Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

“I will show you to your rooms,” Katharine volunteered.

Maura expected to be grilled further, but astonishingly, her friend did only as promised, escorting her upstairs to a luxurious bedchamber in the guest wing of the enormous house in order to wash and freshen up.

Kate left for a few minutes and returned with a nightdress and dressing gown, then announced that she was going back to bed. “I want to give you and Ash ample time to be alone together. It’s clear that he has become your prince, or your knight in shining armor, or whatever you care to call it. But courtship can be a fragile thing, and it is utterly remarkable in my brother’s case. I don’t want to jinx it by being underfoot.”

Her shameless attempt at matchmaking made Maura roll her eyes in exasperation, and when she threatened to throw her pillow at her friend, Kate left laughing.

Maura’s humor had faded a little by the time she went downstairs, no doubt because she was beset by weariness and worry. When she reached the kitchens, she discovered it bustling with activity. Evidently, Lord Beaufort’s chef had refused to let him fend for himself and roused several sleepy servants from their beds in order to prepare an impromptu supper.

Upon learning that his lordship was in his study, Maura made her way there and found Ash waiting for her. The hearth fire had been built into a cheery blaze and a side table was covered with enough dishes to make a feast, including half a roasted chicken.

Ash dismissed the two footmen, then heaped her plate high and his own higher. Leading Maura to an overstuffed leather couch, he settled beside her with a contented sigh.

“Damn, but I have missed the comforts of home after you forced me to billet in half the barns and backwoods from here to Oxford. No, I don’t want to hear your excuses again,” he interjected when Maura would have defended herself. “Hold your tongue for now, love, and eat your supper like a good little thief.”

He insisted that she finish most of her meal before letting her speak a word, while he kept making idle observations designed to rile and amuse her. Maura could tell that he was set on teasing her in order to lift her mood, and amazingly enough, she soon felt her spirits doing just that.

When Ash finally announced that he planned to send notice of their betrothal to tomorrow’s afternoon papers, she wrinkled her nose. “I still doubt anyone will believe that you chose me.”

“On the contrary, no one at all will be surprised that I fell for you. With your irresistible beauty and valiant spirit, I couldn’t fail to be stricken.”

How could she resist the laughter in his eyes, that heart-stealing smile? Maura wondered. “There you go again, trying to charm me with your absurd flattery.”

“There is nothing absurd about my flattery. You should know by now that I hold you in the highest esteem.”

She laughed. “What a whisker.”

“I swear, I admire you immensely, vixen. Most ladies wouldn’t be willing to fight to their last breath for a mere horse, no matter how beloved.”

“I thought you strenuously objected to my attempted rescue.”

“I only objected to your methods. I thought there was a smarter way to go about it.”

“Which means your way.”

“Of course.”

She shook her head in admiration. “You ended up getting exactly what you wanted, Ash. Is there anyone you cannot bend to your will?”

“I admit, you have proven more difficult than most.”

“But I still succumbed in only a few days. You wield charm like a weapon.”

He regarded her thoughtfully. “We are not so unalike, sweeting. I have a way with people, you have one with horses. I’ve seen you work your special brand of charm on your equine companions. You would be downright dangerous if you chose to use that magic on men—not that I want to put any ideas into your pretty head.”

She responded to his remark with a serious one. “Just now my pretty head would like to know what you are planning to do about Lord Deering.”

Ash shook his own head. “There will be plenty of time to plot the details of our campaign in the morning after a good night’s sleep.”

When Maura’s expression sobered completely, Ash made a tisking sound. “Have a little faith, darling. Everything will work out. You just need to trust me.”

“After you went behind my back and summoned Bow Street to force my hand, you expect me to trust you? Your subterfuge is exactly why I tend to prefer horses to humans. Horses are far more trustworthy.”

Her declaration earned a chuckle from Ash. Despite her retort, though, Maura did trust him—implicitly. She felt cloaked in warmth and security just now, sitting here like this, before a comfortable fire with Ash, even when she was a target for his ribbing. His warm eyes were amused and beguiling and oh so tempting.…

Recognizing the danger, she wasn’t sorry when he announced that it was time to retire since it was nearly midnight. She even yawned as he set down their empty plates.

Ash escorted Maura upstairs, then stopped at her bedchamber door and lowered his mouth to hers for a tender good-night kiss. Yearning shot through her blood, along with a sweet, aching awareness. She found herself wishing he could stay with her tonight and make love to her, even knowing how foolish her longing was.