To Charm a Prince (24 page)

Irritated even more by his lack of emotion, Samantha said, “It has ruined my whole damn day.”

The prince’s placid expression faltered. She saw the angry glint in his eyes. He was angry with her?

“Do not speak disrespectfully to me,” Rudolf said in a low voice.

“Or what?” Samantha asked, her voice rising with her anger. “Will you coerce me to flee to Scotland? Will you seduce the virginity out of me? Will you cry foul when your seed hits its mark, trapping you into an unwanted marriage?”

Samantha paused in her tirade to catch her breath. Only then did she notice his cheek muscles twitching and began to doubt her sanity in baiting him.

“I do not answer to you,” Rudolf told her.

Samantha rose from her chair. With her head held high, she crossed the chamber to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you.”

“Do not leave this chamber,” Rudolf ordered. “I have not dismissed you.”

Samantha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She whirled around. “You aren’t my prince.”

“I am your betrothed and will be your husband in a few days,” Rudolf told her. ‘“That means I am your master.”

Samantha dropped her mouth open in surprise. Of all the unmitigated—

“I dislike eating alone,” Rudolf said. “Sit down while I finish my breakfast.”

Samantha walked toward the dining room table. She didn’t stop at the table, though, but went directly to the sideboard.

Grabbing a plate, Samantha filled it with a small mound of fried kippers and potatoes. Then she poured herself a cup of coffee.

Only then did Samantha sit down. She chose a seat across the table from the prince.

“You did not eat this breakfast,” Rudolf said, looking at the plate of food in her hands. “Why are you eating a second one?”

Samantha answered by stuffing a large piece of fried kipper into her mouth. She followed that with a potato and washed it down with coffee.

“You should not be eating that fried food,” Rudolf said.

“Menus weren’t stipulated in the contract,” Samantha said. “I’ll eat whatever I please.”

The prince inclined his head and resumed eating his own meal. He read the newspaper as he ate but glanced in her direction every few minutes. Each time he looked at her, the prince gave her a smug smile.

Rebellion grew within Samantha. Though the newspaper article had stolen her appetite, she was determined to eat the small mountain of forbidden food on her plate.

Samantha kept her gaze fixed on the prince. Each time he glanced at her, she stuffed kipper and potatoes into her mouth.

Almost as soon as she’d forced the last piece of kipper down, an uncomfortable feeling, like the pitch and toss of a boat on waves, began in the pit of her stomach.

It grew more pronounced with each passing moment.

Trying to calm herself, Samantha placed one hand on her belly and one hand on her throat. She leaped out of the chair and bolted out of the dining room. She prayed to make it to her third-floor bedchamber.

Prince Rudolf caught her outside the dining room doors. With one arm, he grabbed her around the waist while he reached for the enormous flower pot filled with silk flowers.

Rudolf tossed the flowers on the floor and pushed Samantha to her knees, holding her head over the empty pot. This time her gagging wasn’t dry.

When her spasms ended, Samantha leaned against his legs and closed her eyes. Never had she been more mortified in her entire eighteen years.

Rudolf crouched down and wiped her mouth with his handkerchief. Then she felt him lifting her into his arms.

Hiding her face against his chest, Samantha began to weep. How could she hope to win his love if she vomited her breakfast in a flower pot? He’d been surrounded by society’s acclaimed beauties, and she wasn’t a blonde.

Rudolf easily carried her up the stairs to the third floor. He opened her chamber door with his foot and placed her on the bed.

Samantha looked at him through blue eyes that mirrored her misery. A sob escaped her.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Rudolf reached out and brushed her hair off her face. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I gave Tinker instructions because I know which foods will sicken you.”

“How do you know this?”

“I have been through this before,” Rudolf answered. “Do you feel weak?”

Samantha nodded.

Rudolf leaned close and dropped a chaste kiss on her forehead. “I promise if you sleep now, you will feel much better when you awaken.”

Samantha watched him leave. That kiss on her forehead had seemed almost paternal, and his demands on her contained a pinch of parental discipline. Was he treating her like a child? Was he trying to distance himself from her?

Later that afternoon, Samantha sat with Mrs. Sweeting and the boys in the drawing room. The prince had spoken truthfully. After napping for two hours, she had felt much better. He had known what would happen and let her eat that food anyway. Perhaps he’d known she needed to learn the lesson the hard way.

Two difficult lessons in two days. Samantha doubted she would survive the summer.

“Angelica is having the baby,” Victoria cried, rushing into the drawing room. “Aunt Roxie went to help the midwife. Imagine, we’ll be aunts.”

“Did Aunt Roxie say how long it would take?” Samantha asked.

Victoria shook her head. “I suppose this means I’m trapped in the house tonight.”

Samantha smiled at her. “Why don’t you read a good book?”

“Very funny, you know I hate to read.” Victoria turned to the boys, asking, “How about a game of hide and seek?”

“Sweeting, I’m going to my sister’s house,” Samantha said, rising from the chair. “Perhaps I can be of some small service there.”

After fetching her cloak, Samantha went to the foyer. She wanted to leave a message for the prince, but Tinker was nowhere in sight. Samantha walked down the street in the direction of the marquess’ house, two doors down. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and whirled her around.

“I told you not to leave the house,” Rudolf said, his anger apparent. “Where were you going?”

“My sister is having her baby,” Samantha explained, pointing to the mansion two doors down. “She lives right there.”

Relaxing, Rudolf looked over his shoulder at Karl, gesturing his man away. “I will accompany you.’’

The marquess’ majordomo opened the door for them. He smiled, recognizing Samantha.

“Is the marquess home?” Rudolf asked the man. “I would visit him while my fiancée is helping her sister.”

“I’ll show you to his office . . .”

“. . . His Highness,” Samantha supplied.

“Your Highness, the marquess will be glad for your company,” the man said. He looked at Samantha, adding, “I believe you know the way.”

Samantha nodded, climbed the stairs, and then headed down the corridor toward her sister’s chamber. She heard moaning, which grew louder with each step forward.

Reaching the closed bedchamber door, Samantha stood in the corridor in indecision. She didn’t think she could bear to see her sister in pain.

Samantha summoned her courage and opened the door just as her sister screamed. The midwife was feeling her sister’s belly.

“It will be hours before the babe arrives,” the midwife told her aunt. “She’s so big. I’m wondering if there are two inside her.”

“Should I send for the doctor?” Aunt Roxie asked.

“There’s no need for that yet,” said the midwife. “Who is that?”

“What are you doing here?” Aunt Roxie asked.

Samantha fixed her gaze on her sister caught in the midst of a contraction. “I thought I could help.”

Aunt Roxie grabbed her arm and guided her toward the door. She pushed her outside, saying, “You’ll help us by staying out of our way.” The door clicked shut.

Samantha sat on the Grecian chaise in the corridor and stared at the closed door. The sound of her sister’s screams pierced the house’s silence and echoed in Samantha’s mind.

A maid appeared with steaming water and towels. She knocked on the door and handed the bucket to Aunt Roxie, who leaned close to the girl to whisper in her ear. Then the maid disappeared again.

Rudolf appeared several minutes later, sat beside her on the chaise, and put his arm around her. “Your aunt told the maid you needed me,” he said. “What is wrong?”

Samantha looked from the closed bedchamber door to the prince. “I am afraid.”

Chapter 13

His betrothed had the stunned look of a fledgling warrior after his first battle. At the age of twenty-eight, Rudolf had forgotten how inexperienced an eighteen-year-old woman could be. He put his arm around her and gently drew her close. “Are you afraid of me?”

Samantha shook her head.

That was good. Then he asked, “What do you fear, Princess
?”

Before she could answer, her sister let out a piercing shriek. Samantha dropped her hand to her belly and glanced at the closed bedchamber door.

Rudolf knew then what she feared but asked, “Tell me what you fear,
ma lyoobof.”

Samantha looked at him through enormous blue eyes that mirrored her near panic. “I have experience with pain, and I am afraid to give birth.”

Rudolf brushed his lips across her temple. “There is nothing to fear.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” she said, making him smile.

“When your time comes, I will hire the best midwife and physician in England,” Rudolf promised.

“Will you stay with me?”

“If that is what you wish, Princess.” She trusted him. In spite of his harsh words, she trusted him to keep her safe. Taking away the pain of childbirth was impossible. If he could purchase her an easy labor, he would spend a fortune for it. Her fear would only make the ordeal worse.

“You should not be listening to your sister’s labor,” Rudolf said, helping her off the chaise. “Let us go home.”

Samantha nodded. Arm in arm, they walked downstairs and returned to the duke’s mansion.

Entering the foyer, Rudolf guided her toward the stairs, saying, “I think you should rest.”

Upstairs, Rudolf opened her bedchamber door and followed her inside. If he could distract her, her sister’s cries would be only a vague, unpleasant memory in the morning.

“Sit here.” Rudolf gestured to the bed. He walked into her dressing chamber and returned with one of her nightshifts. “Let me unbutton your gown.”

“Is this proper?”

Rudolf grinned. “I promise you won’t get pregnant.”

Samantha smiled and turned around. She felt his hands on her gown, and then he ran a finger the length of her back, sending delicious shivers down her spine.

“Turn around,” he whispered.

When she did, the prince drew her gown down, and she stepped out of it. He leaned close and kissed her lips and the delicate column of her throat. At the same time, he pushed her chemise down until she stood in her stockings and lace garters.

Entwining her arms around his neck, Samantha pressed herself against him. She wanted him, needed him.

Rudolf kissed her again, lifted her into his arms, and placed her on the bed. He lay down beside her and ran his hand down her body from her throat to the juncture of her thighs.

“Your breasts are beautiful,” Rudolf whispered. “Pregnancy has darkened your nipples.”

He dipped his head, his mouth slashing across hers. And she responded, returning his kiss in kind.

“Take off your clothes,” Samantha whispered.

Rudolf smiled and slid his hand to the secret place between her thighs. He dropped his head and flicked his tongue across the tip of her nipple. His fingers found her wet, swollen nub and stroked it until she cried out and clung to him.

When her spasms ended, Rudolf kissed her again. Then he sat up and reached for her nightshift. “I do not feel comfortable taking you beneath your guardian’s roof without benefit of marriage.”

He pulled the bed’s coverlet back and gestured for her to slide beneath it. “Once we are married, I will take you to Sark Island. We will make love for hours, all day and all night if you want.”

Samantha smiled drowsily at the thought. “Will you take me to Sweetheart Manor, too? I was happy there.”

“I will take you wherever you want,” Rudolf promised her. “Sleep now. I will instruct Cook to send up a light supper. I will eat with the boys and listen to their prayers.”

“Don’t leave me yet,” Samantha said.

Rudolf sat down on the bed, leaned against the headboard, and drew her into his arms. “I will hold you until you sleep.”

Samantha rested her head against his shoulder and laid her arm across his body. She closed her eyes and sighed with contentment.

Rudolf planted a chaste kiss on the crown of her head. He stroked her back until she became a dead weight against him and her hand on his body dropped away.

Gingerly, Rudolf slid from beside her and laid her back on the bed. He pulled the coverlet up, leaned close, and kissed her forehead without awakening her. Instead of leaving the bedchamber, Rudolf stood for several minutes and stared down at her.

He loved her, which did not make him particularly happy. After four years of steering clear of marriage and emotional entanglements, he’d done the unthinkable without realizing it. Now it was too late. He’d fallen in love and trapped himself into a marriage.

Samantha loved him now. How long would her love survive when she learned the truth about him? He was a prince but not what he appeared to the world. His whole life had been a lie. If only he could share the truth with her. If he did that, she would look with revulsion on him. How long would it be before Vladimir appeared and tossed the truth into her face? His brother would ruin other people’s lives in order to get what he wanted.

He should reveal himself to her before that happened. On the other hand, what use would that be? She was already pregnant and had no choice but to marry him.

When she awakened the next morning, Samantha was in a better frame of mind. Her sister’s cries of pain seemed like a bad dream. She dropped her hand to her belly and decided she could bear the pain. What mattered was giving the prince a child and making him happy.