Damnation. Her words made him want to scoop her off her feet, toss her into the sleigh, and dash off through the snow in search of a secluded place where he might kiss her again.
“I told you last night, I am quite tame.”
“Then you do not deny it.”
“You are deliciously attractive, Mademoiselle Red, of that there is no doubt. But I am a gentleman.”
The groom arrived at that moment, allowing Miss Eliana to turn away to hide the color in her cheeks.
“You ought to call me Miss Banning,” she said, leading him up to the front door. “I told Father we were introduced last night. Did you truly pester Lady Entwhistle until she told you who I was?”
“I did indeed, until she revealed that the lady in the red cloak was a certain Miss Eliana Banning, youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Blake.”
“What if she’d been wrong?” Miss Eliana flashed a smile at him. “You’d be in a bit of a pickle by now.”
He feared he already was. There was no point in trying to conceal himself from Lord Blake, who was reputed to be a perceptive fellow. Any attempt at subterfuge would result in instant mistrust, and there would be no hope of driving out with Miss Eliana that afternoon.
Of course, revealing he was Prince Sebastian could well have the same result.
Assuming that she would not recognize him the moment he removed his hat and muffler, which he rather feared she would. Miss Eliana’s intelligence was one of the reasons he was drawn to her, after all.
The butler opened the door, and Sebastian halted, catching her arm.
“I must make a confession,” he said, dropping his faux-Russian accent. “I’m afraid I’ve deceived you, Miss Banning, and for that you have my deepest apologies.”
The smile faded from her face, and her dark blue eyes searched his. “What are you saying, my lord? You are not actually Count Nikolai?”
“I’m afraid not.”
The butler cleared his throat and pulled the door a little wider. “Do come in.”
He did not need to mention how rude it was to keep Miss Eliana standing on the front step in the chilly winter air.
Regret washing over him, Sebastian released her and gestured her to step inside. Well. He’d been a fool twice over, and now was about to pay the price.
He silently followed and removed his hat, handing it to the butler. The door closed, but the cold remained as Sebastian unwound the soft woolen muffler concealing his features. He was conscious of Miss Eliana staring at him, but could not meet her gaze.
He pulled his scarf away, and the silence was broken by her quick gasp.
“Prince Sebastian.” Her voice was hard. “I don’t know what games you think to play with me, but they are not welcome. Nor are you. Please take your leave, your highness.”
“Miss Banning, please.” He looked at her then, hoping for a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. “Let me explain.”
Her gaze was frosty. “After making a laughingstock of Lady Peony last year, you thought to do the same with me? Were you hoping we would be discovered—”
“Ah, the mysterious Count Nikolai,” a man called.
Sebastian looked up to see Eliana’s father, Viscount Blake, stepping into the foyer. His jovial expression transformed to concern as he looked from Sebastian to Eliana.
“What is going on here?” Lord Blake asked. “Prince Sebastian, I’m not certain black hair suits you. Eliana, endeavor not to look so fearsome. Please, come into my study and explain.”
Miss Eliana took a step back. “I have nothing to say to this man.”
Her father’s brows rose. “Even more reason I’d like you both to come. Now.”
Feeling more like a chastised child than a prince, Sebastian followed Eliana and her father down the hall, catching only the briefest impression of wood paneling and gold-framed landscapes before Lord Blake ushered them into his study.
“Now,” the viscount said, moving to stand before the hearth fire, “explain. Eliana, you may begin.”
“He deceived me.” She whirled and pointed at Sebastian. “How dare you attend the Midwinter Masque in disguise!”
Viscount Blake muffled something that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “Isn’t that the point of the ball?”
Sebastian squared his shoulders. “I knew the Ice Prince would not be welcome. In truth, I am weary of my own company of late. I did not intend to upset you today, Miss Banning. It is only that I wanted to see you again, without any unfortunate history between us.”
“So you thought you’d just keep up the charade?” Her eyes flashed with anger. “That it was perfectly acceptable to continue to dupe me in order to enjoy my company? That, sir, will not stand.”
“You are correct. It was very poorly done of me. Although revealing myself to you was bound to end badly—as this meeting amply demonstrates. Do you blame me for wishing to postpone that unhappiness a bit longer?”
She drew in a breath, ready, no doubt, to heap more scorn upon him, but Lord Blake stepped forward.
“Do I understand correctly, that you wish to court my daughter?”
“I did, sir.”
“Well, I want nothing to do with you.” Eliana sent Sebastian a narrow-eyed look.
“Lord Blake.” Sebastian turned to the viscount. “May I beg a moment alone with Miss Eliana?”
“I don’t believe you may.” Lord Blake folded his arms, then looked from Sebastian to his daughter, then back, a thoughtful expression on his face. “But I think the two of you ought to gather up Eliana’s chaperone and take that sleigh ride.”
Eliana gave him a stricken look. “Father, how could you? I don’t want to be seen consorting with Prince Sebastian under any circumstance.”
“I’ll wear my hat and muffler,” Sebastian said. “Everyone believes Prince Sebastian is currently laid low by illness. As far as the ton is concerned, you’ll be riding with Count Nikolai.”
“But—”
“I wished to go out and enjoy the snow with a young lady whom I found to be both interesting and intelligent. Miss Eliana, even when you’re angry, I believe I will still enjoy your company.”
He gave her a deep look, trying to remind her that they’d shared more than just conversation the night before, but a kiss full of heat and passion.
She paused, and the color in her cheeks was not, perhaps, all due to anger.
“If I go sleighing with you, do you promise never to call upon me again?” she asked.
His heart clenched at the thought, but he made her a conciliatory bow. “Miss Eliana Banning and Prince Sebastian have never met. And after today, Count Nikolai will depart London forever.”
“Very well.” She swallowed. “I agree to a short sleigh ride.”
“Then it’s settled,” Viscount Blake said. “Eliana, go fetch Hetty. I’ll just have a private word with the prince.”
She pressed her lips together and darted Sebastian a warning look. He responded with a small shrug. Whatever Lord Blake wished to speak to him about, he would not argue with the man, but of course he would not reveal their secret kiss, either.
As soon as Miss Eliana left the study, the viscount cleared his throat. “I can’t say that I want to know any of the particulars, but it’s clear my daughter has developed a fondness for you.”
The words surprised a short laugh from Sebastian. “I’m sure you’re mistaken. Miss Eliana clearly holds me in the lowest contempt.”
“She’ll come around, as long as you don’t disappoint her any further.” Lord Blake moved to stand before Sebastian, and fixed him with a penetrating look. “But that leads me to the point. What are your intentions concerning Eliana?”
Throat suddenly dry, Sebastian swallowed. He was unused to being so off balance. For the second time in a handful of minutes, Lord Blake had made him feel like a bumbling young man, not a confident prince. But unlike his own father, the viscount did not seem interested in grinding Sebastian into the dirt because of it.
“Well?”
Damnation, how could he explain himself to Lord Blake when he himself was not certain of his motivations? Acting on impulse was never a good idea—which was why he so very rarely did so.
“To what end?” The viscount raised his brows. Though his expression remained mild, his voice had taken on an edge. “I trust that you are acting as an honorable gentleman, your highness.”
“Of course. I am not attempting to lead your daughter astray, Lord Blake, I assure you.”
At least, not much. Sebastian wouldn’t say no to another kiss from Miss Eliana, but the chance of that was about as small as a snowflake surviving the heart of a fire.
“Or break her heart in attempted revenge?” the viscount asked.
Sebastian blinked at the man. “I don’t follow you, my lord.”
Lord Blake leaned forward. “Surely you’re aware that Lady Peony Talbot is Eliana’s good friend. Perhaps you still harbor some ill will toward that young lady.”
“You are more devious than I, to think of such a scheme,” Sebastian said. “While I’m unhappy for the misunderstanding last year and am not overly fond of my subsequent nickname, I am not bent on revenge.”
“Then you forgive Lady Peony?”
Sebastian blinked. Did the viscount suspect the truth about Lady Peony’s lies? “How much do you know of what transpired? Was your daughter—”
“No. Eliana thinks the best of everyone. I don’t think it occurred to her to question her friend’s version of events. But others have, your highness, and draw a slightly different conclusion.”
Sebastian let out a deep breath—one he felt like he’d been holding for the better part of a year. He hadn’t looked for understanding from anyone, and his respect for Lord Blake’s perceptiveness rose yet again.
“I could not make any accusations, of course,” Sebastian said.
“I understand.” Lord Blake reached over and thumped his shoulder. “You have my permission to court my daughter. Now, let us not keep Eliana and her companion waiting. This snow won’t last forever.”
8
Eliana could not believe how terribly Count Nikolai—that is, Prince Sebastian—had deceived her. The nerve of the man, to invite her for a sleigh ride, and think he could keep up his foolish pretense!
And she had kissed him.
Mortification heated her cheeks, even as the cold air swept over her face. The sleigh glided smoothly over the snowy streets, the horse’s bridle jingling merrily, its hoofbeats a muffled thud over the hidden cobblestones.
Eliana had tried to insist that Hetty sit between herself and the deceitful prince as they went out to the sleigh. Her companion had shaken her head and pushed Eliana ahead of her to mount the low step into the vehicle.
“Think how it would look, miss,” she’d said. “People will remark, to see you sitting on the outside, and you don’t want that.”
No, Eliana didn’t. The less attention anyone paid to them, the better.
So here she was, settled uncomfortably close to the prince, with Hetty on her other side. Taking up far too much room, in Eliana’s opinion.
She’d told her companion everything—well, leaving out the kiss—and to her dismay, Hetty had found it very romantic.
The prince glanced down at her as they neared the gates of Hyde Park. “Will a quick turn about the park be amenable?”
“Certainly,” Hetty answered, before Eliana could decline. “I imagine the trees look lovely, all covered in snow.”
Eliana jabbed an elbow into her companion’s side, and the older woman gave her a serene smile.
“I’ll wave at all your friends,” Hetty said, a pleasant note of warning in her voice.
Eliana blew out an annoyed breath. Her gloved fingers twisted tightly together, hidden in the warm recess of her ermine fur muff. She would endure this ride, bid “Count Nikolai” farewell, and then do her utmost to steer clear of Prince Sebastian for the rest of her life.
“Is it because of Lady Peony?” she asked the prince as he turned the sleigh down Rotten Row. “Is that why you perpetrated this lie?”
He glanced down at her, his eyes a paler blue than the sunlit sky above. “Only inasmuch as I knew Prince Sebastian would not be welcome at the Midwinter Masque, and I wanted to attend.”
“So you could trick and entrap unsuspecting ladies.” She did not blunt the edge of bitterness in her tone.
“I wanted to meet you,” he said, the honesty in his voice taking her aback. “And I knew Miss Eliana Banning would never pass the time of day with the Ice Prince.”
Hetty let out a little sigh, and Eliana was tempted to elbow her again.
“You are correct,” she said to the prince. “I cannot condone what you did to my friend. She is only now beginning to recover from the heartbreak, and you damaged her prospects terribly.”
He set his jaw, and did not speak.
To either side, the sun glittered off the snowy blanket covering the grounds. The bare tree branches were edged with diamonds. A few tracks from other sleighs and the pockmarks of bootsteps marred the path, but overall the park was very quiet. For several moments, there was nothing but the sound of the sleigh runners hushing through the snow.
“I regret that things fell out so badly between Lady Peony and myself,” he finally said.
Eliana’s anger flared once more. “Regret? You should feel far more than that, your highness. You should be ashamed and deeply remorseful. Indeed, you are well named, Ice Prince.”
“Do you think so?” There was steel in his voice. “Did you find me so cold, last night?”
Oh, unfair. Despite herself, the memory of their kiss sparked through her.
“You were playing a part,” she replied, trying to believe her own words.
“No. Last night I was myself, Sebastian Nikolai. It is all other days that I am playing a role.” There was a depth of weariness in his voice that moved her, despite her irritation.
For a fleeting moment, she imagined how it must be, to always wear the mantle of a prince, an unwilling disguise few people cared to see beyond.
Last night, beyond their flirtation, Eliana had felt a true connection with Count Nikolai. Had he felt it too? He must have, for he’d risked his disguise to see her again
A cloud moved over the sun, and the air cooled. Another sleigh passed them, the laughter of the occupants ringing through the air.
Eliana did not feel like laughing. Weeping, perhaps, for what she’d glimpsed. For what could never be. Even if she’d seen the true Sebastian last night, that was only part of the man. The rest was still the Ice Prince, who had abandoned Lady Peony and thought nothing of deceiving Eliana. Such a man was not the kind of person she could imagine courting her, let alone sharing a life with.
“Turn around,” she said, her throat tight. “I’m ready to go home.”
Sebastian kept his emotions clamped down as he turned the sleigh past the iced-over water of the Serpentine. His experiment was at an end, and it was abundantly clear Miss Eliana wanted nothing more to do with him.
Whatever connection he’d felt between them was gone, melted away as the snow would soon melt, to become just a damp memory of a single evening. He glanced at the white-laced trees, the frozen water boasting several skaters, the unbearably bright sunshine. Increasingly, it seemed time for him to leave London.
The thick silence that had fallen around them was broken by a shrill scream, followed by a woman’s panicked cry.
“Help! Please help!”
“There.” Eliana pointed to the bank, where a woman was waving wildly at them. Beyond her, a short distance out in the Serpentine, a small figure struggled.
“A child,” Mistress Hetty gasped. “Fallen through the ice.”
At the first cry, Sebastian had already turned the horse and slapped the reins. The snow churned under the mare’s hooves as they raced to the water’s edge. There were places where the S
erpentine was not deep, but here, at the bend, it would be well over Sebastian’s head.
Eliana glanced about, her eyes wide as the sleigh careened forward. “We are the nearest help, by far.”
“How will we rescue him?” Hetty asked.
“I… I will go out on the ice to reach him.” Eliana’s voice shook. “Hetty, give me your cloak, and I’ll throw it to the boy when I get close.”
“No.” Sebastian reined in the mare as they reached the distraught woman. “I’ll go out.”
“You can’t.” Eliana’s face was very pale. “You’re too heavy and will only break the ice further. I’m the lightest one of all of us. I must be the one to go out.”
“Please, please save him,” the woman said, tears glazing her face. “I told Theo not to go on the ice, but he’s a willful boy.”
“Don’t fear,” Sebastian said as he leaped from the sleigh. “We’ll save him.”
He turned to help Eliana, but she’d jumped out right behind him, Hetty’s cloak bundled under one arm. Together they raced to the edge of the Serpentine, snow flying beneath their feet.
The boy was several yards out, his struggles growing feebler.
“We’re coming!” Eliana called. “Keep your head above the water.”
“Miss Eliana,” Sebastian said, “I can’t let you—”
“You must.” Despite the terror in her eyes, she went to her knees and slowly began crawling out over the ice.
Damnation!
“Let me try.” He took a step onto the frozen surface. It creaked menacingly, promising to plunge them both into the frigid water.
“No!” Eliana turned to him. “Please, Sebastian. I must go.”
“Wait.” He unwound the woolen muffler from about his neck. Disguise be damned. “I’ll tie the end about your ankle, so that I can pull you back.”
“Quickly.” She scooted back onto the snow, casting an anguished look at the boy flailing in the small pool edged with broken ice. “We can’t let him drown.”
Part of him wanted to let the boy go, to selfishly hold her back and protect her from the dark, hungry water beneath the ice—but his better nature won out. Sebastian knotted the scarf around her boot, and a moment later she was crawling over the ice. He knelt, the end of the muffler wrapped about his fist. It went taut.
Prince for Yuletide: A Victorian Christmas Novella Page 5