Abducted by a Prince (38 page)

Although Ellie tried to enjoy the ride, the memory of that quarrel still loomed like an insurmountable wall between her and Damien. She yearned to beg his forgiveness, yet she had been hesitant to intrude on his reunion with his mother. Even now they couldn’t speak of the matter, though from time to time, his enigmatic gaze lingered on Ellie.

Lady Anne sat in between them. Her blue-gray eyes sparkled as she and Damien chatted freely, having nearly thirty years of catching up to do. Ellie was pleased to see that the shy woman had blossomed with the happy disclosure of her long-held secret. It was obvious how much Lady Anne adored her son and her granddaughter. Lily, in turn, had been ecstatic to discover she had a grandmamma.

Sitting with them at tea in the nursery the previous afternoon, watching them laugh and talk, Ellie had felt awash with yearning. Damien had his happy family at last, and she could think of no one more deserving than him. She wanted so badly to belong with them, too.

It was dismaying to realize that she had willingly cast herself out. Caught up in her own foolish fears of being hurt, she had clung to her dream of independence. But now Ellie knew that all she really wanted was to stay with the three people that she loved most in the world.

How had she ever imagined that living alone would be preferable?

“There is where you turn,” Lady Anne said, pointing to the road ahead. “Between the two stone columns.”

Damien guided the horses around the bend and down a narrow track. Thickets of beeches and oaks formed a cool tunnel surrounding the drive. As the carriage emerged into a clearing, a lovely stone house appeared on a slight rise, surrounded by a riot of wildflowers.

Ellie was transfixed by the sight. It was not at all what she had imagined a hunting box to look like. In her mind, she had pictured a rugged masculine lodge built of dark wood, perhaps with a deer head nailed above the door. Not this charming, two-story cottage with a thatched roof and a white-painted door.

Her husband drew the pair of grays to a halt, and the groom jumped down from the rear seat to hold the horses. Damien carefully lifted his mother down first, and then Ellie. The feel of his strong hands clasping her waist rendered Ellie quite breathless. How she longed to slide her arms around him, to lift her face for his kiss …

But he was already turning toward the spacious cottage, offering each woman an arm. As they proceeded up the walk, the door opened and Ellie was startled to see the MacNabs step out, Finn holding a paint brush and his wife drying her hands on the apron tied around her stout middle.

Sunshine gleamed on Finn’s bald pate as he grinned at Damien. “’Tis spit-spot, just as ye ordered, laird.”

Ellie and Lady Anne both looked questioningly at Damien. He patted his mother’s hand. “I sent them ahead yesterday morning to clear away thirty years of dust and cobwebs.”

They all proceeded into a sunny chamber with gleaming windows open to the spring breeze, and a faint smell of paint and beeswax, overlaid by the delicious aroma of Mrs. MacNab’s scones. The servants vanished through a back doorway, presumably leading to the kitchen.

What a cozy room, Ellie thought, as she untied her bonnet and let it fall onto a writing desk by the door. She turned around slowly to view the sapphire-blue chairs by the fireplace, the glass-fronted cabinet of books, the table by the window where one could drink tea and gaze out over the valley. She had dreamed of a place just like this …

“The house looks exactly as it did all those years ago,” Lady Anne marveled. “Rupert and I spent our wedding night here, you know.” So saying, she went to the mortared mantelpiece and grasped a loose stone with her kid-gloved hands.

“Allow me,” Damien said.

She stepped aside to let him wiggle the stone free. Reaching into the space behind it, he pulled out a small coffer enameled in jewel tones, which he brought to the table by the window. Then he found the crown-topped key in a pocket of his charcoal-gray coat. Fitting it into the keyhole, he opened the box.

“Rupert gave me this coffer as a wedding gift,” Lady Anne said. Misty-eyed, she took out an old document, the penmanship spidery and somewhat faded. “There is his signature, Damien. Your father, Prince Rupert of St. Petersburg. Oh, I do wish you could have met him.”

“I’m glad that he made you happy. True love is all too rare.”

As he spoke, Damien’s gaze flitted to Ellie, and her heart catapulted in her breast. It no longer mattered if he considered her merely a convenient wife. She loved him enough for both of them. More than anything, she wanted to be a permanent part of his life.

But that was assuming he would grant her another chance. What if it was already too late to repair the damage she had wrought with her cold rejection of him? The thought was so very daunting …

Lady Anne smiled at them. “Would you mind leaving me in here for a bit? I should like to look around by myself and remember.”

With Damien at her side, Ellie walked back out into the sunshine. She was very conscious of his hand pressed warmly at the base of her back. Though wanting desperately to talk to him, she felt tongue-tied and anxious. The groom was tending the horses on the grass alongside the front drive, and Damien steered her away up a pathway on a slight rise through the trees. They walked in silence, surrounded by birdsong, until reaching a place overlooking the valley with its squares of farmland.

Ellie glanced back to see the stone cottage some distance behind them, like a lovely painting in a frame of green leaves. She released a sigh. “For so long I dreamed of a place like this. But—”

“It’s yours,” Damien broke in. He turned to her, his hands on her shoulders, his green-gray eyes intent on her face. “My mother has given it to me, and in turn, I’m giving it to you.”

“Pardon?”

“When she described the place to me, Ellie, I knew it would be the perfect cottage for you. And it’s close enough to London that perhaps you might come and visit us at times. Lily will miss you…”

She hardly dared to move. “And you, Damien? Will
you
miss me?”

The dappled shade played over his handsome features as he gently caressed her cheek. “I’ll miss you every moment. I love you, Ellie. Abducting you by mistake was the best stroke of luck ever in my life.”

He loved her? A thrill of joy induced her to take a step and close the small distance between them. “Oh, Damien, I—”

He placed his finger lightly over her lips. “I know I don’t deserve your trust, darling, so let me prove myself to you. I’m selling my club. I’ve already found a buyer, and you have my word that I’ll never again set foot in any gaming establishment.”

He would do that just for her? Amazed, she moved his finger from her mouth. “But … I never meant to stop you from earning a living!”

“I have my fleet of ships, and I’ll use the money from the sale to invest in property, as well. London is growing, and there’s a demand for more homes to be built in the city.” A smile quirked one corner of his mouth. “Perhaps in time you’ll see that I’ve reformed my wicked ways.”

She smiled giddily back at him. “Speaking of reformed scoundrels, have I told you that Prince Ratworth is now the hero of my storybook?”

“What? No.” His grin deepened in the rakish manner that she adored. “But I always knew he would be.”

“He has been under an enchantment, you see, and he needed to earn the true love of the princess in order to transform back into a handsome prince.”

“And did he? Earn her love, I mean.”

The hint of vulnerability on his face arrowed straight into Ellie’s heart. She slipped her arms around his waist and gazed tenderly at him. “Oh, most assuredly. And I love you, too, Damien. You’re
my
prince. Can you ever forgive me for wanting us to be separated—”

He stopped her words with his mouth, kissing her deeply and hungrily, his arms holding her as if never to let her go. She poured all of her love into returning his kiss, and when he finally drew back slightly, they were both dazed and breathless and happy.

He cupped her face in his hands. “Ellie, darling, I meant what I said. This place is yours. I know it’s the key to your happiness.”

She glanced back at the cozy stone house, then smiled up at him. “It
is
my dream cottage. But we’ll come here together, my love. You see, now my dreams will always include you.”

A
LSO BY
O
LIVIA
D
RAKE

T
HE
C
INDERELLA
S
ISTERHOOD SERIES

Stroke of Midnight

If the Slipper Fits

H
EIRESS IN
L
ONDON SERIES

Scandal of the Year

Never Trust a Rogue

Seducing the Heiress

Praise for
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

“Drake’s flair for mystery, blended with humor and passion, will delight readers … utterly enchanting.”

—RT Book Reviews

“A compelling romance filled with intrigue.”

—Affaire de Coeur

“Another wonderfully written novel by Olivia Drake.”

—My Book Addiction

IF THE SLIPPER FITS

“Filled with romance, breathtaking passion, and a dash of mystery that will leave you wanting more.”

—Night Owl Reviews

“A dash of danger and a dash of fairy tale in the form of a very special pair of shoes add to the romance plot, filling out
If the Slipper Fits
nicely.”

—Romance Junkies

“Cinderella knew it was all about the shoes, and so does master storyteller Drake as she kicks off the Cinderella Sisterhood with a tale filled with gothic overtones, sensuality, sprightly dialogue, emotion, an engaging cast, and a beautiful pair of perfectly fitting slippers.”

—RT Book Reviews
(4 stars)

“I was enchanted with this story as Olivia Drake took the residents of Castle Kevern
and
this reader on an emotional, delightful journey. A magical fairy tale deserving to be read and read again!”

—Once Upon a Romance

Praise for Olivia Drake’s Heiress in London series

SCANDAL OF THE YEAR

“The final installment of the Crompton sisters’ trilogy is as charming, sweet, humorous, and poignant as any of Drake’s previous books. Marked by her fine storytelling and engaging characters, this volume stands alone, but fans familiar with the series will revel in the conclusion.”

—RT Book Reviews
(5 stars)

“An intricate plot with roots far in the past. The threads of mendacity revealed in the previous books are strengthened, then revealed in their entirety as the story progresses, bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion filled with danger and, of course, romance.”

—Fresh Fiction

NEVER TRUST A ROGUE

“Olivia Drake will keep readers coming back for more.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Drake is a consummate storyteller who cleverly blends intrigue, suspense, and sensuality into a pulse-pounding mystery, à la Amanda Quick. Give yourself plenty of time to savor this fast-paced, non-stop delight of a book.”

—RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick, 4½ stars)

SEDUCING THE HEIRESS

“This book has it all: a fabulous hero, a wonderful heroine, and sizzling passion. Read it and watch the sparks fly!”

—Christina Dodd

“Guaranteed to seduce readers everywhere. This book is something truly special, an unforgettable story filled with passion, intrigue, and sweep-you-away romance.”

—Susan Wiggs

“This decadent Regency romance is carried along by a spunky heroine and sumptuous descriptions of upper-class life.… There’s enough glitz to keep readers coming back.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Drake entices readers [and] twists the traditional with an unconventional heroine and a bad-boy hero that readers will adore.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Drake takes what could be a been-there, read-that story of a scheming scoundrel and a headstrong hoyden, and weaves a tale of wit, seduction, secrets, and sensuality that’s as vibrant as it is refreshing.”

—Michelle Buonfiglio’s Romance: B(u)y the Book®

About the Author

OLIVIA DRAKE is a
New York Times
bestselling author who lives in Texas. Her novels have won critical acclaim and numerous industry awards, including the prestigious RITA. She invites you to visit
www.oliviadrake.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ABDUCTED BY A PRINCE

Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Dawson Smith.

All rights reserved.

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

www.stmartins.com

eISBN: 9781466851320

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / May 2014

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.