“Pardon my impertinence, Your Grace.” Rand chose his words with care. “Am I to surmise that your explanation as to your purpose here is why I was ordered to bring Jocelyn to this event?”
“Of course.” The duchess straightened and nodded at Jocelyn. “He’s clever as well as handsome. I do congratulate you, my girl. You’ve made an excellent choice.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Jocelyn frowned in confusion. “But how did you know we would—”
“Oh, I didn’t.” The duchess shook her head firmly. “But my husband did. He always seems to know everything about everything. How he does I will never know although he has any number of official and unofficial sources of information. Some rather mysterious. Now and then I quite give up trying to figure it all out but then my curiosity rises once again. I do believe my continuing quest to uncover all his secrets keeps our life together interesting.”
She paused thoughtfully. “His mother, the dowager duchess, always seems to know everything about everything as well. I’ve never been able to determine how. The woman rarely leaves the country these days. The Effingtons are an odd lot but I am quite fond of them all.” The duchess laughed affectionately, and Jocelyn and Rand joined her.
The lady was right of course. If the Duchess of Roxborough gave her public approval to a marriage, regardless of the haste or circumstances surrounding the match, no one would so much as utter a single word of condemnation. Jocelyn vowed right then and there to name their first girl Katherine after the duchess.
They chatted for a few more minutes. From what she could see, Jocelyn distinctly noted the earlier stares of scandalized curiosity had changed to something equally curious but far more approving, even envious. The duchess had done her work well.
“Your Grace.” Alexei appeared before them and bowed. “How lovely you look this evening.”
“Your Highness,” the duchess said with a slight curtsy. “How kind of you to say, especially as we have never met.”
“I am always most appreciative of beauty when it favors me with its presence,” Alexei said smoothly. The duchess’s brow quirked upward in a slightly skeptical manner. “Lord Beaumont, Lady Beaumont.” He turned to Jocelyn and Rand. “I am pleased, as well, that you were both able to attend.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rand said dryly.
“No doubt.” Alexei chuckled; his gaze met Jocelyn’s but he addressed his words to Rand. “Would you do me the great honor of allowing me to dance with your wife?”
Rand hesitated.
“I believe I have promised this and every other dance to my husband,” Jocelyn said quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was dance with Alexei. Particularly as it could well undo all the good the duchess had done.
“My dear, you really can’t refuse him.” The duchess was firm. “Besides, the best way to dissuade gossip is to confront it head on. You shall favor the prince with a dance while I shall do the same with your charming husband.” The duchess turned to Rand. “My lord?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” A resigned look flitted through Rand’s eyes but he smiled nonetheless and escorted the duchess onto the dance floor. Jocelyn and Alexei followed a few steps behind.
It was yet another waltz and while Jocelyn adored the dance she’d much prefer something, anything, that would keep her well away from Alexei. His intentions might well be innocent but she saw no reason to trust him.
Alexei smiled down at her but his tone was sober. “I must speak to you alone.”
“Certainly not.” Jocelyn’s own smile belied her adamant tone.
“Meet me in the library in a quarter hour.” Alexei’s pleasant expression remained but his voice was firm.
“I believe we’ve been this route before, Your Highness, and I will not travel it again.”
“You will, my lady.” His smile didn’t waver. “Your husband’s life depends on it.”
Her heart leapt to her throat and her step faltered but she recovered at once, praying no one had noticed. “I don’t believe you. What do you mean?”
“I will explain later. And you would do best to believe me.” There was no mistaking the look in Alexei’s eye. There was no choice. She would meet him.
They continued the remainder of the dance in silence. Jocelyn had no idea how she managed to go on as if nothing had happened but somehow she made it though the steps. The music ended and Alexei escorted her back to join Rand and the duchess. They exchanged a few polite comments and Alexei took his leave.
“Charming man,” the duchess murmured. “However, Thomas said he doesn’t trust him and I daresay he is right. There’s something about him...” She shrugged. “I suspect it’s the natural arrogance that accompanies men of great power. Not that it matters, I suppose. I understand he’s leaving tomorrow.”
“I know I shall miss him,” Rand said under his breath and flagged a passing waiter bearing trays of champagne-filled glasses. He passed one to each of the ladies and took a glass for himself.
“Now then, Lord Beaumont,” the duchess began. “How do you feel about...”
Jocelyn maintained a pleasant smile but her mind was nowhere near the discussion whirling about her. Your husband’s life depends on it. She shivered at the memory. Even if this was simply a ploy on Alexei’s part to get her alone, and at this point she doubted that, she couldn’t take the chance. She had to find out the meaning of the prince’s cryptic comment. If there was indeed a threat to Rand’s life.
“... then we will expect you sometime later in the summer.” The duchess’s comment caught Jocelyn’s attention.
“We look forward to it.” Rand nodded and Jocelyn wondered exactly what she had missed.
“I am off then. I see a friend I have not spoken to in a very long time.” The duchess lowered her voice. “A dreadful gossip but she does always have some interesting bon mot to share. And she will be quite useful at telling the world how very much the duke and I approve of your match.”
Rand chuckled. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
The duchess waved off the comment. “Not at all. It’s the very least I can do and it’s rather a lot of fun. And I truly am happy for you both.” Once again she took Jocelyn’s hands and leaned forward to touch her cheek to the younger woman’s, her quiet words meant for Jocelyn’s ears alone. “I don’t know what’s afoot, my dear, but do be careful. And try a bit harder to look like you’re enjoying yourself.” The duchess straightened and smiled. “Off to continue my good work.” Her Grace turned and vanished into the crowd.
“I think,” Rand said slowly, “I understand Thomas’s nature a bit better now that I’ve met his mother.”
“She’s lovely,” Jocelyn murmured, hoping Rand was not quite as observant of the change in her demeanor as the duchess.
He slanted her a curious glance. “Are you all right?”
“Of course.” She forced a lighthearted laugh. “Although I fear the last few days have taken more of a toll than I suspected. I am rather weary.”
“As am I. We could certainly leave now if you’d like.”
“No,” she said a shade more sharply than she intended and a little too quickly. “I mean it simply wouldn’t be polite to leave so soon. We’ve scarcely been here any time at all. People would surely notice and think—”
“They’d think”—he bent his head close to hers—“I wished to be with my beautiful wife. Alone. In my home. In my bed. Or my bath.”
She laughed. “You do make it sound appealing.”
“In fact, we need never leave my rooms again. The servants could bring up all our meals on trays.” His voice lowered suggestively. “We could disdain clothes altogether and greet callers sitting in bed wrapped in blankets or linens like some decadent—”
“Prince?” she asked with exaggerated innocence.
“I was thinking more of a desert chieftain.” He grinned. “But prince would do as well, I suspect. Frankly, if we ever do get home, I daresay I could sleep for a week.”
“As could I.” It d
id sound wonderful. But home and bed and especially peace would have to wait. There would be no finding it here.
Within moments Jocelyn and Rand were besieged by well-wishers. Now that the duchess had bestowed her public approval, even the most casual of acquaintances seemed compelled to offer their congratulations and perhaps gain a still unknown detail of the match with which to regale their friends. It would be difficult to slip away when the time came but Jocelyn was determined to meet Alexei. His charge was too terrifying to ignore.
Your husband’s life depends on it.
———
“What do you want, Alexei?” Jocelyn closed the library door behind her, fairly confident she had managed to slip away without notice. But she could not stay long. “What is this all about?”
Alexei sipped a glass of brandy and nodded at the decanter on the table beside him. “Would you care for a brandy, Jocelyn? It’s Lord Westerfield’s finest.”
“No. I’m here for one purpose and one purpose only.” She clenched her jaw and fought to maintain a collected air even though she wanted nothing more than to scream at the arrogant prince. “What did you mean when you said Rand’s life was in danger?”
“I don’t believe those were my precise words,” Alexei murmured.
“Nonetheless, that was the effect. I cannot stay for more than a few minutes. So if the pleasantries are over”—she narrowed her eyes—“do be so kind as to explain.”
“Very well.” Alexei paused and her irritation grew. “Should I start at the beginning?”
“Please do,” she snapped.
“As you wish.” Alexei shrugged. “You see, my dear, this peace ceremony, this gala, all of it was initiated at my request for the simple purpose of providing me with a legitimate reason to come to England.”
“Why?” Suspicion sounded in her voice.
“Have you ever heard of the Heavens of Avalonia?” he said in an all too casual manner.
She shook her head. “No. What is it?”
“It is a set of precious gems. Each is priceless in its own right but together they are more important as a symbol of hereditary power of the royal family of Avalonia.” His gaze flicked over her. “That’s a lovely ring, by the way. I see my cousin finally came up to snuff.”
She folded her arms over her chest and glared. “Thank you.”
“I had hoped to find the Heavens here in England.”
At once she remembered his odd questions at Worthington Castle. “You thought Rand had them?”
Alexei nodded. “Or someone in his family. Unfortunately he is as ignorant of their whereabouts as I. He said he’s never heard of the Heavens.”
“And you believed him,” she said without thinking.
Alexei chuckled. “Naive of me, probably, but yes I do believe him. He is an extremely honorable man. Too honorable, I suspect. I have no doubt he would return the gems if he could. I believe him when he says wants nothing to do with his royal heritage, my country, or me. It’s most disconcerting but I find it oddly admirable.” He took a thoughtful sip of his drink. “He is a true man of principle and they are exceedingly rare.”
“What does any of this have to do with Rand’s life being in danger?” she asked impatiently.
“I am getting to that.” His tone was mild but intensity burned in his eyes, and fear gripped her stomach. “As I’ve explained, your husband represents the third branch of the royal family. I represent the first, along with my brother and sister. My cousin, the Princess Valentina, represents the second. With my father’s illness, Valentina has taken the opportunity presented by the possibility of his death and my subsequent succession to encourage unrest in hopes of seizing power for herself.” He grimaced. “That would not bode well for my country. She is quite ruthless and I fear what the future would hold for Avalonia under her rule.” Alexei paused as if the thought of Valentina on the throne was too dreadful even to consider.
“I had hoped to use the jewels as a symbol of tradition, even”—he uttered a short, derisive laugh—“of the divine right of my family to rule. A rallying point, as it were. Something to unite the people and ease the fears Valentina has encouraged about succession.”
“But you didn’t find them,” she said slowly.
“I did not. Someday, perhaps. Now, however”—he swirled the brandy in his glass—“I believe I may have found a far more powerful symbol of unity.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?” Alexei’s gaze bored into hers.
Her breath caught. “Rand?”
“You are indeed as clever as you are pretty. Pity. I am not overly fond of intelligent women.”
“Then all has ended well as I don’t really care what you’re fond of,” she said sharply.
He ignored her outburst. “With my cousin at my side, we can show the people the strength and unity of the House of Pruzinsky. Rand is a direct descendent of King Frederick and an heir to the throne. But, more than anything else, he is—”
“Your symbol,” she said evenly.
“Precisely.” He raised his glass to her.
“He’ll never agree. Rand is vehement when it comes to Avalonia. He is a British subject and has no desire to claim the title of prince. He’ll want no part of this.” She shook her head firmly. “He’ll never go with you.”
“I have no doubt of that.” He smiled in a smug manner. “But you will accompany me. And he will follow.”
“Don’t be absurd,” she scoffed. “I would never so much as consider ...” Your husband’s life depends on it. Her eyes widened with realization.
“I see you do understand.” Alexei chuckled.
“You’re bluffing, Alexei,” she said staunchly. “You would never hurt him.”
“Of course I personally would never lay a hand on him. That would be most distasteful. But I would not hesitate for an instant to order his death if necessary. I would prefer not to, but”—he shrugged—“it is entirely up to you.”
She stared in disbelief. “How could you do such a thing?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” he said offhandedly. “I would take no particular pleasure in it.”
“I suppose that makes all the difference.” Sarcasm dripped from her words.
“It is the difference between Valentina and myself. She would rather enjoy it.” He drained the last of his brandy and refilled the glass. “Now then, we leave at dawn. I have worked out the details. A carriage will—”
“I’m not going.” She took a backward step, fighting to keep a rising sense of panic from her voice.
“Do you doubt me?” His voice was sharp. “Do not make that mistake, Jocelyn. I would regret the need to have my cousin killed but I will do it. And furthermore, I will find a way to use his death to suit my purposes. Perhaps blame it on Valentina. Yes, that would do. A dead prince. Martyred. Now that I think about it, that might very well work better than—”
“Stop it!” She thrust out her hands in front of her. “All right. I’ll go. But”—she drew a deep breath— “what if he doesn’t come after me?”
“Oh, he will.” Alexei smiled confidently.
“What if he doesn’t?” She whirled around and paced the floor. “What if he thinks I’ve changed my mind about the two of us? He knows you, and everything you offer, are exactly what I always wanted.”
“I can certainly understand that,” Alexei murmured.
“What if he decides”—she stopped and stared at Alexei with growing horror—“to let me go?”
“He won’t.” Alexei sipped his liquor. “Aside from the fact that you are his wife, and I suspect he will be quite possessive about that, he loves you.”
“What makes you think so?” She held her breath.
“My dear lady, it’s in the man’s eyes whenever he looks at you. My cousin is positively besotted. You are his weakness. Love has felled far greater men than he. Besides ...” He considered her thoughtfully. “He said he trusts you. If he meant
what he said, he’ll never believe you left him voluntarily. Consider this a test of his worth. Does he trust you or does he not?”
“He does,” she said firmly, brushing aside a twinge of doubt.
“Then his protective nature will assure that he will come to your rescue.”
“He’ll hate you for this.” She fairly spit the words at him. “I hate you.”
Alexei gasped and clutched at his heart. “Oh no, not that!” His tone was droll. “Do you think I care? I don’t.” His expression hardened. “I am trying to save my country. Salvage its future. If I can do so now, before violence erupts, it is well worth the enduring hate of my cousin and his wife. It is worth any price.”
She raised her chin defiantly. “Even if he comes to Avalonia, he’ll never help you.”
“That is a chance I am willing to take. He, above anyone I’ve ever met, well understands the nature of duty and responsibility to one’s country. Once he’s in Avalonia, I shall endeavor to convince him of the necessity of his assistance. The need to avoid bloodshed. Damnation, Jocelyn!” He slammed the glass onto the table. “Why can’t you understand? This is not a step I want to take but I can think of nothing else. My country’s future is at stake and I will do whatever I have to do to secure it.” A weary look crossed Alexei’s face and she resisted an immediate rush of sympathy.
She stared at him for a long moment. “As I have no choice, what am I supposed to do?”
He drew a steadying breath and gestured at the table. “Paper and pens are on the table. You will write him a note simply saying you have gone with me. Nothing else. I do not wish to be overly dramatic.”
“Oh, we can’t have that now, can we?” She stalked to the table and scribbled the single line, then thrust the note at Alexei.
He glanced at it and nodded his approval. “Excellent. I have arranged for Rand to be called out of town. A messenger will arrive shortly after dawn. That should give us at least a two-day start. I do not want him catching up to us until we reach Avalonia. With luck the journey should take no more than a fortnight. A carriage will arrive for you shortly after his departure.”
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