Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

Skye sent Kate an apologetic smile. “I, for one, am very curious to see if your theory works.” True to form, Skye was the only one who was remotely interested in following Kate’s lead.

Across the library, Lord Cornelius gave a sudden snort and stirred, then settled back down in his chair.

“Uncle Cornelius needs to go to bed,” Skye said softly.

Skye was most tenderhearted of all the Wilde cousins, although more than capable of stirring up her own lively brand of mischief. She rose and crossed to the hearth, where she gently woke their slumbering relative.

Cornelius sat up, blinking and fumbling for his spectacles. Now over sixty, with thinning hair that was turning silver, he had the tall, refined build and high-boned features of an aristocrat, but a vague, unfocused air that belied the fact that he was actually a brilliant scholar.

Cornelius was the only one of the Wildes in his generation who had never known a passionate love, as his cousins and brothers and only sister—Jack’s mother, Lady Clara—had done. It was ironic that even though Cornelius had never married, he had wound up raising their five orphaned children.

When he caught sight of Katharine, he offered sheepishly, “Forgive me for sleeping through your ball, my dear, but I know you and Ashton had it well in hand.”

“You are forgiven, Uncle,” she said sweetly. “Especially since you were the inspiration behind my plan to find our perfect matches. I was just telling Ash about his legendary tale.”

“Well … yes, very good …” Cornelius said awkwardly, looking around for the nearest door. He might have provided the literary framework for Kate’s plotting, but he clearly wanted no part of the execution.

“Good night, my dears,” he mumbled, climbing to his feet and eagerly escorting Skye from the room.

Ash realized he would not be so lucky as to escape, though. The entire time, Katharine had been studying him, and as soon as they were alone, she resumed her argument. “You have always told us that we should make our own destinies, Ash. Well, you need to go out and make yours. Maura Collyer could be your destiny, if only you will claim her.”

Ash cut her off just as quickly. “I can’t imagine that she is willing to go along with your mad scheme,” he stated bluntly.

Katharine paused. “Not quite yet. I suspect she will require some persuading. Maura isn’t interested in love or romance or balls or anything so mundane. She is still grieving her father’s loss, and now she is fighting to save her stallion.”

“Which is a prime reason to forget all about your absurd plot.”

To his surprise, Katharine threw up her hands and sank back in her chair with an aggrieved sigh. “Very well, forget all about my idea. But even if you won’t consider courting Maura, the very least you could do is use your power and influence to help her reclaim her rightful property from Viscount Deering. Her circumstances have become rather desperate.”

With that exhortation, Ash felt on more solid ground. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help her. In fact, I already offered my assistance earlier this evening, and she refused.”

“I told you she is proud,” Katharine replied, making a face. “She won’t like playing the role of damsel in distress. Maura is accustomed to being the rescuer, not the other way around. You should have seen her at school. She always stood up to the girls who tried to bully and torment the younger ones. But Lord Deering is too powerful for her. You simply have to make her accept our help, Ash.”

At his silence, Katharine played her final trump card. “If you do this for me—if

you agree to help Maura—I promise I will do my utmost to find my own match next.”

He eyed her skeptically.

“I mean it,” Katharine insisted. “I want to prove to you all that my theory works.”

“I intend to hold you to that promise, love. I am eager to get you off my hands.”

She responded to his teasing declaration with a faint laugh. “So you will help Maura?” she asked more earnestly.

“Yes, on one condition. That I never hear another word from you about Cinderella or princes or wicked stepmothers.”

“You have a deal.” Her profound relief evident in her brilliant smile, Kate stood and threw her arms around his neck. “I knew I could count on you, dearest Ashton.”

He suffered her embrace in ill-humored silence, but could tell that her quick mind was already racing ahead.

“We have no time to waste, Ash. You must call on Maura first thing in the morning, before eight o’clock if you hope to catch her before she leaves the house. She rides early whenever she gets the chance—”

“Why don’t you leave the tactics to me?” he warned.

“As you wish. I am just thankful that you mean to help her. And who knows? You may find some merit in my theory after all. This could be the chance of a lifetime—”

When he held up a hand to ward off any more arguments, Katharine grinned in understanding. “Very well, I won’t press. But I can hope, can’t I?”