Prince of Ravenscar (Sherbrooke Brides 11)

“Do you know, I was certain you’d allow the ladies to accompany you on this harmless little adventure. And I was right. Why did I take her? The moment I saw her in your drawing room, I knew I wanted her, more than you wanted her, and because you wanted her as well. I took her because I was going to leave England with all your money and marry her in France. I have enjoyed basking in the irony of it.”

Harlan looked at Roxanne, standing beside Devlin, clutching his cloak around her. “When I first met you, I knew you were different, I knew you saw more than you should see. You fascinated me. You were too good for him. I wanted you.”

Roxanne said, “I certainly didn’t see you for what you are, Mr. Whittaker. Did you kidnap me that first time as well? And not Richard Langworth?”

“I had nothing to do with the first time. Julian has doubtless told you Langworth hired Manners to damage the goods on the Blue Star. He did manage to light a fire, only to have it put out by that cabin boy. Then Langworth hired Manners to kidnap Roxanne. Why he imagined Manners could do anything right, I do not know. I was not at all surprised to hear you did him in and escaped. Manners is an incompetent sod.”

Sophie said, “It seems to me you also hired incompetent sods, sir.”

Harlan rounded on her. “You crass little fortune hunter, no one cares what you think.”

“I care,” Julian said.

“So do I,” Roxanne said. “I fancy all of us care.”

Sophie said, “You are grossly misinformed, Mr. Whittaker. It is not Roxanne who is going to marry the prince. I am.”

Harlan’s sneer became more pronounced. “He wouldn’t have you, he’s far too proud.”

Sophie merely smiled at him. “You really believe I’m crass? A fortune hunter? I doubt that would sit well with my father, a vicar, you know. You needn’t worry, though, since it won’t be your problem, sir, but rather my future husband’s, and let me tell you, the prince believes me an angel. How did you know Roxanne knocked Manners unconscious and he never woke up?”

“Everyone talks in a village.” Harlan shrugged. “Everyone knows about your misadventures.”

He drew a deep breath and said to Julian, “Well, you’ve won. You always win, don’t you, Prince? You’re renowned in the city for your luck. But I’ve always recognized it was more skill than luck. I’ve admired you, Julian, but alas, when it came to the sticking point, I chose the groats.

“Do you know it was my plan to have excisemen on the beach, waiting for you? But not one of them came, because, to put it simply, they refused, to the man. Not the prince, they said, not the prince. One of them said you should have your fun, and God bless you.”

Harlan gave Roxanne a brooding look. “When you came to his house, you were alone. I saw how you acted with each other. I saw you were taken with her, Julian, and she with you. Will you tell me what happened? Why did you turn to this one?” He gave a negligent nod toward Sophie.

Roxanne said, “It appears things sorted themselves out the way they were meant to be sorted. Actually, Julian and Sophie are quite perfect together.”

“You lost him to this little girl?” Harlan said. “Will you be the maiden aunt to your niece and her husband, mayhap tend their children for them, Miss Radcliffe?”

“Occasionally,” Roxanne said.

Devlin said, “Miss Radcliffe will be my wife and the future Duchess of Brabante. She will tend her own children.”

Harlan was shaking his head, staring back and forth from Sophie to Roxanne. He threw back his head and laughed. “It is really too much. How very blind I was. Do you know, Miss Radcliffe, my mother had red hair, not flaming red like yours but red enough. I always hated red hair, as I hated her, the witch, until I met you. You could have been my wife, not his.”

Roxanne looked at him from head to toe. “Do you think I would marry you, sir? I would stick a knife in your ribs the first chance I got.”

Julian said, “Of course, this wasn’t your only betrayal, Harlan. How long have you been stealing from me?”

Harlan shrugged. “You’ve gathered so much money, Julian. And you were always traveling, and I was in charge of everything, since you trusted me. I haven’t taken that much over the years, though. I’m not a fool.” He began tapping his riding crop against his thigh. “What are you going to do, Julian?”

“I believe I should kill you. That would end it.”

“It would.”

Sophie took a step forward. “The prince is too honorable. I wish to kill you.”

Harlan looked over at her. “You?” Harlan watched her move closer to Julian, watched her lay her hand on his forearm. He said slowly, “Did you seduce him to make him turn from your aunt?”

“I tried,” Sophie said, “but he refuses to allow any seduction at all until we are married.”

Harlan whirled about to Roxanne, who had moved closer to Devlin. “Let me tell you, the Duke of Brabante will never allow his precious heir to wed a mere baron’s daughter. I wager your dowry is nothing out of the ordinary.”

Roxanne said, “It appears you haven’t seen anything clearly, Mr. Whittaker. You have made one mistake after the other. And you had the nerve to shoot those poor men for being incompetent? What about shooting yourself?”