Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

Maura refrained from mentioning that it was business, not pleasure, that had compelled her to attend the ball, and that the “splendid gown” had not even belonged to her.

“I cannot say the same,” Hannah admitted. “I would have been terrified to face all those imposing people.”

“You are terrified of everything,” Lucy stated frankly.

“I am not!” the elder girl defended herself. “Maura helped me overcome my fear of horses.”

“Yes, well, you ought not boast about it. An attachment to horses is not

something that sits well with Mama.” Lucy surveyed Maura’s forest green riding habit. “You know Mama will not be pleased that you are riding this morning, Maura?”

Very familiar with her stepmother’s stance on the subject, Maura made no reply. Priscilla had long feared that her deplorable hoydenish tendencies would rub off on her stepsisters.

She could just hear Pris’s habitual protests: “I cannot for the life of me understand why you insist on wallowing in dirt and manure with the stablehands, Maura. You attended the best finishing schools in the country, so you know perfectly well what is required of a lady.”

Since Priscilla truly was the epitome of grace and elegance, she particularly lamented Maura’s current profession. No lady of quality would deign to operate a horse stud!

To be fair, Pris had lived under the strain of scandal for two years now, and worried that not only would her daughters be further tarnished by maintaining a close association with Maura, but that their marital chances would be completely ruined. Without question, Priscilla preferred that her shockingly unconventional stepdaughter remain hidden away in the country. When Noah Collyer was still alive, the family had made their home primarily at the farm manor in Suffolk, but upon his unexpected death, Priscilla had hastened to remove her daughters to London, gladly leaving the breeding stables and Maura behind.

Hannah and Lucy, on the other hand, professed to regret that their stepsister was no longer an intimate part of their family. They seemed particularly delighted to have Maura in London now, no doubt because she was willing to stand up to their exacting mother.

To say that the girls were intimidated by Priscilla was a vast understatement, in part because she was always criticizing their unladylike conduct. “Stop slouching!” was Pris’s favorite phrase.

Maura, though, did not mind overly much being excluded from her stepfamily’s lives if it meant avoiding Priscilla’s frequent rebukes. Granted, the first year alone after Papa’s death had been painfully hard, but her grief had eased somewhat with the passing of time. If there were still occasions when she felt lonely and alone … well, she was usually far too busy to dwell on it.

And now she had even greater problems to deal with. She had hoped to conclude her business with Lord Deering as soon as possible and return home to help Gandy with the new spring foals, but to her dismay, it appeared she would have to remain in town a good while longer—

Her thoughts were interrupted just then by a footman, who announced that the Marquis of Beaufort had called for Miss Collyer.

Caught off guard, Maura grimaced at the news, while Hannah’s eyes grew wide. “Can it be true, Maura? The marquis has come to call on you?”

Lucy clapped her hands in excitement. “Oh, famous!”

She was clearly delighted at the prospect of so prestigious a visitor, yet Hannah frowned with uneasiness. “Mama will be unhappy if she is not here to receive him, Maura. If you can delay his lordship, we can wake her and allow her time to dress.”

Just then Beaufort strolled into the breakfast room. Clearly he hadn’t waited to be invited, but at least he had the manners to offer her a polite bow.

When his gaze locked with hers, Maura felt her heartbeat quicken at the impact of those vivid green eyes. Indeed, Beaufort’s mere presence had the power to unnerve her. Then her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she shivered, remembering her dreams about his sensual kisses.

Quickly, she cleared her throat. “My lord, what brings you here at this early hour?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten our engagement this morning?”

“Engagement?”

“To ride.”

They had made no such appointment, but he gave her no time to argue as he shifted his attention to her stepsisters. The fact that the girls were still in their dressing gowns must have dawned on them both at the same time; Lucy giggled, while Hannah turned red in the face.

Beaufort did not seem to notice their dishabille, though. No doubt because he was accustomed to seeing females in various stages of undress.

“Will you introduce me to these lovely young ladies, Miss Collyer?”

She complied. “These are my stepsisters, Hannah and Lucy Collyer.”

He offered them a bow and a charming smile. “A pleasure to meet you, ladies.”

Both girls were clearly awestruck by his attentions and by his stylish elegance. He wore a burgundy riding coat, buff breeches, and shining black boots, attire that molded his broad shoulders and long legs to perfection.