The Princess and the Peer

by Warren, Tracy Anne

  Emma’s breath caught. “Is it—?” she began to say, then caught herself in time.

  Mercedes gave her an encouraging smile, then rose to return to her own small hillock of gifts.

  Emma trembled, her heart racing. Making sure no one saw, she slipped the small box into her pocket and continued on with the festivities.

  She had to wait until it was time to change for dinner before she finally managed a few minutes alone. Pleading the need for a nap, she sent her maid away with instructions that she not be disturbed.

  Emma hurriedly took a seat and ripped open the small box. Inside was a note from Nick and a delicate flowered brooch made of gold and amethysts. She pinned it on her dress, then read the missive.

  Happy Christmas, my dearest love. I shall come for you at 4 a.m. tomorrow. Wait in your room and be ready.

  Finally, Nick is coming for me, she thought, hugging the note to her chest.

  Tomorrow they would flee and she would begin the most exciting adventure of her life, and the most fulfilling.

  Tomorrow she would become Dominic Gregory’s wife.

  The predawn hour was dark and silent, and Emma’s bedchamber was swathed in a wealth of shadows as she waited in an armchair by the lazily burning fire. By prior arrangement, Ariadne had promised to unlock the side door that led to the garden so Nick could gain access to the house. Assuming she had been successful, he would have no difficulty making his way inside and up the stairs.

  In preparation for his arrival, Emma had dressed in her warmest forest green cashmere gown and a matching traveling cloak, her small, trusty valise packed with a change of clothes and a few essentials; anything more than that she would buy later as necessity required. She wasn’t sure yet if Rupert would allow her to claim any of her current wardrobe. Her jewels and other belongings would likely be forfeit as well—punishment for her elopement.

  But she did not care.

  Certainly, there would be those who would say she was imprudent to give up her royal title and everything that came with it in order to marry for love. But to her, she was giving up nothing. Material belongings were only things—easily left behind, easily forgotten. Nick was irreplaceable, his love the only thing she knew she could not live without.

  She had already said her good-byes to Ariadne and Mercedes, leaving them each with tearful hugs and promises to write as soon as she could.

  “Once Nick and I are settled, you must both come to visit,” Emma told them.

  “Of course we shall,” Ariadne said, her words quickly seconded by Mercedes. “And do not worry for a moment about your brother. He can put me on a rack and try to torture the details from me, but I won’t tell him a thing.”

  Emma couldn’t keep from smiling. “I expect Rupert will be furious, but not enough to actually torture you.”

  Ariadne gave her a look as if she had her doubts but was willing to suffer regardless.

  “You can count on me as well,” Mercedes said. “Just be happy, Emma.”

  And on that one score, Emma had no doubt; her future with Nick couldn’t be anything but happy.

  She hadn’t slept, too keyed up to even doze. Yet a kind of electrified lethargy stole around her as she waited, her eyelids drooping slightly so that when a soft tap came at the door, she startled awake.

  Moving rapidly across the room, she cracked open the door and there stood Nick, too handsome for words. A hint of crisp winter air had stolen in on his greatcoat, his scent clean and deliciously masculine. He pulled her into his arms and took her lips, their kiss one of mutual relief and joyful exaltation.

  Then, just as quickly as their embrace had begun, he released her. “Ready? We haven’t a moment to waste.”

  Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed four times, its echo fading into silence. Emma smiled, her pulse pounding out an anticipatory beat. “Yes, let’s go.”

  Hand in hand, her valise clutched firmly in Nick’s grip, they moved toward the staircase. Down they went, silent and stealthy as a pair of cats, careful to keep to the shadows even though the house was absolutely still.

  She didn’t say a word and neither did Nick, absolutely quiet as they reached the ground floor landing and made the turn that would lead them out the back garden door and onward to the drive where Nick had left his carriage. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as they took the last few steps.

  They arrived at the door without mishap, and Nick was just stretching out a hand to lift the latch when a soft but unmistakable footfall rang out from behind them.

  Emma’s heart gave a leap into her throat and she spun around. Nick turned slowly and reached again to take her hand.

  Sigrid stepped out from the shadows. “I thought you two would come this way rather than use the front door. You really shouldn’t be so predictable, you know.”

  Chapter 27

  Emma stared at her sister in horror. Her throat tightened and she couldn’t speak.

  We’re caught, she thought on a silent, disbelieving groan.

  Impossible as it seemed, Sigrid was here and apparently aware of her and Nick’s plan to elope. It didn’t make sense, not when she and Nick had been so careful. They had confided in no one except Ariadne and Mercedes and she didn’t for an instant believe they would have given her away.

  “How—?” she blurted, her gaze accusing.

  “How?” Sigrid repeated matter-of-factly. “How did I find out, you mean? I saw the two of you the other night, sneaking around the house when you imagined no one was aware of your midnight tryst. From that it was a simple matter to put two and two together. Plus, I’m rather good at opening mail and listening at doors.”

  Emma gave a low moan, a sick ache sliding through her.

  Nick squeezed her hand again, then addressed her sister. “Your Highness, this is not what it appears. My intentions toward your sister are entirely honorable, and I fully intend to marry her. You may not know, but I—”

  “Approached Rupert and asked for Emma’s hand? Oh yes, I know. Dashingly bold of you, considering your unsuitability as a suitor. I understand you were a military man.”

  Nick stiffened. “A naval officer, yes.”

  “It suits you. I admire daring even when it is hopelessly misplaced. As for your claim that your actions are honorable, I cannot agree. The scandal of your elopement will be felt across the entirety of the civilized world. Rosewald may be small, but we are not without a certain amount of influence. We are a proud family, a strong people, as you should already have realized from your dealings with Emmaline.”

  “You have no need to explain Emma to me. She is the finest person I know.”

  A faint smile curved Sigrid’s mouth.

  “Please, Sigrid,” Emma pleaded. “If you care about me at all, forget what you have seen this morning and let us go on our way. I love Lord Lyndhurst and he loves me. We only want to be together.”

  Her sister’s gaze softened, the edges of her mouth curving sympathetically. “It is because of my love for you, Emmaline, that I am stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life. It won’t do for you to run away and condemn yourself to a life of estrangement and disgrace. You are a blooded princess and I will not have you living like a social outcast.”

  Emma raised her chin. “I do not care what Society may think, either here in England or at home in Rosewald. Nick will be my home.”

  She met his gaze, his eyes warm with love.

  “You may not be so sanguine after a few years of snubs and rejections,” Sigrid countered. “After years spent in my late husband’s household, I know what it is to endure cruel whispers and spiteful cuts. But that is a discussion best left for another time.” Sigrid turned back toward the center of the house. “Come along now,” she urged. “We needs must awaken Rupert.”

  Emma’s spirits sank lower still, if that was possible. Her brother was the last person she wanted to see, the one who had the power to crush her hopes and dreams utterly and forever.

  But then Nick’s hand tight
ened around hers again, his grip steady and unwavering. Looking up again, she met his gaze and saw the resilience in his eyes. Be strong, his expression said. Fight with me. All is not yet lost.

  And his confidence gave her strength, his hope lifting her own. I shall fight, she thought. Nick had said once that this was a battle, and suddenly she was determined to win it and the war.

  “Very well,” Emma said. “Lead on.”

  Together the three of them walked from the room.

  Emma wasn’t quite as confident ten minutes later, as she waited with Nick and Sigrid inside Rupert’s sitting room, his valet having been roused to go wake his master.

  Rupert strode in shortly afterward, wearing a black cashmere dressing gown, his royal crest embroidered in green on the lapel, a pair of soft, black leather slippers on his feet. A heavy scowl was gathered like a storm cloud across his brow, his golden hair tousled and partially flattened on one side.

  “What is this all about?” he demanded gruffly in a Germanic dialect native to Rosewald. “And it had better be good, since I went to sleep only two hours ago.”

  He drew to a halt and surveyed them, his gaze locking on Nick. His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Lyndhurst, what are you doing back here?” he demanded, switching effortlessly to perfectly accented English. “What’s more, why are you with my sister when I expressly told you to keep your distance?”

  As Emma watched, Rupert’s gaze lowered, a furious light blazing to life in his blue eyes when he noticed her hand clasped inside Nick’s. Inwardly quaking, Emma held fast and straightened her shoulders.

  “Emma—” Rupert growled warningly.

  “Perhaps I should explain,” Sigrid interrupted before the prince could continue.

  Rupert cut his gaze to her. “I don’t believe that will be necessary. This all seems rather obvious. I will call the guards.”

  “No!” Emma cried.

  “So you think you can come back here and take advantage of my sister, do you?” Rupert said to Nick.

  “I came back because I love your sister and wish to make her my wife. I tried to handle the matter honorably by asking you for her hand. When you refused, she and I decided to seek an alternate solution.”

  A muscle ticked in Rupert’s cheek. “By eloping, you mean? By ruining her? As far as I can see, you’re nothing but a blackguard whose plan did not succeed. Now unhand my sister. Emmaline, go to your room.”

  “No!” Emma said again, this time in defiance. “I am not going anywhere, not unless it is with Nick. I love him too.”

  Rupert gave a mocking laugh. “Oh, is that what it is? Love? We’ve had this discussion before, Emmaline, and you know my feelings on the subject.”

  Emma had never truly stood up to her brother before, but suddenly she no longer cared about caution or restraint.

  “And what feelings might those be?” she charged scathingly. “Ariadne is right. You are without heart. Otherwise you would realize that I am not some emotionless pawn to be played on a chessboard in order to preserve national sovereignty and solidify dynastic alliances. I told you before that I do not want to marry King Otto. I let you bully me with talk of duty and honor, but I no longer care for either. I have a right to be happy, and the only man I shall marry is standing right here by my side.”

  Rupert’s jaw turned hard as stone, his eyes glacial. “I can see that you are overwrought and not thinking clearly. We will discuss this later.”

  “There is nothing to discuss. I will marry Nick and you cannot stop me,” she stated.

  “You obviously forget that you are only eighteen and not of legal age. You cannot wed without my permission.”

  “I can if I go to Scotland,” she challenged, tilting her chin at an imperious angle.

  “You will find that a difficult journey once I ship you back home to Rosewald.”

  Emma felt the blood slide from her cheeks. “Even if you send me back, I will still find a way to be with him.”

  Rupert made a dismissive sound. “Enough! This is all completely ridiculous, particularly since you barely know the man. I don’t know when you had time to form this supposedly great passion, but I am sure it shall pass quickly enough.”

  “I do not believe it will,” Sigrid said, suddenly entering the conversation. “If I am not mistaken, Emmaline and Lord Lyndhurst have been acquainted far longer than either of us might have imagined.”

  All three of them turned to stare at Sigrid.

  “What?” Rupert said. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Only that I believe Emmaline and his lordship met before you and I even arrived in England,” Sigrid continued. “Remember when Emmaline ran away from the estate and went to London? If I am not in error, that is where she and his lordship first made each other’s acquaintance—not at the Carlton House party and certainly not here.”

  Emma scowled. How could Sigrid know so much? She must be even better at listening at keyholes than Emma had ever guessed. Yet if she knew, why had she said nothing before now? Why this morning when she and Nick had been only steps away from fleeing?

  Rupert grew even colder, if that was possible. But Emma knew him well enough to realize exactly how furious he really was in spite of his outward display of calm.

  “Is this true?” he demanded, returning his gaze to Nick. “Have you been dallying with my sister behind my back for the past few months?”

  “I wouldn’t phrase it as dallying, since my intentions toward Emma have always been in deadly earnest,” Nick stated without an ounce of contrition. “However, Princess Sigrid is correct that Emma and I met last autumn on her first visit to London. At the time, I had no idea that she was a princess. Actually, I thought her to be a penniless governess.”

  “A governess? Emmaline?” Rupert retorted. “What absurdity is this?”

  “I will not go into detail. That is up to Emma to share, if she wishes,” Nick said. “However, you should know that I wanted to marry Emma when I thought she had no dowry. I want to marry her now because I cannot imagine my life without her by my side. I love her and I will do everything in my power to make her happy.”

  “And you think you are the one to bring her this supposed happiness?”

  Nick looked at Emma, the depth of his devotion plain for all to see. “I know that I am,” he said, his words ringing with conviction.

  Joy burst inside Emma like an exploding sun, so that she nearly laughed from the sheer beauty of it. No matter what may come, she vowed, we shall not be parted.

  Nick turned his gaze back to Rupert. “I asked you once for your sister’s hand. I ask you again now. Please allow me to marry her. I will happily cede all claims to her fortune. I have a fortune of my own and no need of another. The only thing I want is Emma herself.”

  Rupert’s brow drew close and he was silent for a long time as he considered. “I can see that your sentiments are genuine—on both sides,” he conceded. “I realize now the depth of your devotion to each other and cannot help but be moved. Contrary to your opinion, Emmaline, and that of your vastly outspoken friend, Princess Ariadne, I am not without heart.”

  Emma flushed, hope rising phoenixlike from the ashes of her earlier disappointment.

  “However,” Rupert continued evenly, “I am afraid my hands are tied on the subject of Emmaline’s marriage to the king. More than individual preferences and affection are at play in this matter, and although I might be willing to free her, the breech that would occur between Otto’s country and my own, should she refuse to marry him, would be an irreparable one. The damage might even lead to war. I’m sorry, but I cannot take the risk. My answer to your request must again be no.”

  The small flame of hope died in Emma’s chest, pain piercing her as though she had been stabbed through with a blade.

  “I am sorry for you both. Truly.”

  Emma looked away, unable to meet her brother’s gaze any longer.

  “Lord Lyndhurst will leave this house immediately,” Rupert stated with the assured aut
hority of a ruler. “If not voluntarily, then with escort.”

  “No—” Emma cried, tears stinging her eyes.

  “As for you, Emmaline, you will be confined to your bedchamber until arrangements can be made for you to travel. I think it best if you do return home. You will be wed to the king from our court in Rosewald.”

  Tears streamed from her eyes and she buried her face against Nick’s shoulder. She could not allow Rupert to ruin her life. She would not. Yet in spite of her threats, what chance did she or Nick have against the might of her brother?

  She crumpled against Nick, letting him hold her in his arms.

  “Before a tragedy of epic proportions is set into motion, might I be allowed to make an alternate suggestion?” Sigrid asked, her voice breaking through the dreadful quiet. “I believe I have the solution to all our problems.”

  Emma stilled and raised her tearstained face just far enough to see her sister; Nick and Rupert were looking at her too. In the midst of all the talk, Sigrid had been forgotten.

  Until now.

  Rupert crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh? And what might that be?”

  “It’s very simple really,” Sigrid said. “I shall be the one to marry Otto.”

  Chapter 28

  Emma’s mouth dropped open at Sigrid’s statement, while Rupert’s arms fell to his sides. As for Nick, he arched a brow, clearly surprised but intrigued as he waited to hear more.

  Sigrid gave a serene smile. “As I understand the matter, Rupert, you are in need of an alliance with King Otto in order to reaffirm the safety and sovereignty of our borders during this delicate time of negotiation with the Congress of Vienna. Is that correct?”

  “In the most basic terms, yes,” Rupert agreed.

  Sigrid nodded. “In return, the king wants the very handsome dowry you are offering in order to fatten his flagging royal coffers. Am I correct again?”

  Rupert’s mouth twisted wryly. “A bit crudely put, but again, basically accurate.”