The Accidental Princess

by Michelle Willingham

  Only years of training made her dip into a curtsy. She’d changed her gown three times in an effort to delay the inevitable. Only when her mother had arrived to escort her in person did she finally enter the drawing room.

  Lady Rothburne sent the baron a blinding smile, gripping Hannah’s wrist so hard that the skin turned white. ‘Lord Belgrave, it was kind of you to pay a call under these…circumstances.’

  ‘It was my pleasure, Lady Rothburne.’

  Another jerk of the wrist, and Hannah understood her mother’s silent rebuke. All right. If she had to endure this charade, so be it.

  ‘Lord Belgrave.’ She didn’t care how icy her tone was; the sooner she could get rid of him, the better.

  ‘Lady Hannah, I believe you know why I have come.’ He patted the seat beside him in an obvious invitation.

  ‘And I believe you know what my answer is.’ Hannah remained standing, her arms crossed. ‘Your visit was a waste of time, I am afraid.’

  ‘Hannah—’ Lady Rothburne implored. ‘Do be kind enough to at least listen to Lord Belgrave.’

  Though she wanted to fight back, to lash out at her mother, Hannah found herself sinking into a chair. Out of habit, she fell silent, as if a shroud had fallen over her. Choking off any hint of defiance, she listened to Belgrave speak.

  ‘I offer my apologies for what happened the other evening,’ the baron began. ‘But, Lady Hannah, I believe it would be in your best interest to consider my offer.’ He went on to describe his different estates, both in London and Yorkshire. And of course, how much of an honour it would be to join their families together.

  Hannah didn’t listen to a word of it. Did Belgrave honestly believe that she would consider him, after the abduction? And were her parents so swept up in his money and family name that they would ignore what he’d done?

  ‘We are pleased that you would still consider our daughter,’ Lady Rothburne said. ‘I am sure Hannah understands the necessity of protecting her reputation.’ Brightening her smile, the Marchioness offered, ‘I have ordered a picnic basket from Cook, and you both may wish to discuss wedding plans outside in the garden. It is a lovely day, and it would allow you to become better acquainted.’

  ‘I would welcome the opportunity,’ Belgrave answered.

  ‘But, Mother, I—’

  ‘Would next Tuesday morning suit, for the wedding?’ the Marchioness interrupted.

  ‘I am certain I can procure a special licence in time,’ Belgrave reassured her mother. ‘The archbishop will understand the need for haste.’

  Say it. Tell them you’ll never marry a man like him.

  Hannah gripped the edge of her chair, and finally broke in. ‘No.’

  Her word came out too softly, and neither her mother, nor Lord Belgrave, seemed to notice.

  ‘A quiet wedding would be best,’ Belgrave suggested. ‘Don’t you think?’

  ‘No,’ Hannah tried again, this time louder and filled with all of her frustration. ‘I don’t think so.’

  Lord Belgrave rose from his seat and came to stand beside her chair. His large fingers reached out to rest upon her shoulder. The weight of his palm was a firm reminder, not an act of comfort.

  And suddenly, her mother’s discussions of how a husband would have full dominion over her body made Hannah jerk away. She couldn’t lie on her back and let a man like Belgrave do what he wished. Good wives were supposed to submit to their husbands, but, God help her, she could never let him touch her.

  She didn’t know where the words came from, only that she couldn’t bear it any longer. ‘There will not be a wedding.’ Her voice shook with nerves, sounding more uncertain than she’d intended. ‘I won’t agree to it. And if you will excuse me, I intend to retire to my room.’

  Her mother scurried forward to try to stop her, but Belgrave lifted his hand. ‘Forgive me, Lady Rothburne, but perhaps if I had a moment in private with Lady Hannah, I could reassure her that I have only the best of intentions.’

  The Marchioness hesitated, and Hannah prayed that her mother wouldn’t dare allow such a thing.

  ‘Wait in Lord Rothburne’s study,’ her mother advised the baron. ‘I will speak with my daughter first.’ She gestured for Hannah to sit down, and Lord Belgrave followed a servant into her father’s study.

  The grim expression on her mother’s face was not at all encouraging. Christine sat across from her, and her face held nothing but disappointment.

  ‘Hannah, you must know how much your father and I want what’s best for you,’ Christine began. With a tremulous smile, her mother wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief. ‘We want you to have a wonderful marriage with every comfort you could possibly want.’

  ‘Not with him,’ Hannah insisted. ‘Mother, I won’t do it.’

  ‘Is he really as awful as all that?’ her mother asked softly. ‘He’s handsome and wealthy. You got off to a terrible start, I’ll grant you that much. But couldn’t you possibly give him a chance? This isn’t only about your future. The scandal will darken your father’s good name.’

  ‘There must be another way.’

  The Marchioness rose and drew close, putting her arms around her. ‘Talk to him, Hannah. That’s all I ask. If, after this, you still don’t wish to wed him—’ Her mother broke off, tears glistening in her eyes.

  I don’t, Hannah wanted to say. But she kept silent, knowing that to pacify her mother was the easiest way to get rid of Belgrave. ‘Very well. I’ll talk to him.’

  Christine embraced her again, wiping her eyes. ‘Thank you, my dear. It won’t be so bad. You’ll see.’ Her mother took her by the hand and escorted her into the study. ‘I’ll be right here in the hall,’ she offered. With an encouraging squeeze of the hand, she stepped back into the hallway, leaving the door wide open.

  It was dark inside her father’s study, with the curtains pulled shut. Hannah waited for Lord Belgrave to speak. Instead, he approached the door and closed it. Seconds later, he turned the key in the lock.

  She stood immobile, stunned at his actions. What was he doing? Did he plan to assault her in her own home? Hannah’s paralysing fear suddenly transformed into rage.

  ‘Be thankful that I will forgive this defiance,’ Belgrave murmured. ‘You seem to be under the delusion that you have a choice in whom you wed. No other man will marry a woman who was defiled by a soldier.’

  ‘Lieutenant Thorpe did nothing wrong. And I’d rather be a spinster than wed you.’

  She wouldn’t simply stand here and become Belgrave’s victim. Good manners weren’t going to protect her virtue, only actions.

  Hannah eyed the contents of the study, dismissing the books or the large globe in one corner. Where was a medieval sword when she needed one? Or, better yet, a chastity belt.

  He sent her a thin smile. ‘Once you and I are married, no one will worry about the hours you spent with the Lieutenant.’

  ‘It was your fault,’ she shot back. ‘All of this. And I know you’ve threatened to spread gossip about me.’

  ‘Only the truth,’ he said, with a shrug. ‘But if you marry me, I’ll forget all about it.’

  ‘Do you honestly believe I would forgive you for threatening my family’s name?’

  ‘How else am I to wed the daughter of a Marquess?’ he asked, his hand moving to her cheek. ‘The ends justify the means. Perhaps tomorrow you and your mother might begin shopping for your trousseau.’

  That was it. Just being in the same room with Belgrave made her feel like insects were crawling over her skin. When his mouth lowered to kiss her nape, Hannah reached for the gleaming brass candlestick. Swinging hard, she struck Belgrave across the skull, while another attacker hit him with a dictionary.

  The baron crumpled to the floor.

  ‘That was well done,’ Lieutenant Thorpe complimented her, emerging from the shadows. He wore only part of his slate-blue military uniform, while his jacket, shako and sabre were missing.

  Dear God, where had he come from? Not that she wasn’t grateful, b
ut he’d scared the life out of her.

  Hannah choked back her shock and stared down at the fallen body of Belgrave. Her heart was still pounding with horror at what she’d done. ‘Did we kill him?’

  That was all she needed now. To be hanged for murder.

  ‘I doubt it.’

  She slumped into a leather chair, resting her forehead on her palm. Relief poured through her. ‘What are you doing here? I thought you’d wait a few days at least.’

  Michael pulled a chair across from her and sat. ‘A soldier’s instincts. You asked me to prevent a marriage between you and Belgrave. I saw his carriage when I passed by the house.’

  It was a mild way to state that he’d been spying on her. And yet, she was grateful. Knowing that he’d kept his promise to watch over her made her feel safe. ‘How did you get in here without anyone seeing you?’

  The Lieutenant pointed towards the window. ‘It’s not difficult. I thought I’d sneak in, see that you were all right and leave.’

  Her breath caught for just a moment. He’d planned to rescue her with a dictionary. A choked laugh bubbled in her throat, but Hannah tamped it down as she studied Belgrave’s unconscious form. ‘I should probably get some smelling salts.’

  ‘Leave him. He looks good on the floor, after what he did to you the other night.’

  She agreed with the Lieutenant, but didn’t say so. ‘No, it’s really not a polite thing to do. I shouldn’t have struck him with the candlestick. My mother would faint if she learned of it.’

  He turned serious, resting his forearms on his knees as he regarded her. ‘If you hadn’t done so, he would have forced his attentions on you.’ The Lieutenant’s words were brutally blunt. ‘And your parents could not have stopped him.’

  Hannah’s hands started to shake. It was cold in the study, and she gripped her arms to try to warm them.

  A squeaking noise caught her attention—the Lieutenant was occupied with pushing the curtains aside and raising the window. ‘Come on. We’ll leave him here while you make your escape.’

  ‘Not out there.’ Anyone might see her, and it was impossible in her skirts. ‘I’ll just go back through the study door.’

  ‘Do you plan to rummage through his pockets for the key?’ he enquired. ‘Or will you shout for one of the servants to break down the door?’

  Hannah winced at the thought of touching Belgrave. ‘There’s no other way, Lieutenant Thorpe. Even if I wanted to go out the window, my skirts wouldn’t fit.’

  ‘You could remove some of your petticoats.’

  ‘Never.’ The thought made her ill. He might catch a glimpse of her ankle. Or worse, part of her stocking-clad leg. ‘It’s a terrible, ridiculous idea.’

  He sat on the window sill, one leg in, one leg out. ‘I never said it was a good idea. It’s simply one of your options.’ He shrugged. ‘Either way, I am leaving through this window.’ He disappeared from the sill, and Hannah stared at the study door.

  Outside, she heard the voices of servants and her mother. She was about to approach the locked door, when Belgrave suddenly stirred.

  His eyes snapped open, and he groaned, rubbing his head. When he staggered to his knees, Hannah didn’t wait any longer. There wasn’t time to get the key.

  She raced towards the window and saw that it was about a six-foot drop. Not as bad as she’d expected. Below, the Lieutenant was waiting.

  ‘Did you change your mind?’

  ‘Don’t let me fall,’ Hannah ordered. She had a fleeting image of flying into the shrubbery, with her skirts over her head. The vision made her stomach lurch. Ladies did not jump from the window into an unmarried man’s arms.

  But her alternative was to face Belgrave again.

  Why in the name of heaven did this have to happen to her? Hannah bemoaned the indignity of it all as she sat upon the window sill. Her tiered skirts fluffed around the window, the petticoats amassing in a large pile before her.

  ‘I’ll catch you,’ came his voice. Glancing down, she saw the Lieutenant standing with his arms outstretched. His face was confident, his arms strong. He looked as though he would never let anything happen to her. ‘Trust me.’

  With a backwards glance, she saw Belgrave stumbling towards her. Squeezing her eyes shut, Hannah let herself tip backwards. Though she longed to release a scream as she fell, only a muffled ‘oomph’ left her lips as she landed in his embrace.

  Sure enough, every petticoat remained in place. The Lieutenant lowered her down, and as they stood outside the servants’ entrance, she marvelled that she’d done such a thing.

  ‘To the garden,’ she ordered. ‘Quickly, before anyone sees us.’

  He didn’t argue, but led her towards the tall hedge, ducking around the corner. A crooked grin creased his mouth. ‘I suppose that’s the first time you’ve ever thrown yourself out a window.’

  She flushed. ‘I had no choice. Belgrave woke up.’

  His smile faded into a tight line. ‘You’re safe from him now. You can go back through the front door and tell your mother what happened. I doubt if they’ll force you to marry him now.’

  ‘I should think not.’ Hannah brushed at her gown, to give herself a way of avoiding his gaze. He was looking at her as though he wanted to kiss her again, and her nerves tightened. The boxwood hedge dug into her neck as she pressed herself against it. ‘Thank you, Lieutenant.’

  He acknowledged her thanks with a nod, but didn’t leave immediately. She noticed the way his attention shifted towards the kitchen. His features grew tight, and she understood suddenly that he was hungry.

  Though she wanted to send the Lieutenant to the kitchen for a hot meal as a reward, she didn’t dare, for fear her father would discover his presence.

  ‘Go to the gardener’s shed, and wait for me. I’ll be right back.’

  The Lieutenant shook his head. ‘Lady Hannah, I have to leave.’

  ‘You’re hungry,’ she said quietly. When he was about to protest, she held up her hand. ‘I can see it. I’ll get a basket of food for you from the kitchen. You’ll have a meal as repayment for rescuing me.’

  He took another step away from her. ‘It’s not a good idea for you to be seen with me again.’

  ‘It sounds as though you’re afraid of my father.’

  He grimaced at her implication, and Hannah moved in for the kill. ‘Don’t worry, Lieutenant.’

  She stepped towards the kitchen, her mood improving. ‘If Papa dares to try to kill you, I promise to defend your honour, just as you did mine. I’m quite good with a candlestick.’

  Chapter Six

  When Hannah opened the back door to the kitchen, she saw the servants busy chopping vegetables at the long table on the far side of the room. Their backs were to her, and they were busy talking amongst themselves. Near the wall beside her, she saw a tea tray with the picnic basket her mother had ordered earlier. Perfect.

  Holding fast to her skirts, Hannah slipped inside and snatched the basket. She didn’t wait to find out if anyone had seen her, but hastened back outside, ducking behind the arborvitae hedge. Within a few minutes more, she reached the gardener’s shed.

  The Lieutenant sat on the floor of the shed, but he’d spread out a few burlap sacks for her to sit upon. She handed him the basket. ‘It’s not much, but it’s the only reward I could think of on such short notice. Thank you for rescuing me.’

  He didn’t take the basket immediately. ‘No reward was necessary. I wasn’t about to let Belgrave raise a hand against you.’

  The words were spoken with a casual air, as though it were nothing. But even as he rested with one knee up, she saw his wrist hanging down, she saw a caged alertness. This was a man who would defend someone to the death. A ruthless soldier, one who showed no mercy to his enemies.

  ‘A dictionary,’ she remarked. ‘Not a weapon I’d have expected. It seems you are a man of more words than I’d thought.’

  A hint of a smile twitched at his lips, and she avoided further discussion by opening the b
asket. She found a china plate and began loading it with slices of ham, bread and creamed spinach.

  Concentrating on the food made it easier to forget that she was alone in a gardener’s shed with a man who was far too handsome. Her nape prickled with awareness of him, and she tried to ignore his scrutiny.

  Her hand reached up to straighten a strand of hair, and she felt completely improper without a bonnet or gloves.

  ‘Aren’t you going to eat?’ he asked, after he’d made a sandwich out of the bread and ham. He ate slowly, but from the flash of relief on his face, Hannah knew she’d made the right decision to offer food.

  ‘I’m not hungry.’ She’d lost her appetite after the ordeal with Belgrave. Her emotions were bottled up so tightly with the knowledge that her family’s reputation was about to be destroyed.

  The awful pressure was building in her chest, and she clenched her skirts, staring down at them. A tear dripped down on her palm, and she struggled to keep herself together.

  ‘Lady Hannah,’ came the Lieutenant’s deep voice. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Shh.’ She raised a hand, unable to look at him. ‘I just need a moment to…fall apart before I collect myself. It’s been a most difficult morning.’

  ‘Go ahead and cry,’ he said. ‘You deserve it, after the way he threatened you.’

  Hannah couldn’t stop the sobs from breaking forth, her shoulders huddled forward as she released the anger and disappointment.

  ‘He’s going to ruin me, after this,’ she cried. ‘All because I refused to marry him.’

  Strong arms enveloped her in an embrace, but there was no judgement, only comfort. He said nothing, but she sensed his anger toward Belgrave.

  ‘What am I supposed to do now?’ Hannah whispered, feeling ashamed that her tears were dampening his shirt.

  He held her against his chest, gently patting her back. ‘I think you should leave London.’

  ‘I agree.’ A change in her surroundings was the only thing that would allow the gossip to die down.