chest. Her lips were indeed as soft and as sweet as they looked and they were parted ever so slightly beneath his.
She was shaking like a leaf now and tried to draw back, but he simply followed her, without breaking the connection between their lips.
Her back hit the shelf of books and she let out a small whimper. Reminding him of her injuries. He raised his head, but could not resist running a finger along her lower lip. “Don’t tell me you didn’t feel something, just now.”
Her green eyes had grown very dark and she was breathing hard. �
��What just happened?”
“I could show you again, if you want.”
She stared up at him. “I don’t think that’s very wise.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not very proper. I probably shouldn’t even be alone with you right now.”
“I don’t think it was very proper for you to have watched me undress in the gardens last night, either.”
Ella’s face turned a brilliant sheet of scarlet, indicating that he had hit somewhere close to the truth. “I didn’t think you knew about that,” she said softly.
“I’ll admit that my memories are a bit fuzzy. They always are after the full moon. But the one thing I couldn’t forget was you.” He leaned in to kiss her again. Not to prove his point, but simply because he wanted to.
This time, her lips softened beneath his.
He coaxed her mouth open, sliding his tongue between her lips. She gasped into his mouth and at first, he thought he had gone too far. But then, as he began to withdraw, her tongue snaked out and touched his.
Groaning, he cupped both hands around her face, holding her steady as he deepened the kiss. Hunger and need tightened his body. Made him hard. He savored the taste of her lips, the gentle way her lips and her tongue moved to follow his lead.
Oh yes, being married to her would be very good thing, indeed.
It was taking all of his self-control not to crush her in his arms, but he sensed that he would probably hurt her more than give her pleasure if he did. As much as he wanted to feel her body against his, perhaps it would be best to let that wait until their wedding night. If for no other reason than to let her have a chance to heal from her stepmother’s cruelty.
But there was one other thing he could indulge himself in right now…
Luke tore his mouth on hers, dipping his head so that he could nuzzle his lips against the soft spot behind her ear. Ella let out a small cry and moved closer, as if she too needed to feel their bodies touching. He ravished her neck, licking, kissing and nibbling, yet being careful not to leave any marks that might lead to questions from her relatives.
He was a heartbeat away from forgetting all the reasons he shouldn’t take her, from simply pushing her up against the shelves more firmly and lifting her skirts. To plunge inside her and make her truly his.
But that had to wait.
Luke lifted his head, staying close enough so that he could feel each of her quick, hot breaths against his lips. “Marry me,” he whispered. “And I promise you that there will be much more time for us to enjoy each other like this.”
“Yes,” she whispered. Then she gasped and covered her hands with her mouth.
But Luke wasn’t about to give her a chance to change her mind. He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out of the library with him. “I’m pleased to announce that Lady Ella has accepted my proposal of marriage.”
One of the stepsisters began to wail and her stepmother turned pale. “Your Highness, I—”
“I think it would be best if she comes to the palace with me today,” he said. He didn’t trust this old woman. Once the shock wore off, she would surely try to find a way to stop the wedding. Or worse. He wasn’t about to leave Ella in her clutches, not if he could help it. “There’ll be much that needs to be done in order to prepare and we must be wed as soon as possible for the sake of my father.”
“Your Highness, it’s a very improper for a young lady to live alone with—”
“Catherine could come with me,” Ella said quietly. Luke looked at her with surprise, having half-expected her first words to be a way of trying to get out of this sudden arrangement, rather than trying to smooth things over. “She could be my chaperone, Stepmother.”
“I think it would be more appropriate if Daphne went with you. After all, she is the oldest.”
The woman was scheming and devious, Luke could see that now. She would want her elder daughter to be placed at the palace, in hopes that it would give her an opening to sabotage things. “I think it would be best to do as my intended wishes, my lady,” Luke said. Forcing a pleasantness into his voice that he didn’t really feel. He turned to the younger of the two stepsisters, bowing to her. “Lady Catherine, I hope it will not be too much trouble for you to join Lady Ella at the palace.”
The young woman’s eyes widened and she still appeared to be a shock. “I… I would be honored, Your Highness.”
Her sister screamed and began to pace about in a rather remarkable tantrum. And Luke was very glad that he had stood his ground in this. He eyed the Lady Isabelle, waiting for her response.
“Very well,” she said. “If you can send a carriage for the girls in about two hours, I will be sure to have them ready by then.”
“I don’t mind waiting.” Did she really think he was stupid enough not to realize the danger in leaving without his fiancée? “And I suppose if you and the Lady Daphne can spare the time to have tea with me in the meantime? It would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other, since you’ll be family as well.”
“But how? Ella usually—”
“Ella and I can take care of all are packing ourselves, so Maria can serve tea, Mother,” Catherine said.
The Lady Isabelle clearly did not appreciate her daughter speaking up in this way, for her expression turned sour. But it was a fleeting thing, gone in a moment, and as she turned to Luke, she plastered on a false smile. “Very well, Your Highness. Please come this way.”
Chapter Four
“You’ve been keeping secrets, Ella,” Catherine said.
Of course she had, but not the ones that her stepsister was thinking of. “What you mean?”
“You never mentioned that you knew the prince.”
“No one ever asked me.” Which was true enough, even though at the moment, she wasn’t referring to Prince Luke, but rather, his younger brother Adrian. “I don’t know if you remember, but I used to visit the palace with my father when he would go there to advise the king.”
“Then why did he wait so long to ask you to marry him?”
“For one thing, I was hardly of marriageable age back then.”
“True.” Catherine grabbed her arm when she would’ve gone upstairs to her tiny attic room, pulling her into her own bedchamber instead. “But you also managed to somehow go to the ball last night, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t want to tell you about that. I knew how your mother felt about me attending.”
Her stepsister let out a sharp huff of air. “And it was obvious that she was wrong about that.” She stepped behind Ella and reached for the buttons running down the back of her tattered gown. “Let’s find something else for you to wear.”
“I don’t have anything else.”
“Don’t be silly. I meant that you can borrow something of mine. We’re nearly the same size, anyway.”
Ella’s heart warmed in a way that it hadn’t since her father had died. Her instincts had been right: Catherine truly was a good person.” You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. Besides,” she said, her voice taking on a teasing note. “I know you’ll want to make a good impression when you meet your soon-to-be father-in-law this afternoon.”
Ella flinched. She had not really thought that far ahead, as to what this engagement to the prince would mean.
In many ways, she still couldn’t believe that she had actually accepted his strange proposal. But there was no way to take it back now.
It was the kiss that had done her in. She had never expected it to happen, and the soft feel of his lips against hers had made her body react in a way she’d never thought possible. It had fogged her mind and made her say yes before she realized what she was doing. “Let’s not talk about that. The thought of meeting the king again terrifies me.”
She had been too young to be afraid before. And there had not been the same expectations attached to those encounters as there would be now.
“I’m sure Prince Luke wouldn’t have proposed to you if he didn’t thin
k you could handle it.” Catherine moved to her wardrobe, throwing open the double doors to stare at the variety of gowns inside. Most were ball gowns, meant for very formal social events. And there was a decidedly less vast selection than what Daphne had available to her.
She drew out a simple morning gown of plain brocade. Dark green with only the slightest trim around the collar. “I’ve a feeling this will look far better on you than it ever did on me. Too bad we don’t have time to trim it up a little better.”
“It will be fine.” More than fine. It was a far higher quality garment than anything she had worn since her father’s death.
Ella struggled with the buttons of her gown, not wanting her stepsister’s assistance in that. But of course, there was no stopping Catherine when she finally decided to do something. She helped Ella undress and let out a short gasp when she got a good look at her ravaged back. “What happened?”
“Broke another one of your mother’s rules.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault.”
“It wasn’t your fault, either.” Ella glanced over her shoulder at her stepsister. Catherine look paler than she had ever seen her before and she swayed slightly, as if she were about to faint. “I never got a chance to thank you for what you do down there.”
“It was nothing. It’s past time someone did the right thing.”
“But thank you anyway.” The old dress fell from her body and dropped to the floor. Ella stepped out of it. Now she was standing in only her light shift and nothing else. “That’s why I wanted you to come with me to the palace.”
“I don’t need you to protect me from my mother.”
“That’s not the reason why I’m doing this.”
“And I’m not looking for some reward for what I did, either. It wasn’t worth that much.”
Easy for her to say. It had meant everything to Ella, knowing the potential risk that Catherine had taken. “Let’s just put it this way: I’d much rather have you with me than Daphne.”
The Wolf Prince: The Cursed Princes, Book One Page 3
