Princess Charming (Legendary Lovers 1)

Maura eyed her with skepticism. “Of course you had a choice.”

Strangely, Priscilla suddenly looked distressed. “Perhaps so, but I thought I was doing the right thing for my daughters. And now that odious man—” She broke off and bit her lip.

“What odious man?”

Glancing around the crowded ballroom, Priscilla lowered her voice. “Never mind. This is not the place to discuss it.”

“No,” Maura agreed, “but there are numerous rooms nearby where we may be private. I need to speak to you about an urgent matter in any case.”

When Pris nodded with great reluctance, Maura led her from the ballroom and down a corridor to a quiet parlor.

“By odious man, did you mean Deering?” she asked then. At her stepmother’s troubled silence, Maura tried another tack. “If you truly wish to apologize to me, I know how you could make amends.”

“How?” Pris asked cautiously.

“If Deering continues to claim ownership of Emperor, you could confirm my version of events—that you sold my horse without my knowledge or consent.”

“I don’t know if I can do that, Maura. It is more … complicated than you realize.”

“Then why don’t you explain it to me?”

Maura was startled to see Pris twist her gloved hands together, since the beautiful widow was never one to wring her hands. Then even more surprising, Priscilla looked away. “I am ashamed to admit what I did.”

“You are speaking in riddles,” Maura pressed, trying to quell her impatience.

“You must understand, I was under great duress. I thought Viscount Deering and I had … an understanding.”

“What sort of understanding?”

“You see … in exchange for purchasing your horse, he promised to pave the way for my daug

hters’ debut in society. I knew his patronage would significantly minimize the taint of scandal against their stepfather—”

“You have told me all this before, Priscilla.”

“Yes … well …” Pris took a deep breath and met her gaze again. “I have not told you what happened last week after you stole—After you took back your horse. Deering gave me an ultimatum. He would only lend his support if I … if I shared his bed.”

Maura stared at her stepmother. “You slept with Deering to curry his favor?”

“Not willingly.” Her lower jaw trembled. “That cursed man made me do it.”

Maura had no idea what to say. Priscilla was so alluring, it wasn’t surprising that Deering had coveted her as an object to add to his collection of prize possessions. But for her to have paid so exorbitant a price? She must have been desperate.

At Maura’s speechlessness, Priscilla sent her a pleading look. “I was an utter fool, I know. I thought we had a bargain, and instead Deering reneged on his promise and blackmailed me. He said that unless I complied with his new terms, he would make it known that I had shared my favors just like any whore.”

Maura shook her head in disbelief. She had always suspected Priscilla capable of using her body to gain her ends, but her seductive wiles had backfired this time when she’d tangled with a man far more ruthless and dishonorable than she.

“Maura, you must realize … I only was thinking of my daughters. After your father died, their matrimonial prospects were nonexistent. There was no one to protect us or stand up for us. We were entirely on our own, with no one to advance our entrée into the ton and no way to finance the vast expense of a Season.”

That last complaint struck a discordant chord in Maura. “Papa left you the London house and a significant income, enough to keep you in comfort if you had been in the least frugal.”

“But you know I am not frugal. I sold your horse to fund my daughters’ debuts. Then when Emperor disappeared, Deering blamed me. I was afraid he would destroy our lives entirely, Maura, so I did as he demanded.” Bowing her head, Priscilla covered her face with her hands. “I am so ashamed.… I felt so … soiled afterward.”

She was weeping by now. Those disconsolate tears were very real, Maura realized.

Unexpectedly, she felt a strong measure of sympathy for the woman who had been almost her adversary for more than a decade. Priscilla was Deering’s victim, too. And she seemed genuinely remorseful now.

Moving away, Maura sank down in a nearby chair. She hadn’t thought Deering could be any more repulsive, but this latest revelation was utterly appalling. First he had brought about the disgrace and death of an innocent man, then forced the man’s widow to steal and whore for him.