MISTRESS TO THE MARQUIS

by Margaret McPhee

  In the rows of chairs their friends sat dressed in their smartest: Monteith, Devlin, Bullford, Fallingham and Sara. Arlesford and Hunter and their wives. Ellen and Tilly. And Venetia.

  Razeby, with Linwood as his best man, stood at the front of the room before a dark-robed priest.

  Razeby glanced round when he heard her step, watching her with love in those liquid brown eyes of his and smiling that smile that was all for her as Misbourne led her to him.

  She placed her right hand in his and, before God, the priest and their friends, Alice married the man she loved.

  Epilogue

  Razeby House, Yorkshire—two years later

  Alice, Lady Razeby, stood on the small wooden bridge and stared down into the river. The water was shallow here and so clear that the sun peeked through the overhanging green canopy of leaves to glint golden shimmers upon the brown gravel of the river bed and the speckled trout that rested upon it. They were large fish, well fleshed, ripe for Razeby’s fishing net if he saw them, but, much as she enjoyed the taste of fresh trout, she preferred that they remained free.

  A soft breeze stirred through the surrounding woodland, bringing with it the sweet scent of wild summer flowers and the quiet drone of bees. From the branches overhead she could hear the cheery chirp of sparrows and from further afield the rhythmic cooing of a woodpigeon. All of it sounded against the gentle sound of the river’s flow.

  In that beautiful, idyllic, peaceful setting she slipped a piece of paper from her pocket. The paper was tattered at the edges, with creases that were well worn where it had been opened and folded closed again so many times. She let her eyes wander over the words that were penned upon it. The ink had faded a little with time and sunlight, but she knew each of those words by heart.

  She traced her finger along each line, saying the words of the love letter that Razeby had written to her all those years before quietly to herself. She could read and write now, of a fashion, since Razeby had patiently taught her, but it was still a struggle for her and always would be. But Razeby had also taught her that it was nothing to be ashamed of and that it was no reflection upon her intellect. She smiled at the thought of the man she had loved almost from the first moment she had met him.

  The sound of distant voices broke the still calm of the moment—a woman’s voice, louder and more forceful than the rest, singing an old-fashioned nursery rhyme. Alice smiled all the more as the tramp of feet came closer along the woodland path and, folding the letter, she slid it safely into her pocket just as the littlest voice giggled and called out with excitement, ‘Mama!’

  She turned to the tiny child sitting on Razeby’s shoulder, a boy whose light brown hair was a mix of her own blonde and Razeby’s dark locks, and whose eyes were a rich warm brown all from the tall, handsome man who was his father.

  ‘James junior caught his first trout,’ announced the Dowager Lady Razeby, holding up a fine fat trout fixed to a string looped around her hand. She had hated Alice with a vengeance, but all of that had changed with the birth of James junior when the dragon dowager had transformed into a doting grandmother. ‘My grandson is advanced for his years.’

  Alice laughed.

  Razeby lowered his head and lifted the little boy off his shoulders, passing him to her. James junior wound his little hands, all dirty from where he had been playing in the mud, around her neck and she kissed his soft baby cheek. ‘He’s a clever boy all right.’

  ‘Just like his mama,’ said Razeby and, sliding an arm around her waist, pulled her back to snuggle against him that he might drop a kiss on the top of her head.

  The dowager began to sing again, the same old nursery song that Alice’s own mother, who now lived with Alice’s youngest brother and her sisters in a large house on the outskirts of the local village, had been teaching James junior.

  Razeby joined in and so did Alice, and James junior clapped his hands together and smiled and smiled with his little chubby cheeks.

  And Alice’s heart glowed with happiness.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Accidental Prince by Michelle Willingham.

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  Chapter One

  The outer borders of Lohenberg—1855

  Karl von Lohenberg had always been a bastard. For twenty-five years, he’d merely thought it was a personality disorder rather than a reflection of his birth.

  He’d been raised to believe he was a prince, the fürst, who would one day be king of Lohenberg. And only a fortnight ago, one word had stripped away his future: bastard.

  His father had ordered him out of the palace, granting him land and a manor house near the borders, as if to say: hide him where he won’t cause any trouble.

  Bitterness smouldered within him, at the way they’d turned their backs on him so quickly. Did they believe he was planning to kill or overthrow the true prince? Were the years of obedience and loyalty nothing to the king and queen? They treated him like a lighted fuse, leading to a keg of gunpowder.

  Karl was stronger than that. He knew, well enough, that he’d never regain the throne of Lohenberg. It rightfully belonged to his half-brother Michael, and he wouldn’t blacken the royal family or his country with scandal, fighting for something that wasn’t his.

  He’d given his life to his homeland, believing that one day he would be king, responsible for the lives of many. He liked being in command, and by God, he’d been good at it.

  Fate might have picked him up by the collar and beaten him into a bloody mass, but he wasn’t about to slink quietly into the shadows to lick his wounds. This was his life, and he intended to live it on his own terms.

  For there was another way to restore his position. Cold-hearted and villainous, yes, but it was a solution.

  He simply had to marry a princess.

  Karl reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter he’d received a few days ago like the shred of hope it represented. His betrothed, Princess Serena of Badenstein, was leaving the palace on an impromptu holiday to her grandfather’s hunting lodge in Hamburg. Alone. The letter from her sister Anna thanked him for his promise to accompany Serena as her protector.

  At first, he hadn’t understood the letter. He’d made no such promise, since he’d known nothing about Serena’s plans. They hardly knew one another, for Karl had only met the princess twice in the six years they’d been betrothed. She was beautiful, with a heart-shaped face, dark blond hair, and green eyes that held years of unhappiness.

  Not once had he seen her smile. When they’d first met, she’d eyed him with distrust and more than a little fear. He didn’t know what falsehoods her family had told her, but he wasn’t that bad. He wasn’t a man who caused small children to flee into hiding. Usually.

  Why would the princess make a journey where her sister felt she needed protection? Wouldn’t she have her father’s guards and a hundred servants to keep her safe?

  His instincts warned him that something was wrong with this so-called holiday. It was doubtful that Serena had invited him at all. More likely, the princess had lied to her sister, to appease her.

  But Anna had turned the tables, letting Karl know that his bride was up to something. He didn’t doubt that Serena would carry out her plan of leaving the palace, but why was she planning to go alone? Was she running away? Or meeting someone else—a lover,
perhaps?

  Grimly, Karl folded the letter, his mind taking apart each possibility. It was too soon for anyone in Badenstein to know of his fallen status. At the time Anna had sent this letter, he’d still been the heir to the

  Lohenberg throne.

  If he joined the Princess on her holiday, as Anna had suggested, his presence might grant her protection—but it would also compromise Serena’s reputation beyond repair. She’d have no choice but to wed him, even if he never laid a hand upon her.

  There would be hell to pay afterwards, but he could live with that. Once he became her prince consort, the scandal would eventually die down, and she could live her life as she wished.

  Karl stared outside the window of the inn where he and his men were staying. The skies were growing dark, and he was within a few hours’ ride of the palace. In the morning, he would put his plan into action. With any luck, he could claim the princess as his bride before anyone learned the truth about his lost kingdom.

  * * *

  Serena dragged out the small trunk she’d packed with a few days’ worth of clothing. Today she would leave the palace, seizing the freedom she craved. She would depart Badenstein with a handful of servants and reclaim her life. Although the risk of discovery was terrible, it was worth it.

  Beneath her tightly laced corset, her broken ribs had finally healed after so many weeks. Though it sometimes hurt to breathe or to lift her arms above her head, she’d grown accustomed to the pain. And after today, everything would be different.

  Serena ran her hands over the brass-bound trunk and then ordered Katarina, one of her most trusted ladies, to ensure that the trunk was placed inside the coach she’d carefully prepared. Her heart was beating so fast, she pressed her hand to her chest as if she could steady it.

  She had no doubt it would be only a few days before the messengers alerted the king that she was missing. Nothing escaped his notice, and Serena had to plan this carefully, so as to avoid getting anyone else in trouble.

  For now, she would go to her grandfather’s hunting lodge. Her father owned several estates in Badenstein and in Germany, but the lodge was rarely used any more since it had fallen into disrepair. Although they might search for her there, perhaps not until they’d investigated the other houses. It would grant her some time. She hoped to sell some jewels and purchase a small house or property somewhere no one would find her.

  Her head spun with all the details, and she worried about being caught. If her father learned of this...she shuddered to imagine it. Princesses were not supposed to run away. And although she had enough loyal servants to help her, it might not be enough.

  For now, she would concentrate on getting out of the palace. She couldn’t think too far ahead, or the worries would consume her. One moment at a time, one hour at a time, she decided. And before she left, she needed to see her mother.

  Serena chose a single rose from the arrangement in the crystal vase upon the end table. Queen Clara had always loved flowers. During the spring, she often sat in the garden where she could admire the blossoms.

  Flanked by her ladies, Serena walked down the long corridor leading to the east wing. Before she reached it, two footmen blocked their way and bowed.

  ‘Your Highness, His Majesty has commanded your presence.’

  A layer of ice coated her stomach, but Serena lowered her head in acquiescence, following the footmen to her father’s chambers. Each time the king summoned her, she knew what was coming—a punishment for some imagined misdeed. Every moment she spent in her father’s presence was a mind-numbing game of trying to guess what sort of behaviour would help her to avoid his fists.

  No one could protect her from His Majesty. Not the guards or her ladies, for they’d lose their positions. Not her younger sister or her mother, who was confined to a sickbed. She was defenceless against him.

  Serena hated the pity in the eyes of the servants, for she didn’t like appearing weak. But after the last beating had left her unable to move, she’d had enough. Six years of suffering was too much to ask of anyone. Nothing would stop her from escaping.

  One of her ladies, Katarina, offered her a look of silent support. Serena squeezed the woman’s hand, and then withdrew, needing the time to gather up her courage.

  When the footman opened the door and announced her presence, Serena stepped forward. Her father, the king, stood with his back to them. He was a tall man, with greying hair and a physical form that rivalled his best guards. King Ruwald prided himself upon his strength, and he wore close-fitting clothing to show off his muscular arms and legs.

  ‘Were you planning to go somewhere?’ he asked softly, dismissing his men and her ladies with a hand. Serena curtsied and stared down at the Oriental carpet, her hand clenching her mother’s rose.

  Do not make him angry. Be demure and modest in your bearing. And perhaps he’ll leave you alone.

  The king moved closer, until he stood directly in front of her. ‘Answer me.’

  ‘N-no, Father. Of course not.’

  ‘Don’t lie to me!’ He seized her by the arm, jerking her upright. The grip of his fingers was so tight, she gritted her teeth against the pain.

  ‘My men informed me that you sent a trunk full of clothes to a waiting coach.’ Softening his voice to a low murmur, he released her arm. ‘Now why would you do that?’

  ‘They’re for Anna,’ she lied, rubbing the bruised skin. ‘The men were supposed to put the trunk with her belongings. That’s all.’ Tears spilled over her cheeks, as she stared down at the carpet.

  ‘Do you think I don’t see your defiance? I know everything you do. And you’re going nowhere.’

  His fist struck the back of her head, and stars exploded in her vision. The king knew exactly where to punish her so that it would not leave a visible mark. ‘My men have their orders. You won’t leave the palace.’

  Why does he hate me so? she wondered. What have I done? Never had he laid a hand upon Anna, thank God. But for whatever reason, she infuriated her father. And she feared that if he lost control of his temper one day, she might not survive it.

  Darkness swam in her vision, and she backed away, folding her body inwards as if to protect it. As the king advanced toward her, Serena let out a broken supplication, ‘Please, Father.’

  But her words meant nothing to him as he curled his fingers and raised his fists.

  * * *

  Serena lay with her body pressed against the carpet. Though her father had left, she couldn’t bring herself to move. Her hand touched the tender skin at her throat, the pulsing fear returning. She tasted blood in her mouth, and pain radiated throughout her body.

  It only renewed her resolve to leave. I won’t stay here. I can’t. The door opened, and she saw the stricken faces of her ladies. Serena said nothing, but allowed Katarina to help her to her feet. The woman picked up the fallen rose with its crushed petals and held it to her.

  Though not a word was spoken, she was certain they’d heard her father’s tirade. Serena accepted the rose and leaned upon Katarina as she entered the hallway.

  ‘Your Highness?’ Katarina asked, her voice fearful. Her maid stopped walking and reached for a fallen lock of Serena’s hair, pinning it back into place. In her lady-in-waiting’s eyes, Serena saw the worry. But she could say nothing to reassure them.

  ‘I am going to see my mother,’ she insisted. One last time, before I leave. Her ladies surrounded her and led the way.

  As she walked, Serena rested her hand against her bruised side, fighting to calm herself. Though not every servant was loyal to her, there were enough men and women to turn a blind eye to her escape. She believed she could get out of the palace with little trouble. The true problem was reaching the hunting lodge before the other guards caught up to her. They had no choice but to follow and bring her home again.

  When they finally arrived at her mother’s chambers and her presence was announced, Serena tried to smile.

  Queen Clara was propped up with several pillows, her l
ight brown hair streaked with grey. She wore a cap and a white nightgown, but the pale linen only accentuated her wan face.

  ‘How are you feeling today, Mother?’ Serena asked, handing her the rose.

  Clara took it and smiled, before she waved her hand, dismissing the ladies. ‘Come and sit beside me.’

  When the queen took her hand, her expression turned grim. Slowly, she reached out and touched Serena’s reddened throat. ‘What happened?’ Her hand traced the marks, as if the caress could take away the pain.

  A hard ball of fear rose up in her throat and Serena forced back the denial. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she could only lift her shoulders in a shrug. ‘I’ve...tried to be better. More like the princess he wants me to be. But he seems to hate the very air I breathe.’

  Clara closed her eyes, her hands gripping the coverlet. ‘Your lady-in-waiting, Katarina, confessed this morning that your father has...taken your punishments too far at times. And she said you’re planning to leave.’

  Serena masked her frustration. It was her secret to keep—not theirs to tell.

  ‘You should have told me about this,’ her mother insisted, her face rigid. ‘I thought he only...hit you once in a while. I thought it was discipline.’ A tear slid down the queen’s face. ‘But Katarina said he broke your ribs.’ Her mother’s eyes stared hard at her, as if trying to determine if it was true. Serena dropped her gaze, unwilling to answer.

  ‘Why would you hide this from me? I could have done something to help you.’

  ‘And what would you have done?’ Serena demanded. ‘You’re ill. If you tried to fight him, he would have taken his anger out on you. I’m strong,’ she whispered. ‘You’re not.’

  ‘I know it, but surely—’

  ‘Don’t try to stop me from leaving,’ Serena warned. ‘I...I need this time to decide what to do, Mother.’