The Ring and the Crown (The Ring and the Crown 1)

“I understand that you did not follow the protocol to call on me, and so I thought I would give you a chance to remedy that. Instead, I was humiliated.”

“My father was there that day, and it looked as if you were one of those girls who are always accusing me of fathering their babies—and you’d come after me. That’s what they thought. That’s why I was embarrassed.”

“You have girls accusing you of fathering their babies?”

“Yes—very many.”

“And have you?”

“No!” he said. “I’ve never—it’s all lies and entrapment. It’s a tactic. They hope to blackmail me into marriage somehow.”

“But I assume you did play strip billiards with them, didn’t you?”

He did not protest, which she took as a yes. He’ll break your heart, that one—be careful of him. Wasn’t that what Perry had told her?

“It was nice to see you, Prince. But I’m afraid I am full up all evening,” she said.

“Oh, you mean this?” he asked, holding up her dance card.

“Where did you get that?” she asked, searching her pockets. “Give it back, sir.”

Wolf smiled as he tore it in half, then into tiny little pieces that fluttered to the ground.

“Excuse me!” Ronan said indignantly.

“Relax—now you are mine all evening.” Wolf smiled and took her in his arms. He whispered in her ear. “Come, now—you have made your point, and I have made mine. We are made for each other, can’t you see?”

Ronan never felt as happy as she did surrendering to his victory. Over his shoulder, she saw Archie and Perry raising their glasses in celebration. She winked at them and went back to nuzzling Wolf’s neck.

“I’m sorry about the other day—I was wrong to say the things I did. I was wrong to send you away. And I was wrong not to call on you properly,” Wolf said. He had so much to tell her, and now that she was in his arms, he wanted to tell her everything. “It’s just that I wasn’t sure before.”

“You weren’t sure about me?” she asked softly.

“I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do,” he said. “To court you. If I am not free.”

“Not free, my lord?”

“But it is all right now. My father is so happy that Leopold is marrying the princess, he does not care who I marry. He told me so this morning.”

She bristled at the suggestion that she was less than worthy, and he strove to soothe her doubts. “I am sorry to speak so bluntly. But there are duties and responsibilities that come with my position, and I did not want to begin something that I would not be able to finish…I would never want to hurt you.”

His cheek was pressed against hers, and her lips were almost brushing his face. She could dance like this forever. “But you are free now?” she whispered. “Free to love me?”

“Yes,” he said. His father would give them his blessing. There was nothing to fear. He looked forward to this new adventure with her by his side. His heart leapt with joy to be able to hold her so closely. If he could, he would marry her now—but they had to follow proper procedure. His brother would marry first, but perhaps they could be married a few months later, in the fall. A smaller ceremony, of course, and it would not be in London. Perhaps they could even get married in New York, although he doubted his parents would allow it.

A strong, spirited and smart girl…Ronan Astor…he had been looking for a girl like her for so long. And now she was real, she was in his arms. Better yet, he had a fight scheduled for later tonight, in the dungeons…he was looking forward to the adrenaline and the exercise. Perhaps he would even take her to see one of his fights—he wanted to share everything with her, and Ronan seemed like the kind of girl who might even enjoy it. She was different, and never cared what anyone thought. He couldn’t believe she had simply walked into the palace and called on him like she had done the other day.

A girl and a fight. The public was right—this was the best London Season yet.

It was time. Fifteen to midnight. She would meet the sun the next morning as a commoner; she would no longer be the princess. It was a perfect night, clear and balmy for London. The whole court was in the gardens, far from the basement passageways that would lead to her freedom. Marie-Victoria put on her most practical outfit: a black cotton poplin dress, a traveling cloak, and her gloves and hat. She tucked the envelope with the keys and coins into her pocket, and picked up the small bag she’d stuffed with clothes, books and tonics for her illness. Starting tomorrow, it was all she would have in the world.

Marie looked around at her beautiful pink room, at the pink wallpaper with the gold filigree, and hoped that Aelwyn would enjoy her life.

The wards would only be down just long enough to let her pass, for a few minutes after the hour. Once she was past the last gate, Gill would be waiting for her right outside. In the morning, they would board the ship bound for New York and begin their new life together. They would find the captain of the ship and have him marry them, so they would arrive in the new land as husband and wife.

Marie had never been so frightened in her life. She was really doing this. She stole out of her room and found the hidden panel in the hallway that allowed her inside the secret passageways. She followed the brass rail down to the basement, unlocking each door until she was in the bowels of the castle. Near her were the dungeons where her ancestors had kept their enemies, until the Merlin forbade the practice several hundred years ago.

The last gate was up ahead—the final door. The wards that kept the castle and its residents safe were down, she could tell. There was no feeling, no heaviness in the air. The wards were down, like she had been promised.