Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

Turning away, he shepherded Maura out the door and into his waiting coach, where she sank against the leather squabs with a growl of mingled frustration and dismay.

“I should have expected something like this from Deering,” she muttered as the vehicle began moving. “It is just like that dastardly man to take his wrath out on two innocent girls.”

“I promise you, they will come to no harm,” Ash said consolingly.

“He is not one to make idle threats,” Maura fretted.

“Nor am I. We will deal with Deering and make him regret that he ever dared tangle with your family.”

His solemn reassurance made her feel marginally better, but then she recalled Ash’s stated destination. “I should find lodgings somewhere … perhaps a hotel.”

“There is no need. You don’t want to live in a hotel alone, certainly not when my home is open to you.” When Maura frowned, Ash added more firmly, “It’s perfectly acceptable for you to reside with me, since mine isn’t a bachelor establishment. My sister is your close friend, and my Uncle Cornelius is a pattern card of respectability—at least compared to the rest of our family. And if you wish, I will write at once to my aunt, Lady Isabella Wilde, and ask her to come to London to act as your chaperone. Aunt Isabella married into my father’s side of the family and is now widowed.”

“I could never ask you to go to such lengths—” Maura began.

“Don’t be daft. Your staying with us will make the pretense of our betrothal more believable.”

“Perhaps, but I have already taken excessive advantage of your generosity.”

Ash just smiled that knowing smile of his. “I see your chin locked in that stubborn position of pride again. But there is no need for pride. You know Katharine would go to any lengths for you, and so would the rest of my family. We will all present a united front against Deering.”

It was undeniable how comforting his declaration was, Maura realized. For even though she knew her feelings of abandonment were absurd, she felt quite alone since she no longer had a place in London to call home.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

At her abrupt surrender, his expression turned dubious, as if he expected more arguments from her. But Maura knew he was right. As an unmarried lady, even one who was almost a spinster, she would only benefit from the connection with his noble family. And if she temporarily went to live with Ash and Katharine, it would indeed support their sham betrothal.

Evidently Ash accepted her capitulation as genuine, for he said, “Come here,” and drew her against him.

Held in the light, protective circle of his arms, Maura had the overwhelming sense that she was safe. She cherished that feeling—which was possibly why she felt the need to voice a token protest. “You don’t need to cosset me, you know, Ash. I am not entirely a weakling.”

He chuckled at that. “No, that you are not. In fact, you are one of the strongest women I know, and that includes my own family. After everything you have endured, you are still fighting and spitting fire.”

It was true that she had grown stronger with adversity, Maura agreed silently, but all the same, she was profoundly glad to know that Ash was on her side and that she wasn’t alone.

* * *

Katharine, too, was clearly on her side. When they arrived at Grosvenor Square, Katharine had just retired for bed, but came racing downstairs in her dressing gown.

She immediately threw her arms around Maura while scolding her at the same time. “I cannot believe you set out for Scotland all on your own, you darling idiot! You know I would have helped you get your horse back. You gave me such a fright, I could gladly strangle you.”

Maura couldn’t help but smile when Kate included Ash in her diatribe. “And you, brother dear … how dare you send me that cryptic note telling me nothing and ordering me to send your coach and grooms—But what the devil have you both been up to? I have been dying with curiosity.”

When Ash hesitated to answer in the hearing of his servants—his butler and two footmen who were standing by to take their outer garments—Katharine pulled him and Maura away from the vast entry hall, into the nearest parlor for privacy. There they gave her an abbreviated version of events, including the theft of the stallion, their subsequent travels, and the storm that had abruptly ended their journey.

When her brother announced their temporary betrothal, Katharine’s beautiful face lit up, and she embraced him with delighted exuberance. “Oh, your legend is coming true, Ash, just as I hoped!”

“Not so quickly,” Maura hastened to say. “The engagement isn’t real.”

“What do you mean? How can it not be real?”

Maura left it to Ash to explain that she would stay with them for a short time while they made plans to take on Deering. He truncated the discussion by saying, “We will tell you all about it in the morning, Kate, but for now I am starving.” Ash directed h

is gaze at Maura. “Are you hungry as well?”

Surprisingly, she was. “Yes.”

“Then why don’t you go upstairs to freshen up and meet me in the kitchens in a quarter of an hour? I’ll raid the pantry and rummage us up something to eat. No need to wake the servants.”