Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

“Well, just in case … I brought you something, although I warn you, it may shock you a little.” She handed Maura a red silk pouch that contained several small sponges and a vial of amber liquid. “According to Aunt Bella, a sponge soaked in vinegar or brandy can prevent a woman from getting with child.”

Shock, indeed. Maura’s eyes widened. “Lady Isabella gave you these?”

“Yes. Skye and I have always been more enlightened than other girls our age because of our brothers, but we don’t have a mother to advise us about intimate physical matters. And neither do you. You know a great deal about equine breeding and animal husbandry, Maura, but not about carnal relations between people.”

Maura held her tongue, electing not to confide to even her dearest friend that she had learned a great deal about carnal relations from Ash over the past week.

“Aunt Bella has been amazingly frank,” Kate explained, “for she is resolute about wanting us to take control of our own fate. She made me promise that I wouldn’t wind up enceinte unless it was my own decision, as it was for Jack’s mother. Our Aunt Clara bore a child out of wedlock, but Skye and I don’t mean to follow her example. In fact, we both fully intend to marry someday and so want to remain virgins until our wedding nights. If you don’t care about marriage, however, there is no reason you must remain chaste … although I truly hope you choose to have a deeper and more permanent relationship with Ash than mere passion.”

Maura was eager to change the subject from matchmaking but realized the futility of trying. “Why are you so adamant about seeing your lovers’ theory come true, Katharine?”

“Because I care deeply about you and Ash and want you to be happy together. It is not just a silly whim, Maura, or a conceit so that I can prove my skills as a matchmaker. I am pressing you because life is too short not to seize the moment. We Wildes know that better than most, since we were orphaned at such a young age.” Katharine paused, as if recalling a sad memory, but then shook herself. “One thing you can say about my family. We may be pleasure-seekers, but in the long run we know that pleasure is empty without love.”

“But you cannot force anyone to fall in love,” Maura argued. “Your brother does not love me, Kate. He is only pursuing me because you browbeat him into it.”

Kate sent her an arch smile. “Can you imagine Ash ever allowing himself to be browbeaten? Even by me?” When Maura didn’t respond, she added earnestly, “All I am asking is that you give love a chance. You would be insanely happy if you loved Ash and he loved you madly in return.”

Indeed, Maura reflected, she would be ecstatic to find that kind of true love with Ash. Not even her deep friendships with Kate and Skye were enough to fill the lonely hole in her heart.

But was it even possible for Ash to fall in love with her?

Granted, he had brought her into his family and wrapped her in a protective cocoon of love, but that was familial love—the deep bond of affection between sisters and brothers. Not a romantic, passionate, soul-stirring sort of love. And even though he pretended to be smitten with her whenever they were in public together, his show of devotion was only part of a charade to convince the ton that their betrothal was real.

Maura let out a wistful sigh. She didn’t believe in fairy tales or fated lovers and yet … why did she find herself fervently wishing that Ash’s pretense of love could be real?

Her questions about Ash’s feelings for her remained unanswered, yet Maura did have the opportunity to meet Lord Deering that very evening—not at Drury Lane Theatre as they’d expected, but at a ridotto given by Lord and Lady Pelham, who were prime leaders in London’s political sphere.

Much of the elite company present wore masks and dominoes, but Deering eschewed any disguise, which made him highly recognizable. When Maura spied him across the room, standing near the punch bowl, she slipped away from Ash and brought her cup to be refilled by a servant.

Upon turning back, she made certain to cross paths with Deering and paused to offer him a tentative smile. “My lord, how good it is to see you again.”

Deering’s expression, which hitherto had been bored, darkened to a scowl as he identified Maura through her mask. Yet she pasted a smile in place, determined to remain calm and, if not charming, then at least pleasant.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak to you, my lord. I wish to apologize for my rude behavior the last time we met,” she offered, referring to their physical altercation in Hyde Park when she’d t

aken his own crop to him.

When Deering eyed her with suspicion, she added sweetly, just as if she wasn’t still furious at him for beating her innocent horse. “I was highly upset about losing my stallion then, but now that matters are settled, I am eager to put our past disagreements behind us.”

His irritation obvious, Deering muttered an inaudible reply under his breath and turned away.

Maura, however, would not allow him to dismiss her so easily. “Lord Beaufort’s cousin, Lady Skye Wilde, is holding a concert tomorrow evening at the home she shares with her brother, Lord Traherne. My stepsisters will be performing, and we would be delighted if you would honor us with your presence.”

Deering cast her a sour glance over his shoulder. “Why the devil should I wish to honor you?”

“Because it would show that there are no lingering hard feelings between us. It would also be kind of you to tender your support for my young stepsisters. I know Mrs. Collyer would be thrilled if you would lend us your countenance.”

“I think not,” he returned stiffly.

Maura kept her tone contrite. “I can see that you are still angry at me, my lord. But I fully intend to return the funds that my stepmother received from you in exchange for Emperor’s deed of sale. I want to be completely fair, you know.”

His jaundiced look was a mix of distrust and resentment, as if he couldn’t determine why Maura was offering him a proverbial olive branch.

“Do please come tomorrow,” she begged prettily. “The concert will begin at eight o’clock, with a buffet supper afterward.”

With an engaging smile that made her jaws ache, Maura sketched a curtsy and took her leave of the glowering viscount.

Afterward, she went in search of Ash, whom she found occupied with partnering their hostess in a minuet. Then she herself was solicited for the next set of dances. The moment she was free, she spied Ash speaking to the viscount, but it was nearly an hour later before she had the opportunity to speak to him in private, to report on her progress and ask about his.