The Trouble With Princesses (27 page)

“I did! Though the fork I used wasn’t nearly as well made as the ones the maids just cleared away.”

“It more than did the job.” Rupert spun his glass in a circle between his fingers. “He yelled and bled. What more do you want?”

“I wanted it to stop him. But he would have come after me again, if not for you. Rupert could not have arrived at a better moment.”

“If I had timed it well, I would have arrived before he abducted you at all,” he mused gruffly, taking another long drink of wine.

“That could not be helped,” she countered. “You explained that you were purposely detained. Had you known Selkirk’s nefarious intentions, you would never have allowed his man to interfere.”

Ariadne sent Rupert an understanding smile.

He drank more wine.

“There’s something I’m not clear about,” Emma said, tapping a finger against her lower lip. “How did you come to be in such an isolated section of the house, away from the ballroom? How did Selkirk know to find you?”

Ariadne paused.

Yes, why
was
I there?
Certainly she still had no plans to tell Emma and Nick the truth—that she’d been on her way to a secret tryst with Rupert.

What to say?

“Well, he followed me, you see, looking for an opportunity,” Ariadne said, completely ignoring the first half of the question. “Once he knew where I’d gone, he had his accomplice stand guard to waylay anyone who happened by.”

Emma’s fair eyebrows drew close. “But why was Rupert on his way there too? It seems odd he would also be in that part of the house at that time of evening.”

“I needed some quiet time. Rupert obviously did as well.”

“Yes, but—”

“Really, Emma,” Ariadne interrupted, “what does all that matter? I thought we were discussing how gallant your brother was in rescuing me. He beat Selkirk to a bloody pulp, you know. I feared for a time that he was actually going to kill him.”

“I had wondered if that’s what happened to your knuckles,” Nick observed quietly, his eyes fixing briefly on the mottled bruises that colored Rupert’s hands. “Fistfights are a brutal business.”

“Pistols or swords at dawn seemed too good for him,” Rupert said. “And somehow I didn’t think he would stick around long enough to honor a duel. A direct approach seemed most appropriate.”

“I am glad he was punished,” Emma stated. “Clearly it was well deserved. But it won’t stem the tide of gossip that is sure to begin now that you are returned, Arie. Nick and I have done what we can to keep down the speculation about your sudden disappearance that night, but I fear it is having little effect. We’ve put out that you’re ill, but I don’t think anyone really believes it. Unfortunately you are almost never ill. And should Selkirk talk—”

“He won’t.” Rupert’s expression turned grim.

Emma’s eyes widened briefly before she continued. “Even if he says nothing, talk is bound to continue. Once it’s known that you were abducted and forced to stay alone with Selkirk, you will be quite ruined.”

“But nothing happened—”

“Society will not care. You know that as well as I.”

Ariadne shrugged. “I’ve told you before, it is of no moment what English Society thinks. I care nothing for the opinions of toadies and narrow-minded sycophants.”

“It won’t just be them. It will be everyone. Doors will be closed to you, and not just here in England but everywhere.”

“You exaggerate.” Ariadne made a dismissive sound, then set her teacup aside. “No one of any consequence will care about a foiled kidnapping attempt and a partial journey to Scotland, particularly on the Continent. If the English prove troublesome, I shall find a house abroad and go on with my life quite happily. Italy is lovely in the autumn, I hear. An excellent time for an extended visit.”

“I think you underestimate people’s propensity to gossip, especially about a kidnapped royal princess who was going to be forced into an unwanted marriage to a fortune hunter. The tale will spread like wildfire. But it’s more than just Selkirk now—”

“What do you mean? Of course it’s just Selkirk, since he is the one responsible.”

“Don’t you see? You have us, but we are not blood family, even if you are as dear as a sister. Your guardian is on the Continent and there was no one who could respectably have come to retrieve you. I would never for a moment have discouraged Rupert from doing so, though perhaps Nick and I would have been a better choice—”

“You’re making no sense. What are you going on about, Emma?”

“I believe what she’s saying,” Rupert stated, reentering the conversation, “is that people will believe you every bit as compromised by
me
as you are by Selkirk.”

She scowled, perfectly aware that she had been compromised by Rupert—and quite thoroughly, as it happened. But no one needed to know that.

“Rupert is a family friend,” she defended.

“Yes, and we shall make certain to press home that point.” Emma tapped a finger against her lip again in thought. “If we handle matters correctly, we ought to be able to think of some method for obscuring the most incriminating parts of the truth. We’ll fudge the timing about how long you were with Selkirk, so it appears you were not alone with him overnight. And I’m sure we can find someone who will say they accompanied Rupert on the rescue mission in order to provide you with a suitable chaperone.”

Ariadne linked her hands in her lap, deeply touched by her friend’s unswerving loyalty. “That seems like rather a lot of bother just to salvage my reputation.”

“Not at all.” Emma sent her an encouraging smile. “After all, why should either you or Rupert be condemned for something that never happened? It isn’t as if Rupert really has compromised you. It isn’t as if the two of you are lovers.”

Emma laughed, clearly amused by the sheer absurdity of the idea.

Ariadne knew she should join in, but the most she could manage was a pitiful half smile. She wanted to look at Rupert to gauge his reaction, but resisted, her fingers tightening even more in her lap.

In spite of the precaution, heat began to spread through her face, creeping like a rash up her neck and into her cheeks, where it lodged like an incriminating fever. She wanted to clap her hands over her cheeks, but what good would that do when the damage was already done?

She darted a helpless glance at Rupert and found him gazing back with resigned acceptance.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Nick gave a quiet hoot. “So it
is
true.”

“What’s that? What is true?” Emma asked, looking questioningly at the three of them. Then her gaze settled on Ariadne. “Arie, your cheeks are as red as berries. Are you blushing? But why would you—”

Ariadne could almost see the inner workings of her friend’s thought process as Emma’s eyes moved quickly between her and Rupert. Back and forth, then back and forth again.

Suddenly Emma’s cheeks turned red as well. “But you two—,” she sputtered, searching for the words. “You . . . you . . . you don’t even like each other!”

“I would say that has clearly changed,” Nick observed. “Well, if this isn’t a bold shot across the bow.” He barked out a sharp laugh. “I wondered if there was something going on.”

Emma’s head whipped around, her gaze accusing. “And you didn’t tell me?”

Nick visibly fought to wipe the smile off his face, without much success. “It was just a passing suspicion. I didn’t think it was my place to say anything.”

“Of course it was your place to say. I am your wife.” She stabbed a finger at him. “You and I will talk about this later.”

Quick as a viper, she turned back to Ariadne and Rupert. “As for the pair of you. How long has this been going on? How far has it progressed? Are you really . . . have you actually . . . I mean . . .”

“Have we had sexual congress?” Rupert offered in a casual tone.

“Oh!”

“Please, Emmaline. Spare us the prudish affront.” Rupert gave her a look of regal disapproval. “We are all adults in this room and as a married woman there is nothing Ariadne and I have done that you ought to find shocking. But in answer to your question, yes, she and I are lovers.”

Ariadne’s shoulders sank. Well, that cat was not only out of the bag, but its little feet had carried it all the way to the next county. Then again, she supposed confessing the truth had become inevitable the moment her blasted cheeks decided to turn hot as a forge.

Emma remained silent, bowing her head for a moment before looking up again. “What I find shocking is the fact that both of you have clearly concealed this relationship, and that you have lied to Nick and me about it while living under our roof.”

Her gaze went to Ariadne, a wounded expression on her face. “As for you, Arie, how could you? He’s my brother.”

Ariadne drew back her shoulders. “He is, yes, which is one of the reasons I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d fuss. The other is the fact that you never approved of my decision to take a lover.”

“No, I did not. I still don’t. Why can’t you just find a husband like every other respectable young woman?”

“Why can’t you let me live my life as I see fit? You certainly have some nerve castigating me for my behavior when you and Nick were intimate long before you got married.”

“What’s that about being intimate?” A thunderous scowl creased Rupert’s forehead. “Lyndhurst, did you bed my sister before the vows? I should have known you couldn’t keep your hands off—”

“Why is it you always say ‘Lyndhurst’ in that derogatory tone when you have some complaint to make rather than using that fancy title you insisted I take in order to marry Emma? Frankly I’d prefer Lyndhurst. It’s a good English name and one I’m proud to bear.” Nick crossed his arms.

Rupert’s glare grew blacker. “If you don’t appreciate the fancy
foreign
title, I can always give the order to take it back.”

“He doesn’t mean that,” Emma interceded.

“Yes, I do, and he can take—”

“Enough!” Ariadne declared in a voice that cut through all the acrimony like a blade. “No more of this fighting. I don’t want to hear another word from any of you.” Shifting on the sofa, she turned toward her friend. “Emma, you have every right to be angry with me for lying to you. It was wrong and I apologize. But as for my decision to start a relationship with Rupert, that is my choice. Mine and his and none of your concern.”

“But—,” Emma began.

“Phsst
.
”
Ariadne cut her off. “Not a sound. I am speaking.”

She looked across at Nick. “Dominic, I understand your pride in your English heritage and would expect no less, but you do Rupert a great dishonor by throwing his gift in his face.”

“I haven’t—”

She waved her hand at him to be quiet as well.

He fell silent.

“By granting you the title of archduke, he elevated you far above any status he was required to give. He could have left you a simple peer, but he made you royal so that you would be fully part of his family. It was a generous, considerate gift, a true honor, and it is ungracious of you not to show proper appreciation.”

Nick glared at Rupert. “Sorry.”

Rupert regally inclined his head, looking a bit too pleased with himself.

Ariadne turned to him next. “As for you, you need to be nicer to Dominic. He and Emma have two children and if I am not mistaken, another on the way—”

“How did you know that?” Emma exclaimed.

Ariadne ignored her. “He’s your brother-in-law, Emma loves him, and he isn’t going anywhere, so you might as well find a way to like each other. You’re men. Talk about horses, or sports, or world domination—anything you have in common.”

Rupert arched his brow in amusement. “We manage satisfactorily already, but I shall remember those topics in future. World domination, in particular, I think.”

Nick cracked a smile.

“As for telling our secrets tonight—”

“I do not see how they could have remained secret any longer, my dear,” Rupert said softly. “It was time.”

“Yes, maybe, but you didn’t have to blurt it out like that. You should have let me know you were going to . . . tell. It was my secret to share too.”

“So it was, but I’m afraid your pretty cheeks rather gave us away.” Leaning over, he stroked a finger along one cheek that had turned annoying hot again.

“Next time—,” she began.

“Are you planning on us keeping more secrets?”

Ariadne shrugged. “One never knows about these things.”

Rupert tossed his head back and laughed.

When Ariadne glanced away, she found Emma staring at her, her expression surprised and oddly contemplative.

“Well, if we are finished, it has been a long day,” Ariadne said, suddenly wanting nothing more than a few minutes alone. “I should like to retire.”

“You may, of course. But there is still one matter left to resolve,” Emma said.

“Oh, what is that?”

“The problem of your reputation. Whether or not you and Rupert are . . . lovers . . . it does not necessarily mean you must be publicly ruined. Clearly you’ve taken pains to keep your relationship a secret. We must think of a strategy to defuse the gossip and leave you—both of you—unscathed.”

“Really, Emma, I am a grown woman and can handle whatever may come. Do not worry over it.”

“But, Arie—”

“No, really, I—”

“Actually, there is no problem,” Rupert stated in an emphatic tone.

Emma looked puzzled. “What do you mean? Of course there is a problem.”

“But there is not. Ariadne and I shall be married. Once she is my wife, her reputation will be quite unblemished.”

Chapter Twenty-four

“M
arried?”

“What?”

Ariadne wasn’t sure which one of them spoke first, she or Emma. She wasn’t sure who was the more astonished either, although on second thought it had to be herself.

What in Hades’ name does he mean, we are getting married?

She turned incredulous eyes upon him. “I’m afraid I must have misheard you. I thought you said something about marriage, but it must be weariness from the journey clogging my ears.”

There, I have given him an out. Now, God have mercy, he needs to take it.