To Charm a Prince (7 page)

“Awaken, my sleeping beauty,” Rudolf said. “Open your eyes to greet the day.”

His sleeping beauty groaned in a decidedly unfeminine manner. Rolling over, she pulled her cloak over her head.

Rudolf leaned close. “Samantha, you must awaken now.”

“Go away,” came a muffled moan from beneath the cloak.

A boyish smile touched his lips. Rudolf whipped the cloak off her, exposing her chemise-clad body to the morning chill.

Samantha bolted up. For a brief moment she seemed confused by her surroundings, but then a high blush stained her cheeks. She yanked the cloak up, shielding her near-nakedness from him.

“Drink this coffee,” Rudolf said, lifting a steaming mug off the other cot.

“It’s still dark,” Samantha complained, taking the mug from him. Their fingers touched in the movement.

Rudolf felt her stiffen at the touch and gazed into her incredibly blue eyes. She was as excited by his touch as he was by hers.

“The eastern sky is brightening with the dawn,” he said. “I want to leave as soon as possible.”

Samantha sipped the coffee and crinkled her nose. “It’s strong.”

“I have laced the brew with vodka,” Rudolf told her, and smiled when she grimaced. He stood then, looking down at her. “I have placed a pan of warmed water for washing on the other cot. We will breakfast in the coach along the way.” Still, he stood in silence and looked down at her for a long moment.

“I cannot wash if you stand there,” Samantha said, lifting her blue gaze to his.

“Amazingly, you are even more beautiful in sleep.” When she blushed, Rudolf walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Samantha emerged from her chamber a few minutes later. She had wrapped herself in her cloak.

On bended knee in front of the hearth, Rudolf finished dousing the fire and looked over his shoulder. He smiled at her and stood, saying, “Happy New Year, my lady.”

“Happy New Year, Your Highness.”

“Are you ready?”

Samantha slung her violin case over her shoulder. Then she nodded at him and walked toward the door.

Having brought the coach around from the back, Karl was waiting outside. Rudolf opened the coach door and started to help her up, but Samantha paused to look at the sky. “What time is it?”

“Early.”

Bright streaks of orange and mauve lit the eastern sky. A deep blue still colored the western horizon.

Rudolf climbed into the coach after her and pulled the fur throw over them when she started to inch away. “We will be warm beneath this fur and warmer if we share body heat.”

Ignoring the panic in her expression, Rudolf put his arm around her and drew her close. “The hour is early,” he said. “Rest your head on my shoulder and nap.”

Samantha looked at him through enormous blue eyes. How could she relax enough to fall asleep when they sat so close they were practically one?

When the prince raised his brows, Samantha did the only thing she could do. She rested her head against his shoulder. She would never admit that his closeness frightened her. Douglases never showed weakness.

Samantha gazed out the window at the morning, its beauty even more apparent with the rising sun. Frost feathered the trees, and a handful of crows searched a field for food. Mother Nature rested beneath a blanket of cold, her spirit awaiting to regain her youth in springtime.

“What kind of fur is this?” Samantha asked, comfortably warm beneath it

“This is polar bear, a magnificent white beast found in the far north near the top of the world.”

Samantha sat up and looked at him. “You have traveled to the top of the world?”

“My father took my brothers and me hunting while the bears were migrating,” the prince told her. “I regretted killing it almost immediately and have never hunted again.”

“Violence for pleasure is a despicable pastime,” Samantha agreed, pleased by his admission. She’d been in society for less than a year, but that was time enough to conclude that men usually bragged about killing defenseless creatures. Here was a man confident enough to admit he didn’t like killing.

“I never intended to harm the bear,” Rudolf added. “I was aiming for my father.”

Stunned by his words, Samantha stared at him as if he’d suddenly grown another head. She didn’t feel quite as safe as she had. “You tried to murder your father?”

Rudolf shrugged. “He was trying to kill me.”

“You must be mistaken,” Samantha said. “No man would kill his own child. You’re his eldest—his heir.”

“My father has always hated me,” the prince told her. “He wanted Vladimir to be the oldest. Now, tell me how you were able to pick Igor’s pocket.”

“I would rather not say.” The coach went over a bump, and she fell against him. “I’m sorry.”

“I am not sorry,” Rudolf said, his smile devastatingly charming. “You may fall against me any time. Now, tell me how you managed to pick Igor’s pocket.”

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Do not think to evade my question,” he warned.

“Tell me the time,” Samantha said her smile flirtatious, “and then I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Rudolf reached inside his jacket pocket for his watch. Unable to find the timepiece in its usual location, he began to check all his pockets.

“Looking for this, Your Highness?” Samantha held the watch in front of his face.

Rudolf laughed. “Tell me how you did that.”

“My hands move faster than my feet,” Samantha said, pride in her talent apparent. She had no future with the prince. Why not share her dubious ability with him? “After my father lost his fortune,” she continued, “we needed money to survive. Tory and I practiced picking pockets until we became experts. Angel was skilled at cheating with dice and cards.”

Instead of smiling as she thought he would, Rudolf grew serious. He drew her into the circle of his embrace and brushed his lips against her temple, saying, “You should have had someone caring for you.”

Samantha didn’t know how to reply to that. Leaning against him, she felt secure and tried not to think about him trying to kill his own father, assuring herself his actions were defensive.

She glanced at her necklace. The star ruby remained placid. She was in no danger from him.

“Look at me, Samantha,” Rudolf said, his voice husky.

When she did, Samantha saw his handsome face inching toward hers. He was going to kiss her. She closed her eyes, but when his lips would have touched hers, her stomach protested its lack of food by growling.

“You need to eat,” Rudolf said, planting a chaste kiss on her lips. He reached into the basket on the opposite seat and offered her a chunk of brown bread with cheese.

Then he passed her a flask, adding, “We need to take one gulp of this each hour to keep warm.”

Raising the flask to her lips, Samantha took a tiny sip and felt the burning sensation from her throat to the pit of her stomach. She didn’t waste any time taking a bite of the cheese.

“You are learning,” Rudolf said.

They passed through the villages of Harrow and Cookham. Then came Henley and Marlow in the Chilterns, chalk hills rising from the north bank of the River Thames in Oxfordshire and stretching northeast for fifty miles.

Leaving the Chilterns behind, they rode through Oxford. In the distance beyond the old market town rose the forbidding walls of Oxford Castle, but the town itself was invitingly picturesque with its partly stone, partly timber-framed houses.

Northwest of Oxfordshire lay the wooded glens and serene streams of the Cotswold Hills, and Stratford-upon-Avon lay beyond that. The late afternoon sun was sinking in the west as their coach crossed the Clopton Bridge over the Avon River.

Within a few minutes, Rudolf and Samantha sat inside the Black Swan Inn. The common room was crowded, but sitting between the prince and the hearth, she felt warm and cozy and safe.

Samantha ate her beef stew in silence but flicked a sidelong glance at the prince. The light from the hearth played on his features, and she admired his noble profile from his straight nose to his sensuously chiseled lips. It made her recall the feel of his mouth covering hers.

The common room seemed suddenly warmer, and Samantha dropped her gaze to his hands with their long fingers. She wondered how those hands would feel stroking her skin.

“Why are you blushing?” Rudolf asked, turning to her.

Samantha felt the blood rushing to her cheeks as the blush deepened. “I’m not blushing.”

 Her response made him smile, but she changed the subject, asking, “How long do you think we’ll need to remain in Scotland?”

Surprising her, Rudolf covered her hand with his and said, “I hope for a very long time.”

Samantha felt a melting sensation in the pit of her stomach, and her thighs seemed to have developed a slight quiver, “That is unacceptable,” she told him. “My family will be worried, and my betrothed”—her gaze skittered away—”I probably have no betrothed now.”

“I will make up for the loss of your betrothed,” Rudolf said, stroking her hand.

“How will you do that, Your Highness?” Samantha asked, looking him straight in the eye.

“I will think of something,” he said, and raised her hand to his lips. “Are you ready to retire?”

Samantha nodded.

“Allow me to escort you to your chamber, Princess.” Rudolf stood and offered her his hand.

Lifting her violin case off the floor, Samantha rose from her chair. She felt the prince’s hand on the small of her back as he guided her across the common room.

Upstairs, Rudolf opened the door of the last room on the left and immediately lit the candle on the table.

Samantha surveyed the chamber. The bed almost filled the tiny chamber, and seeing it made her feel uncomfortable. She’d always been the sensible sister, and now, here she was so far from home with a man who was more stranger than not. How had she come to this?

Tossing her cloak aside, Samantha yawned and stretched, saying, “I can’t wait to lie down.” She heard the bolt being thrown and turned around. The prince was removing his jacket.

“What are you doing?” she cried.

Rudolf gave her a puzzled look. “I am going to sleep.”

“You can’t mean to sleep here.”

“I am too tired to argue.”

“You must get another room,” Samantha told him, “or my reputation will be ruined.”

“I thought your reputation was already ruined,” he said with an amused smile.

“I’ll leave.” She turned toward the door.

“Princess, do not strain my patience,” Rudolf said, his voice stern, blocking her path. “Remove that gown and get into bed.”

Samantha stood in indecision. How could she sleep in the bed with him and not lose her virtue? Sooner or later—she glanced at the star ruby, which remained placid. Either her aunt had lied about the stone’s magical powers, or she was in no danger from the prince.

While the prince sat on the edge of the bed to remove his boots, Samantha disrobed down to her chemise and set her gown aside. She glanced at the prince to see if he was watching, but he’d turned his back to her.

No sooner had Samantha climbed into the bed and pulled the coverlet up when she realized she hadn’t completed her evening ritual. Climbing out of the bed, she knelt and covered her face with her hands. She prayed silently,
Thank You, Lord, for—

“What are you doing?” Rudolf asked.

Samantha spread her fingers and peeked at him. Good God, the prince had removed his shirt. What a sinfully perfect back he had, all sinewy muscle.

“What are you doing?” he asked again, this time amusement tingeing his voice.

“I am thanking God.”

“For what?”

Samantha couldn’t concentrate with the half-naked prince watching her. “For none of your business,” she told him. “Please, put your shirt on again.”

“Do not speak so disrespectfully to me,” Rudolf said. “I am a prince of Russia.”

Ignoring him, Samantha climbed into the bed and turned her back on him. How could she sleep when the prince lay beside her? And then an alarming thought occurred to her. “Do not even consider removing those breeches.”

“Princess,” he said, a smile in his voice.

“Why are you calling me that?” she asked, afraid to turn around.

“I told the innkeeper you are my wife.”

Surprised, Samantha rolled over and was even more startled to find him leaning over her. A light matting of black hair covered his muscular chest.

“Your chest is bare,” she said, and then realized how idiotic she sounded.

Rudolf gave her a wicked smile. “Why do you not follow my example?”

Embarrassment flamed on her cheeks. And that was before the prince leaned closer.

“I am teasing you,” he said, almost nose-to-nose with her.

Samantha gave him a wobbly smile. She expected him to move away. He stared down at her for a long moment, and she became mesmerized by the intensity of his dark gaze.

“Pleasant dreams, Princess,” Rudolf said in a husky voice. He brushed a few recalcitrant ebony wisps away from her face, whispering, “A sweet good night kiss.”

Rudolf lowered his head until his lips touched hers in a chaste kiss. His gentleness seduced her. Teasingly, his tongue stroked the crease between her lips, and when she opened her mouth in response, he slipped his tongue inside, changing the tempo of their kiss.

Samantha pressed the palms of her hands against his chest. Instead of pushing him away, she slid her hands up his chest, enjoying the rippling of his muscles beneath her touch, and then she entwined her arms around his neck. The sensation of his bared chest against her scantily clad body excited her.

Sanity slammed into her consciousness when the prince broke their kiss. “Good night, Princess.”

Shocked by her easy responses to his advances, Samantha rolled over and turned her back on him. Her newly awakened body and her rioting emotions confused her. How could she have behaved so wantonly? Did her actions mean she’d fallen in love with the prince? If he hadn’t been such a gentleman . . . how was he capable of such restraint? More importantly, what did his actions mean? Was he developing a fondness for her or was she merely a convenience?

Samantha closed her eyes. Part of her felt ashamed of her behavior, but the other part wanted more. And then she remembered God.